With the beginning of the 2010 NFL season only hours away, expectations have never been higher in Baltimore as the Ravens have their eyes fixed on their first Super Bowl title since the 2000 season.

Questions remain in the secondary and whether Joe Flacco can reach elite status with an abundance of new weapons in the Baltimore offense, but contenders and pretenders alike face some level of uncertainty on the eve of Week 1.

Easy schedules — and the unsophisticated attempts to predict a team’s fate week by week — in early September frequently transform into daunting slates in the unpredictable nature of the NFL. An injury to a key performer at the wrong position can derail even the strongest teams’ championship aspirations.

Inevitably, a sexy preseason contender or two will collapse under fatal flaws, and an anonymous outfit that no one is even pondering as a victor will find itself playing long into January.

We just never can tell.

And with that digression, I toss my hat into the futile, but enjoyable, pool of forecasting the 2010 season. If nothing else, predictions offer damning proof that most of us (all of us?) really don’t know what we’re talking about when the dust settles in early February.

AFC East
New England – The Jets will continue to steal the headlines, but the Patriots will happily take the division title.
New York – Rex Ryan speaks loudly and carries a big stick, but Mark Sanchez is not ready for the big stage yet.
Miami – No one is happier about Brandon Marshall’s arrival in South Beach than Chad Henne.
Buffalo - Did Chan Gailey really get another head coaching gig in the NFL?

AFC North
Baltimore – Can Joe Flacco keep three former Pro Bowl receivers happy in a potentially explosive passing game?
Cincinnati* – Coordinator Mike Zimmer and the defense will prove their No. 4 ranking in 2009 was no fluke.
Pittsburgh – An aging defense and a shaky offensive line will not be able to overcome Ben Roethlisberger’s four-game suspension and ensuing rust.
Cleveland - It’s rarely a good thing when all people want to talk about is the new front office.

AFC South
Indianapolis – Would the NFL have tweaked the umpire’s positioning if Peyton Manning had not been the one to complain the loudest?
Houston* – After being the chic pick for a couple seasons, Gary Kubiak and the Texans finally crack the postseason.
Tennessee – Does Chris Johnson hold up long enough to touch the ball over 400 times again?
Jacksonville - Three straight losing seasons could spell the end of Jack Del Rio’s eight-year stay with the Jaguars.

AFC West
San Diego – Ryan Mathews won’t make Chargers fans forget LaDainian Tomlinson, but the rookie back is poised for a dynamic rookie campaign.
Oakland – Picking the Raiders any place other than last seems foreign, but Tom Cable has some semblance of a football team if Al Davis doesn’t meddle too much. Good luck with that.
Denver – Kyle Orton is serviceable but not enough to make a difference in the Broncos’ fate.
Kansas City - Safety Eric Berry is a future star and one of several young players giving the Chiefs hope for the future.

NFC East
Dallas – No Cowboys coach has lasted longer than four seasons since Jimmy Johnson (1989-93), so Wade Phillips (entering his fourth year) needs a big season in Big D.
New York – The Giants’ Steve Smith (107 receptions in 2009) has officially turned the Carolina wideout into the “other” one.
Philadelphia – Kevin Kolb will seal Andy Reid’s fate as a genius or mark the beginning of the end for the coach in Philadelphia.
Washington - Donovan McNabb will limp through a hapless season without enough talent surrounding him.

NFC North
Green Bay – This might be the year that Aaron Rodgers exorcises the ghost of Favre by bringing the Lombardi Trophy back to Titletown.
Minnesota* – The absence of Sidney Rice will hurt more than Brett Favre’s ankle, taking the Vikings down a small notch.
Chicago – A fortune was spent for Jay Cutler a year ago and Julius Peppers this offseason, but a small return this season will mark the end for Lovie Smith.
Detroit - Rookies Ndamukong Suh and Jahvid Best give Lions fans two reasons to be excited for the future.

NFC South
New Orleans – Drew Brees might be the one quarterback in the league you wouldn’t grow tired of seeing in the Super Bowl.
Atlanta* – Though he took a step back in his sophomore year, far too many people are overlooking Matt Ryan and the Falcons this season.
Carolina – Whether the Panthers surprise or wilt with Matt Moore at the helm, it looks like this is the final act in Charlotte for John Fox, whose contract expires after the season.
Tampa Bay - At least they have those “creamsicle” throwbacks to look forward to at some point this season, right?

NFC West
San Francisco – Alex Smith is no Joe Montana or Steve Young — or even Jeff Garcia — but the 49ers are the strongest team in a pedestrian division.
Arizona – Cardinals fans wish Kurt Warner would be more like Brett Favre in his retirement practices.
Seattle – As if his first two go-rounds in the NFL weren’t bad enough, the shadow of the sanctions at USC makes Pete Carroll an easy guy to root against.
St. Louis - Sam Bradford has 50 million reasons to smile while he takes a beating in his rookie season.

* = Wild-card berth

Wild-Card Round
New England over Cincinnati
Houston over San Diego
Minnesota over San Francisco
Atlanta over Dallas

Divisional Round
Indianapolis over Houston
Baltimore over New England
New Orleans over Atlanta
Green Bay over Minnesota

AFC Championship
Baltimore over Indianapolis

NFC Championship
Green Bay over New Orleans

Super Bowl XLV
Baltimore over Green Bay

MVP: Aaron Rodgers
Offensive Player of the Year: Adrian Peterson
Defensive Player of the Year: Patrick Willis
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Ryan Mathews
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Ndamukong Suh
Coach of the Year: John Harbaugh

The exhilarating journey begins Thursday night.

Enjoy the ride.

Happy Friday!

It’s a Happy Friday for me because tonight is my annual Fantasy Football Draft; or as I like to call it-”August Christmas.” Thanks to my buddy Chris Appel for arranging the event at Mountain Branch for our “Full House League”, where I’m assuming these things will be on the menu…

I have the 6th pick in this year’s draft. I’m mortified. Clearly Chris Johnson and Maurice Jones-Drew will be gone; with Ray Rice and Adrian Peterson likely behind them. That will likely put me in an uncomfortable spot where the best options are Frank Gore, Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers and Michael Turner.

I have no idea what I’d do in that situation.

I guess Team “Jesse and the Rippers” probably end up having to take this guy…

And as a quick personal note; my condolences go out to Chris Appel (and former WNST.net blogger BJ Appel-the Commish in our league); whose grandfather “Big” Will Appel passed away last night. Big Will was an amazing dude who will be missed. Thoughts and prayers all around, it certainly weighs heavy on an otherwise glorious day.

