Bleacher Report - Articles by Luke Jones

Time For Ravens' Offense to Check Ego and Give Defense a Lift

Luke Jones — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 23:55:09 -0400

Originally published at WNST.net .

Nearly every notable season in the brief history of the Baltimore Ravens has included a critical point that determined which path the team would travel.

Of course, the Super Bowl winner of 2000 endured a five-game touchdown drought before head coach Brian Billick reinvented his coaching philosophy and turned to the “Dark Side” of winning ugly with a record-setting defense and a power running game.

The 2006 Ravens posted the best regular season record in franchise history (13-3), but experienced a two-game losing streak and fired offensive coordinator Jim Fassel during the bye week before Billick’s play calling rejuvenated a team that would go on to win nine of its last 10 regular season games.

Only a year ago, Baltimore’s record stood at 2-3 after being lambasted by Indianapolis, 31-3, in Week 6. Instead of folding with a three-game losing streak, the Ravens earned a big victory in Miami to spark a four-game winning streak and nine of 11 victories to close out the regular season before advancing to the conference championship game.

Simply put, adversity is a part of the game—even for the greatest teams.

And it’s exactly what the Ravens face after losing two straight and traveling to Minneapolis to face Brett Favre and the undefeated Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.

After an exhilarating 3-0 start, the offense now grapples with its identity, and the defense—after a decade of dominance with a variety of characters—looks very mortal after losing back-to-back games to New England and Cincinnati.

While a loss to the Vikings would not end the Ravens’ season by any stretch, it might remind doubters of the 2007 season when a 4-2 squad lost in Buffalo and then went to Pittsburgh on the first Monday night in November and … well, we don’t need to go there .

A season can fall apart all-too-quickly.

In times like these, the Ravens have always counted on the defense to provide the lift, but it may not happen this season. While still a good defense (yes, 10th in the league isn’t THAT bad, Ravens fans), the unit lacks the consistent pass rush to disguise an undersized and less-talented secondary.

The jury’s still out on defensive coordinator Greg Mattison, but it’s clear he isn’t Rex Ryan, nor should anyone have fairly expected that.

In other words, it’s finally time for the offense to provide a boost to the defense after years of the exact opposite occurring.

The talent is there. Joe Flacco’s rapid development is tangible, Derrick Mason and Todd Heap are reliable targets, and the roster includes three quality running backs with diverse skill sets. The unit will never be confused with the 2007 Patriots or the Greatest Show on Turf, but it is capable of beating anyone with the proper game plan.

And that brings us to coaching. Cam Cameron is one of the brilliant offensive minds in the game—last year’s offensive production with a rookie quarterback a perfect example. Unlike Mattison, he has the vast NFL coaching experience from which to draw.

There’s no reason why this offense cannot be successful. So why the recent struggles?

It all starts with ego and a obsession with the passing game. The Ravens seem obsessed with proving they are no longer a running team, and it’s hard to understand why.

While the defense struggles to recapture its dominant past, Cameron and the offense must remember what made them so successful a year ago.

Running the football and controlling the tempo of the game.

The Ravens led the NFL in rushing attempts last season with a three-headed attack that left defensive coordinators struggling to find solutions and defenses wilting in the second half.

But now, this Baltimore offense continues to run from what it really is.

“Football has changed for the better,” Cameron said last week after running just 17 times against New England and before calling only 18 run plays against the Bengals on Sunday.

“Just look at last year’s Super Bowl. People have got to move beyond the notion that running the football leads to the championships. It doesn’t. There are times we all want to run the football, but you don’t have to run the football to win as much as people think.”

So how exactly did the Ravens make it to the AFC Championship last season?

Cameron’s statement befuddled me last week and continues to leave the impression that the Ravens are running away from themselves on the offensive side of the ball.

Think of Robin Hood trading in his bow and arrow for a slingshot and stone before heading into battle.

It just doesn’t make any sense.

Sure, the Ravens needed more balance offensively this season, but an improved passing game should not supplant your bread and butter . It should only augment your biggest strength.

For Le’Ron McClain to have only 25 touches in five games after rushing for nearly 1,000 yards last season is inexcusable. Starting fullback or not, a man of his size can absolutely punish and wear down a defense, as we continuously witnessed last season.

And for Willis McGahee—healthy, motivated, and gaining over five yards per attempt—to receive only one carry against the Bengals is a waste of his talents.

Ray Rice has clearly been one of the brightest spots of the season, averaging an astonishing 5.8 yards per carry. He is the clear starter, and no one is suggesting he receive fewer carries, but McGahee and McClain and their different styles need to be bigger factors in the offense.

When asked about their lack of carries, Harbaugh said, “We’ve got three guys. It’s hard to get them all in there at the same time.”

A true statement, but again, the Ravens made it work last year, didn’t they?

It was unconventional and lacked the sparkle of throwing the ball all over the field, but it won many football games.

The best tonic for a struggling offense and a vulnerable defense is a strong running game that controls the tempo—and the clock.

The Ravens led the NFL in time of possession last season, holding more than a six-minute advantage per game (33:22). In addition to wearing down the opposing defense, it helped keep their own defense off the field, another factor leading to the Ravens ranking No. 2 in total defense in 2008.

Through five games this season, the Ravens rank 15th in time of possession, holding the ball for 30:06 per game, a number skewed further by their 20-minute advantage over Kansas City in Week 1.

Of course, time of possession is an intermediate stat, a reflection of doing something else well—like running the football. As a result, it keeps your defense fresh for the final drive of the game when a stop is badly needed, as it was against the Bengals on Sunday.

Will it solve all of the defense’s problems? Of course not, but it certainly wouldn’t hurt and might even hide some of its deficiencies.

Harbaugh and Cameron won’t come out publicly and say the Ravens need to run the ball more.

But the balance of the season rests on this offense finding its true identity, not just for its own sake but to help a defense that carried the load for far too many years.

The answer is staring them in the face.

Will they accept it or keep running from who they are?

Luke Jones is a Baltimore Ravens correspondent for WNST.net. Read his blog here .

Baltimore Orioles: So Long, Melvin, and Hold Your Head Up

Luke Jones — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 22:07:25 -0400

Originally published at WNST.net.

As the Orioles fall toward the 100-loss mark with seemingly little resistance over the final week of the season, their elder statesman winds down his 10-year stay with an organization fixed in what feels like an endless era of losing.

Melvin Mora arrived in the Charm City after being traded with three others from the New York Mets for Orioles shortstop Mike Bordick in Syd Thrift’s infamous fire sale of 2000. The 28-year old utility player was coming to a struggling team with a future Hall-of-Famer (Cal Ripken) winding down his career and its best hitter (Albert Belle) only months away from retirement due to a degenerative hip condition. The Orioles were completing their third-straight losing season in 2000. Change was needed.

Mora’s addition, along with the 13 others acquired in the five summer deals, would pump youthful energy into an aging organization and eventually bring the Orioles back to where they belonged at the top of the standings, right?

If only.

Of course, we all know the story. Despite the quantity of players coming to the organization for veterans such as Bordick, Charles Johnson, B.J. Surhoff, and Harold Baines, Mora would be the only acquisition to contribute beyond the next couple seasons. Most would never contribute at all.

Mora debuted with the Orioles as a role player on an 88-loss club and will take his final bow this weekend on a club trying to avoid becoming the third Orioles team to lose 100 games in the 56-year history of the franchise (1954 and 1988 were the others). In his 10 years, the Orioles averaged 92 losses a year, finished in fourth place seven times, and landed in the basement twice—one of those this year.

He played for four different managers, five different general managers (or whatever the organization was calling the job at the time), and saw the beautiful Oriole Park at Camden Yards transform from one of the chic places to be (3.1 million fans in 2000) on a summer night to a mostly desolate palace (less than 2 million fans in 2009) infiltrated by Boston and New York fans 18 times a year.

During Mora’s 10-year stay in the Charm City, the Orioles finished in third only once (2004), but the high-water mark came in the early stages of 2005.

The Orioles enjoyed a two-month reign at the top of the American League East, and the long rebuilding process appeared to be on the right track. However, Mora saw his team collapse in the second half with a disgraced teammate’s steroid suspension (Rafael Palmeiro), injuries, and management’s failure to improve the team down the stretch (trading Larry Bigbie for Eric Byrnes is going to get you over the hump?).

Needless to say, Mora has had little to smile about in his 10 years with the Orioles. You almost have to feel sorry for the guy.

As he is resigned to the reality of this almost certainly being his last season in Baltimore (the club will not use a $8 million club option for 2010), people will overstate the importance of his disappointing 2009 season—at age 37, mind you—and his mid-summer spat with Dave Trembley when judging his 10 years as an Oriole.

His disappointing final season cannot—and should not—shortchange his accomplishments playing in an absolutely miserable era of Orioles baseball.

The super-utility player that came to Baltimore flashing the leather at a variety of positions—left field, center field, and shortstop to name a few—steadily improved his game and eventually became an All Star, albeit for a bad club needing a representative in 2003. Mora would earn a second trip to the Midsummer Classic in 2005.

Ironically, Mora was excluded from the All-Star squad in 2004 despite being the best third baseman in baseball that season. Yes, before you ask, better than that guy wearing pinstripes in the Bronx.

It was the best season of his career and one of the finest seasons ever by an Oriole. His .340 average was, and still is, the best single-season clip in club history. Mora also led the American League with a .419 on-base percentage and finished in the AL’s top-10 in batting average (behind only Ichiro Suzuki), slugging percentage, runs, hits, total bases, and doubles. His play earned him the Silver Slugger award (awarded to the best offensive player at each position) and solidified his status as an everyday player.

While Mora would never approach his tremendous 2004 numbers again, he would continue to provide solid numbers and steady defense in his remaining years in Baltimore, even throwing in an amazing second half of the 2008 season for good measure.

Regardless of the sour aftertaste created by his 2009 campaign, Mora is unquestionably an Orioles Hall-of-Famer, ranking in the all-time top 10 in home runs, hits, doubles, runs batted in, and runs. And with apologies to Doug DeCinces’ fans, Mora may rank as the second-best third baseman in club history (The 1979 hero’s best years came with the California Angels).

Perhaps more important than his diamond achievements when pondering his legacy in Baltimore is the fact that Mora truly embraced the Charm City and adopted it as his home. Mora and his wife Gisel had their famed quintuplets in Baltimore—and chose to raise their six children right here.

While nearly every Oriole of the past decade waved goodbye to the city at the end of September and didn’t return until the new baseball season in April, Mora and his family stayed in Fallston—and plan to continue doing so.

Others wanted little to do with the community or even went as far as to demean the city (Aubrey Huff), but Mora thought highly enough of it to make it his home.

Make no mistake, the Orioles treated Mora very well financially (probably too well), but he understood the importance of sharing that good fortune with the local community through various charitable endeavors.

Simply put, Mora got ”it.”

It’s an idea not to be taken for granted in this modern age of so many high-paid mercenaries completely void of any pride, philanthropy, or connection for the city in which they play.

Mora’s role in the community was never more apparent than in late-December 2005. Longtime bullpen coach and leading community ambassador Elrod Hendricks had passed away just a few days shy of Christmas, yet Mora was the only active Oriole to attend the coach’s funeral on December 29.

It was more an indictment on the sorry state of the organization than a tremendous gesture, but at least Mora WAS there. It was something the 24 others could not say, regardless of the pathetic excuses claiming it was too close to the holidays.

As an Orioles fan, I chastised the missing players but also appreciated Mora being there to represent the current team, pathetic as it was. Mora understood not only what Hendricks meant to the organization but to the entire city.

One might say it doesn’t take much effort to embrace the local community, so why such praise for Mora? He was being paid millions, right?

Well, easy as it might be, he was one of the few to care enough to actually do it.

Even in his final weeks with the Orioles, Mora demonstrated one more example of understanding what it means to be a Baltimorean. When learning the organization planned to honor him for playing the second-most games at third base in franchise history, Mora requested the man ahead of him on the list, Hall of Famer Brooks Robinson, to be present.

So, despite little publicity or fanfare (a different issue entirely), Mr. Oriole was there to celebrate the accomplishment with the Orioles’ current third baseman. Who knows if Mora can tell you how many Gold Gloves Robinson won at the hot corner or what year he even retired, but he knew enough to understand Brooks needed to be there. That’s saying something.

Unlike Brooksie, who played a large portion of his career in the Orioles’ glory days, Mora is likely to be remembered as the figurehead—along with another good player and nice guy, Brian Roberts—for the franchise’s miserable era of losing baseball that is yet to end here at the conclusion of the 2009 season.

“Mora had to stink, or the Orioles would have won while he was here, right?”

But let’s admit, save for the infancy of his career and a two-year window of fantasy baseball in 1996 and 1997, Ripken didn’t exactly play in the Orioles’ glory years either.

The truth is though Mora certainly wasn’t the type of player that could carry a winning team by himself, he also wasn’t the reason the team stunk for the decade he was with the organization. In his best years, Mora undoubtedly would have been a valuable member of a contending club.

No one will suggest that Mora belongs in the same stratosphere as the Orioles’ royalty of the Robinsons, Ripken, Palmer, and Murray. Not even close.

And even the casual fan would never confuse his baserunning prowess with the legendary Rickey Henderson, or even Willie “Mays” Hayes for that matter.

Mora may not have always said the right thing, but he was occasionally willing to speak up in a way so many frustrated fans could admire. His declaration that some Orioles didn’t know what it took to win in 2007 and his famed “Who is going to pitch for us?” query in 2005 may have ruffled some feathers in the Warehouse, but it was music to the ears of fans wanting a terrible organization to take accountability.

Ultimately, Mora should be remembered as a good player and one of the few to perform admirably through a miserable period of Orioles baseball.

He represented the city with pride and is one of the few I felt proud to cheer over the last decade.

So long, Melvin, but we’ll see you around town.

It’s a shame we didn’t have much fun at the ballpark.

Luke Jones is a correspondent for WNST.net. Read his blog here.

Baltimore Ravens Turned to Familiar Friend When They Needed It

Luke Jones — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 23:04:23 -0400

Originally published at WNST.net.

Over 71,000 fans were amazed with the new Ferrari in the neighborhood on Sunday, and nobody could blame them.

Joe Flacco was throwing passes all over the field, and the Ravens’ traditional run-first offense that so many expect—and often complain about—had suddenly transformed into a 171-yard aerial assault in one half of football.

Undoubtedly, it was exciting to watch the second-year quarterback show off the laser arm like Brady or Manning does every Sunday.

But then it happened. An ill-advised pass by the second-year quarterback was intercepted by linebacker Derrick Johnson and returned all the way to the Ravens’ 6, setting up the go-ahead touchdown early in the third quarter.

Suddenly, the exciting vibes from that shiny new sports car had vanished, and the Ravens trailed the inferior (or thought to be, anyway) Kansas City Chiefs.

What the heck was going on, and how would Cam Cameron, Flacco, and the offense respond? Would we see panic or the continuation of the throw-first offense used in the first half?

Of course, the answer was simple. It was time to call upon that old friend that led them to an improbable 11-5 season a year ago. It lacked the bells and whistles of the new passing attack, but its reliable four-wheel drive could pull the Ravens out of a very muddy situation.

Of course, that friend was the running game, forgotten in the first half but badly needed to stabilize a game suddenly spiraling out of control for the Ravens.

Following Dwayne Bowe’s two-yard touchdown reception that put the Chiefs up 14-10, the Ravens’ offense took the ball and suddenly reverted back into the three-headed monster.

It was clear on the first play of the drive when Le’Ron McClain pounded the ball straight ahead for a gain of eight yards.

That looked familiar.

Then, after two pedestrian carries by Ray Rice for six more yards and a 10-yard completion to Todd Heap, it was time for Willis McGahee to attack, breaking off runs of 16 and 9 yards.

Bruising shots to the body.

It’s not always pretty, as McClain and McGahee only gained six yards on the next two plays, but two plays later, Flacco found Heap over the middle for a nine-yard touchdown.

It wasn’t the decisive blow, but the Ravens were going to be okay after that. And the reason why is they got back to what they do best—running the football.

It would be a stretch to criticize an offense that produced 215 total yards in the first half, but two statistics just didn’t look right at halftime—10 points and 44 rushing yards.

An offense that led the NFL in rushing attempts a season ago had turned its back on its biggest strength. But when the Ravens desperately needed it, that old identity resurfaced. Everything else—including the passing game—fell into place after that.

Make no mistake, the Ravens absolutely need more production out of their passing game if they hope to reach the Super Bowl; however, 25 passing attempts and only 13 running plays in a half probably isn’t the Ravens’ best formula for success every week.

The second half was a different story as the Baltimore offense ran the ball 28 times for a whopping 154 yards. And, oh yeah, Flacco still managed to throw 18 more times for another 132 yards and two more touchdown passes.

Balance.

John Harbaugh admitted the team planned to come out throwing against a vulnerable Kansas City secondary—and it’s hard to argue with the results in terms of yardage—but the offense got greedy after its early success.

Perhaps it took a disastrous interception to remind the Ravens that having a good passing game does not mean you should use it exclusively. Regardless of how much Flacco and the passing game has improved from last season, the combination of running the football and playing great defense—what the Ravens do best—is still the surest way to win consistently in the NFL.

“This is a new year, a new offense, a new mentality, everything starts over,” Mark Clayton said after Sunday’s game. “And we are kind of reformed or remaking ourselves and to be able to throw the ball down the field, it’s fun, one, and it puts points on the board, two. The last time I checked, the team with the most points wins. Our goal is to score every time.”

The excitement from both players and fans is completely understandable, but last time I checked, the 2008 formula worked pretty well too. The Ravens rediscovered it when they needed it in the second half and went on to produce 24 points and 286 yards of offense—more than they accumulated in either category in the first half.

It may lack the excitement of an all-out air assault, but a happy balance of old and new will not only put points on the board, but it will wear down opponents in the process.

“We were getting five or six yards at a time, and then those five- or six-yard runs started turning into 15-yard runs and 10-yard runs and 20-yard runs,” Rice said. “That’s what good running teams do. On top of all the good passing today, you can look at our running game and say we did pretty good.”

Pretty good, indeed.

Just don’t forget about it.

Luke Jones is a Baltimore Ravens and Maryland football correspondent for WNST.net. Read his blog here.

Baltimore Ravens: Final Preseason Game, Final Chances

Luke Jones — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 22:28:02 -0400

Originally published at WNST.net

The Charm City is abuzz over the Ravens’ preseason finale with the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday night.

With a victory in the Georgia Dome, the Ravens would complete a perfect 4-0 preseason and immediately stamp their ticket for Miami in early February. After all, the 2000 Baltimore Ravens went 4-0 in the preseason and eventually raised the Lombardi Trophy at Super Bowl XXXV in Tampa.

