Baltimore Beat Down

Saints' Vilma Files Lawsuit On NFL Commish Over Bounty-Gate

2012-05-18T00:00:17Z

New Orleans Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma was suspended by the NFL for his role in the team's "Bounty-Gate" scandal. The suspension handed down to him by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell calls for Vilma to miss the entire 2012-13 season.

Vilma responded witha shot across the bow of the league's front office, filing a lawsuit against Goodell for "defamation of character." Most people expected Vilma to take some action to lessen or eliminate his punishment, but the lawsuit comes as a surprise. SB Nation has all the details on this story which broke earlier this afternoon and is updating this story as more details emerge. Head on over there to keep abreast of all the breaking news on this and every other story.

With the league under scrutiny and fire with legal action as part of the player safety issue of the link between brain injuries and football-related concussions, this is just more gasoline on the fire of the players fighting back against the league's leader who has been ruling in his tenure with an iron fist.

Ed Reed Comments Again On His Future

2012-05-17T20:10:00Z

Although this is mostly a follow-up on a comment from a month ago, it seems like there will still be some fallout from this radio interview.

Ed Reed just admitted on the #SiriusXM Blitz that he's not 100% committed to playing football for the #Ravens in 2012.
— Nick Kostos (@TheKostos) May 17, 2012

Ravens News Around The Web

2012-05-17T20:00:11Z

The Baltimore Ravens finished up their first Rookie Camp this past weekend and there is a lot of news about the newest Ravens. Check out what they're saying around town and the nation on the Ravens:

Ray Rice: 'I have the burning desire to come back ready to play' - Carroll County Times: Ravens
OWINGS MILLS -- At a chiseled 212 pounds, Baltimore Ravens Pro Bowl running back Ray Rice has been staying in shape.

Derrick Mason On Jacoby Jones, Concussions, And Retirement " CBS Baltimore

Derrick Mason, former Baltimore Ravens Wide Receiver, called into The Norris and Davis Show to talk about the Ravens' acquisition of Wide Receiver Jacoby Jones, concussions, and his wish to retire as a Baltimore Raven.

Ravens: Torrey Smith proclaims he's fully healthy - Carroll County Times: Ravens

TOWSON — Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Torrey Smith has recovered 100 percent after undergoing surgery in February to repair a double sports hernia that he played through last season.

49ers' Jacobs, Ravens' Cody to face off in Call of Duty's Friday Night Fights

Call of Duty Elite’s Friday Night Fights series kicked off its second season last Friday with a matchup between the Air Force and Marines.

Ravens: Rookie offensive linemen transitioning smoothly - Carroll County Times: Ravens

OWINGS MILLS — Kelechi Osemele fired off the line of scrimmage, engulfing a much smaller defensive lineman with a powerful hand punch.

College spring sports roundup: ASU's Carr signs with Ravens | The Montgomery Advertiser | montgomeryadvertiser.com

Former Alabama State player Nigel Carr has signed a free agent contract with the NFL's Baltimore Ravens.

Stewart signs with Ravens

Temple college sports - basketball, football and more - covered by the Philadelphia Inquirer's Keith Pompey.

Should Ravens Pay Suggs Due To Injury?

2012-05-17T17:00:20Z

An article on NFL.com talks about the ESPN report that the Baltimore Ravens have the legal right to hold back part or even all of linebacker Terrell Suggs 2012 salary due to his Achilles Tendon injury. The decision is up to the team and not the league, which means the Ravens could decide to negotiate a reduction with incentives for Suggs to earn it back at some point, or just give him his full salary regardless of whether he plays in 2012 or not.

The Philadelphia Eagles are in the exact same boat with offensive tackle Jason Peters. Ironically, both Suggs and Peters have injured Achilles Tendons. The story reports that the Eagles have actually discussed a reasonable reduction with Peters and his agent.

It seems doubtful that Baltimore will attempt to do anything with Suggs' salary, as he has adamantly insisted that he plans to return and play in 2012. The reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year says his injury was a partial, not a full tear, giving hope that he could return not only this coming season but a lot earlier than most people believe.

Ravens' Flacco Or Cowboys' Romo?

2012-05-17T14:00:44Z

That's the question being debated on NFL.com based on the rankings of the two quarterbacks in the NFL Top 100 Players of 2012. Dallas Cowboys QB Tony Romo came in at #91 while Baltimore Ravens QB Joe Flacco was ranked 17 spots higher at #74. In the 2011 rankings, the two were reversed, with Romo at #72 and Flacco at #90.

So why the virtual opposite rankings one year later? There is no question that the pure stats show Romo dwarfing Flacco. Looking at just the numbers, one might have a great argument on how a guy with significantly lesser stats could be ranked higher, much less significantly higher.

In 2011, Romo threw for 500 more yards, eleven more TD passes, two less interceptions, with a QB Rating over 20 points higher. Those numbers alone support the argument to have the two players switch places on the NFL list. The debate then needs to shift to the team's success with their guy at quarterback, as well as the player's ability to carry the team and win games at crucial times.

While Joe Flacco has had a tough time carrying the Ravens on his shoulders, Romo has had an even tougher time when the chips were down. Too many times, not just in 2011, but over the course of his career, has Tony Romo single-handedly snatch defeat from the jaws of victory on behalf of his team.

From his difficulty getting to the playoffs, much less winning when he did get there, to throwing ridiculous interceptions with the game on line, Romo has frustrated Cowboys fans to the point of questioning whether the team should be looking for a replacement.