Let’s see what everyone has to say…

1. WNST.net’s Glenn Clark says Terrence Cody (knee), Demetrius Williams (ankle) missed practice again Thursday ahead of Ravens-Giants game

Neither are major concerns, and neither have ruled themselves out for tomorrow night-although it would surprise me if either were on the field after missing practice for all (Williams) or the majority (Cody) of the week.

The Ravens will almost certainly be without O-Linemen Jared Gaither (back), Oniel Cousins (concussion), David Hale (tailbone) and Daniel Sanders (shoulder) tomorrow night; as well as CB Marcus Paschal (leg).

WR Eron Riley (back) and DT Brandon McKinney (knee) are question marks having missed a few practices this week; and I would be surprised if CB Lardarius Webb played on the turf at “The Bank” after returning from the PUP list just this Monday.

It sorta feels weird to talk about injuries before a game and not mention LJ Smith. I hope he’s doing well…

2. BaltimoreRavens.com’s Ryan Mink says ‘ball security’ very important for Cam Cameron, Ravens against New York

And after 8 fumbles in the first two preseason games against the Carolina Panthers and Washington Redskins, it seems like a pretty logical thing to work on.

You know what else seems pretty logical? Posting this picture of Ninel Conde from Don Chavez….

3. National Football Post’s Aaron Wilson says Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome to be inducted in Cleveland Browns Ring of Honor

I’m not sure if the Browns are planning on inviting guys to town to be honored the weekend of the induction, and it likely wouldn’t matter; as the Ravens visit the Cincinnati Bengals that day and I’m sure Ozzie will be in The Queen City, not The Comeback City.

But hypothetically, imagine the Browns holding an event on a day where Newsome had been able to attend. I am certain there would be at least a level of awkwardness at Cleveland Browns Stadium. I don’t think the majority of fans would be foolish enough to-say-boo the man whose Cleveland career made him a Hall of Fame TE. But I do think there would be a handful of fans (especially younger fans who might not remember Newsome on the field) who would be uncomfortable with honoring the GM of the team that abandoned Cleveland and now regular comes back to kick the Browns in the ass.

And there’s also the whole “he works for Art Modell” thing.

They’re doing the right thing. And it is probably best that it will happen on a day where they can avoid any level of awkwardness.

4. New York Daily News’ Ebenezer Samuel says G-Men center Shaun O’Hara to miss tomorrow night’s game

Before we move on from the Ravens, a couple of things…

-The Ravens are holding a walkthrough today that is CLOSED to the media out at 1 Winning Drive in Owings Mills. They’ll kickoff against the Giants at 7:30 tomorrow night at M&T Bank Stadium. The game can be seen live on WBAL11.

-Did you miss Ravens LB Jason Phillips with Drew Forrester today on “The Morning Reaction” on AM1570 WNST? Jason discussed his road to making the 53 man roster after missing last season. You can hear it in the BuyAToyota.com Audio Vault right here at WNST.net. Some other things you can hear in the Audio Vault include…

• Howard Cross (New York Giants sideline reporter/former TE)-who previewed tomorrow night’s preseason showdown with the Ravens
• Domonique Foxworth (Ravens CB)-who joined Drew to talk about his recovery and preview the Maryland-Navy get together at M&T Bank Stadium on Labor Day
• TJ Rives (Tampa Bay Buccaneers sideline reporter)-who previewed the Bucs with Drew as we continued to look at all of the Ravens’ 2010 opponents
• Roger Lodge (Host of “The Sports Lodge” on AM830 in Los Angeles and the former host of “Blind Date”)-who joined Drew to preview the Angels
• All sorts of audio from Owings Mills Thursday-including Cam Cameron, Greg Mattison, Jerry Rosburg and Ray Rice
• Steve Hauschka (former Ravens, now Detroit Lions kicker)-who joined Thyrl Nelson Thursday on “The Mobtown Sports Beat”
• Joe Maese (former Ravens Long Snapper)-who joined Rex Snider Thursday on “The Afternoon Drive” to talk about Matt Katula/Morgan Cox as well as his new career as a Howard County firefighter
• Len Pasquarelli (CBSSports.com)-who checked in live from the NFL Owners Meetings in Atlanta with Rex Thursday

Plus much much more. It’s all in the Audio Vault, so once again I’ve planned your day completely. I’m getting sick of carrying you like this.

5. The AP’s Jay Cohen says Edwin Jackson masterful as Orioles lost to Chicago White Sox at US Cellular Field

Not a whole heck of a lot more that can be said about this.

Jackson was TREMENDOUS last night. The type of tremendous that sorta makes you wonder how he can ever be bad.

I almost said “I’m glad Edwin Jackson doesn’t pitch for my team, because it would be frustrating to watch him.” But I don’t mean that. I’d take Edwin Jackson my team 10 times out of 10. He’s better than anyone we have.

Nights like these happen sometimes. They’re frustrating, but they happen. Hopefully there will be fewer and fewer of them in 2011.

Hopefully.

6. The AP/WNST.net provide numerical evidence of loss

Jackson’s line: 8 shutout innings, 3 hits, 10 strikeouts

Jake Arrieta’s line: 4 IP, 4 ER, 7 hits, 3BB, 2K

You REALLY don’t want to look at these numbers.

Instead, look at Olivia Wilde. She’s much more pleasant to look at. Thanks Guyism!

7. MLB.com’s Brittany Ghiroli says Armando Gabino optioned to Norfolk after loss, Jim Johnson expected before tonight’s game in Anaheim

And when it comes to Gabino, we’ll always have the memories. Like…

I’m happy for Jim Johnson to finally be getting back. I think there was a real chance of him having his spirits dampened after such a dreadful season thus far.

You know what tends to help me when my spirits are dampened? Robert Randolph…

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kABK_CDZal8[/youtube]

8. The Sun’s Dean Jones Jr. says Chris Tillman roughed up, but Norfolk Tides managed to beat Charlotte Knights on farm

And before we move on from the O’s, a couple of things…

-The Birds left the Windy City last night for Anaheim, where they’ll open a weekend series with the Angels tonight. First pitch between Brad Bergesen and Trevor Bell is at 10:05pm, and the game can be seen on MASN2. Kevin Millwood and Jeremy Guthrie face Scott Kazmir and Jered Weaver the rest of the weekend.

-Adam Jones missed another game last night, but was available in an emergency situation. Still not considered a longterm issue.

-While Tillman still seems to be a guy who will be headed to Charm City next week, it does not look like Buck Showalter and Andy MacPhail will be giving Zach Britton the call. Might be the right move, but still kinda disappointing.