The stars are already aligning in the Ravens’ favor, right?

Alright, you caught me. I can already hear the groans and see the collective rolling of eyes.

Yes, the Detroit Lions finished a 4-0 preseason a year ago and went on to complete a perfect—or imperfect—0-16 season.

And, on the surface, watching the fourth—and final—preseason game sounds about as appealing as attending an Orioles-Yankees game at Camden Yards in early September.

No one will remember the winner or the final score beyond the weekend, but if you look deeper and from a different perspective, you’ll find an otherwise hollow exhibition filled with consequence and meaning for both the Baltimore Ravens and a number of individuals struggling to secure a job in one of the most cut-throat businesses in the entire world.

For those focused solely on the team and its chances to improve upon a successful 2008 campaign that ended just minutes shy of the Super Bowl, Thursday night marks the last chance to evaluate potential contributors to the 2009 roster.

It will be the final exam for the kicking battle between Steve Hauschka and rookie Graham Gano. Though Hauschka owns the clear advantage, both kickers have wilted at different points in the preseason, causing fans to daydream—and some to even pray—about the potential return of Matt Stover.

For these two—and special teams coach Jerry Rosburg—Thursday is a high-stakes playoff game.

And as much as we quip over the labeling of a kicker as a "true" football player, his leg can make or break an entire season.

Just ask Al Del Greco or Scott Norwood.

Others may not be engaged in a marquee battle, but the competition is just as intense.

Many players fighting for few precious spots may seem relatively anonymous now, but the strong likelihood of at least one or two of these unknowns becoming the center of attention—good or bad—at some point during the season cannot be overlooked.

It was only last year that Jameel McClain was an undrafted rookie linebacker from Syracuse clawing for a job on the 53-man roster going into the final preseason game. And after a couple of safeties and key special teams contributions as a rookie, he is now only an injury away from starting at inside linebacker for one of the best defenses in the NFL.

And who can honestly say they knew who Anthony Mitchell was before he snatched a blocked field goal attempt out of the air and galloped 90 yards for the game-winning touchdown against Tennessee in January 2001?

Mitchell spent almost two full seasons in anonymity before his shining moment.

In all likelihood, one of these fringe players flying beneath the radar will swing the momentum in the Ravens’ favor (Mitchell) or crush a golden opportunity (Daren Stone in Pittsburgh, anyone?) at some point this season. Who will it be?

And shifting the focus away from the actual football team and the lucrative money involved in professional football, we have a group of young men trying to fulfill a lifelong dream. Sure, they’ve made a little money in the month of August, but it’s a far cry from the signing bonus inked by Pro Bowl linebacker Terrell Suggs in July.

For many of these players, Thursday night is the final opportunity to wear a Ravens uniform and to show enough skill to remain in Baltimore or garner the attention of one of the other 31 NFL teams.

Some will catch on elsewhere, whether in the NFL, UFL, or Canada. But for others, Thursday will mark the end of a boyhood dream, and it will be time to move on to the next phase of their lives—away from the football field.

Whether you’re an average laborer or a world-class athlete, it stings to hear that you’re not good enough or that your services are no longer needed. And that’s the exact message coach John Harbaugh will have to deliver to many players over the weekend.

As much as we try to remove the human element from the multimillion-dollar business of professional sports and sometimes treat athletes like emotionless machines, these guys have dreams that will ultimately fall short. And in that sense, Thursday night will bring some sadness.

So if you’re grasping for any reason to stay tuned to a meaningless preseason finale on a work night, root for these fringe players—and yes, they ARE Ravens, even if not for much longer—fighting for their football lives and trying to hold onto a dream very similar to the one you or I may have had as a kid. Most of them are good guys, humble and hard workers who are just starving for the chance to play in the NFL.

A few will fulfill that dream Thursday night while others will have to wonder what comes next in their lives.

A meaningless game?

Only on the surface.

Luke Jones is a Ravens correspondent for WNST.net. You can read his blog here.

Willis McGahee Leaves Murky Picture for Baltimore Ravens' Running Game

Luke Jones — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 00:41:56 -0400

Originally published at WNST.net

As Willis McGahee laid on the field following a violent hit from Steelers cornerback Ryan Clark late in the AFC Championship game, it was the culmination of a bitterly disappointing season for the Ravens running back. McGahee would prove to be okay, but his future with the Ravens beyond this season is up in the air.

After rushing for 1,207 yards and earning a trip to the Pro Bowl in 2007—his first season with the Ravens—McGahee reported to training camp out of shape and was slow to learn Cam Cameron’s offensive system last season.

It was quite apparent that McGahee was in John Harbaugh’s doghouse and remained there for much of the season, as Le’Ron McClain became the primary option in the running game with Ray Rice getting a large number of carries as well.

It didn’t help that McGahee dealt with several nagging injuries throughout the season, including knee, eye, and ankle problems, as he finished with a career-low 671 yards.

In fact, McGahee had virtually disappeared from the offensive game plan before rushing for a 77-yard touchdown against Dallas in Week 16 and later scoring two touchdowns in the conference championship game before the violent collision.

Conventional wisdom would tell you he would come back determined to regain his No. 1 status in the Ravens’ offense after a disappointing season and the violent hit that landed him in the hospital, right?

After undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery, McGahee had been present at OTAs but skipped last week’s “voluntary” workouts. When he resurfaced at this week’s minicamp, Rice was working with the first team while McGahee ran with the second unit.

So, where does McGahee stand in the Ravens’ plans less than two months from the start of training camp? It’s anyone’s guess, but the only thing he’s regained at this point is his familiar spot in the doghouse.

“I don’t know,” Harbaugh told reporters earlier this week. “I have no idea where he’s at. It’s the first day he’s been here in a week and a half. I can’t gauge it.”

Not exactly a ringing endorsement.

The only thing to expect from McGahee is unreliability. Despite the Ravens making him one of the NFL’s highest-paid backs after signing him to a seven-year contract (the last two being option years) worth up to $40.2 million in 2007, the running back continues to show a lack of commitment in the offseason, one of the biggest knocks against him in Buffalo.

It’s not that McGahee doesn’t work hard during the season or is a bad teammate, but it’s clear he lacks the same dedication of his fellow Hurricanes Ray Lewis and Ed Reed, workout warriors throughout the calendar year.

Even in his Pro Bowl season with the Ravens in 2007, his conditioning was a huge question mark, especially in the early stages of the season.

Those hoping to see a revitalized McGahee in 2009 are only going to be disappointed. If he didn’t learn his lesson after last season—not to mention the horrific knee injury he suffered at the University of Miami in January 2003—he never will.

McGahee has the tools to be one of the best backs in the league and is still only 27 years old, but he doesn’t seem willing to put forth the work needed to be an elite runner.

Take him for what he is and nothing more: a good—but could be great—running back with loads of talent—and not worth the generous contract the Ravens gave him.

In fact, if not for the $11.25 million hit that would have been charged against the salary cap, the Ravens could have explored trading McGahee to Arizona—who needed a running back—for receiver Anquan Boldin.

McGahee would easily be the primary option in the running game if he were in optimum condition, but instead, the Ravens are left with plenty of options in the backfield and no clear picture.

The Ravens appear committed to moving McClain back to fullback fulltime, especially after choosing not to re-sign veteran Lorenzo Neal (now with the Raiders). Rice would be the next in line, but given his small stature, durability is the biggest concern with the second-year tailback.

Sixth-round pick Cedric Peerman is a promising back, but he will most likely be little more than a special teams contributor initially.

At this point, the “three-headed monster” appears to be a good bet to resurface in Baltimore this season, and it’s hard to argue with last season’s performance.

The combination of McClain, McGahee, and Rice provided quarterback Joe Flacco with the run-heavy offense needed in his first season. It kept the pressure off the rookie and allowed him to grow into the offense.

The Ravens hope Flacco can open up the passing game in his second year, but there’s little doubt the offense will continue to be focused around the running game, as it should.

However, it would be nice to see where a fully-dedicated McGahee could take the running game—and the entire offense. But then again, it’s the same statement uttered about McGahee numerous times since he entered the NFL.

Loads of talent, but much of it left untapped.

Luke Jones is a blogger for WNST.net. Click here to read his blog.

Dawan Landry: Dropping Back with the Baltimore Ravens Safety

Luke Jones — Mon, 25 May 2009 20:47:31 -0400

Here are the questions I'd ask Ravens safety Dawan Landry:

1. How does it feel to finally be back on the field for minicamp after everything you went through last season?

2. Describe your offseason workout regimen. For the average fan that doesn't really understand what it means to be an NFL player 12 months out of the year, what are the keys to being successful?

3. Take us back to Week Three against Cleveland when you sustained a spinal cord concussion. What went through your mind as you lay on the field at M&T Bank Stadium?

4. How frustrating was it to see the success the team had last season, knowing you could not be a part of it physically?

5. Jim Leonhard, your replacement after the injury, played very well in your absence. Many even suggested the Ravens should have re-signed him before he ultimately joined Rex Ryan in New York. How anxious are you to make fans forget Leonhard and to regain your status as a force beside Ed Reed in the Baltimore secondary?

6. You were originally recruited to play quarterback at Georgia Tech before switching to safety. How does your past experience at the quarterback position help you in the secondary?

7. Your younger brother and Redskins safety, LaRon Landry, was a first-round pick in the 2007 draft, a year after you were selected in the fifth round by the Ravens. Describe the relationship you have with your brother, and what kind of rivalry the two of you have when it comes to football.

8. How will the transition be from Rex Ryan to new coordinator Greg Mattison leading the Baltimore defense? What changes will we see, if any?

9. You play beside arguably one of the greatest safeties in the history of the game in Ed Reed. Describe your relationship with him and how he's helped your career.

10. What are the keys for the Ravens' defense to continue the same success it has had since you've been here?

11. What has been your biggest motivation recovering from the neck injury and offseason surgery?

12. Who have been the most influential people in getting you where you are today?

13. How do you envision the 2009 season going for you and the Baltimore Ravens?

Baltimore Ravens' Coaching Staff Built on Past Relationships

Luke Jones — Mon, 25 May 2009 19:29:33 -0400

The NFL has long been filled with various coaching trees branching out from a single influential individual.

From the well-chronicled network of coaches that worked under Bill Walsh to the legendary Vince Lombardi and Tom Landry working as assistants under New York Giants head coach Jim Lee Howell, many of the league’s great head coaches can attribute their success to another great coach—a mentor that helped them sharpen their craft.

For the Baltimore Ravens, two individuals that never coached in the NFL provide the inspiration for a plethora of successful coaches: the late Bo Schembechler and Jack Harbaugh.

Schembechler, the legendary coach of the University of Michigan from 1969 through 1989, inspired current Ravens coach John Harbaugh to offer these words when he was introduced as Ravens head coach in January 2008:

“When you grow up in that environment, part of your life values, the thing you learn is that there are three important things [to] putting together a football team. No. 1, the team; No. 2 is the team; and the third most important thing is the team. We’ll stick with that through and through, beginning to end. That’s what it’s all about.”

Harbaugh’s second, and most influential mentor, continues to be his father Jack who served as an assistant under Schembechler at Michigan for many years and served as the head coach at Western Michigan (1982-1986) and later Western Kentucky (1989-2002).

The younger Harbaugh received his coaching start with his father at Western Michigan, overseeing the running backs and outside linebackers from 1984 through 1986.

After leaving Western Michigan, Harbaugh had college coaching stints at Pittsburgh, Morehead State, Cincinnati, and Indiana before finally breaking into the NFL in 1998 to become the special teams coordinator of the Philadelphia Eagles.

Hired by Ray Rhodes, Harbaugh’s job appeared to be lost when Andy Reid replaced Rhodes as head coach only a year later, but Harbaugh was one of only four assistants retained in 1999.

Harbaugh would lead the Eagles’ special teams unit until after the 2006 season when he became defensive backs coach, a request granted in order to one day fulfill his dream of becoming a head coach in the NFL.

This dream would come to fruition only a year later when the Ravens fired longtime coach Brian Billick following the 2007 season and began their search for a new leader.

After Cowboys assistant Jason Garrett left Baltimore without accepting the Ravens’ job offer, the team turned to Harbaugh, an underdog for the job, but a man whose passion and coaching pedigree could not be overlooked.

In his first season in Baltimore, Harbaugh guided the Ravens to an 11-5 record, including a trip to the AFC Championship. As he prepares for his second season as coach of the Ravens, heightened expectations to improve on last year’s success surround the 46-year-old coach

Several members of Harbaugh’s staff share ties to the head coach, or his two coaching inspirations, creating a unique coaching tree that has come full circle.

Offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, the head coach of the Miami Dolphins in 2007, will begin his second season in charge of the Baltimore offense. Cameron started his career as an assistant coach under Schembechler at Michigan.

During his time in Ann Arbor, he helped develop several future NFL quarterbacks including Jim Harbaugh (John’s brother), Elvis Grbac, and Todd Collins.

Cameron served as head coach at Indiana University (1997-2001) where Harbaugh served as an assistant in 1997 before moving on to Philadelphia.

Long considered a quarterback guru in the NFL, the 48-year-old Cameron is credited with helping both Philip Rivers and Drew Brees reach Pro Bowl status as well as developing Gus Frerotte in Washington.

Cameron had NFL coaching stints in Washington (quarterbacks coach), San Diego (offensive coordinator), and Miami (head coach) before coming to Baltimore last season.

Harbaugh hopes Cameron can continue to work the same magic with quarterback Joe Flacco after a successful rookie campaign running the offense. He figures to continue operating a run-first offense but expand the options available to Flacco in the passing game.

On the other side of the ball, defensive coordinator Greg Mattison steps into the big shoes left behind by Rex Ryan after the former coordinator accepted the head coaching job with the New York Jets. Mattison takes the coordinator duties after coaching the Baltimore linebackers in his first season in the NFL last year.

Mattison spent 37 years coaching at the collegiate and high school level before finally receiving the call from Harbaugh last season. The two coached together at Western Michigan under Jack Harbaugh, with Mattison serving as the defensive coordinator from 1981 through 1986.

The 59-year-old coordinator coached most recently at the University of Florida (2005-2007) under Urban Meyer. He served as the co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach of a punishing Gators defense that destroyed Ohio State, 41-14, in the 2007 BCS National Championship Game.

Mattison also had stints at Notre Dame, Michigan, Texas A&M, Navy, Northwestern, Cornell, and Illinois.

Faced with continuing the tradition of excellent Baltimore defense, Mattison has stressed the importance of not shaking the boat that is the Ravens’ dominating defense. Bringing pressure was a staple of his college defenses, so he figures to follow the same principles left behind by Ryan.

Completing the trio of top assistants with strong ties to the head coach is special teams coordinator and assistant head coach Jerry Rosburg. Known throughout the league for his excellent special teams units, Rosburg came on board last season after Harbaugh’s hiring.

Rosburg and Harbaugh shared special teams duties at the University of Cincinnati for four years (1992-1995), building a relationship that would lead to their reunion in Baltimore.

The 53-year-old special teams guru has operated successful special teams units in the NFL with Atlanta (2007) and Cleveland (2001-06). His units have consistently rated in the top 10 in various categories.

His other college experience includes stops at Notre Dame, Boston College, Minnesota, Western Michigan (a year after Harbaugh left), and Northern Michigan.

The key members of the Ravens coaching staff also include two assistants with no direct ties to Harbaugh prior to last season.

Quarterbacks coach Hue Jackson was an instrumental figure in Flaccco’s development a season ago.

Jackson has previous experience as an offensive coordinator in Atlanta (2007) and Washington (2003) and figures to become a hot head coaching prospect if he can continue to help the talented Flacco realize his vast potential.

His coaching versatility is also an asset, having coached the Cincinnati receivers (including Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh) from 2004 through 2006. He also coached the running backs in Washington in 2001 and 2002.

In addition to Jackson, offensive line coach John Matsko immediately made an impact in his first season in Baltimore, building a successful offensive line that battled injuries throughout the season. The 36-year coaching veteran has built successful lines in Kansas City, St. Louis, New York (Giants), New Orleans, and Phoenix.

He has coached numerous Pro Bowl linemen—including Will Shields, Brian Waters, Adam Timmerman, and Willie Roaf among others—and will be entrusted to develop the Ravens’ impressive duo of offensive tackles, third-year left tackle Jared Gaither and 2009 first-round pick Michael Oher.

The Ravens received criticism for hiring Harbaugh, a coach who had never been a head coach at any level, but the wealth of experience surrounding him has helped make a smooth transition into the head coaching position.

With the past relationships among many of his assistants, it’s easy to see why Harbaugh preaches the team—and only the team—first. It’s a reflection of the teachings of Schembechler and his father Jack and continues with his current players and coaching staff.

The Ravens coach believes building relationships will ultimately lead to winning championships. If the makeup of his coaching staff is any indication, the future appears bright in Baltimore.

Information from baltimoreravens.com was used in this article.

Baltimore Ravens: Five Positional Battles To Watch During Training Camp

Luke Jones — Mon, 25 May 2009 13:24:12 -0400

As the Baltimore Ravens walked off the field following a heartbreaking 23-14 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Championship game, every player and coach knew changes would be coming.

Change is a reality of the NFL with the salary cap—whether you're a few minutes away from going to the Super Bowl, or 0-16—and the 2009 Ravens will look much different in several key areas.

Key departures include linebacker Bart Scott (New York Jets), center Jason Brown (St. Louis), safety Jim Leonhard (Jets), cornerback Chris McAlister (unsigned), offensive tackle Willie Anderson (retired), tight end Dan Wilcox (unsigned) and defensive end Marques Douglas (Jets).

In addition to selecting six players in this year's draft, the Ravens added cornerbacks Domonique Foxworth (Atlanta) and Chris Carr (Tennessee), center Matt Birk (Minnesota), tight end L.J. Smith (Philadelphia), quarterback John Beck (Miami) and receiver Kelley Washington (New England).

With so many new veterans and rookies in the fold, training camp in Westminster, Md. figures to host several key positional battles as the Ravens prepare for their opener against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sept. 13.

The following is a look at five key positional battles—in no particular order—to watch during training camp at McDaniel College.

1. Inside Linebacker

The departure of Scott leaves a gaping hold next to Ray Lewis at the other inside linebacker position. Scott did the dirty, physical work of taking on blockers, leaving the veteran Lewis free to pursue the ball carrier. The younger Scott was also stronger in pass coverage than Lewis.

Conventional wisdom points to second-year player Tavares Gooden as Scott's replacement in the starting defense, but this may not be a foregone conclusion.