Meanwhile, Joe Flacco has been able to lead the Ravens to key victories over their AFC North arch-rival Pittsburgh Steelers in the last few seconds and on the road no less. The Ravens may have lost to the New England Patriots in last season's AFC Championship Game, but it certainly wasn't Flacco's fault, as he easily outplayed Tom Brady and threw for over 300 yards in the contest.

It's hard to gauge what a team's overall effect is on the quarterback as an individual but one thing has become clear in Flacco relatively short career. 'Joe Cool' and the Ravens have been to and won playoff games every season he's been in the NFL. Meanwhile the Cowboys have been annual under-achievers every year and Romo's miscues fan the flames of discontent around Dallas.

The NFL got it right, and while Cowboy fans might not give up or want to trade Romo for Flacco, there is no sane Ravens fan who would ever switch those two quarterbacks if given the chance.

Poll

Do you think that Baltimore Ravens QB Joe Flacco deserves to be ranked higher than Dallas Cowboys QB Tony Romo in the NFL Top 100 Players of 2012?

2012 Huge Year For Ravens' Rice

2012-05-17T11:00:36Z

Even though there has been some talks of a hold out for the Baltimore Ravens' Ray Rice this off season, the Pro Bowl running back has made it known that he will be ready to play and has every intention of taking the field with his team week one against the rival Bengals.

Rice is poised to have another outstanding year in 2012. This will be his second season with all pro fullback Vonta Leach but his first with a full off season to work with him and the rest of the offense, making a hold out bad for both sides.

Last season Leach and Rice had their growing pains in the beginning of the season as the two learned to play with each other. There were several times that Rice broke off of the blocking route created by Leach to try and break free but Leach made sure to keep Rice in check and told him "just follow me and I'll get you where you need to go". By the end of the season the two worked together like a well oiled machine and Rice was just that much better for it. Now these two will have plenty of time to work out whatever kinks they may encounter before the season starts.

The Ravens also added a huge, run blocking guard in Kelechi Osemele in the draft. Not to mention rookie running back Bernard Pierce out of Temple. Pierce come to the Ravens as the favorite to be Rice's back up this season. Rice will need to be present so he can work with Pierce and help him get accustomed to Cam Cameron's offense. Pierce definitely has the potential to be a big play runner in the NFL. With his addition maybe there will be competition for carries in the Ravens backfield once again. Pierce was a touchdown machine in college, the Ravens are hoping he can translate that to the NFL.

Rice has always had a good blocking wide receiver here in Baltimore in Anquan Boldin. Last season, rookie Torrey Smith seemed lost while blocking in the beginning of the year but by the end of the season I was very impressed with his down field physicality. He definitely learned some things during the season and did a great job taking it to the field. These two plus the addition of another physical specimen in wide receiver Jacoby Jones should help Rice turn those 10 to 20 yard gains into length of the field touchdown runs. Jones never really lived up to his potential at wide receiver but he is more than proficient on special teams, making him an excellent blocker. He is bigger and stronger than most corners and safeties so blocking one for Rice should be easy for the big guy.

With most of the NFL turning into a pass happy air affair it is dynamic players like Ray Rice that can really carry a team when they aren't clicking on all cylinders. With offenses passing more defenses will be gearing more towards pass coverage and this could really open things up for a shifty scat back.

Of course, the Ravens will have to show they can pass the ball and have the receivers to catch it as well before this happens. With the addition of Jones and some promising young talent in the receiving game I think the pass offense will take a few steps forward this season. Which is great news for Rice. Not only will the team depend on him less to drive the offense but he will also have more opportunities for big plays if the defense can't stack the box against him.

Ravens Defense Needs A Nickname

2012-05-17T00:00:17Z

Although the Baltimore Ravens have had one of the NFL's best defenses for more than a decade, they have never had a nickname to go along with their reputation. Their 2000-01 defense ranks among the single-best defensive unit of all-time, but still there isn't a nickname attached to it like so many other great defenses were honored with.

The Pittsburgh Steelers of the 1970's were the "Steel Curtain," the Minnesota Vikings of the same era were known as the "Purple People Eaters." According the the story on NFL.com, the Los Angeles Rams of the 1960's had the best defensive nickname, the "Fearsome Foursome," which described their front four of Deacon Jones, Merlin Olsen, Rosey Grier and Lamar Lundy.

While the Ravens defense has changed over the years, the face of it remains the same. Linebacker Ray Lewis is the common denominator over the history of the team and their defense. What would it take to get this unit recognized beyond it's reputation with a stylish nickname to be uttered among those listed above?

Post your comments below and the best name gets a prize. To vote, "rec" the comment you like the best.

Former Ravens RB Ricky Williams Downplays Concussion Link

2012-05-16T20:00:24Z

In related stories posted on NFL.com and Pro Football Talk, former NFL running back Ricky Williams doesn't buy the link between concussions and brain damage. The former New Orleans Saints, Miami Dolphins and Baltimore Ravens player took a lot of hits in his career, which led to over 10,000 rushing yards, doesn't feel it has affected him, although he is not ruling out a bit of concern for the future.

Ricky professes to taking care of his body, protecting himself by practicing yoga and other hands-on healing techniques, which he claims, "was able to peel off layers of trauma on my body."

Instead of succumbing to the paranoia of what could happen to his brain and body in the future that has risen to the forefront in light of the Dave Duerson and Junior Seau suicides, Ricky says this about what he has done to hopefully avoid this predicament:

"...I just started taking care of my body. I found people, places, and things that really helped me..."

"Things?" Really, Ricky? Did you just say that? "Things?" Hmmm,...wonder what he means....