9. D1scourse’s Patrick Stevens says LaQuan Williams, Justin Lewis, Matt Furstenburg now listed as starters for Terrapins

And yet somehow Shannon James STILL isn’t starting. WHERE IS THE JUSTICE IN COLLEGE PARK?!?!?!? (Thanks The Smoking Jacket!)

10. ESPN.com’s Wayne Drehs says Michael Phelps has rededicated himself to Swimming after visiting this year’s Vancouver Olympics

Thank God, as I can’t take seeing Michael Phelps lose anymore.

I mean, if Phelps is losing-I’m pretty sure THIS man defaults back to being the face of Baltimore sports…

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJxkbTYekdY[/youtube]

And finally, I leave you with this.

The Maryland State Fair is underway in Timonium. It means plenty of wonderful things all around. Amongst them? DEEP FRIED POP TARTS! (Thanks Fox 45!)

Flexing my mic muscles since 1983…

-G

With Sports Illustrated releasing its list of all-time best NFL players by jersey number this week, I decided to look back at the 15-year history of the Baltimore Ravens to construct a list of the greatest players for Nos. 1-99.

Numbers 1 through 20 included greats such as Matt Stover and Ed Reed as well as lackluster selections such as David Tyree and Wally Richardson.

Part two (21-40) provides a few interesting debates with a few more selections of attrition.

21 Chris McAlister (1999-2008)

The paradoxical cornerback’s exit under the new regime of John Harbaugh was unfortunate, but there was no questioning McAlister’s talent when his mind was focused on football. The three-time Pro Bowl selection (2003-04, 2006) is the best cornerback in franchise history.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjj5OA1I5UU[/youtube]

McAlister will eventually be a part of the Ring of Honor, where he will become the second honoree to wear No. 21, but the only deserving one. Earnest Byner had a good NFL career in Cleveland (with the exception of “The Fumble”) and Washington, but he being the first member of the Ravens Ring of Honor is solely a product of Art Modell’s affection for the running back.

22 Duane Starks (1998-2001)

McAlister’s counterpart receives the nod in a close race with cornerback Samari Rolle. Starks lacked consistency in his four-year career with the Ravens, but his play reached new heights during the team’s postseason run that ended with the Lombardi Trophy in Tampa. Starks intercepted two passes in the AFC Championship and returned a Kerry Collins attempt the other way 49 yards for a touchdown in the Super Bowl (check out the 0:46 mark below).

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uW5vor6kZ4c[/youtube]

23 Willis McGahee (2007-present)

McGahee’s career in Baltimore has declined after a 1,200-yard season in 2007, but the veteran runner easily tops the list of players to wear the number, which includes Moe Williams, Jamaine Winborne, Earnest Hunter, and Dameon Hunter.

Though no longer a premier back, McGahee can take consolation in a certain moment in Oakland last season.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxTQAqB8Q0Q[/youtube]

24 Domonique Foxworth (2009-present)

Despite playing only one season with the Ravens so far (and missing his second with a torn ACL), Foxworth’s performance in 2009 trumps the likes of Corey Fuller, Donny Brady, Alvin Porter, and 2006 third-round bust David Pittman.

25 Chris Carr (2009-present)

Despite a number of players wearing the number, Chris Carr wins out over inadequate cornerbacks such as DeRon Jenkins, Evan Oglesby, and Clarence Love.

26 Rod Woodson (1998-2001)

The veteran transitioned from cornerback to safety and earned three trips to the Pro Bowl during his four-year stay in Baltimore. Dawan Landry deserves a mention and Priest Holmes wore the number his rookie season, but Woodson is the unanimous choice here.

27 Ray Rice (2008-present)

Safety Stevon Moore was one of the few competent members of the Baltimore defense in the early years, but Rice’s breakout 2009 campaign makes him a slam-dunk choice for No. 27. Entering his third season, Rice hopes he can make the number as synonymous with Ravens football as No. 52 and 75.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4-nT1WNuik&feature=related[/youtube]

28 Gary Baxter (2001-04)

McAlister wore the number his rookie season and Tom Zbikowski is making a name for himself, but Baxter was a solid member of the Baltimore secondary before ditching the Ravens for Cleveland, where his career was essentially ruined by patella tendon tears in both knees in 2006.

29 Chester Taylor (2002-05)

Taylor was a dependable backup in 2004 and 2005 when Jamal Lewis’ body began breaking down. His performance eventually earned him a nice payday in Minnesota before the Vikings drafted Adrian Peterson. Two players deserving posthumous recognition are safety Eric Turner and fullback Chuck Evans. Terry Allen also wore the number in the running back-starved season of 2001.

30 Obafemi Ayanbadejo (1999-2001)

With Eugene Daniel and Jamel White his only real competition, the man with probably the coolest name in the history of the franchise earns the honor despite spending the latter half of the Super Bowl season on Injured Reserve.

31 Jamal Lewis (2000-2006)

With a bruising style unlike any other, Lewis was an unstoppable force in 2003, rushing for 2,066 yards and a then-record 295 against the Cleveland Browns in Week 2. In his prime, Lewis was the type of runner defensive players were afraid to tackle. He is the franchise’s all-time leading rusher.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cuN3hN8j8L8&feature=PlayList&p=7FFF13B94FD79303&index=0&playnext=1[/youtube]

32 Sam Gash (2000-02)

The veteran fullback led the way for Lewis in his rookie season and is the most deserving of a group of backs that includes Musa Smith and Errict Rhett. Gash was the epitome of an “old-school” fullback.

33 Le’Ron McClain (2007-present)

Some will argue Priest Holmes as a deserving choice for this number—the first back to have a 1,000-yard season in team history in 1998—but McClain’s two Pro Bowl selections and improbable 2008 season in which he rushed for 902 yards earn him the honor.

McClain’s running style reminds you a little bit of Bam Morris, another back to wear the number in 1996 and 1997. Unlike the troubled Morris, however, McClain has managed to keep his nose clean, literally and figuratively.

34 Ovie Mughelli (2003-06)

Though he was a late bloomer in Baltimore, Mughelli grabs the brass ring with his only real competition being Jay Graham and current return man Jalen Parmele. The latter still has an opportunity to stake a claim in the future, but Graham’s injury-riddled career fell off a cliff after rushing for an amazing 154 yards in his first career start in 1997.