The 2008 third-round pick is a health risk after spending most of last season on injured reserve with a hip injury. He also had a history of concussions and shoulder problems at the University of Miami.

At the team's mandatory minicamp earlier this month, Gooden appeared bigger and faster, a good sign for coordinator Greg Mattison's defense. He has reportedly been spending time at Lewis' home, watching film and gaining wisdom from the 34-year-old linebacker.

If Gooden does not get the nod on the inside, another option could be second-year linebacker Jameel McClain. The undrafted free agent from Syracuse emerged last year to grab a spot in training camp and worked his way up the depth chart, earning significant playing time as the season progressed.

McClain finished the season with 16 tackles and 2.5 sacks and was a strong contributor on special teams.

Fifth-round draft pick Jason Phillips (TCU) is a gritty and physical linebacker, but he would be a long shot to grab the starting spot as a rookie. The organization could also look to Brendon Ayanbadejo, but his value on special teams would be hard to sacrifice with other options at inside linebacker.

2. Backup Quarterback

A quarterback controversy is brewing in the Charm City; only for once, it's not over who will be starting under center—Joe Flacco has finally stabilized the position for the Ravens. The real battle will take place between incumbent backup Troy Smith and newly-signed John Beck, a former second-round pick of the Miami Dolphins in 2007.

Smith found moderate success running the Ravens' version of the Wildcat formation at times last season, but his size (6'0") makes it difficult for him to spot receivers in the pocket, forcing him to move outside. The 6'2" Beck is a more traditional drop back passer.

Beck has strong ties to offensive coordinator Cam Cameron (Miami's head coach in 2007) and would figure to have a strong grasp on the playbook, improving his chances to overtake Smith for the backup spot.

The Ravens will undoubtedly try to use Smith's athleticism as they did last season, but a long-term injury to Flacco might cause the coaching staff to play the more traditional quarterback Beck.

Smith oozes with confidence, but he failed to grab hold of the starting job last preseason before suffering a tonsil infection, opening the door for Flacco to become the team's starter in his rookie season. This factor might weigh on coach John Harbaugh's mind as he decides who will back up the talented Flacco.

3. Kick/Punt Returner

With the departure of Leonhard to the Jets, the Ravens must find a new punt returner and try to stabilize the kick return position.

Newly-signed defensive back Chris Carr had a good season with the Titans and would likely be the top candidate for the job. He averaged 28.1 yards per kick return (fourth in the NFL) and 10.1 yards on punt returns.

If injuries in the secondary would force Carr into the starting lineup, several in-house candidates are presently on the roster.

Yamon Figurs began last season as the primary kick and punt returner, but it's clear he is not a favorite of the current coaching staff. Figurs appeared hesitant in returning kicks and struggles holding onto the ball at times. He will need to have a strong preseason to stay on the roster.

Rookie cornerback Lardarius Webb, a third-round pick, returned kicks at Nicholls St. and will compete for the job.

Tom Zbikowski returned kicks at the end of last season but did not provide much of an impact.

Sixth-round pick and rookie running back Cedric Peerman also returned kicks at the University of Virginia, but the team would figure to allow Peerman to focus his efforts competing at the running back position.

Carr would figure to have the upper hand, but strong training camp performances would certainly blur the competition a great deal.

4. Kicker

For the first time in the history of the franchise, the Ravens are uncertain who will be their kicker on Opening Day. Matt Stover was not re-signed but is on general manager Ozzie Newsome's speed dial if the other options do not work out.

Steve Hauschka was the team's kickoff specialist in 2008 and made one of two field goal attempts. He has a big leg, but trying a long field goal before the half is quite different than kicking a game-winning 42-yarder when the pressure is on late in the fourth quarter.

The Ravens signed rookie free agent Graham Gano from Florida State to compete for the job. Gano won the Lou Groza Award in 2008, awarded to college football's best kicker. He made 24 of 26 attempts last season with the Seminoles, hitting five of seven from 50 or more yards.

While a battle at kicker isn't going to capture the city's attention, it is crucial to stabilize the position entering the season. If neither Hauschka nor Gano can win the job in the preseason, look for Stover to return for his 14th season with the Ravens.

5. Right Tackle

This position would have been the featured battle of training camp had veteran Willie Anderson not announced his retirement a couple weeks ago.

First-round pick (23rd overall) Michael Oher of Ole Miss is a tremendous talent at 6-5 and 309 pounds. His story was well-chronicled prior to the draft, and the Ravens appeared to snatch up another highly-talented player in the later stages of the first round.

Oher has performed well in OTAs (Organized Team Activities) and has picked up the offense quickly, according to the coaching staff.

With veteran tackle Adam Terry continuing to battle an ankle injury, the job appears to be Oher's to lose. Terry would be the ideal backup for both Oher and left tackle Jared Gaither since he has experience playing both positions in the NFL.

CBS: The 1996 Baltimore Ravens an Unlikely Favorite

Luke Jones — Sun, 24 May 2009 00:31:49 -0400

Ask Baltimore Ravens fans what their favorite team of all-time is, and you’ll get an overwhelming number of votes for the 2000 Ravens, winners of Super Bowl XXXV in only their fifth year.

As special as this season was for the city and its fans, the story really goes back to 1996 when football was reborn in the Charm City after a 12-year absence from the NFL. For those enduring the years of suffering after the Colts left town in the middle of the night on March 28, 1984, the Ravens represented a new chapter in the rich history of Baltimore football.

For someone who was only a few months old when the Mayflower trucks left the Baltimore Colts’ complex in Owings Mills on that snowy night, the NFL was little more than a sport played in other cities. As much as I enjoyed reading and hearing stories about the days of Johnny Unitas, Lenny Moore, Raymond Berry, and Gino Marchetti, I wanted—and needed—my own team and players to follow and revere.

For this reason, the 1996 Baltimore Ravens will forever be my favorite team. It wasn’t about anything they accomplished on the field—their final record was an abysmal 4-12—but it was the fact that they were simply playing NFL football at historic Memorial Stadium that mattered most.

My first NFL experience took place in August 1996 with the Ravens taking on the Green Bay Packers in a preseason game. A torrential downpour soaked my father and me for much of the first half, but it couldn’t dampen our spirits as we witnessed our first NFL game together. For my father, it was a reawakening of his younger days as a Colts fan, but for me, it was the first of many memories to come as a Baltimore football fan. The Packers won, 17-15, on a last-second field goal, but to watch the Ravens—our team—for the first time was a special moment.

The official reintroduction of Baltimore to the NFL took place on Sept. 1, 1996, as the Ravens hosted the Oakland Raiders in front of 64,124 at Memorial Stadium. The atmosphere was electric as the Baltimore Colts Marching Band (who had stayed together in the years following the Colts’ move) performed and the legendary Unitas presented the game ball at midfield before a raucous crowd.

Quarterback Vinny Testaverde scored the franchise’s first touchdown, an eight-yard run in the first quarter, and a rookie middle linebacker named Ray Lewis intercepted a Billy Joe Hobert pass in the end zone, igniting a love affair only trumped by Unitas in Baltimore football lore. The Ravens trailed in the fourth quarter before Earnest Byner’s one-yard run gave Baltimore the 19-14 victory, the city’s first NFL win since 1983.

Baltimore was back in the NFL, and the purple and black of the Ravens had officially replaced the blue and white of the old Colts. Memories of the Colts would never be forgotten, but the city could finally begin moving forward with a new team and a new identity.

Unfortunately, the highlights were few and far between after Week 1 for the 1996 Ravens. The team went 4-12, finishing last in the AFC Central. Head coach Ted Marchibroda was a popular choice to lead the new Ravens after guiding the Baltimore Colts to three AFC East titles in 1975, 1976, and 1977 but was unable to capture the same magic with the Ravens in Baltimore.

Despite their poor record, the Ravens demonstrated an explosive offense, ranking third in the NFL in yardage and sixth in points scored (23.2 per game). Leading the Ravens’ high-octane offense was Testaverde. Maligned throughout his career in Tampa Bay and Cleveland, the 10-year veteran was selected to his first Pro Bowl, throwing for 4,177 yards, 33 touchdowns, and 19 interceptions.

Testaverde had a pair of 1,000-yard receivers in Michael Jackson and Derrick Alexander. Jackson led the team with 1,201 yards and 14 touchdowns while Alexander averaged 17.7 yards per catch and caught nine touchdowns. The duo was one of the deadliest receiving threats in the league, as Testaverde threw the football all over the field to the delight of Ravens fans.

The rushing attack struggled early in the season with Byner and Leroy Hoard unable to move the chains consistently. As a result, general manager Ozzie Newsome jettisoned Hoard and signed former Steelers running back Bam Morris to boost the running game. The controversial back went on to rush for 737 yards and four touchdowns in 11 games.

Despite the Ravens’ well-chronicled history of outstanding defense, the 1996 unit was the exact opposite, ranking last in the NFL in total defense and 28^th in points allowed (27.6 per game). Leading the way for the Ravens’ defense was Pro Bowl safety Eric Turner and the rookie Lewis, who led the team with 110 tackles and thrilled the Baltimore crowd with his passion and speed at the middle linebacker position.

The unit struggled mightily defending the pass, ranking last in passing defense and surrendering 27 touchdown passes. The ineffective pass rush—linebacker Mike Caldwell led the team with only 4.5 sacks—and the shoddy play of cornerbacks Isaac Booth, Donny Brady, DeRon Jenkins, and Antonio Langham led to opposing quarterbacks carving up the Ravens’ defense.

Though a 4-12 record might suggest otherwise, the 1996 Ravens were an extremely competitive team in the AFC. The team held fourth-quarter leads in five of their 12 losses, including twice against Jacksonville and once against Denver, both playoff teams. The Ravens’ porous defense and Marchibroda’s conservative play-calling in the fourth quarter—something for which he was criticized during his stint with the Baltimore Colts—led to several heartbreaking losses.

Other than their Opening Day win against the Raiders, the highlight of the season came on December 1 when the Ravens dominated the Pittsburgh Steelers, 31-17, in a driving rain storm at Memorial Stadium. Rookie left guard Jonathan Ogden (Tony Jones was the team’s left tackle before moving on to Denver following the 1996 season) caught a one-yard touchdown on a tackle-eligible play, and Morris rushed for 100 yards against his former team.

The Steelers had dominated the Ravens in their Week 2 matchup, 31-17, but the new Ravens planted the seed for the teams’ future rivalry by returning the favor in the second matchup.

Though the final record of 4-12 was disappointing for the Ravens and their fans, the first-round selections of Ogden and Lewis the previous April would provide the foundation for the Super Bowl victory that would take place four years later. In addition to these two future Hall of Famers, Newsome selected wide receiver Jermaine Lewis in the fifth round, a return man that sparked the special teams in 1996 and would return a kick for a touchdown four years later in Super Bowl XXXV.

More importantly than any victory or any player, the 1996 Ravens represented a renaissance of professional football in Baltimore, a city starving for a second chance after losing the Colts 12 years earlier. They represented the opportunity for a new generation to enjoy NFL football in the Charm City.

The 1996 Ravens would be little more than a footnote in the immense history of the NFL, but for Baltimore, they represented a giant step in moving on from the pain of losing a football team. More steps would be taken in subsequent years, culminating with the 2000 Ravens hoisting the Vince Lombardi Trophy in Tampa Bay, but the 1996 Ravens were the first new love for a city rabid for football.

For me, the 1996 Ravens opened the door for new memories to be shared with my father in the years to follow. They allowed me to see how special the NFL experience could be for a father and son.

I would continue to cherish the proud history of the Baltimore Colts, as I was able to demonstrate to my father prior to a game against the Jaguars on Nov. 24 of that season. As I sat in my lower level closed end zone seat near the field, I noticed the legendary Unitas standing near the goal post.

With my father still parking the car outside the stadium, I begged the on-field security guard to ask Unitas to sign my ticket stub. When my father finally made his way to our seats, I couldn’t stop grinning as I presented him the signed Ravens-Jaguars ticket stub. I was 13-years-old, and this moment linked the Colts of the past to the Ravens of the present—and future—for my father and me.

The 1996 Ravens were a heartbreaking—and at times, frustrating—team to watch, but I was thrilled to finally have a new generation of players—and a team—to call my own.

Orioles 'Black Magic': Feel It Bring You Down

Luke Jones — Thu, 21 May 2009 22:15:49 -0400

For baseball fans, there are few things finer in life than getting home from a long day of work, cracking open a cold beer, and turning on the ballgame to relax and have some fun. It’s an escape…a reprieve…part of the fabric of Americana.

The problem in Baltimore is this ideal experience is no more than a distant memory or a faraway dream. The reality is watching the Orioles this year—and for the last 11 seasons—feels more like taking out the trash or doing the laundry.

It feels like an obligation to a family member that you cannot avoid. Diehards continue to watch, looking for any glimmer of hope such as the sparkling play of young Adam Jones.

However, for every bright spot like Jones, the continued improvement of Nick Markakis, and the desperate hope for the crop of minor league pitching, there is the horrendous starting pitching, foolish baserunning, and invisible late-inning offense. Quite frankly, it’s not easy—or enjoyable—to watch.

No matter how much MASN tries to brainwash its audience—and believe me, it’s propaganda at its finest—the obvious and painful truth is staring us right in the face.

Orioles Magic energized the Charm City in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and in the exact opposite way, Orioles “Black Magic” continues to suck the very life out of this city every summer, as it has for over a decade.

It’s why many Baltimoreans gravitated to the Washington Capitals’ run in the NHL playoffs, and it’s why fans are already seeing purple when we’re still two months away from the first morning practice at McDaniel College. Even MASN’s Amber Theoharis was wearing purple and black tonight!

The “Black Magic” is what has turned Camden Yards—the place to be in the mid-90s when the Orioles were winning—into an empty palace of bad dreams.

We’re desperate for something—anything—to distract us from the harsh reality that is the Orioles’ 2009 season. It isn’t even about the present state of the roster. In fact, there weren’t very many moves I would have made differently to shape the current roster—with the obvious exception of subjecting fans to the pitching of Adam Eaton.

It’s the simple reality that this “Black Magic” continues to depress an otherwise rabid sports town for the 12th year in a row.

Think back to January, and the Ravens’ improbable run to the AFC Championship. The town was basking in a purple haze of excitement and pride. The Ravens make us proud to be from Baltimore, and we’d love to feel the same way about the Orioles again—the way Baltimoreans felt in the 60s, 70s, and 80s when the organization was the finest in baseball.

Even while tempering expectations—something we’ve grown quite used to in the last 12 years—hope still springs eternal in April. Maybe—just maybe—the Orioles could have surprised us this year. But only six weeks later, what little optimism was present on Opening Day is long gone with the Orioles at 16-25 and in last place in the American League East.

Yes, the eventual promotion of Matt Wieters and the reports from the minor leagues will stir some interest, but it still figures to be a long summer until the Ravens kick off in September.

As bad as the first two months have been, the future does look brighter than it has in a very long time, but herein lays the problem. The unknown. As promising as Chris Tillman, Jake Arrieta, Brian Matusz, and the rest of the farm may be, there is no guarantee these young players will pull the organization out of the abyss.

It’s downright nauseating to consider the possibility that these pitchers won’t fare much better than the many failed prospects of the last 20 years. This 12-year losing streak has to turn at some point, right? We can only hope.

When it inevitably does—and hopefully it’s sooner rather than later for everyone’s sake—it will be important to never forget this miserable stretch of baseball as much as we all will want to.

Much like we treasure the success—and more importantly, the mere presence of the Ravens after not having NFL football for 12 years, it will be equally important to cherish having meaningful baseball in Baltimore again after having this long era of “Black Magic” suck the passion and energy out of the city.

There is no doubt that Baltimore can be a two-sport town, and there is no better dream than to have the Orioles playing in the World Series the same weekend the Ravens are whipping the Steelers at M&T Bank Stadium. As silly and impossible as it sounds today, it’s the only way to persevere through the black cloud lurking over Camden Yards for the past 12 years.

But until that day comes, the Orioles “Black Magic” will continue to plague a city that has largely forgotten what winning baseball even looks or feels like. Watching baseball will continue to feel more like a chore than an enjoyable diversion.

One day—and hopefully soon—we’ll see the return of Orioles Magic, but until then, we’ll continue to fight the “Black Magic” of another miserable summer.

Luke Jones is a finalist in WNST's King of Baltimore Sportstalk Competition. Check out his blog here.

Several Dominoes Must Fall for Anquan Boldin To Fly to Baltimore

Luke Jones — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 09:50:34 -0400

Originally published at WNST.net

In the months leading to the NFL Draft, talk has persisted over the Ravens’ need to select a receiver in the first round. But now with the draft only a week away, could Pro Bowl wide receiver Anquan Boldin be heading to Baltimore?

The Arizona Cardinals have officially placed Boldin on the trading block, and the Ravens are interested in the 28-year-old wideout, according to numerous media outlets.

Boldin would certainly be the playmaker the Ravens offense needs, but there are several barriers to overcome before the three-time Pro Bowl selection can begin reining in passes from quarterback Joe Flacco.

The Cardinals are reportedly seeking a first- and third-round pick, a likely sticking point for the Ravens who have only six picks in the draft. General manager Ozzie Newsome has not traded out of the first round since 2003, when the Ravens traded their 2004 first-round pick to the New England Patriots in order to select quarterback Kyle Boller.

The fact that the Ravens are even discussing the possibility of trading picks for Boldin suggests a lack of enthusiasm for the group of receivers that could be available with the 26th overall pick. Maryland’s Darrius Heyward-Bey, Rutgers’ Kenny Britt, and North Carolina’s Hakeem Nicks have been mentioned as potential first-round choices but all have weaknesses and would likely struggle to make an impact in their rookie season.

Director of player personnel Eric DeCosta mentioned earlier in the week that more failed picks have come at the wide receiver position than any other between picks 24 through 32.

And despite Newsome’s immense success on draft day, wide receiver is not a position on which the Ravens typically hit a home run. Past early-round picks include Patrick Johnson, Travis Taylor, Devard Darling, Mark Clayton, and Yamon Figurs—not exactly a group that strikes fear in a secondary’s heart.

If the Ravens are truly serious about getting better at the wide receiver position immediately, Boldin is a far better option than anyone in the draft, including top-rated receiver Michael Crabtree from Texas Tech. While a young receiver could become a threat in the future, none would transform the Ravens into a legitimate Super Bowl contender like Boldin.

Even the asking price of a first- and third-round pick is not a steep one when solely considering the value of the picks. Using the NFL draft-pick value chart, a point system used by general managers to consider potential trades, the Ravens’ first-round pick (26th overall) is worth 700 points and the third-round pick (88th overall) is worth 150 for a total of 850 points. This is roughly equivalent to the 20th overall pick.