35 Corey Ivy (2006-08, 2009)

Despite his small stature at 5-foot-9, Ivy was a steady nickelback with the ability to blitz effectively. His standout moment with the Ravens came during a dominant 27-0 win over the Steelers in 2006 in which the defensive back grabbed an interception, sacked Ben Roethlisberger, and forced a fumble. Ivy edges Robert Bailey, the nickel during the 2000 season, and fullback Carwell Gardner (1996).

36 Jim Leonhard (2008)

B.J. Sams was a good return specialist for four seasons with the Ravens, but Leonhard personified the Ravens’ underdog season in 2008 in which they advanced to the AFC Championship game with a rookie head coach and quarterback.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQh3PngyyWw[/youtube]

The undersized safety’s play was a major asset in place of the injured Dawan Landry and earned him a nice contract with Rex Ryan and the New York Jets the following season.

37 Bennie Thompson (1996-1999)

Deion Sanders earned the most attention with his two-year stint in Baltimore, but Thompson was a special teams standout during the infancy of the franchise. Thompson played the game with the crazed demeanor needed to launch oneself into the wedge of the opposition’s return team. Thompson earned a trip to the Pro Bowl in 1998 for his special teams prowess.

38 James Trapp (1999-2002)

Despite being an ordained minister, Trapp is remembered most for being ejected from a game in 2002 after stomping on the head of Steelers receiver Plaxico Burress, a move many in Baltimore didn’t mind a bit. Trapp was a quality backup in the Ravens secondary for four seasons and edged out the likes of Antonio Langham, Mike Anderson, and Raymond Walls.

39 Alan Ricard (2000-05)

After much painful debate, I decided against Daren Stone, the culprit of one of the dumbest penalties in franchise history, as the all-time No. 39.

Ricard was the lead blocker and a Pro Bowl alternate in Jamal Lewis’ record-breaking 2003 season and was a great fullback for several seasons.

40 Cory Ross (2006-07)

Though he wore the number for just one season (switching to No. 34 in 2007), Ross filled in for injured return specialist B.J. Sams during the latter portion of the 2006 season, which was enough to earn the distinction for a very insignificant number in team history.

The deceased Kenyon Cotton and current bubble defensive back K.J. Gerard are the only other competitors in an underwhelming group of No. 40s.

Next up: For numbers 41 though 60, we’ll find who grabbed the honors for No. 46 and 48 (Impressive if you have names off the top of your head), and I’ll end the suspense surrounding the pick for No. 52. Here’s a hint: it rhymes with Lay Rewis.

This morning Drew named the top six players and one coach he would take on his team.

7. Mike Nolan

6. Matt Hasselbeck

5. Brian Urlacher

4. Wes Welker

3. Donovan McNabb

2. Greg Jennings

1. Hines Ward

While Glenn did the opposite, naming six players and one coach he would NOT take.

7. Ike Taylor

6. Jeremy Shockey

5. Jay Cutler

4. Andy Reid

3. Albert Haynesworth

2. Miles Austin

1. Adrian Peterson

Flexing my mic muscles since 1983…

-G

.
Question – Name the pro sports league that owns the distinction of hosting the most SIGNIFICANT and INSIGNIFICANT athletic events of the year ….. just a week apart?

Answer – That’s right, it’s the National Football League – proud owners of the Super Bowl and Pro Bowl games …..
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In just nine days, the NFL is rolling out the red carpet and pagentry for the annual unveiling of its crowned jewel. The Super Bowl and it’s week-long events is a celebration likened to the coronation of a King or Queen. It’s more than a big deal …..

Yet, this Sunday – in the same stadium, Roger Goodell and his colleagues will do their best to dab some makeup and lipstick on the “ugly step sister” ….. or better yet, they’re opening the doors to the party nobody wants to attend.

And, it’s featuring a few guys nobody wants to see – because many REAL STARS backed out.

To be honest, this is an inherent problem for the NFL. Although, I’ve gotta dole out some credit; they’re trying to address the situation and improve the overall lure of the Pro Bowl for everyone involved. The league has made tangible changes.

And, the primary hurdle has been cleared by moving the game from a location that’s not exactly “convenient” to reach …..
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Unless you had alot of disposable income, a week’s vacation and nothing better to do ….. OR you lived in Hawaii, the Pro Bowl just wasn’t in the offing in past years, right? Well, the NFL has corrected that problem.

As the football world knows, the game is being played at the site of the Super Bowl, in Miami, just a couple weeks earlier.

Problem solved, right? WRONG. Tickets are selling for as little as 20 bucks on the street, players are still backing out and subsequently, fans just don’t seem to care. It’s also worth mentioning that rules are still tightened and blitzing is not allowed. That matters – if you love the game of football.

I think it’s logical to say the NFL corrected the largest factor contributing to the disconnect between fans and the Pro Bowl. It’s being played on the mainland !!!!

But, the next biggest problem still exists. This guy isn’t attending …..
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This guy’s bosses are BITCHINGLY complaining about him attending …..
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This guy isn’t attending …..
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This guy’s bosses are also complaining about him attending …..
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You get the picture(s), right? It’s gonna be virtually impossible to attract fans and relevant attention to a showcase event, without the showcase quarterbacks participating in one way or another. God bless Vince Young, but football fans aren’t universally interested in dedicating a day to watching him play.

Let me be very clear about this ….. I have no qualms with ANY of the above guys pulling out of the Pro Bowl’s on-field commitments. Peyton Manning and Drew Brees have a BIGGER on-field obligation. Tom Brady is beaten and bruised. And, Brett Favre can barely run.

Their bodies have been punished for the last four months. But, are any of them exempt from attending the league’s GIVE BACK weekend? I suppose that’s debatable.

After all, the Pro Bowl is not really billed as being “For The Fans & About The Fans” which contradicts the missions of MLB, NBA and NHL endeavors. To be blunt, I’m not really certain about the appeal or desired result of the game.

However, if the NFL is intent on making it successful, they’ve gotta find an incentive for players to attend (even if they’re not playing), while actually displaying some enthusiasm and devotion to the people who support the game.

An initial consideration will likely regard MONEY. It always does. But, that won’t work – the amounts are likely not significant enough to gain the attention of the biggest stars. They’ve already got plenty of money. So, they’re off doing what they wanna do …..
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A few dollars and a free trip to South Florida (a week earlier than desired) will not inspire these guys to make the journey – if they gotta practice and play football. Sure, some of them will pitch a product on radio row – NEXT WEEK – while working the room at a party or two. But, they’re not breaking a sweat.

Trust me, if the NFL really wants to salvage the Pro Bowl and make it a well publicized, worthwhile occasion, they need to read this blog.

Are you ready? Here goes …..