The chart is only used as a tool for evaluating potential trades, but the surrendered picks would be worth no more than the value of a mid-first-round pick. In return, the Ravens would receive one of the best receivers in the NFL. Despite the possibility of only having four remaining picks, the decision is a no-brainer from this standpoint.

And remember, the Cardinals are asking for a first- and third-round pick; that doesn’t mean they will get them.

The bigger issue working against a potential deal is obviously the money. Boldin wants out of Arizona because he wants a new, lucrative contract to replace the current one with two years remaining. Any team acquiring the wideout would unquestionably have to sign him to a new deal with a huge signing bonus, a proposition far more costly than signing the draft picks that would be surrendered.

The reality is the Ravens have very little salary-cap room. Even the possibility of restructuring existing deals and releasing one or two average veterans would not clear enough room to sign Boldin.

The only way the trade happens would be the signing of Terrell Suggs to a long-term deal, something Newsome has been unable to do after designating the linebacker with the franchise tag for the second straight season. Suggs’ 2009 salary is $10.2 million, eating up a large chunk of cap room.

Signing Suggs to a long-term extension would create several million dollars of cap room, leaving flexibility to complete a Boldin deal.

Suggs discussed the possibility of providing a hometown discount to re-sign linebackers Ray Lewis and Bart Scott earlier in the offseason. It would be interesting to see if he would be more flexible in signing a deal if it meant the Ravens could add an elite receiver to the offense.

Even if Suggs agrees to an extension, Newsome will have to assess whether Boldin’s production is worth the much larger financial commitment than the modest investments that would go into the draft selections.

Considering any deal for Boldin would involve an expensive contract, Arizona may not find a team willing to trade the draft picks they desire. It’s possible the Ravens could offer a first-round pick and a conditional 2010 selection, perhaps a third- or fourth-rounder, to get the deal done.

It’s always a risk trading early draft picks for a veteran player, but Boldin is the receiving threat that could push Flacco to become an elite quarterback in the NFL. The combination of Boldin and Derrick Mason would become one of the best receiving duos in the league. It would also allow Mark Clayton or Demetrius Williams to compete against the third or fourth defensive back on the field, creating favorable matchups in Cam Cameron’s offense.

But what about critics suggesting Boldin cannot put up the big numbers without fellow receiver Larry Fitzgerald in the same offense?

Boldin caught 101 passes for 1,377 yards and eight touchdowns in his rookie season in 2003 while Fitzgerald was making acrobatic catches—at the University of Pittsburgh.

I’d say he’s an elite receiver.

The need for an improved offense is more apparent when considering the age of the defense. Mainstays such as Lewis and Trevor Pryce are in the twilight of their careers (both will be 34 at the start of the season) and cannot be expected to play at the same level that they have over the past few seasons. Even the dynamic Ed Reed will be 31 in September has an impingement in his neck and shoulder that could potentially shorten his career.

The defense can still play at a championship level, but for how long? The window for the veterans on the team is small, so Boldin could be viewed as the missing piece for a trip to the Super Bowl. Keep in mind, this team was a fourth-quarter touchdown drive away from advancing to the Super Bowl last January.

Boldin could be the difference in simply being a playoff contender in 2009 versus becoming a legitimate Super Bowl contender right there with Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, and New England.

They’re close. Trading for Boldin is certainly a risk, both financially and to future player development by surrendering draft picks, but it just might be enough to get the Ravens to the Super Bowl.

With great risk, comes great reward.

Trading for Boldin is a chance worth taking to seize the Lombardi Trophy next February.

Please support Luke Jones in his quest to become AM 1570 WNST's King of Baltimore Sportstalk. You can read his work, comment, and vote at WNST.net.

Jackie Robinson Day Should Be Shared with Others

Luke Jones — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 00:54:16 -0400

Originally published at WNST.net

As Major League Baseball honors the heroic Jackie Robinson on the 62nd anniversary of his debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers, the decreasing number of African-Americans playing in the big leagues continues to cause concern for the national pastime.

Though MLB's 2009 Racial and Gender Report Card reports an increase (2 percent) in African-American players in 2008 (the first time since 1995), only 10.2 percent of all players were African-American, a far cry from 1975 when blacks filled 27 percent of roster spots.

The reasons for this sharp decline are many, ranging from overwhelming economic factors to the increased popularity of football and basketball in the last 30 years.

Baseball has done a tremendous job in honoring Robinson, retiring his No. 42 throughout the big leagues in 1997 and allowing players or entire teams to wear his number on April 15 to honor his undeniable legacy.

Robinson faced persecution and trials that are unimaginable in this day and age when we idolize professional athletes, deservedly or not. He was the first black player to play in the modern major leagues, and for that, he should be honored.

However, were there not other black players that cleared similar hurdles for their respective teams in the 1940s and 50s? Did they not face many of the same obstacles and prejudice?

Larry Doby is remembered as the first black player to play in the American League, debuting with the Cleveland Indians on July 5, 1947. The Indians have honored Doby by wearing his No. 14 jersey to celebrate his overshadowed feat.

What about the others?

Can you name the first African-American to play for the Baltimore Orioles?

Older fans may remember Joe Durham playing at the end of the 1954 season, but the first was actually a 34-year-old pitcher named Jay Heard.

Heard's stay in the big leagues was a brief one, pitching in only two games while posting a 13.50 ERA before making his last appearance on May 28, 1954.

It should be noted that Heard was not the first African-American to play for the franchise. Hank Thompson broke the color barrier for the St. Louis Browns three months after Robinson's debut in 1947.

While not even a blip in the club's rich history of pitching, shouldn't Heard be recognized as the first black player to play for the Orioles?

His debut was seven years after Robinson first took the field in Brooklyn, but he had to have faced severe discrimination, not to mention the same feelings of loneliness.

Baseball should take another step in celebrating the many brave African-Americans who took the field with teams of all white players. Instead of promoting players and entire teams to wear the No. 42 on this evening, they should further educate today's players and fans by encouraging teams to wear the numbers of the black players to first take the field for their respective franchises.

Expansion franchises that entered the league after 1959 (the year in which the Boston Red Sox became the last team to integrate) could still honor Robinson by wearing the No. 42 on their jerseys.

Instead of every Oriole wearing No. 42 this evening against the Rangers, the No. 38 should be adorned on every player's back. Not for Brother Lo or Jerry Walker, but for the 34-year-old former Negro Leaguer and Orioles pitcher Heard.

His stay with the Orioles was brief, but his mark left on the franchise should not be ignored. His unimpressive numbers are of no consequence.

April 15 should be viewed as more than just a day to honor Jackie Robinson, but also as the day in which a discriminated fraternity of courageous men were finally allowed to compete with everyone else.

Robinson would probably prefer to share the spotlight; fully understanding this day was about so much more than just himself or the Brooklyn Dodgers. It was the day on which baseball truly became the National Pastime. He would want Major League Baseball to promote the many African-Americans that tore down barriers, instead of only shining the spotlight on his own visage.

Anyone doubting this should recall his words at the 1972 World Series, 25 years after his historic debut:

"I was really just a spoke in the wheel in the success that we had some 25 years ago...I'm extremely proud and pleased to be here this afternoon, but must admit I'm going to be tremendously more pleased and more proud when I look at that third base coaching line one day and see a black face managing in baseball."

He passed away only 10 days later, but Orioles legend Frank Robinson realized this dream less than three years later when he became manager of the Cleveland Indians in 1975.

Even in his final days, Jackie Robinson viewed the bigger picture instead of focusing on himself.

He would want Major League Baseball to educate its players and fans about the other men who so courageously broke down walls that had existed for centuries. Perhaps this would be a positive step in promoting the game to the many African-American youth that have turned away.

So tonight, when you're watching the Orioles wear those No. 42 jerseys, take a moment to think not only of Jackie Robinson, but of No. 38 Jay Heard, Larry Doby, and the many others that share in this historic day.

Robinson will always be celebrated as the first, but so many men stood beside him in their demonstration of courage and progress.

Please support Luke Jones in his quest to become AM 1570 WNST's King of Baltimore Sportstalk. You can read his work, comment, and vote at WNST.net.

Nine Orioles Innings (Week of March 30)

Luke Jones — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:01:53 -0400

During the 2009 season, Luke Jones will present Nine Orioles Innings every Monday, sharing his thoughts on what’s happening with the Baltimore Orioles. It will feature a mix of serious analysis and the lighter side of Orioles baseball.

1. It’s hard to believe it was only two years ago that Jeremy Guthrie was an unknown heading to Baltimore on Opening Day 2007 as a long man in the Orioles bullpen. The Opening Day starter now represents the only safe bet in a rotation that is still deciding on the three starters to fill the back end.

The pitching staff will need Guthrie to remain healthy after making trips to the disabled list in each of his first two seasons with the Orioles. The rotation will be extremely thin as is, so the loss of Guthrie could cause a massive implosion.

The organization hopes that Guthrie’s terrific work ethic will influence the many young pitching prospects expected to arrive in Baltimore over the next two years. He may not be a true ace, but Guthrie could provide a calming influence on young pitchers that will undoubtedly experience some growing pains in their first months in the big leagues.

2. Felix Pie has struggled adjusting to his new surroundings this spring, hitting only .216 (through Sunday) and posting a .595 OPS.

With the strong spring performances from Nolan Reimold and Lou Montanez, many are calling for the Pie experiment to end before the team even heads north to Baltimore. The choice is simple when you consider Pie is out of options while Reimold and Montanez can start the season at Triple-A Norfolk.

Are Pie’s critics the same ones that were calling for Nick Markakis to be sent back to the minors when he was hitting around .220 in June of his rookie season in 2006?

While no one expects Pie to become the offensive threat that Markakis is, the young outfielder needs at bats in the big leagues after receiving only 260 at bats in two seasons with the Cubs. The former number-one prospect needs a legitimate chance to play in the majors.

If Pie is still struggling in July and Reimold or Montanez is tearing it up in Triple-A, this questions will be revisited, but for the time being, Pie should be sent out to left field to play everyday.

3. The November unveiling of the new road uniforms displaying “Baltimore” on the front was a far overdue move by the organization to restore some civic pride. The city name will appear on the road uniforms for the first time since 1972.

To take full advantage of the occasion, the Orioles should buck tradition and wear the new road uniforms on Opening Day despite it being a home game.

With the large number of Yankees fans expected to attend, detractors will argue it’s a road game for the Orioles anyway. Why not debut the new gray threads at home?

4. Andy MacPhail’s decision to send Matt Wieters to Triple-A to delay the start of his service time is well-documented and makes sense from a financial standpoint, especially when remembering Scott Boras represents the 22-year-old catcher.

However, should the team decide to keep Wieters in Norfolk until June when he would lose eligibility for Super-2 status, many will view the move as another penny-pinching maneuver.

Though delaying Wieters’ promotion would eliminate a year of arbitration, possibly saving millions, it would harm his ability to win Rookie of the Year as well as simply impede the growth of the catching prospect.

Mimicking Tampa Bay’s approach with Evan Longoria by waiting until the middle of April to promote Wieters is financially prudent; waiting until June is just being cheap.

5. Corner infielders Aubrey Huff and Melvin Mora are both free agents after the season and were the top run producers on the club last year, driving in 212 runs combined.

With no viable prospects at first or third base ready for the big leagues, MacPhail will have to consider bringing back at least one of the two veterans.

Newly-signed infielder Ty Wigginton would be a fine one-year stopgap at either first or third, but the team would have to look to acquire another corner infielder.

The team does hold an $8million club option for Mora, but Huff is five years younger.

Both players are likely to be shopped at the trading deadline in late-July, but look for the club to explore short-term extensions for both players as MacPhail searches for younger answers at each corner.

6. Japanese newcomer Koji Uehara will hold the second spot in the starting rotation, but the Orioles hope he means much more to the future of the organization.

A successful season for the veteran would potentially open the door for other talent from Japan and the Far East to consider the Orioles for their American destination.

Watching Japan win its second World Baseball Classic made it apparent that many more Japanese players have the ability to succeed in Major League Baseball, so the Orioles need to continue to increase their scouting presence in the Far East.

Uehara finding success in Baltimore would not only improve the team’s prospects in 2009 but could lead to more Japanese talent landing with the Orioles in the future.

7. It’s difficult to believe the Orioles are even considering Adam Eaton for the starting rotation. Even putting his spring numbers aside (6.75 ERA), the right-hander was hammered in Philadelphia the last two seasons, posting a 5.80 ERA in 2008 and a 6.29 ERA in 2007.

Ouch.

You might be wondering what his numbers were on the road, considering Citizens Bank Park is a hitter’s park. Eaton pitched to a 4.81 road ERA in 2008 and 6.12 in 2007.

Not exactly a ringing endorsement, especially when you consider Camden Yards is known for the home run.

With the seemingly endless search to fill the starting rotation, the Orioles might want to take a long look at the Bird (no, I’m not talking about Mark Fidrych). He throws some devastating off-speed stuff to the kids in the outfield grass before home games.

Only kidding, or am I? Ask me again in late-April when the bullpen is already being overworked.

The Bird might be throwing some simulated games in the bullpen by that point.

8. Despite the concerns over the starting rotation, the Orioles bullpen looks to be a formidable unit with closer George Sherrill, Jim Johnson, and Chris Ray providing a triple-threat to shorten the game after six innings.

Ray looks to be fully recovered from Tommy John surgery and has been dominant, not allowing a run in 11 1/3 innings of spring work.

A fully-recovered Matt Albers would be key to bridging the gap from the starting pitching to the three stoppers in the late innings.

Even with the vast potential, it’s hard to predict how well the bullpen will perform if starting pitching cannot get past the fifth or sixth inning consistently. In recent years, the bullpen is worn out by August, setting up for the collapse down the stretch.

9. It’s hard to envision any scenario in which the Orioles avoid a 12th-straight losing season in 2009 despite the promising future with the improving farm system. The years of losing have begun to run together, and it’s sometimes difficult to believe how long it’s been since a winning team graced Camden Yards.

To put it in perspective, in the Orioles’ last winning season in 1997, Cal Ripken was playing his first full season at third base, interleague play was making its debut, Michael Jordan was winning his fifth NBA championship, and Nick Markakis was in the eighth grade.

Quite a long time.

Extra Innings: For an organization in the midst of 11-straight losing seasons, the Orioles could definitely benefit from a stronger marketing campaign to create excitement for the 2009 season.

Though young pitchers such as Brian Matusz and Jake Arrieta were in the major league camp, MASN scheduled only four television appearances for the Orioles in the spring. In fact, Wednesday’s game against the Marlins will mark the first televised Orioles game on MASN in over three weeks.

Yes, televising spring games costs money and does not earn huge ratings, but subscribers are paying hefty fees to receive MASN in their cable lineups. The Orioles owe it to their customers to televise a few more games and could create more interest in the club in the process.

In comparison, the Yankees’ YES Network televised 16 spring games while the Red Sox’ NESN showed nine.

With struggling attendance, the Orioles need to provide more opportunities for fans to follow the team in the spring. Their own cable network is here; they need to use it.

Televising eight or nine spring games is more than reasonable.

For those turning to the radio for their Orioles fix, the flagship radio station 105.7 The Fan abandoned the final eight innings of Sunday’s broadcast following a lengthy rain delay.

While it may not have been a regular season game and will be forgotten quickly, the story is no less pathetic and was even featured on Yahoo! Sports.

With these television and radio blunders, the question begs to be asked: how badly do the Orioles even want their fans back?

The organization needs to try much harder.

How the NFL Can Boost Revenue Without Changing the 16-Game Schedule

Luke Jones — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 22:22:03 -0400

The NFL’s annual league meeting brought much discussion regarding the pending labor showdown, rules changes to improve safety, and commissioner Roger Goodell’s desire to expand the regular season to 18 games.

Though the expiring collective bargaining agreement is the league’s most pressing concern, the juxtaposition of passing new rules to improve players’ safety and the desire to extend the season of such a physically demanding sport seems peculiar, if not preposterous.

Under the proposed plan, the league would shorten its preseason to two games and add two regular season games to the 16-game schedule. An additional bye week would also be included in the schedule, increasing the regular season to 20 weeks.

Though many have called for a shorter preseason to decrease the number of injuries in meaningless games, it’s far more likely for marquee players to suffer injuries having to play two more “real” games with higher stakes and intensity.

In reality, many of the league’s top players partake in only a small portion of the preseason, sometimes sitting out entire games or only playing a series or two in each contest.

If the fundamental goal is to protect the players, would a plan calling for a 12.5 percent (two regular season games) increase in players’ exposure to potential injury really be the answer?

Frankly, the NFL is only interested in increasing its revenue despite these rules changes and calls to increase safety.

Using the veil of safety is motivated solely by the revenue the top stars of the league create—stars such as New England’s Tom Brady who missed the entire 2008 season with a knee injury suffered in Week 1.

Goodell and the league can speak of improving player safety, but a few isolated rule changes will not supersede the increased risk of exposing players to injury and fatigue in an expanded regular season.

How often do we see players running on fumes—physically or mentally—by the time they enter the postseason? Now, just add two extra games to that equation. It would be extremely difficult for teams to maintain a high quality of play deep into the playoffs.

Do we really want players that are barely able to compete in the conference championships and Super Bowl?

Traditionalists will also point to the effect an 18-game schedule would have on the record book—both single-season and career numbers alike.

We’ve already seen the records from the 1950s through 1970s crushed due to the progression from a 12-game schedule to 14 games in 1961 to the current 16 games in 1978.

There has to be a point when the league begins pushing the limit to maintain some reverence for the history of the game.

Colts quarterback Peyton Manning is already rewriting the record book, but an expanded 18-game schedule would provide him with a 50 percent increase in the number of games he can play in a season compared to legendary quarterbacks of the 1950s such as Johnny Unitas playing 12 games a season.

To put this in perspective, using a stat-happy sport such as baseball, Babe Ruth hit 60 home runs in a 154-game schedule in 1927.

If baseball adopted a 50 percent increase in regular season games, Albert Pujols would have 231 games this season to take aim at the Bambino’s career-high mark.

A current NFL running back playing eight seasons would be able to play 16 more games—one extra season—than all-time rushing leader Emmitt Smith would have had in eight years.

This could easily be an additional 1,500 rushing yards in a career, a significant boost in climbing the all-time rushing list.

Why even bother keeping statistics anymore?

Though Goodell would never admit it publicly, he is far less concerned in improving player safety and preserving its history than he is in strengthening the moneymaking machine that is the NFL. All of these discussed topics center around increasing revenue.

So how can the league increase revenue while sincerely maintaining safety and protecting the record book?