Upon determining the Super Bowl’s host city, the league needs to award the Pro Bowl to the nearest, neighboring NFL locale. For example, this year’s Pro Bowl would’ve been hosted by Tampa. I’ll agree, the folks in Tampa are accustomed to putting on the ritz for Super Bowl festivities, but they won’t reject the Pro Bowl – and they’re already hosting a HUGE PARTY, this weekend.
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Have you heard of Gasparilla? It’s a “Pirate Themed Spring Break – for Adults.” In fact, it’s very much like Mardi Gras. It’s an awesome time – TRUST ME !!!!
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The fine people of Tampa are already having the BIGGEST PARTY, in Florida, this weekend. The Pro Bowl would’ve been a natural and fun fit for the town. The Gasparilla event is on Saturday and the Pro Bowl could’ve been on Sunday.

Just take a look at where the next three Super Bowls are being played – and where the prospective Pro Bowls could be played …..

Dallas/Houston
Indianapolis/Cincinnati (hey, they picked Indy – they’re stuck with Cincy)
New Orleans/Houston

Having the resounding support of the host municipality would be key and it would really be the only occasion for some cities, like Cincinnati, to ever host such a meaningful event. It could and would work from the local perspectives.

But, how do you get this guy (and his goat) to show up?
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I’ll admit, a bunch of girls running around – scantilly clad in pirate outfits won’t do it. In fact, the Tampa situation is just a convenient one year deal. But, there is a group of people; a FAN BASE that would really put the players in an obligatory, selfless situation.

If the NFL wanted a full stadium and successful Pro Bowl event on their hands, they need to make their ALL STAR game about GIVING BACK to the people who are most deserving of such an event. And, they could coordinate it through one organization …..
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That’s right, regardless of the host city, fill the Pro Bowl Stadium with America’s REAL HEROES. Distribute the tickets to enlisted personnel representing all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families. Don’t sell the tickets – give them away. And, just require an accompanying Military ID at the gate.

Think about it ….. how much money is the NFL making on the Pro Bowl gate? It’s a drop in the proverbial bucket for them. And, the potential TV audience will not be tuned in for this Sunday’s game.

However, if the NFL truly GAVE BACK and made the event about these folks, the TV audience could skyrocket …..
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I recognize the NFL has been instrumental in USO causes. In fact, John Harbaugh and a group of head coaches visited the troops, in Iraq, last year. And, if you attend a Ravens game, our military brethren are always recognized and remembered.

But, making the Pro Bowl “THEIR” event, on U.S. mainland soil would be a gigantic public relations win for the NFL – and citizens would care about the energy surrounding the game. It’s not about competition or providing better on-field production. It’s about hosting a game with a greater, selfless purpose.

My suggested format would not render Tom Brady healthy and willing to play in the game. But, I’d bet he wouldn’t blow it off. Neither would Brett Favre. Doing so, would be incredibly damaging to their public images.

They would show up and interact with FANS during pre-game festivities. They would take part in some facet of the game. They would have a REAL REASON to be there. In fact, the reasons OFF-FIELD are just as important as ON-FIELD …..
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Oh, I’m sure one of the players would “dip his toe in the water” when considering the prospect of blowing off the game and resulting celebration. But, I’d sense their agent or PR guy would say, “Tom (Brett), you can’t dig this hole ….. you’ll never climb out of it.”

The NFL’s players would do the right thing.

Heck, maybe guys like Bill Polian would finally SHUT THEIR MOUTHS. The Colts President has been crying and complaining about his Pro Bowl players being obligated to travel to Miami, a little early, because they might “spend too much time on their feet.” Are you serious, Bill?

Have you considered how much time this kid spends on his feet?
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Give me a break.

If the Pro Bowl becomes a celebration of the people who truly deserve a game to call their own, it would become a grand success – REGARDLESS OF WHO IS ON THE FIELD.

Give back, guys. It’s really that simple …..

Ravens Tuesday. It’s the Tuesday Top 7. I’m pretty sure you’ve heard of it.

You deserve props…..

1-Drew Brees, Jason Campbell and Donovan McNabb

Holy crap the Redskins won!!!!!! HOLY CRAP WHOA OH MY GOD THIS IS AMAZING!!!!!!

In all seriousness though, Congratulations to the Redskins for beating the Raiders. It’s a lot like that one time I beat Steve Butler in 9th grade in a 1 mile race. It would have been a greater accomplishment if Steve Butler didn’t resemble Ray Bachman…

2-BJ Penn and Frank Mir

Look, I know some big things happened at UFC 107 Saturday night in Memphis-but the world of Mixed Martial Arts was flipped upside down this weekend. Why you ask? Because “Alabama Pride” was……..canceled. WHAT THE HELL?

THIS WAS SHAPING UP TO BE THE GREATEST NIGHT IN THE HISTORY OF MMA!!!!

Butterbean vs. Tank Abbott? DMX vs. ANYONE? I’d pay $1,000 for this card if I had to.

But apparently DMX wanted to fix the fight so he’d win. And then all of a sudden the Butterbean fight wasn’t happening either. Suddenly the card looked like this…..

WAIT……COOLIO?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? I STILL HAVE TO WATCH THIS!!!! COOLIO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BbB8b0wgPg[/youtube]

But according to The Big Lead, the card was CANCELLED!!!

I’ve never wanted a single thing investigated more in my life….

3-Alexander Semin

Okay, so the Capitals won a game, then they lost a game. I watched neither-as……I needed to catch up on the episodes of “Glee” I still had on my DVR???

In other hockey news, did anyone else know that Bemidji State was ranked #4 in the country?!?!?! HOLY CRAP LET’S GO BEAVERS! (Thanks to Puck Daddy for the tip.) And also, how…..in the world……did this video exist without me ever knowing??

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MFaA6koXIk[/youtube]

4-Ryan Grant, Ricky Williams, Adrian Peterson, Chris Johnson, Fred Jackson and Thomas Jones

So the Dolphins somehow managed to beat the Jaguars in a game that helped and hurt the Ravens’ AFC Wild Card chances at the same time. The game was attended by 60,000 fans at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium. That doesn’t seem that bad; except when you consider that the game was played in BEAUTIFUL weather in a city where there was NOTHING else going on, and there were MAJOR playoff implications. And, um, Ohh! Jacksonville Municipal Stadium holds over 70,000; CAN hold over 80,000 for big games, but only HAS to hold 67,000 to be a sellout. YET SOMEHOW THEY CAN’T FIGURE OUT A WAY TO SELL THE FREAKING GAMES OUT!!!!!!