A far simpler plan would address nearly all of these concerns while still increasing league revenue.

The league does need to revise the preseason schedule. The modern NFL player maintains a high level of conditioning throughout the calendar year, so a four-game preseason is unnecessary.

Dropping one preseason game would provide enough time for coaches to evaluate unproven talent while limiting the risk of injury to established players.

While this would leave an unbalanced home-away schedule of three games, teams could schedule an extra scrimmage at their stadiums to recover lost revenue in seasons when they played only one home preseason game.

Though less-appealing to season ticket holders, teams could opt to recover the loss through a prorated increase in the nine remaining home games in the package.

The remaining lost revenue from these 16 preseason games (the total number of league preseason games would decrease from 64 to 48) would be recouped by the proposed changes to the regular season and playoffs.

The elimination of one preseason game would provide an open week in the NFL’s calendar. Instead of increasing the number of regular season games, a second bye week would be added to each team’s regular season schedule.

The NFL included two bye weeks in each team’s schedule in 1993, but the response was unfavorable. However, with the astronomical money involved in the league’s current television contract, the extra week in the regular season would provide more nationally-televised primetime games with lucrative advertising revenue.

Another benefit from an additional bye week would be added flexibility to schedule international or neutral-site games.

One of the biggest complaints from players regarding playing overseas is the sacrifices that have to be made for traveling and adjusting to the different time zone. Providing teams with another bye week would ease the strain of playing in these international games.

The league could easily schedule a few more international games under this plan.

The extra bye week would also provide more recovery time for teams, increasing their chances of remaining healthy for the postseason.

Each team would receive its first bye some time between Week 3 through 9 and the second between Week 10 through 16. All 32 teams would play in Week 17 and 18 to maintain competitive balance.

The most radical change would be to increase the number of playoff teams in each conference to eight, the four division champions and four wild card teams.

With the extra bye week in the regular season schedule, the first-round bye for the top two teams in each conference would be eliminated. No other major professional sport offers byes in the first round of the playoffs, so why should the NFL?

This would create an additional four games in the Wild Card round, improving revenue for these four playoff teams as well as the entire league through added television revenue.

The top team in each conference would still earn home-field advantage in the playoffs, and the teams would be reseeded for the Divisional round (the best team in the conference would play the worst remaining team).

For good measure, the league could even address the criticism of the current system by no longer promising a home game to each division winner. The four teams with the best records in each conference would play home games in the first round of the postseason.

Division winners would only be guaranteed a spot in the postseason, thus creating more incentive for teams having already clinched a weak division to continue competing for one of the top four seeds.

When considering this plan, the league would simply have to examine the lost revenue of 16 total preseason games against the potential revenue gained from an extra week of nationally-televised games, four more playoff games, and the flexibility to schedule more international and neutral-site games.

On top of that, the owners would not have to fight the union over the contractual issues created by increasing the number of games in the regular season schedule.

And even though they are not top priorities, it would actually be a fundamental step in protecting the health of players by adding an extra bye to the schedule while also preserving the game’s modern history.

Will it happen? Probably not, but it’s something to ponder before making radical changes to the fabric of the National Football League.

Surviving the 2009 Baltimore Orioles

Luke Jones — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 23:08:20 -0400

Depending upon how you look at the current state of the Baltimore Orioles, two vastly different conclusions come to mind.

On one hand, the Orioles’ minor league system is in better shape than it has been in over 20 years, consistently ranking in the top-10, according to various publications.

Along with catching sensation Matt Wieters, who is expected to be promoted to the big leagues in the early weeks of the 2009 season, the Orioles boast three of the top pitching prospects in all of baseball.

Brian Matusz (2008 first-round pick), Jake Arrieta (2007 fifth-round pick), and Chris Tillman (acquired from the Seattle Mariners in last winter’s Erik Bedard trade) provide a rock-solid foundation upon which the Orioles hope to rebuild their woeful pitching of the past decade.

In addition to these three, other top pitching prospects include Brad Bergesen, David Hernandez, Brandon Erbe, Zach Britton, Chorye Spoone, and Troy Patton.

Unlike past pitching prospects such as Rocky Coppinger, Sidney Ponson, and Adam Loewen, no single prospect needs to be viewed as the supreme savior for the organization, but all will instead be developed methodically, mastering each level of the minors before being promoted.

The Orioles hope this depth will pay dividends in the near future.

Orioles' GM Andy MacPhail has continuously preached patience with the organization’s talented, but inexperienced, pitchers.

But from the other perspective, the idea of patience seems unbearable, if not impossible, to the many Orioles fans that have suffered through 11-straight losing seasons in the American League East.

To them, the rebuilding has continued far too long.

“It’s time to win now—not in 2011,” they insist.

But sadly, they see a rotation that will only contend to be the worst rotation in 56 seasons of Orioles baseball, much less compete against the Yankees and Red Sox.

Beyond ace Jeremy Guthrie, the rotation overflows with question marks. Newcomer Koji Uehara was a star in Japan, but no one knows what to expect when the right-hander begins competing against the fierce lineups of the AL East.

Left-hander Rich Hill, acquired from the Chicago Cubs, hopes to regain his 2007 form in which he won 11 games and pitched to a 3.92 ERA, but has missed much of this spring training with a sore elbow.

Though there is hope for these three to somehow keep the starting rotation afloat, the laundry list of candidates to fill out the final spots of the rotation includes veterans Mark Hendrickson, Danys Baez, Adam Eaton and unproven young pitchers Brian Bass, Hayden Penn, and Alfredo Simon.

Yikes!

Clearly, the Orioles will not contend in the toughest division in baseball. The starting pitching will be too ineffective, and the improved offense and bullpen will not be able to overcome this deficiency.

So, what should Orioles fans reasonably expect in 2009?

Those hoping and praying for a pennant race will inevitably be disappointed, while those choosing to focus on the deficiencies of a rebuilding team and asking why the team is not trying to win this season will undoubtedly look past any bright spots concerning the development of young players like Felix Pie and Adam Jones.

For Orioles' fans bracing themselves for a 12th-straight year of losing baseball, the truth may hurt.

The reality is, the last 11 years of losing mean very little to the present state of the club. MacPhail was president of the Chicago Cubs while Orioles' manager Dave Trembley was managing in the Cubs’ minor league system when this period of losing began in 1998.

Despite how infuriated Orioles fans have become over the decline of a once-proud franchise, these men cannot and should not concern themselves with the mistakes of their ineffective predecessors.

Fans have every right to criticize owner Peter Angelos, the one constant throughout the past 11 seasons of losing baseball.

His annual late-season proclamations of grandeur for the following year are just a small sample of the empty promises given by the organization during his ownership.

Orioles’ loyalists deserve to be angry and have expressed their displeasure in recent years, ranging from a fan protest in 2006 to the drastic decline in attendance from 3.7 million in 1997 (the club’s last winning season) to just under two million attendees in 2008.

Despite this anger and intense yearning for a winning team, many fans' cries for a quick fix by signing a couple veteran pitchers is the wrong wish, and is the exact thinking that has plagued the organization over the past decade.

For the first time in this eleven-year nightmare, the Orioles finally get it. They have finally committed to rebuilding after so many half-hearted, feeble attempts.

This organization should be playing for 2011—not making shortsighted moves for the false hope of competing in 2009.

Fans need to view the organization like that friend that has been driving around that beat-up car for years. Yeah, he tried to make the quick fixes and even used a bit of duct tape, but it never ran well.

After years of denial, he finally conceded that it’s time to start over completely because there’s just no salvaging it.

But, the question remains. Does your friend look for that instant gratification and buy a used car with 85,000 miles on it, or drive the junker for just a little longer and save for something brand new?

Sure, that used car may look shiny and new after going through the car wash, but there’s no telling whether it’s going to run well for a few years or be a total lemon.

Investing in veteran pitchers and over-priced free agents would make the current Orioles a team that could approach .500 and maybe contend for a wild card if everything went absolutely perfect.

But then what happens when these players break down and you’ve already committed millions of dollars to them?

The young arms could potentially be ready, but there is no payroll flexibility to add that slugger first baseman or shortstop—not to mention you’re left with the predicament of dumping these veteran starters to create room for the younger pitchers.

Instead, MacPhail is making the right decision by saving the club’s money and enduring another season or two of misery while building that muscle car that can compete with any in the AL East.

The Orioles are saving their money and waiting for the young pitchers to develop. Then, when the time is right, they’ll spring for the bigger pieces to fill out the roster in free agency.

The plan is the right one, but will it succeed?

No one can know for sure, especially given the high level of competition in this division. If the Orioles fail, the criticism will again be justified.

There is no guarantee with pitching prospects, as the Orioles have painfully learned over the last 11 years, but with the vast supply of promising talent, the odds are more favorable this time than any other in the past decade.

Fans may continue to gripe, and they have every right to complain until the Orioles retake their place among the game’s respected franchises. But this time, the Orioles are getting it right.

For fans doubting the approach of the franchise, they need only look back in its rich history.

Until the early 1960s, the Orioles struggled to avoid the “second division” of the American League. However, through the construction of a talented farm system based on pitching and defense, the club improved to the point of winning over 90 games in 1964 and 1965.

In December 1965, the Orioles finally knew they were one player away from a championship and sent pitcher Milt Pappas and two others to the Cincinnati Reds for a veteran right fielder named Frank Robinson, the dominant hitter that could put Baltimore over the top.

The rest was history, as the Orioles then embarked on one of the most successful 20-year stretches of any franchise in baseball history.

Obviously, the game is much different today, with the high stakes of free agency, but the basic philosophy remains in MacPhail’s mind.

The current Orioles are building for something special, something long-lasting.

And when the youthful pieces are in place, they’ll seek out another Frank Robinson to put them over the top.

But it’s going to take a little more patience.

Eleven years is a long time, no question, but hopefully, that excruciating wait will soon be worth it for Orioles fans.

Baltimore Orioles Cringing at Current Starting Rotation

Luke Jones — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 18:23:32 -0400

The vast improvement of the Baltimore Orioles’ minor league system brings much hope for an organization trying to break a string of 11-straight losing seasons and return to contention in the cutthroat American League East.

However, two decisions made over the weekend signal a harsh reality of the present, and the need for more patience as the organization waits for its bumper crop of starting pitching to mature in the minor leagues.

The Orioles optioned pitcher Brad Bergesen to Triple-A Norfolk on Saturday despite the young right-hander being one of the biggest surprises of spring training.

Bergesen pitched 11 2/3 innings with a 3.09 ERA and 11 strikeouts, launching himself into consideration for a starting rotation spot before being demoted.

President of Baseball Operations Andy MacPhail has been assertive in stating the club’s approach in taking its time to promote their young pitchers, wanting them to gain experience at each level before being promoted to Baltimore.

This certainly makes sense, considering Bergesen has never pitched above Double-A Bowie. Manager Dave Trembley wants the young pitcher to improve his changeup and his ability to retire left-handed hitters before making his debut in Baltimore.

Trembley told reporters that Bergesen would be one of the top candidates for a promotion in the early stages of the season.

While the decision to option Bergesen is disappointing to those wanting to see the Orioles’ core of promising pitchers, it makes sense considering other young pitchers such as Hayden Penn and Brian Bass are out of options and would have to pass through waivers before being sent to Norfolk.

The Orioles are not playing for 2009, so it makes little sense to rush any of their top pitching prospects, especially when you have these young placeholders at the major league level that could improve their value for potential trades in the future.

This would be a logical plan, but another decision made by Trembley over the weekend raises more concern about the present state of the club.

Still vying for a spot in the starting rotation, Penn was scheduled to start on Sunday before rain postponed Saturday’s game. Instead of skipping veteran Mark Hendrickson’s scheduled Saturday start, Trembley started Hendrickson and bumped Penn into a relief role in which he pitched only two innings.

While the oft-injured Penn, 24, has lost the top-prospect status he enjoyed a few seasons ago, the club needs to give him and fellow young pitcher Brian Bass every opportunity to earn a spot in the starting rotation.

Skipping Penn for a veteran swingman like Hendrickson fails to provide that opportunity and does nothing for the club’s future.

Penn may not be a long-term solution in the starting rotation, but certainly provides more upside than veterans Adam Eaton and Danys Baez. The veterans have started a combined six games compared to none for Penn. Trembley has given Bass two starts this spring.

Eaton and Baez may provide the veteran presence Trembley likes on his club, but they do not provide a productive presence.

Eaton has failed to post an ERA below 5.00 since 2005 and was released by the Phillies before signing a minor league contract with the Orioles. Baez is returning from Tommy John surgery in 2008 and posted a 6.44 ERA for the Orioles in 2007.

Why are these ineffective veterans receiving more opportunities than Penn? A veteran does little for a staff if he is being annihilated every five days.

If the Orioles need a reminder of how letting a former top prospect go before giving him a fair opportunity can backfire, they only need to look at John Maine, who after making eight starts in Baltimore in 2005, was traded to the Mets for Kris Benson. Maine won 15 games in 2007 and 10 in 2008 for New York.

How many wins did Kris Benson have with the Orioles again? Eleven? But he was a strong veteran presence, right?

Penn and Bass are relative unknowns at the major league level, but they do not have to perform at a high level to match what Eaton and Baez would contribute to the club, and could easily exceed the veterans’ projected performance.

The Orioles need to move away from this obsession with ineffective veteran pitchers at the expense of giving opportunities to younger pitchers.

While Penn and Bass are unlikely to stick beyond the next season or two, they certainly have a higher ceiling than veteran retreads with no trade value.

If Penn or Bass can perform better than expected, it would be a nice problem to have when the next group of young pitchers is ready for the major leagues. If they do not perform, you simply unload them and find another Baez or Eaton on the waiver wire.

Regardless of which five pitchers make the Opening Day rotation, the results will not be pretty. After ace Jeremy Guthrie, who would be a middle-of-the-rotation arm for a contending club, the Orioles will send out four unproven, if not ineffective, starters against the likes of the Rays, Red Sox, and Yankees.

Though Koji Uehara created much excitement in spring training before going down with a hamstring injury, it is difficult to project how well the Japanese pitcher will perform against major league hitters. His lack of spring training innings further clouds the situation.

The team will receive another potential boost when lefty Rich Hill returns from injury and enters the rotation later in April. Pitching coach Rich Kranitz is trying to fix the former Cubs pitcher’s woes in hopes that he can return to his 2007 form.

Beyond these three, the best bet for tolerating the club’s starting rotation in the first half of 2009 is to close your eyes and think about August, when several of the organization’s young pitchers are projected to be ready for promotions.

The first wave could bring Bergesen, David Hernandez, and even two of the organization’s “Big Three," Jake Arrieta and Chris Tillman.

Starting then, the Orioles will be able to move away from ineffective veterans and out-of-option projects and focus on developing a top-notch staff to compete in the AL East.

But until that happens, whether it’s young placeholders such as Penn and Bass, or veteran outcasts like Baez and Eaton, it figures to be a long couple of months in Baltimore.

Maryland-California First Round Preview: Looking into the Mirror

Luke Jones — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 21:39:48 -0400

Maryland returns to the NCAA tournament for only the second time in the last five seasons on Thursday afternoon.

The No. 10-seed Terrapins (20-13) face the No. 7-seed California Golden Bears (22-10) in an ACC-Pac-10 showdown in the first round.

The Terps earned an at-large bid after beating North Carolina State and Wake Forest in the ACC tournament while the Golden Bears finished in a third-place tie with Arizona State in the Pac-10.

Both Maryland and Cal rely on strong play from their guards and lack any consistent threats in the frontcourt.

The Terps rely on pressure and penetration from its guards to create offense while coach Mike Montgomery’s Golden Bears lead the nation in three-point shooting, making 43.4 percent of its attempts.

Cal’s three-point shooting is more selective than other long-distance shooting teams like Duke who had over 700 attempts this season. The Golden Bears took only 468 three-point attempts, 106 fewer than Maryland.

Maryland likes to occasionally switch between man-to-man defense and a 3-2 zone to compensate for its lack of size, but the Golden Bears’ long-range shooting may prevent coach Gary Williams from using this strategy. Cal’s junior guard and leading scorer Jerome Randle makes 46.8 percent of his three-pointers, third overall in the nation.

Guarding the three-pointer is a glaring weakness for the Terps, ranking 225^th in the nation and allowing opponents to shoot 35.1 percent from behind the three-point line. If Randle and forward Theo Robertson begin draining long-range shots, the Terps will be in serious trouble.

To advance to the second round, Maryland will need to guard Cal’s shooters closely and refrain from gambling for steals, a trap the Terps often fall into, leaving opportunities for wide-open shooters. Cal’s half-court offense will take advantage if Maryland takes too many chances defensively.

Junior guard Greivis Vasquez leads Maryland in scoring, rebounding, and assists, but reserve guard Eric Hayes has recently become a reliable scoring threat for the Terps. If Cal begins shooting from beyond the arc, Hayes’ long-range shooting will be needed to keep the Terrapins in the game.

Hayes, averaging 10.1 points per game, has sparked the Terps in the postseason, scoring a career-high 21 points against N.C. State in the first round of the conference tournament and 20 against Duke in the semifinal loss.

Another key for the Terps could be the shooting of forward Dave Neal. The 6-foot-7 forward hits 38.9 percent from the three-point line, strong enough to lure a bigger defender away from the paint to contest his shot. This could free up the inside for Vasquez and guard Adrian Bowie to drive to the hoop and get to the foul line.

If the game comes down to foul shooting, the two teams figure to be evenly matched. Maryland shoots 76.8 percent from the line while Cal makes 75.6 percent of its free throws.

This is a tough one to predict given the similarities between the two. While their guards have different strengths, each team lives and dies with the play of its backcourt players. Both teams lack a consistent big man, so the inside game does not figure to play a major factor in the game.

It appears Maryland might be catching Cal at the right time. The Golden Bears have lost four of their last six games while the Terps recovered from a crucial road loss at Virginia in the regular season finale before making their run in the ACC tournament to regain favor in the eyes of the selection committee.

If the Golden Bears’ long-distance shooting comes out hot, the Terps will need Hayes and Vasquez to counter to keep them in the game.

Look for Maryland’s pressure and trapping defense to keep Cal off-balanced and prevent their shooters from getting open looks consistently.

Vasquez is the emotional leader of the Terps and is fully capable of taking over the game if he comes out strong.

Gary Williams has not lost a first-round game in the NCAA tournament since 1997. The streak continues as the Terrapins move on to the second round to face the powerhouse Memphis Tigers.

The pick: Maryland 72, California 66

March Madness: Nobody Knows What They're Talking About

Luke Jones — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 23:28:44 -0400

As sports fans throughout the country polish up their tournament brackets in anticipation for Thursday, I began to think about this ritual that accompanies March Madness.

It’s remarkable how a simple bracket printed on a piece of paper motivates us to try to become the next Andy Katz or Digger Phelps.

We analyze, dissect, study, and agonize over who will be the next surprise, the next disappointment, and ultimately, the next champion of the NCAA tournament.

We read a few articles published on some of the popular websites or watch an hour-long special on ESPN and suddenly claim to be an expert on the field of 65. All of our friends must listen to us explain why VCU is going to defeat UCLA or how Boston College will fall to the red-hot Trojans from USC.

The discussion over office pools and banter between college buddies is ubiquitous.

And you know what? Nobody knows what they’re talking about. Not even a little bit.

No one.

And that’s what makes the magic of the NCAA tournament. The unknown is what draws us to this unique sporting event.

I love college basketball, and I’m comfortable in saying I know a good deal about the sport.

For instance, I know that Jim Boeheim and Syracuse are returning to the tournament after a two-year absence. However, I’ll also admit to knowing more about Stone Cold Steve Austin than I do about Syracuse’s first-round opponent Stephen F. Austin.

I also wonder about the status of Ty Lawson and how it affects North Carolina’s title hopes, but I also wonder about Cornell. Yes, it’s an Ivy League school, and I know that The Office’s Andy Bernard attended Cornell, but I couldn’t even pretend to tell you who their leading scorer is.

Northern Iowa? Oh, that’s easy. Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner played there, but who’s their top rebounder? Next question, please.

Meanwhile, I’m still trying to remember who Robert Morris even was, let alone who the school’s head coach is.

It isn’t what we know that makes this sporting event so enjoyable, but it’s what we don’t know.

In any other sport, we know all of the teams and competitors. In the NFL or NBA playoffs, the teams are all familiar and most of the key contributors are easily recognizable.

We know the big names of college basketball. We’re familiar with the Connecticuts and Michigan States of the bracket, but for the many household names printed on that piece of paper, we find many that are foreign.

For us, it’s a mystery where several of these schools are even located, so why would we know what to expect when they take the floor on Thursday or Friday?

Most of these unknowns will return to obscurity after their two hours of fame, but every now and then, one of these strangers, a Valparaiso, a Davidson, or a George Mason, surprises us all, and we get to know them.

Instead of simply being that new kid standing on the sideline, waiting for his chance to play but bolting when he can’t hang with the big kids, they steal the show and upstage one of the neighborhood legends.

They become more than just the champion of their mid-major conference somewhere in the Midwest. No longer is it just a funny name or a set of initials we don’t recognize.

We yearn to know who that Cinderella is going to be, so we can take credit for saying it would happen all along. It would make us a god among friends, or even a champion of the office pool.

In that quest, we turn to the experts on television. Surely, Jay Bilas can tell us about Binghamton’s best player and provide some good information from a detailed stat sheet, but answer this question:

Do you honestly think Jay Bilas has seen the Bearcats play more than once or twice all season, or even at all?

The truth is the experts that work countless hours and are truly outstanding at what they do don’t really know what they’re talking about either. There simply aren’t enough hours in the day to really break it down in any kind of precise way. The variables to consider in picking these games are too many to count.

When it comes to picking the upsets and the Cinderella stories, your guess is as good as anyone’s.

So, what does this all mean?

Don’t worry about trying to be so analytical just to impress your friends.

When completing your bracket, simply close your eyes and go with your gut. Avoiding any urge to pick a No. 16 seed would also help.

Just use your imagination.

Listen closely and you might be able to hear Gus Johnson screaming during the final seconds of Dayton’s thrilling upset win over West Virginia.

Close your eyes and you might envision Bob Knight’s breakdown of why Western Kentucky knocked off Illinois on Thursday night’s Sportscenter.

Is it only a crazy dream, or can it become reality?

Nobody knows, but we are all so very eager to find out.

Oh, and by the way, would you like to hear my picks for the tournament?

Gary Williams Coaches Scrappy Maryland Terrapins Back into the Dance

Luke Jones — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 21:53:16 -0400

As Gary Williams and his Terrapins walked off the floor following the embarrassing 93-64 defeat at Clemson on Feb. 17, their aspirations for a second NCAA tournament appearance in five years appeared to have all but vanished.

Williams was facing intense scrutiny regarding his inability to recruit bigger stars and his disintegrating relationship with athletic director Debbie Yow and the university.

The highly inconsistent Greivis Vasquez was yapping at his own fans and struggling to lead the offense.

The struggles figured only to get worse for the 16-9 Terps as they prepared for home battles against powerhouses North Carolina and Duke. The final two nails in the coffin, right?

Perhaps we needed a refresher. Never count out a Williams-coached team.

The season turned on the next Saturday afternoon as Vasquez’s triple-double led Maryland to shock North Carolina in overtime, giving the Terps new life in their quest for an invitation to the “Big Dance.”

Though there would be a few more loops in this undulating season, including a crucial loss to Virginia in the regular season finale followed by two wins in the ACC tournament to put them back in good standing, the sweaty palms and nail biting paid of Sunday afternoon paid off as Maryland learned they would be the No. 10 seed invited to face California in the first round of the NCAA tournament in Kansas City.

For all of the harsh criticism for Williams and the struggles of his program over the past five seasons, the coach never wavered, insisting this was one of his favorite teams in his noted career.

There’s no question Maryland is undersized and lacks the talent to consistently compete with the top teams in the country. Of the Terps’ starting five, only Greivis Vasquez would start for the top programs in the country.

These doubts regarding recruiting will continue to follow Williams unless incoming freshmen James Padgett and Jordan Williams can provide the impact size the team has sorely lacked this season.

But for all of the critics droning about Maryland failing to make the NCAA tournament consistently, Williams found a way to silence them in what might be his best pure-coaching job since arriving at Maryland 20 years ago.

From the unimpressive, yet effective, Dave Neal to the out-of-position Landon Milbourne holding his own against burly opponents, the Terps never conceded failure, even when they appeared done in mid-February.

The scrappy play of this Maryland team is unlikely to move them beyond the first or second round, but Williams once again proved there should be no doubting his ability to get the absolute best out of his players.

This is the point that Williams needs to sell to potential recruits, whether they’re looking to win a national championship, go to the NBA, or both.

If he can get this underdog roster of players to play its way into the NCAA tournament, just think what he can continue to do with more talent.

The fire is still there in the 64-year-old coach to win another national championship for Maryland. He just needs to recruit the horses.

Who knows? Perhaps Williams can channel the past, and the Terps can defeat Cal and upset No.2-seeded Memphis to advance to the Sweet 16.

Certainly an unlikely proposition, but it was equally unlikely when Joe Smith, Johnny Rhodes, and the Terps knocked off Massachusetts in 1994, putting Maryland basketball back on the map after years in the doldrums following the tragic death of Len Bias.

Oh yeah, Maryland just happened to also be a No. 10 seed that year, and John Calipari was the coach of the Minutemen, the same Calipari coaching the Memphis Tigers in a potential second-round matchup.

It would be hyperbole to compare the magnitude of a potential run in this year’s tournament to those past heroics. The recent struggles do not compare to the state of the program when Williams arrived in College Park in 1989.

However, it might just launch the Terrapins back into elite status in the near future if they can capitalize on the recruiting side.

Crazy? Perhaps.

But, as we’ve learned throughout his brilliant career and again this season, never doubt the heart of Gary Williams and his basketball team.

How Syracuse and Connecticut Could Have Avoided Six OTs

Luke Jones — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 19:44:02 -0400

Watching Thursday night's epic six-overtime battle between Syracuse and Connecticut was an astonishing experience for those who persevered well into Friday morning to watch its conclusion.

The gutsy performances displayed by both teams in Syracuse’s 127-117 victory were mind-boggling, as it seemed the clash would never end.

This was never more apparent than when my mother turned to my brother and me at the end of the second overtime and asked, “So, will they play a third overtime?”

Obviously, taken aback by her question (Mom loves sports but admits to occasionally opening her mouth before she thinks), I began thinking about the possibility of the game continuing forever.

Perhaps it was the madness of March seeping into my psyche, or just the exhaustion of being awake past midnight on a work night, but the ideas of how to properly finish this classic encounter began rolling into my mind.

So, if a sleepy Syracuse team fails to advance over West Virginia in the semifinal, perhaps the Big East could have avoided the six-overtime marathon by simply thinking outside of the box:

1. Despite Paul Harris’ 29-point performance, the forward’s numerous misses from point-blank range were tough on the eyes. Perhaps a simple layup contest could have determined the winner? First team to miss loses.

2. The referees lead a ferocious game of Simon Says at center court. Last man standing wins it for his school.

3. Jim Boeheim and Jim Calhoun look at each other and simply nod, knowing how to settle this. A duel? No, this isn’t the 1700s. The rival coaches play a game of one-on-one to determine who advances. Suit jackets must stay on, no matter what.

4. After four overtimes, dribbling becomes optional. What an interesting dynamic to consider as fatigue continues to grind down both teams. Rugby, anyone?

5. When the third overtime fails to produce a winner, the referees decide to go back and take one more look at Eric Devendorf’s shot at the end of regulation. “On second thought, now that we look at it again, it was good. Let’s go home.”

6. In a fine display of college spirit, the teams agree to a game of beer pong. Only upperclassmen of legal-age are eligible, of course. But alas, the game of 10-cup goes into, you guessed it, overtime.

7. After failing to best one another, the rivals agree to join forces and play the semifinal as the Syrnecticuse Orskies. West Virginia and the rest of the Big East will not stand a chance!

8. When both coaches are informed of the Big East’s 1 AM curfew, the players disperse to their respective hotel rooms. The last player on the bench from each school finishes the game: playing Xbox Live.

9. The public address announcer calls for any former players in attendance to proceed to the court for one last moment in the spotlight. In street clothes, Gerry McNamara drains six 3-pointers to seal it for the Orange.

10. And finally, in a moment that will define the history of Big East basketball, the Madison Square Garden crew sets up the arm wrestling table for the final battle to decide who advances and who goes home.

Syracuse and UConn.

A trip to the semifinal on the line.

The two combatants cautiously walk to center court.

Otto the Orange versus Jonathan the Husky.

Best out of three.

March Madness personified.

Justin Jones contributed to this article, and in his mind, actually wrote it.

Terps Hoping to Recapture Georgia Dome Magic

Luke Jones — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 22:00:43 -0400

It’s a position Gary Williams has found himself in too many times in recent history despite an astonishing coaching career that includes over 600 victories and a national championship in 2002.

The seventh-seeded Terrapins find themselves needing an impressive run in the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament, beginning with Thursday night’s matchup against North Carolina State, to gain a realistic chance to be invited to the NCAA tournament on Sunday evening.

Last Saturday’s ill-timed loss to Virginia planted the Terps (18-12, 7-9) on the wrong side of the bubble after an earlier win over North Carolina thrust them back into consideration down the stretch. Consecutive losses to Wake Forest and the Cavaliers prevented Maryland from reaching the .500 mark in conference play, a record that would have likely secured an at-large bid.

With the regular season concluded, Williams and the Terps can only hope to capture the magic from past successes to find their way into the Dance.

How ironic it is that Williams brings his team to the Georgia Dome in Atlanta for the conference tournament, the very edifice where Maryland basketball came full circle and reached its pinnacle only seven years ago. Seven long years in the eyes of many of the program’s followers.

The image of Juan Dixon launching the ball toward the Georgia Dome roof in the final second of Maryland’s 64-52 victory over Indiana to win the title continues to grow fainter as the program encounters the likelihood of missing the NCAA tournament for the fourth time in five years.

The criticism for Williams has gained momentum for several years but never as strongly as it has this season. From his rocky relationship with the athletic department to the perceived failure in recruiting high-profile athletes, Williams has been placed under intense pressure to return the program to national prominence.

If he needs to look for inspiration beyond the school’s history at the Georgia Dome, he should look no further than the 2004 ACC tournament. The sixth-seeded Terps entered the Greensboro Coliseum with a 7-9 conference record and work to do in order to earn an NCAA invitation.

The underdog Terps, led by a sizzling John Gilchrist, proceeded to shock Wake Forest, N.C. State, and Duke to win the tournament and earn an automatic bid.

While this year’s team may be hard-pressed to repeat such an improbable feat, especially having to win four games in the since-expanded tournament, two victories would garner strong consideration from the selection committee. Three victories would almost assure an invitation.

What are this team’s chances of putting together a strong run in Atlanta? It starts with Greivis Vasquez.

Though frustratingly inconsistent, Vasquez is more than capable of providing a Gilchrist-like performance to lead the Terps to a few victories over the weekend.

Vasquez’s triple-double in the North Carolina win as well as his 33-point performance in a road win over N.C. State showed how capable the junior guard is of taking over a game.

If Vasquez can find a similar rhythm to the one he had in those contests, he can lead the Terps to victory against anyone in the ACC.

When looking back upon the Terps’ 2004 conference tournament championship, Gilchrist was the overwhelming hero, but others such as forwards Jamar Smith and Travis Garrison as well as little-used Mike Grinnon, and his key free throws, provided strong support to upset top-seeded Duke.

The Terps cannot solely rely on Vasquez to carry them to victory. Williams must find another player to step up in the conference tournament, a tall order facing a team that lacks any strong inside presence. Senior Dave Neal has played well recently, but the forward lacks the athleticism to compete against the tougher big men of the conference.

Landon Milbourne has been the most improved player on the team, averaging 12.2 points per game, but has seemingly disappeared down the stretch, bottoming out with two points against Wake Forest in the next-to-last regular season game.

Whether it’s a reemerging Milbourne or another candidate such as Cliff Tucker, who had 22 points in the North Carolina win, the Terps need a supporting cast for Vasquez if they have any visions of playing beyond Thursday or Friday.

Williams must instruct his team to treat the conference tournament opener against N.C. State as though it were the first round of the NCAA tournament. The stakes are just as high, and as an added bonus, Maryland faces a team they beat less than two weeks ago, not a mystery tournament team that you often face in the first round.

If Maryland is able to get by the Wolfpack, they meet Wake Forest on Friday night, a team that bested them by only two points last week. While it would be no easy task, Maryland certainly proved they can compete with the Demon Deacons.

An opportunity is there for Maryland to recapture the NCAA invitation that slipped through its grasp in the disappointing loss to Virginia. Williams thrives in the underdog role, so you can never count his team out, even with the underwhelming talent on the roster.

If the Terps are unable to make any noise, the reality of another disappointing season will face Williams as he begins the offseason and the daunting challenge of boosting recruiting for a program that has seen the shine vanish from its vast success earlier in the decade.

The image of Dixon will only continue to fade, replaced by the blinking question marks facing the coach and his struggling program if they’re unable to recapture some of that magic left behind on the Georgia Dome floor only seven years ago.

Seven long years.

Ray Lewis Experiences the Cruel World of Free Agency

Luke Jones — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 20:00:35 -0500

The feeling of being unwanted is a sobering, bitter pill to swallow regardless of how successful one has been in his profession.

For Ray Lewis, the silence of his phone has been deafening, reflecting how his actual value contrasts the Pro Bowl linebacker’s lofty goal of scoring one more big payday in a certain Hall of Fame career.

Despite all the talk of playing in Dallas or New York and even the rumor that he would rather retire than return to the Baltimore Ravens, Lewis sits at his Florida home with only one standing offer, the rumored three-year, $24 million offer from the Ravens.

Perhaps he did not realize how good he had it in Baltimore until he saw how cruel the reality of free agency could be for an aging veteran with unrealistic demands.

Lewis is a very proud man, so it is no surprise the rejection from the league’s other 31 teams stings deeply. Still a very productive linebacker at 33, Lewis will unquestionably use the perceived snubbing as motivation in preparing for his 14th season.

But how long will it take Lewis to lick his wounds before calling general manager Ozzie Newsome to accept the Ravens’ contract offer?

From a financial standpoint, the Ravens could easily lower their offer to Lewis after seeing how emaciated the market is for the two-time Defensive Player of the Year.

However, Newsome and the Ravens will not do this, showing more respect for the face of their franchise than he has shown for the organization that drafted him and has treated him well throughout his career.

Since the Ravens lost linebacker Bart Scott and center Jason Brown to lucrative contract offers from the New York Jets and St. Louis Rams respectively, the organization has no choice but to keep its aging leader and prevent an even bigger hole at inside linebacker from opening.

Reducing the offer would not only further sour an already stewing Lewis but would also increase the likelihood of another team jumping into the market for his services.

Owner Steve Bisciotti and coach John Harbaugh insisted the Ravens would value Lewis higher than any other team in the NFL, but Lewis refused to believe he could not earn any more than what Baltimore was offering.

No one can blame the Ravens’ leader for seeking more money, as he has every right to cash in with his final contract, but if Lewis has anyone to blame for his current predicament, it is his representation and, ultimately, himself.

Whoever was advising Lewis about his earning potential in free agency either severely misread the market or was not assertive enough in convincing their client about his actual value.

Or, perhaps that intense pride that has pushed Lewis to be one of the greatest defensive players in the history of the game led to his downfall in this free agent experience.

Regardless of the cause, the situation was handled miserably by Lewis and his people, who portrayed the inside linebacker as a mercenary with no loyalty to the organization that clearly wanted to maintain his services with a generous contract offer.

For the teams rumored to be interested in Lewis for his unquestioned leadership ability, this behavior had to be a red flag when also considering his age. Teams may have viewed his disloyalty to the Ravens as a warning sign that Lewis may not be the easiest to appease if a situation is not to his liking.

This is something the Ravens have known about Lewis for years. His leadership can be outstanding but only when things are going his way.

The inside linebacker has been known to mope and even lash out, as he did following the 2005 season, wanting to be traded if the Ravens failed to acquire a big defensive tackle to keep blockers away from him. When the Ravens drafted Haloti Ngata in 2006, Lewis was suddenly happy again.

It is also common to see Lewis duck out of the locker room without talking to the media following a tough loss.

The Ravens have put up with these behaviors for so long, because Lewis is their guy, and they know what he brings to the football field when he is content.

It may take a few more days to swallow his pride, but Lewis will eventually concede and accept the Ravens’ contract offer. He’ll then probably begin to mend some fences and attempt to save face by claiming his heart was truly with the Ravens, and that Baltimore is “his” city.

And though the Ravens’ front office will privately roll their eyes, they will accept it as the proud Lewis simply being himself. After all, they realize how much Lewis has done for the organization, even if he does not want to acknowledge how much they have done for him.

While hurt feelings are apparent with Lewis, the Ravens, and even their fan base, all will be forgiven when Lewis comes dancing out of the tunnel and creates an absolute frenzy at M&T Bank Stadium in September.