Somewhere, there’s an a-hole who still thinks putting a NFL team in Jacksonville was a good idea……

5-Patrick Patterson, Julian Vaughn, Juan Fernandez and Reggie Holmes

Watching college basketball this weekend reminded me of something. SOMEHOW I COMPLETELY FORGOT TO POST THIS LAST WEEK!!!!

Thanks to WNST’s Chris Bonetti for letting me know about it. It didn’t count, but Boston College’s Reggie Jackson might as well be called “Mr. December”……

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCxEY-lgf2w[/youtube]

6-Vitali Klitschko, Paulie Malignaggi, Timothy Bradley and Vic Darchinyan and Mark “TNT” Tucker

All of these people won boxing matches this weekend. Tucker won his in Westminster. It was clearly the most exciting thing that has happened in Westminster since…..

……ever.

7-Andre Johnson, Brandon Marshall, Vincent Jackson and Wes Welker

Brandon Marshall set a record in a loss. Which seems just about ABSOLUTELY RIGHT for Brandon Marshall.

Meanwhile in Foxborough, Panthers players claimed Randy Moss “quit” on the Patriots. That may be true, but it isn’t a concern for me. What IS a concern for me is that I haven’t posted a single picture of Gisele Bundchen yet to celebrate the birth of her and Tom Brady’s child……

8-Ricky Dobbs

I went to Philadelphia Saturday to enjoy the 110th Army/Navy game at Lincoln Financial Field. I didn’t know I was in Philly until I dropped a pen on my way in and was booed by the entire city.

And kudos to the staff at The Linc for supplying not only cheesesteaks in the press box, but also these……

9-Rudy Gay and Carmelo Anthony

I don’t root for the Wizards. Partly because they’re terrible-but more because they play in Washington. You see, the Redskins play in Washington. Therefore, I despise everything about the place. (Except for this gal I know who lives in Columbia Heights. But that’s only because she’s not REALLY from DC. If she were REALLY from DC-I’d probably despise her as much as I do the rest of the city. OH! Except Ben’s Chili Bowl too. Boy I’m rambling again…..)

The point of all of this is that because I don’t have a NBA team to root for, I usually just root for players who went to Maryland or who are from Baltimore. Sadly, with Juan Dixon now out of the league-I’m forced to choose a new favorite player. Melo was the easy choice, but after Rudy Gay’s 41 in a win over the Heat……I might have to think about this some more.

Melo…..

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBRcsPbQfU0[/youtube]

Rudy Gay……

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sa4Di22UWvU[/youtube]

OR……….The Birdman?

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BieL_YOzQkI[/youtube]

(Edit from GMC: Clearly, after accepting Jim Calhoun’s money there is NO chance I would root for Rudy Gay more than Melo. I still root for Rudy because I love Charm City; but screw Jimmy C-Note and screw UConn.)

10-Lucio Gonzaga

Elsewhere in soccer, Virginia topped Akron to win the College Cup. Which leads me to another thought.

F*ck the Hoos.

Seriously, how could anyone ever by okay with a group of people that looked like this……

11-Turner Gill and Jim Harbaugh

Cincinnati is going to need a new head coach. I don’t think they’re going to hire Brad Jackson as I previously recommended, so I offered another suggestion…..

12-Sheamus

A guy who I have never heard of before (and who apparently has never seen the sun before…..)

Is now the WWE Champion. HUH?!?!?!?!?

Also, Michelle McCool did something at the WWE “TLC” event Sunday night. What was it? No one cares…..

13-The Clark Family “Cookie Baking Day”

I’m not really sure how every year I manage to skip out on the part where the cookies are made, yet end up taking home a BOX of cookies. Sorry I missed the baking to watch Navy win another Commander-In-Chief’s Trophy, but thanks for making sure I ended up with plenty of pizzelles!

14-Jason Derulo

The song of the fall. I don’t really even know the words, but I’m hooked….

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBI3lc18k8Q[/youtube]

15-Jason Sudeikis

Unfortunately, we do NOT have the ability to embed videos from Hulu on here-so I have no choice but to direct you HERE to view his OUTSTANDING performance as PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem.

The bad news from SNL Saturday night? Bon Jovi is TERRIBLE. And I mean TERRIBLE. I know they used to be really good, but they just aren’t anymore. It’s not enough to say they’ve gotten “bad”, either. They are unthinkably terrible. It lead me to ask this question on Facebook Saturday night: “Do you think Bon Jovi’s sole purpose at this point is to make sure they beat Aerosmith in a ‘which band got worse at the end of their career’ contest?”

You make the call. Bon Jovi…..

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCg2BoKiuOM[/youtube]

Aerosmith…..

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLRLhV9U0kQ[/youtube]

Ugh.

You got lucky…….

1-Golfers not named Tiger Woods

I guess the party’s back on???

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bla3LPb1fzs[/youtube]

2-Greivis Vasquez

I love GV and I’m happy the Terps beat Eastern Kentucky; but since we’re talking about Venezuela (and we are!), I have no choice but to post a picture of the Avellan twins. You’ll thank me later.

Good lord.

3-Mo Williams

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oXC0jqHu_o[/youtube]

Yeah, but he’s no Rex Chapman…..

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mE5RGClCDp4[/youtube]

4-Mark Ingram

Dude…..there wasn’t REALLY someone sending a text right behind Mark Ingram while he was winning the Heisman Trophy, was there?

This country is amazing.

5-Matt Albers and Cla Meredith

Cla Meredith is missing a “Y” in his name. You know who ISN’T missing a Y in their name? Yasmine Bleeth…..

6-The Luckiest Dang Gal on the Face of the Planet

Guess who spent her weekend laying around the house hopped up on pain pills after having surgery to insert a plate and NINE pins into her shoulder? That’s right, Ol’ Droopy Eye…..

Yep, there she is. Ol’ Droopy Eye. Lookin’ good. And as if THAT wasn’t enough, TLDGOTFOTP even got to take “The Most Electrifying Man in Sports Radio Entertainment Today” to dinner!

Someone’s living the American dream…

7-Kate Hudson

Letterman was WAAAY too nice to her…..

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8Z1yImGxPY[/youtube]

Of course, I guess when you look like this…..

You get preferential treatment to someone who looks like this…..

You’re a zero…….

Roy Williams

As if I needed another reason to hate this clown. Welcome to Coach K-ville, ass.

Flexing my mic muscles since 1983……

-G

On Fridays, we only seem to care about the Ravens around here.