Ultimately, Lewis returning to the Ravens was the way it was supposed to be, but it took a humbling rejection from 31 other teams for him to finally see where he rightfully belongs.

Monday Musings in the World of Baltimore Sports

Luke Jones — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 22:23:09 -0500

The latest chapter in the Ray Lewis saga has the 10-time Pro Bowl linebacker envisioning suiting up for the Dallas Cowboys next season.

Cowboys linebacker DeMarcus Ware told DallasCowboys.com that Lewis' "dream" was to play for Dallas, and he has been discussing it with Ware for months.

This story screams negotiating ploy as Lewis continues to try to generate a bigger market for himself. What better way is there to drive up the market than to drop hints to opposing players that he would be interested in signing there?

While it's likely that Lewis has voiced an interest in the Cowboys to Ware, there's no telling how serious he really is about playing in Dallas. Also, consider how much the All-Pro Ware would like to play with another star like Lewis. It would be easy to take a few comments and turn them into it being Lewis' "dream."

Lewis has sounded off to several media sources this offseason, but this is nothing new. He has never been afraid to speak his mind, even if it means ruffling some feathers in Baltimore.

Following an injury-plagued 2005 season, Lewis campaigned for a new defensive tackle to protect him and even went as far as requesting a trade if general manager Ozzie Newsome failed to do so. The Ravens drafted Haloti Ngata in the first round of the 2006 draft, appeasing Lewis in the process.

One thing is certain: if Lewis departs for greener (no pun intended) pastures, he will definitely leave a few burnt bridges that could potentially hurt him in the future if he plans to start any business ventures in the Charm City.

Stay tuned for the next edition of 'Ray's of Our Lives'.

***

The agent of center Jason Brown and linebacker Bart Scott said Monday that he expects one of his two clients to re-sign with the Ravens before hitting the free agent market Friday.

It's hard to believe that Brown or Scott would sign only days away from being able to field offers from other teams.

Brown is believed to be seeking guard compensation similar to what Jets guard Alan Faneca received in free agency last season. This would put the Ravens center in the $8 million per year range, likely to be more than the Ravens are willing to go.

While Brown has provided strong leadership for a young offensive line, the 2005 fourth-round pick has never been selected to the Pro Bowl. The Ravens would like to keep Brown but are prepared to move guard Chris Chester to center, especially with the expected return of right guard Marshal Yanda.

If not for Chester's play in place of Yanda last season, the Ravens would be panicking over the potential loss of Brown, but the team seems willing to let him go if the price climbs as high as it's rumored to go.

The more intriguing possibility would be the Ravens signing Scott to a contract before Friday, leaving fellow linebacker Lewis in a precarious position. While the team has spoken publicly about maintaining both linebackers in addition to the franchise-tagged Terrell Suggs, it is considered a long shot given the team's other free agents and salary cap situation.

Signing Scott would send a message to Lewis that the Ravens are prepared to move on without him, putting more pressure on Lewis to find a suitor that will meet his high financial demands.

My guess is that neither Scott nor Brown is inked to a contract before free agency begins.

***

Free agent safety Jim Leonhard was one of the surprises of the 2008 season, filling in for Dawan Landry after the starter suffered a season-ending neck injury.

In addition to providing solid play in the secondary, the savvy Leonhard provided a spark in the team's punt return game, replacing the oft-injured and ineffective Yamon Figurs.

Though Leonhard would be nice to retain, I have a difficult time understanding the strong infatuation with the undersized safety, especially when he's expected to be in high demand in free agency.

Leonhard is a poor tackler, an area the Ravens need to improve in the secondary as cornerback Fabian Washington is a liability in run support and safety Ed Reed's tackling has declined due to lingering neck and shoulder issues.

The Ravens need a strong tackler to complement Reed in the backfield, the type of player Leonhard is not.

With the drafting of safeties Haruki Nakamura and Tom Zbikowski in 2008 and the expected return of Landry, the Ravens should not view maintaining Leonhard as a high priority.

***

Though position players reported to Spring Training five days ago, Orioles left fielder Felix Pie is still absent due to visa issues in the Dominican Republic.

Having been acquired in a trade with the Chicago Cubs, Pie is expected to be the starting left fielder, but general manager Andy MacPhail and manager Dave Trembley need time to evaluate the young outfielder.

While visa issues are common in the early days of Spring Training, Pie needs as much time as he can to acclimate himself to new teammates and a new coaching staff.

Pie's absence figures to benefit outfielder Lou Montanez and prospect Nolan Reimold, two players that have seemingly been surpassed by the former Cub in the organization's plans for the future.

A strong spring by either could put more pressure on the club to find a spot for them on the 25-man roster, but with Pie being out of options, it would probably take an injury of some kind to open a spot for Montanez or Reimold.

Update: The Baltimore Sun is reporting Pie's visa issues have been resolved, and the young outfielder will report to Spring Training as early as Tuesday morning.

***

I hope 2006 first-round selection Billy Rowell is paying attention to what's happening in Fort Lauderdale. The third baseman had a disappointing season at Single-A Frederick in 2008, hitting only .248 and slugging only .368.

While the 20-year-old prospect is still in the organization's long-term plans, Trembley was complimentary of first baseman and 2005 first-round pick Brandon Snyder this week at Spring Training, citing his strong power to the opposite field.

The former catcher temporarily fell off the radar after suffering a shoulder injury in 2006, but the first baseman put up impressive numbers at Frederick last season, hitting .315 with 80 RBI.

Snyder has seen limited time at third base, and there has been discussion of giving the 22-year old more opportunities to develop at the hot corner. The talk of Snyder potentially becoming an option at third base sends a message to Rowell that the organization will not wait forever for his development.

Critics have questioned Rowell's work ethic and openness to coaching, and Trembley's strong praise of Snyder hopefully provides a push for Rowell to step up his play in 2009.

It's too early to give up on Rowell when you consider he was drafted at the age of 17, but this figures to be a pivotal year in determining whether he will be a legitimate prospect moving forward.

The farm system's infield talent is minimal and with the impending free agency of Melvin Mora and Aubrey Huff following the season, the organization needs Snyder and Rowell to continue to develop.

***

Following Maryland's shocking 88-85 overtime upset over North Carolina, the students rushed the floor of the Comcast Center, mobbing Greivis Vasquez and the victorious Terrapins.

This predictably sparked the tired debate of when it's acceptable to rush the court after a big win in college basketball.

While the celebration may be a reflection of how far Maryland has fallen over the past five seasons, critics should consider the fact that most students currently enrolled at Maryland have only witnessed one NCAA tournament appearance in their college careers.

Let them celebrate, as you never know when another win as improbable as Saturday's will take place again. As long as the rioting is kept to a minimum, the students are entitled to enjoy the win.

Now, the debate on the safety issues involved in students rushing the floor is another story entirely.

Maryland Gives a Glimpse into the Past in Upset over North Carolina

Luke Jones — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 23:43:53 -0500

(AP Photo)

The dark cloud suddenly lifted, as an ocean of red poured onto the floor of the Comcast Center, and Maryland was king of the college basketball world again, if only for one afternoon.

While much work remains in regards to their NCAA tournament hopes, the Terrapins enjoyed a return to their glory days as unranked Maryland shocked No. 3 North Carolina 88-85 in overtime on Saturday.

If you squinted hard enough at Greivis Vasquez, on his way to a triple-double, you could almost see Juan Dixon, or Steve Blake, or even John Gilchrist, as he carved up the Tar Heels’ defense all afternoon.

In fact, Vasquez’s epic performance may have topped them all, as he led the team in points (35), assists (10), rebounds (11), blocks (3), and steals (2).

There was Cliff Tucker, draining five three-pointers in the contest, just as Dixon or Drew Nicholas used to do.

The questions about their lack of size will remain (nobody on the court resembled Lonny Baxter or Chris Wilcox no matter how hard you looked) as the Terrapins surrendered 22 offensive rebounds, but they still found a way.

And finally, there was coach Gary Williams, pumping his fists and storming the sidelines as he has for the past 20 years, coaching up a less-talented team on their way to victory.

Williams once again reminded us how great a coach he really is and how effective his teams can be, even against the toughest of opponents.

For one afternoon, the doubts disappeared, and everything suddenly felt right again in College Park.

The next few weeks will tell us just how much this win means to Maryland’s post-season hopes, but for Williams, the exposure of a nationally-televised upset may help to jumpstart his maligned recruiting efforts.

Yes, it was only a season ago that Maryland upset then-top-ranked North Carolina on the road.

And true, the Terrapins have managed to score a major upset nearly every season in their recent dry spell of missing three out of four NCAA tournaments, but the criticism surrounding Williams and the program this season is unlike any the school has faced since receiving NCAA sanctions in the early 1990s.

The 2002 image of Dixon cutting down the nets in the Georgia Dome continues to grow fainter while the sting of embarrassing losses such as American last season and Morgan State this year has soiled Williams’ once-untouchable status.

Williams has defended his performance, citing just how far he has taken the program since he rescued it from the ashes of the Len Bias tragedy and the Bob Wade era, but it is difficult to overlook the lack of talent currently enrolled.

Shortly after he arrived, Williams was able to recruit a little-known forward named Joe Smith and Baltimore native Keith Booth to return the program to prominence, so he has to hope Saturday’s upset can help to spark another recruiting blitz.

While critics will continue to point to the players Williams fails to recruit, perhaps it is the talented, yet inconsistent, Vasquez who can help to right the direction of the program. The Venezuela native has continued to support his coach publicly, despite rumblings about Williams’ dealings with recruits and other players.

“Every Maryland fan should be grateful, because that man right there can coach,” Vasquez said to reporters following the game.

Perhaps Vasquez’s words are based purely on the emotion of an improbable win, but Maryland supporters should remember that the familiar joy experienced on Saturday is only familiar because of the man who continues to storm the Terrapins’ sideline, 20 years after raising the program from its lowest point.

Williams deserves an opportunity to do what he does best: rebuild.

As bleak as it has been at Maryland for much of the season, Williams is still coaching with that fiery persona and chip on his shoulder. If he can bring that same passion to his recruiting efforts, Maryland may regain its place in ACC and national prominence.

Whether Williams can reinvent himself as a recruiter remains to be seen, but for one afternoon at least, it felt like Maryland was again one of the elite programs in the country.

You could almost see Dixon hitting the baseline jumper or Smith delivering the thunderous dunk, as the memories of past success came flooding back. And now, Vasquez can add his thrilling performance to those special images of past Terrapins.

Regardless of what Saturday’s win means for the immediate future of Maryland basketball, whether it’s the catalyst for a late tournament run or only an aberration in a disappointing season, Williams hopes it’s not only a flashback to past glory, but also the beginning of a turnaround for the program he hopes to rebuild again.

Baltimore Ravens' Offseason—Suggested Reading to Survive

Luke Jones — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 19:01:39 -0500

With the 2008 season in the books and the NFL Draft two months away, Ravens fans will now look for any possible outlet to get their football fix in the long days of winter and early spring.

I suggest cracking open a Natty Boh, kicking back, and reading a good book.

Here's a list of Ravens books that didn't quite make it to the publisher for whatever reason. A few titles date back to the early years of the Ted Marchibroda-led Ravens, while others will be fresh in the memories of countless fans.

Feel free to add to the list, as the writer who compiled it failed miserably in writing his own book, How to Keep Them Laughing.

1. Making Good Decisions by Kyle Boller, with an introduction by Vinny Testaverde

2. Know the Snap Count by Ethan Brooks

3. Long Snapping for Dummies by Harper LeBel

4. How to Capitalize on Your Career Day by Jay Graham

5. Keeping Your Cool in the Heat of Battle by Orlando Brown

6. God, It's Great to be a Raven! by Terrell Owens

7. Johnny Who? Baltimore's Real No. 19 by Scott Mitchell

8. Catching It All by Travis Taylor, with special forewords by Ron Johnson and Clarence Moore

9. Shutdown Corner by Isaac Booth, with a special introduction by Alvin Porter

10. Modest Man by Ray Lewis

11. Installing a Screen Door by Kipp Vickers

12. Who Needs Ray? by Edgerton Hartwell

13. Courage by Elvis Grbac

14. Silent Man by Bart Scott

15. Me Talk Pretty by Brian Billick

This list is a work of fiction. Do not attempt to contact your local Borders to see if they have these titles in print. You will be received with awkward silence.

Monday Musings in the World of Sports

Luke Jones — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 14:28:35 -0500

Watching Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal share the All-Star Game MVP award reminded us how dominant the duo really was despite their dysfunctional relationship in Los Angeles.

Who knows how many championships they could have won had egos not ruined their run? Just look at the success the two players have continued to have since parting ways.

Even after receiving the award, Bryant had to remind everyone that he and O'Neal are far from being best friends.

"We are not going to go back to the room and watch Steel Magnolias or something like that, you know what I'm saying, crying, all that stuff," he said. "We had a good time. That's all."

Yes, we get it, Kobe. You’re still insecure about being in O’Neal’s big shadow.

***

The All-Star Game is often a punch line used to point out the absence of defense in the professional game, but it’s difficult to overlook how special it is to see so many stars playing on the same court.

From LeBron James and Chris Paul to Yao Ming and Amar'e Stoudemire, the talent on the floor is unbelievable.

Now, if only these stars treated the contest as more than a relaxed pickup game, we could truly get excited about watching.

To create more intensity in the game, should the NBA take a page from Major League Baseball and award home-court advantage in the NBA Finals to the winning conference?

Yeah, I didn’t think so either.

***

General Manager Andy MacPhail and manager Dave Trembley can continue to explain how Orioles catching prospect Matt Wieters is not ready for the big leagues and needs more seasoning in Triple-A Norfolk, but no one is buying it.

Wieters’ staggering minor league numbers in 2008 proved to everyone that he’s ready to take the next step.

This move is all about the money, and it’s difficult to fault the Orioles for doing it.

No matter how well Wieters performs in 2009, it will not turn the Orioles into a serious contender. However, having Wieters in 2015 would be extremely beneficial if the Orioles are seriously contending, something they plan to be doing long before then.

Wieters is represented by Scott Boras, so he will clearly be looking for the biggest contract he can get when he hits free agency. By sacrificing Wieters’ production for a few weeks in 2009, they could be saving an inordinate amount of money by keeping Wieters in 2015 when he figures to be in the prime of his career.

Could Wieters benefit from working with some of the organization’s young pitchers at Norfolk? Sure, but the young pitchers will be getting way more out of it than Wieters will. This one’s all about the money, and it’s the right move.

***

Matt Kenseth won his first Daytona 500 in a rain-shortened 152 laps. Taking nothing away from his special moment, I cannot help but shrug my shoulders.

While the weather is out of anyone’s control, it seems anticlimactic to award your sport’s equivalent of the Super Bowl or World Series to the winner after completing only three quarters of the race.

Can you imagine the Pittsburgh Steelers being awarded the title at the end of the third quarter?

Can you envision the Philadelphia Phillies winning the World Series after the sixth inning of Game Five? Oh wait, that almost happened, but baseball made sure the Fall Classic had its proper ending.

To avoid this problem in the future, NASCAR should consider finishing the race the next day or schedule the race a week earlier, leaving an open weekend in the schedule to account for inclement weather. It may not be ideal, but it is better than having a race end when no one is even aware of it.

***

Bills running back Marshawn Lynch is just the latest example of a professional athlete completely out of touch with reality after being arrested and charged for possession of a concealed firearm over the weekend.

Where was Lynch when Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress was shooting himself in the leg at a Manhattan nightclub last November? How many of their colleagues have to get busted to understand they are not immune to the laws we, as a society, must all obey?

Again, any athlete needing to carry a loaded firearm should hire security, or better yet, reevaluate the decision to go to these places where they feel the need to have such protection. Just using some common sense would keep more of these players out of trouble.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has received occasional criticism for the severe discipline levied on troubled players, but the message needs to be sent, especially if the legal system is unwilling to crack down on these millionaires.

***

The debate will continue on Maryland basketball coach Gary Williams’ recruiting efforts and practices, but there’s no questioning his coaching ability.

In Maryland’s impressive 83-73 home victory over Virginia Tech on Saturday, Williams pushed all the right buttons and managed a rotation that had four Terps scoring in double figures.

Williams is a victim of his own success, losing several assistant coaches over the years and being unable to replace their recruiting ties. Having always relied on his assistants to sign recruits, Williams simply lacks the troops to help him.

While the landscape of recruiting has changed with the emergence of AAU teams as an overwhelming factor, Williams has been unable, and possibly unwilling, to adapt.

Until this issue is addressed, Williams will continue to get everything he can out of his players on the court, but Maryland will continue to struggle in the talent-heavy ACC.

Five Baltimore Orioles Storylines Heading into Spring Training

Luke Jones — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 23:38:53 -0500

Pitchers and catchers report on Saturday.

Six words that mean so much to a baseball fan.

A signal that spring is on the way after the harshness of winter. The hope that comes with a new baseball season. Regardless of what happened last year, there is always that chance, how slim it might be, that this year could be different; could be special.

For Baltimore fans, this annual spring hope has brought little in return in the past 11 losing seasons, but this spring almost comes as a relief.

The past week’s baseball news has been disheartening to say the least, both on the national stage with the fall of Alex Rodriguez and locally with the sagas of Miguel Tejada and Roberto Alomar.

For Orioles fans, expectations are again tempered playing in the difficult American League East, but for the first time in years, there is light at the end of the tunnel. An affluent crop of pitching in the farm system may finally put the Orioles in a position to compete with the Yankees, Red Sox, and Rays in the near future.

The Orioles may be another year or two away from taking the next step, but there are five stories worth watching in Fort Lauderdale this spring.

1. Quantity, but Quality Too?

The Orioles will bring 37 pitchers to the major league camp in hopes of finding the names to fill a wide-open starting rotation and a promising bullpen.

Although ace Jeremy Guthrie and Japanese newcomer Koji Uehara are seemingly entrenched at the top of the rotation, the names that will fill the last three spots are anybody’s guess.

“The Big Three,” pitching prospects Chris Tillman, Jake Arrieta, and Brian Matusz, may not arrive until later this season or next, but several other young arms will be vying for manager Dave Trembley’s attention.

Former top prospect Hayden Penn will finally try to prove he belongs in the Orioles’ rotation. Penn has battled injuries and some freakish bad luck but will battle for a spot in the rotation or long relief.

Many are quick to write him off as a viable option, but at 24, Penn is still young enough to reinsert himself in the club’s future plans. He is out of options, so barring a disastrous spring, it would seem Penn breaks north with the club.