Here are your weekend picks……

Ravens 26, Broncos 21

I would be REALLY concerned if the Broncos had the ball at the end of the game, though. I think the Ravens will win; but I’m not anywhere NEAR as confident as Drew Forrester is….

Navy 20, Temple 16

The Mids will be without Ricky Dobbs again, and needed a miracle to beat Temple last season-and this Owls team is MUCH better. I’ll take Navy in Annapolis; but this will be tougher than you might realize.

Richmond 49, Towson 12

…..with no offense to the Tigers

Let’s see what everyone has to say…

Best of Thursday’s WNST Blogs……

Glenn Clark says Brandon Marshall will test Ravens secondary after previous struggles with tall receivers like Sidney Rice, Chris Henry and Vincent Jackson

Nestor Aparicio offers links to trailers for Michael Oher movie “The Blind Side”

Intern Super Jack says Glenn Clark, Drew Forrester both picking Ravens

Derek Arnold remembers some of Kyle Orton’s finest moments

And from the rest of the world…..

The Official Site’s Mike Duffy says Ray Rice’s size makes him elusive

The Official Site’s Mike Duffy says Dwan Edwards having ‘fun’ with more playing time

The Official Site’s Mike Duffy says Greg Mattison, Terrell Suggs concerned with Marshall’s ability to get ball AND his ability to make plays after catch

The Official Site’s Mike Duffy says Tavares Gooden wore non-contact jersey in practice Thursday with head injury

The Official Site says Fabian Washington knows he must go for arms instead of ball when playing much taller receivers

The Official Site says Cam Cameron believes Denver DC Mike Nolan ‘good football coach’

Denver Broncos Official Site’s Gray Caldwell says Kyle Orton thinks week off will have Broncos well ‘prepared’ for Baltimore

The Sun’s Ken Murray says Ray Rice has gone from ‘curiosity’ to ‘NFL sensation’

The Sun’s Jamison Hensley says Chris Carr/Ed Reed need to do more with punt returns, stop Orton from making big plays, control time of possession

The Sun’s Jamison Hensley says Ravens can’t allow Brandon Marshall to burn them, Flacco to get beat up, Broncos’ defense dominate 2nd half again

The Sun’s Jamison Hensley says Ravens aiming to start new streak of not allowing 100 yard rusher after giving up 100+ to Cedric Benson and Adrian Peterson in last two weeks

The Sun’s Jamison Hensley says Hauschka still has time to prove himself

7 of 7 Sun analysts pick Ravens

The Sun’s Mike Preston says Samari Rolle, Wally Williams think Dawan Landry, Ed Reed affected by neck injuries

The Sun’s Edward Lee says Fabian Washington still starting, but Lardarius Webb getting more first team reps

The Sun’s Edward Lee says Brendon Ayanbadejo at 1 Winning Drive Thursday, reported he’s ‘ahead of schedule’

The Sun’s Edward Lee says Reed, Flacco, Jarret Johnson, Hauschka, Tyree full participants in practice

The Sun’s Jamison Hensley says Derrick Mason ‘respects’ Champ Bailey, doesn’t ‘fear’ him

The Sun’s Jamison Hensley says Ravens have given up 22 pass plays of over 20 yards

The Sun’s Edward Lee says Chuck Pagano accepting blame for struggles

The Sun says Mike Nolan’s defense similar to Marvin Lewis’

The Sun remembers Ravens’ ’03 win over Danny Kannell, Broncos

Carroll County Times’ Aaron Wilson says Correll Buckhalter, Knowshon Moreno have combined to rush for nearly 700 yards this season

Carroll County Times’ Aaron Wilson says Jared Gaither (neck) did not practice Thursday

Denver Post’s Jeff Legwold says Broncos will aim to keep ball out of Derrick Mason’s hands

Denver Post’s Mike Klis says Dumervil, McBean, Brian Dawkins all putting together ‘surprising’ performances for Broncos

Denver Post’s Mark Kiszla says Ray Lewis’ ‘reign of terror is over’ with Ravens’ defense struggling

The AP’s Tom Withers says Browns fans planning “Free The Birds”-type protest for Monday Night Football game against Ravens

4 of 8 USA Today analysts pick Ravens

SI’s Peter King picks Ravens 20-16

Sporting News’ Vinnie Iyer picks Ravens 26-23

4 of 7 Sporting News analysts pick Ravens

NFL.com’s Vic Carucci says Ravens ‘longshot’ to make playoffs due to success of Bengals, Steelers

NFL.com’s Gil Brandt says Terrell Suggs will have to figure out a way to get around Broncos OT Ryan Clady

NFL Network Analysts Brian Baldinger, Shannon Sharpe pick Ravens; Joe Theismann picks Broncos

ESPN.com’s James Walker gives Champ Bailey advantage against Derrick Mason

ESPN.com’s James Walker says Todd Heap feels ‘a little urgency’

Talk to you from Owings Mills.

-G

Here’s a Ravens Report Card….says Harbaugh, staff must ‘regroup’ during bye week

Quarterback: A-

It wasn’t a perfect performance for the first 3 quarters, but it was just about perfect in the 4th. It is a shame they couldn’t have gotten anything going earlier.

Running Backs: A-

Ray Rice was amazing. Willis McGahee and Le’Ron McClain were again non-existent.

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends: B

Again, it’s just a shame they waited until the 4th quarter to get it going. Mason, Clayton and Heap all made big catches…..hell, even Demetrius Williams made a big catch.

Offensive Line: C+

Jared Allen is unreal. Michael Oher really didn’t play particularly poorly. Matt Birk should have done something to adjust the snap count earlier in the game.

Defensive Line: C+

They still didn’t get much pressure, and Adrian Peterson did not struggle to find holes. Though it was nice to see Brandon McKinney make a good play.

Linebackers: C

See above.

Secondary: D

They were put in some BAD spots, and unfortunately made them worse too much.

Special Teams: C-

You can’t miss that kick. You can’t have a bad snap there. Lardarius Webb WAS a bright spot for this unit, though.

Coaching: C-

The in-game corrections were much better than they had been in the past. But there were a LOT of problems….

Let’s see what everyone else has to say…..