Newcomer David Pauley will also be a contender for the rotation. After finding success in the Red Sox system but receiving few opportunities in the majors, the 25-year old was acquired for reliever Randor Bierd. Pauley possesses a good sinker and a solid curveball. A change of scenery could be ideal for the right-hander.

Sticking with the theme of needing a fresh start, former Cubs pitcher Rich Hill was sent to the Orioles for a player to be named later. After posting a 3.92 ERA and winning 11 games in 2007, the southpaw fell apart last season, losing his command and eventually his spot in the Cubs’ rotation. The Orioles hope a reunion with pitching coach Rick Kranitz can reverse Hill’s control problems.

Other names to watch in the battle for the rotation include right-handers Matt Albers (returning from a shoulder injury), Brian Bass, Radhames Liz and lefties Chris Waters, and the reacquired John Parrish.

2. The Face of the Franchise

Severna Park native Mark Teixeira may have spurned the Orioles’ attempts to bring him home, but general manager Andy MacPhail showed the organization is willing to pay its own homegrown talent.

After failing to reach a long-term deal last offseason, the Orioles signed right fielder Nick Markakis to a six-year, $66M deal, officially branding the 25-year old as the face of the franchise.

Markakis is the type of player to build your team around, having all the tools needed to become a star. The super-reserved Markakis seemed more relaxed and comfortable at the press conference announcing the deal, possibly foreshadowing a willingness to take on a more vocal role with the club.

It will be interesting to see how Markakis performs after signing the second-richest contract in club history.

3. “Wieting” in the Wings

Catching prospect Matt Wieters will continue to be the talk of the Charm City until he arrives at Orioles Park at Camden Yards.

The organization figures to start the Baseball America Minor League Player of the Year at Triple-A Norfolk. MacPhail and Trembley will speak of Wieters needing more experience calling pitches before joining the big leagues, but it’s only window-dressing.

The Orioles will pull an “Evan Longoria” by starting Wieters in the minor leagues for the first weeks of the season. This would delay the start of his service time, impeding his eligibility for free agency until after the 2015 season. With the shrewd Scott Boras serving as his agent, the Orioles would be making a wise decision to hold onto Wieters as long as they can.

Of course, all bets might be off if Wieters hits .450 in spring training and forces the team’s hand. Sound unlikely? Maybe not.

Baseball Prospectus’ Kevin Goldstein wrote in January that Wieters is already the best player on the club and is “quite possibly the best catcher in the game.” Keep in mind, Wieters has never played above Double-A. Can you say hype?

4. Athletes in the Outfield

While Markakis has become the mainstay in right field, the Orioles have secured promising pieces in center and right.

Adam Jones had a solid debut in Baltimore despite missing time with a broken foot last season. The gifted centerfielder needs to improve his plate discipline with only 28 walks and 108 strikeouts in 477 at bats, but his hitting improved prior to the trip to the disabled list in early August.

Reports indicate the 23-year old added some muscle in the offseason, so his power numbers should improve in 2009.

Roaming left field will be newcomer Felix Pie, a former top prospect for the Cubs whom the Orioles attempted to acquire in the Brian Roberts’ trade talks a year ago. After struggling in 2008 in limited opportunities with Chicago, the Orioles were able to grab the 23-year old in a trade for pitcher Garrett Olson.

Pie received only 260 at bats with the Cubs in two seasons despite being ranked the top prospect in the organization at one time. He possesses four of the five tools, though some believe he can still develop more power, and is an intriguing low-risk, high-reward acquisition.

Could the addition of Pie give the Orioles the best young outfield in baseball? All three outfielders play great defense, and if Pie’s 2009 production can approach what Jones did last season, the Orioles could be looking at a dynamic trio in the outfield for many years to come.

5. A Closer Encounter

The return of hard-throwing Chris Ray from Tommy John surgery crowds the backend of the bullpen, always a good problem to have.

Ray was the team’s closer in 2006 and 2007 but will have to unseat All-Star stopper George Sherrill to regain his job.

Sherrill had a dominating first half in 2008 before struggling down the stretch with a sore shoulder, finishing with a 4.73 earned run average and 31 saves. He could be more valuable to the bullpen as a left-handed specialist, especially if veteran lefty Jamie Walker is unable to rebound from a rough 2008.

Look for Trembley to give Sherrill every opportunity to win the job, considering Trembley was not present during most of Ray’s tenure as closer.

Regardless of how the closer situation is resolved, the back of the bullpen looks to be a strength. Setting up Ray and Sherrill will be right-hander Jim Johnson who enjoyed much success in his first full season with the Orioles.

If the Orioles can somehow bridge the gap from the starting pitching to the seventh inning, these three have the ability to shorten games and give the club more opportunities to win.

Here’s an early shot in the dark of how the roster could look when the Orioles break camp and head north to Baltimore.

Lineup
2B Brian Roberts S
CF Adam Jones R
RF Nick Markakis L
1B Aubrey Huff L
3B Melvin Mora R
DH Luke Scott L
C Gregg Zaun S
LF Felix Pie L
SS Cesar Izturis S

Bench
IF/OF Ryan Freel R
IF/OF Ty Wigginton R
IF Chris Gomez R
C Guillermo Quiroz R

Rotation
Jeremy Guthrie R
Koji Uehara R
Rich Hill L
David Pauley R
Hayden Penn R

Bullpen
Matt Albers R
Mark Hendrickson L
Dennis Sarfate R
Jamie Walker L
Jim Johnson R
Chris Ray R
George Sherrill (closer) L

What will you be following as the Orioles prepare for the 2009 season in Ft. Lauderdale? Who will win a spot in the starting rotation? Leave your thoughts below.

The Steroid Era: The Names We Truly Seek

Luke Jones — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 22:20:02 -0500

The Steroid Era has finally delivered the knockout blow to the jaw of the American Game.

With the revelation that Alex Rodriguez is as guilty as the many others that chose to use performance-enhancing drugs, the last hope for the purification of the home run record, and perhaps the game itself, now appears lost for good, at least in terms of perception.

Many will call for the remaining 103 names who failed drug tests in 2003 to be revealed, but what purpose will it really serve?

Will knowing more names suddenly make us feel better about the state of baseball? Is it simply the shock value? Or, do we simply want to shake our heads in disappointment again and again?

The damage has been done. The list of those to blame is endless, ranging from league executives to club owners, trainers to coaches, and utility infielders to league MVPs. The Steroid Era is a period that cannot be repaired or erased, ignored or forgotten.

As time goes on and more perpetrators are revealed, my desire to seek a new set of names continues to grow. Names that will not be found in the list of the remaining 103, the Mitchell Report, or even BALCO.

What are the names of those who chose to stay away from steroids and performance-enhancing drugs in this corrupted period of professional baseball?

The question is commonly asked with a heavy dose of cynicism, but my asking it is utterly sincere.

Unfortunately, the endless lies, whether it be to the grand jury or to the court of public opinion, make it impossible to truly believe anyone that has come forward to speak out against the use of performance-enhancing drugs in professional baseball.

The image of Rafael Palmeiro wagging his finger before Congress in 2005, only to fail a drug test months later, is irreversibly burned into our collective memories.

We can only imagine what players ultimately chose to play the game with integrity, even if that meant making sacrifices or being passed over by others. Make no mistake, these honest, clean players did exist and do exist today, but there is simply no way of knowing who they are for sure.

These are the players for which we have no other choice but to admire, even if we’ll never find their names on a list. They are nothing more than faceless heroes in this era of corruption.

I respect the middle infielder that will never receive the big contract, because he barely hit his own weight. He may never hit home runs, but he knows he is getting everything he absolutely can out of his ability, without compromising his principles.

I appreciate the grizzly backup catcher whose time in the game has come to an end due to the emergence of a bigger, stronger, younger backstop. He could have reached out for that extra edge, but he speaks to the local high school team and gives them a positive role model.

I look fondly at the 10-time All-Star first baseman, one of the greatest players in the game, who has to deal with the scrutiny and consequences of his peers’ actions.

While we’ll never truly know whether his Hall of Fame performance is authentic, he can tell his grandkids that his name legitimately belongs with the all-time greats.

I admire the career minor league outfielder, riding buses from town to town, playing for one shot at the major leagues but knowing it will not come.

Even if he never receives as much as a cup of coffee in the big leagues, he can sleep at night knowing he did it the honest way, even if that meant others “succeeded” over him.

In this era of dishonesty and ultimate disappointment, these nameless players are the ones that will ultimately carry us through this dark time in baseball. There’s nothing they can really say, for we would have a difficult time believing them anyway.

All they can do is continue to take the field as they always have, competing as hard as they can against those choosing to be dishonest.

These are the players I choose to celebrate, even if we’ll never truly know who they are. And this is the saddest fact of all.

Why Ray Lewis and the Baltimore Ravens Need Each Other

Luke Jones — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 17:41:28 -0500

The “face of a franchise” is a term carelessly thrown around in the world of professional sports.

What exactly does it mean? Is it simply being the team’s best player or leader? The most marketable or outspoken? The highest paid?

More often than not, the label becomes cliché but if it were to fit one player more than any other in the National Football League, it certainly fits Ray Lewis.

Having just completed his 13th season with the Baltimore Ravens, Lewis has personified the organization since its inception in 1996. When thinking of the Ravens, it starts and finishes with an intimidating, often flamboyant, defense that will haunt your dreams.

Lewis cultivated this image from the beginning, even when the players around him could not live up to his high expectations in the early years.

When considering how synonymous Lewis and the Ravens truly are, how could they now be bracing themselves for a separation?

As is usually the case in the NFL, it overwhelmingly boils down to money and the salary cap. Lewis seeks one final payday as he enters the final stretch of his surefire Hall of Fame career.

On the other side, the Ravens struggle with the idea of resigning its iconic figurehead, but also a linebacker entering his 14th year, to a lucrative contract that could come at the expense of keeping other younger players on the roster.

While this scenario plays out almost every year with some player in some other city, this situation is unique. Ray Lewis is the face of the Baltimore Ravens, and Baltimore is his city.

Critics will point to Jerry Rice or Brett Favre as examples of icons finishing their careers in other cities, but these teams already had legends that had come before them.

San Francisco already had Joe Montana and Steve Young; Green Bay already had Bart Starr and Ray Nitschke. With apologies to future Hall of Famer and left tackle Jonathan Ogden, Lewis stands alone for the Ravens.

It is truly rare when the face of a franchise is with the team from its very beginning. After moving from Cleveland in 1996, the Ravens were much like an expansion team with no identity. That identity quickly became Lewis’ menacing visage and has been ever since.

The Ravens simply do not feel or look like the Ravens without Lewis in the middle of the defense. While he obviously will not play forever, both Lewis and the Ravens deserve a proper departure—one that is authentic with Lewis leaving his battlefield for the final time as a Baltimore Raven.

Not only is it the way things should end for both parties involved, it also makes the most sense when looking deeper into the situation. The reality is that both the Ravens and Lewis need each other.

For the Ravens, the defense has already taken a significant hit with coordinator Rex Ryan departing to become the head coach of the New York Jets. The loss of Lewis would not only leave a hole at inside linebacker, but his football intellect may only rival Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning.

Lewis’ reputation for watching game film is legendary and heavily influences the defense’s ability on Sundays. He has been known to call out the opponent’s exact play countless times throughout his career. Players with such instinct and intelligence come along so rarely.

Though safety Ed Reed has followed in Lewis’ footsteps with his propensity for watching film, the loss of Lewis’ mind might be a more significant loss to the Baltimore defense than his actual production at linebacker.

In addition to his intelligence, Lewis’ leadership cannot be overemphasized.

Numerous players have come and gone from the Ravens’ defense and all left with a common theme: they enjoyed their best years in Baltimore.

From Lional Dalton to Sam Adams, or Ed Hartwell to Duane Starks, numerous players, young and old, have left Baltimore but failed to find the success they enjoyed with the Ravens. Critics might suggest it’s the coaching staff, but many coaches have also come and gone.

The one constant has been Lewis. His ability to single-handedly raise the level of, not only his own play, but also of his teammates, is what makes a dynamic career. It’s what the greatest players in the history of professional sports are able to do time and time again.

The Ravens must also consider Lewis’ marketability. Having been the face of the franchise for 13 years, the organization cannot help but view Lewis as a valuable commodity.

Simply take a look around M&T Bank Stadium on Sundays in the fall. You’ll see an increasing number of Joe Flacco and Reed jerseys, but Lewis’ 52 is still the most commonly sported by Baltimore fans.

Lewis is not only a value to the team with his play on the field, but his name and national appeal brings an incredible amount of revenue to the organization. Lewis is clearly aware of this and wants to be compensated accordingly.

Owner Steve Bisciotti also has to be considering the potential public relations disaster of allowing Lewis to leave. The casual fan will not be thinking of salary cap implications but only that the Ravens allowed their leader to depart after a season in which they were one win away from a trip to the Super Bowl.

It would be a difficult scenario for fans to accept, especially after the Ravens have seemingly found their quarterback after so many years in the doldrums with a putrid offense.

Perhaps the biggest reason why the Ravens need Lewis is there is no player ready to take his spot in the lineup.

Backup linebacker and special teams player Nick Greisen is a solid tackler and did a nice job filling in for an injured Lewis at the end of the 2007 season, but the drop-off at inside linebacker would be significant.

Rookie Tavares Gooden is a fellow University of Miami alum but would benefit from more of Lewis’ tutelage before taking his place in the lineup after spending most of last season on injured reserve.

A team that has finally found its franchise quarterback in Flacco would likely need Lewis to return for another season or two if they have any plans of building upon their AFC Championship appearance in 2009 or 2010.

Though the reasons why the Ravens still need Lewis might seem fairly obvious, a closer look shows that Lewis might need the Ravens more than he’s been claiming in recent weeks.

Lewis clearly wants one big final contract before his days as a player are over, but would it pay more in the future to accept a fair, but modest, contract from the Ravens? His earning potential in Baltimore will be very high long after his playing career is finished.

It’s unlikely that Lewis would have the same long-term earning potential after making a two- or three-year pit stop in another city.

An ugly departure from the place he’s called home for 13 years could potentially damage his marketability in Baltimore for years to come.

The reality is that Lewis has had it pretty good in Baltimore for many years. He shares a close relationship with Bisciotti and has even gotten away with occasionally criticizing the team’s shortcomings with little consequence.

In the offseason prior to the 2006 NFL Draft, Lewis complained about needing a big defensive tackle to keep blockers away from him and even talked about wanting to be traded if the team failed to get one. What happened? The organization drafted Haloti Ngata in the first round that year.

Another example of Lewis’ influence has been his role in acquiring veterans such as defensive backs Corey Fuller and Deion Sanders, decisions that may or may not have been good for the organization.

It’s difficult to envision another team giving Lewis the influence he has come to expect in Baltimore.

Lewis could also have a tough time playing in a market such as Dallas or New York if he, or the team, fails to live up to expectations.

His leadership is unquestioned when things are going well, but Lewis also has a reputation of occasionally sulking during losing seasons and sometimes slipping out the backdoor of the locker room without talking to reporters after a difficult loss.

Actions such as these are merely an afterthought in Baltimore but would be heavily criticized under the blistering media lights of New York or Dallas. Yes, Lewis could find success in these cities, but he could just as easily win another title in Baltimore as he could in these cities.

Ultimately, Lewis needs to stay in Baltimore in order to protect his sterling legacy, something that is extremely important to him.

“I already believe I am the best linebacker in the game,” said Lewis several years ago. “Now, I have to show one more thing: that I am the most dominating, influential person in the game and the best football player to ever put on a pair of cleats.”

Lewis has a strong appreciation for the history of the game and his place within it. He already knows his bust in Canton is secure but why risk tarnishing it by going to another team, especially when the Ravens want him to return?

Yes, Michael Jordan had a final run with the hapless Washington Wizards, and Brett Favre became a New York Jet, but while history may be forgiving to its legends that finish brilliant careers in other cities, their final chapters are often ignored or completely forgotten out of necessity.

Nobody wants to remember Jordan fading away in Washington or Favre throwing interceptions in New York.

That just doesn’t fit Lewis’ brash style.

When legends stay with that same team where they found so much success, they’re given a proper farewell, even if they may not be the player they once were. The city and its fans are able to truly show how appreciated their hero has been and how he will always have a virtual key to the city.

The coming weeks will show just how much these other factors will play into the decisions faced by both Lewis and the Ravens. It figures to ultimately come down to money, as it usually does, but both sides need to take a long hard look at each other before deciding to part ways.

Will Lewis finish his career in Baltimore where the legend was born and continues to thrive, or must we brace ourselves for the possibility of another legend’s final act taking place in another city and needing to be forgotten?

Regardless of the answer, Ray Lewis is the Baltimore Ravens, and the Baltimore Ravens are Ray Lewis. It should ultimately stay that way.

A Festivus on the Brink: Baltimore Ravens' Playoff Run Continues

Luke Jones — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 21:07:10 -0500

For those who enjoyed “The Night Before Festivus,” this is the next chapter.

A Festivus On the Brink
By: Luke Jones

On the brink of greatness, these Ravens, they were,
As the fans of Baltimore continued to stir.
The Ravens were ready for just one more test
To prove that they were the AFC’s best.

Though tired and weary from a Titan contest,
the Ravens had no plans of trying to rest.
These men on a journey to climb to the peak
Were ready to play for at least one more week.

Coach Harbaugh, the general, inspired his team
To play with such heart and never say “me.”
It may not be perfect or an effort of splendor,
But they’ll show what it takes to be a contender.

From the hits of Ray Lewis to the heart of Jim Leonhard,
The flash of Bart Scott, the tough presence of Trevor,
The playmaking Reed, the work ethic of Johnson,
The strength of Haloti, the coverage of Washington.
A defense so feared with a scent for the ball,
as foes, one by one, continued to fall.

Joe Flacco looked calm without any fears.
Such a rarity, a rookie so far past his years.
Mason and Clayton kept hauling in throws
as Neal and the line gave punishing blows.
With McClain and McGahee earning big gains,
Todd Heap with the big catch, moving the chains.
And Stover, the veteran, with his kick in the clutch,
Making the game-winner with just enough touch.

But now, the Steelers, whom they had yet to unseat,
For Festivus to continue, they were the team to beat.
Their two games so close, twice a narrow, tough loss.
The Ravens were hungry to show them who’s boss.
A clash of two rivals with it all on the line,
the fans couldn’t wait until it was time.

The Ravens had given so many great gifts
To the fans of Baltimore this Festivus.
But the ultimate present was still on their list
As the players would embark to grant them their wish.
With the same punishing effort, the Ravens will try
To show just how high they really can fly.
Coach Harbaugh will shout at the end of the day,
“Festivus Maximus for all! We’ll see you in Tampa Bay.”