From Sunday’s WNST Blogs:

Glenn Clark

Drew Forrester says Ravens defense played like Lions…..Detroit Lions

Nestor Aparicio says Hauschka, Frank Walker particularly ‘somber’ in locker room

Keith Melchior says Hauschka not only Raven to blame in loss

Glenn Clark says Hauschka not only kicker to miss must-make FG

And from the rest of the world:says Ravens forced to settle for ‘moral victory’ with comeback in Minnesota

The Official Site’s John Eisenberg

The Official Site’s Ryan Mink says Flacco did nice Favre impression in loss

The Official Site’s Mike Duffy says Ray Rice picked apart Vikings’ defense in loss

The Official Site’s Mike Duffy says Ray Rice doesn’t believe Hauschka reason why Ravens lost

The Official Site’s Sarah Ellison says win over Chargers only close game Ravens have won all season

The Official Site’s Sarah Ellison cleans up after me

The Official Site says Ray Lewis knows Ravens have things to correct

Vikings Official Site’s Mike Wobschall says Ryan Longwell’s FG with just under 2 minutes to play gave Vikes win over Ravens

Vikings Official Site’s Mike Wobschall says Longwell finished the game 4-4 on FG’s

Vikings Official Site’s Mike Wobschall says Sidney Rice got first career 100 yard game in win

The AP’s Jon Krawczynski says Mark Clayton, Derrick Mason hauled in TD catches in 4th quarter

The Sun’s Jamison Hensley says Hauschka failed in first big kick since replacing Matt Stover

The Sun’s Mike Preston says Ravens should never had let Stover go

The Sun’s Mike Preston gives high praise to Flacco, no praise to secondary

The Sun’s Kevin Van Valkenburg says Kelley Washington suffered ‘mild concussion’ in 4th quarter of loss

The Sun’s Kevin Van Valkenburg says Fabian Washington agreed with being benched

The Sun cleans up after me

The Sun’s Ken Murray says Dawan Landry also struggled in coverage

The Sun’s Peter Schmuck doesn’t necessarily think Ravens have to finish 11-5 to make playoffs in AFC

The Sun’s Peter Schmuck says Ravens must get ‘defensive issues figured out’ before playing Denver 11/1

Carroll County Times’ Aaron Wilson says Fabian Washington benched in loss

Carroll County Times’ Aaron Wilson says Brad Childress thought Hauschka would miss kick

Carroll County Times’ Aaron Wilson says Oher would like second chance against Jared Allen

Carroll County Times’ Aaron Wilson also offers high praise to running backs

Minneapolis Star-Tribune’s Sid Hartman says Matt Birk ‘disappointed’ in return to Twin Cities

St. Paul Pioneer Press’ Sean Jensen says Vikings join Saints, Colts, Broncos as only unbeaten teams left in NFL

USA Today’s Sean Leahy says Ravens had ‘worst luck’ on any team in NFL Week 6says Favre thought Vikes ‘dodged bullet’ in win

Sporting News’ Clifton Brown

SI’s Don Banks says Ray and Sidney Rice both had big games in Metrodome

SI’s Peter King says Adrian Peterson 2nd straight back to break 100 yards against Ravens

Yahoo! Sports’ Michael Silver says Hauschka failed to make big kick against team that previously cut him

Yahoo! Sports’ Charles Robinson says Vikings TE Shiancoe (2 TD’s) helped make Favre better

CBS Sports’ Clark Judge says Jared Allen ‘unblockable’ in win

CBS Sports’ Clark Judge says defense makes future ‘bleak’ for Ravens

NBC Sports’ Tom Curran says Ravens haven’t won a game since Mark Clayton’s drop in Foxborough

NBC Sports’ Mike Florio says Ravens may have found Baltimore’s next Unitas

Fox Sports’ Terry Bradshaw not impressed by Vikings’ pass defense

ESPN.com’s John Clayton says Ravens ‘not out’

ESPN.com’s James Walker says Hauschka will hopefully ‘learn from experience’ of missed kick

ESPN.com’s James Walker says with Broncos looming, schedule gets no easier for Ravens

Talk to you later today from Owings Mills….

-G

Two weeks, two late losses for the Ravens to drop them to 3-2. It does not get any easier for Baltimore as they travel to the 5-0 Vikings on Sunday.

Minnesota has gotten its legs under them after QB Brett Favre’s signing very late in training camp. The Vikings, despite Favre’s strong passing in the revenge game against Green Bay two weeks ago, are still primarily built to run the ball first. But as the Packers’ game proved, if you stuff the box with seven or eight men trying to stop RB Adrian Peterson, the Vikings’ speedy receivers will make you pay downfield.

A lot of national media are calling this one for the Ravens, and the Vegas oddsmakers give the Vikings just the customary home-field number of 3 points, which means they see it going either way.

(By the way, we’ll discuss this game and every other result in Week 6 in the Sunday Night Purple Haze on WNST.net. We had well over 250 folks last Sunday — join WNST hosts and analysts at 7 pm until halftime of the Bears-Falcons game. Click here for more info: http://wnst.net/wordpress/section/live-chat/ Look forward to seeing you there.)

The problems that the Ravens defense has had over the course of the season are well-documented. No push on the quarterback by the defensive line means time to find receivers against a secondary that has struggled at times. Runners who can get to the outside or cut back slash for big yards. Penalties (including the $25k hit by Ray Lewis) have been costly in both losses.

The decision the Ravens (and every Minnesota opponent) will make is: Which player we choose to stop is the most crucial to the Vikings’ success? The answer for the Ravens is Peterson. Stronger and quicker than Cedric Benson, Peterson is a nightmare for defenses because of his explosive gains. Defending Peterson is like defending the Wildcat formation. Stay in lanes and don’t freelance. When run coverage breaks down, Peterson is at his best in finding gaps.

He hasn’t rushed for over 100 yards since the opener, so he’s due to see the ball a lot in this one. The Vikings like to run to the left side, and not so much up the middle (into the Ravens’ strength).

Baltimore’s defense has to slow Peterson down as much as possible to put the ball in the hands of Favre to win. Ed Reed is a veteran who has proven, especially against Cincy, that he still has radar to get to a poorly-thrown pass. Favre isn’t perfect, but has been effective because he’s had time. He has been interception-prone, but not as much so far this season (only two in 149 attempts).

Farve has found six different receivers for 10 or more catches this season, led by RB Chester Taylor out of the backfield (21 rec., 187 yds.). Favre has thrown 65 passes short right, eighth-most in the league. The veteran QB has only tried 28 deep passes (15+ yards) downfield. His bread-and-butter is finding receivers in the soft zone between the linemen geared to stop the run and the defensive backs.

Baltimore’s defensive line must not allow Favre to get set in the pocket, but also guard against play-action runs against agressive pass-rushing. Favre has only been hit 24 times and sacked 11 times. The Ravens’ D has 19 QB hits and 11 sacks.

Offensively, Ravens QB Joe Flacco completed 71 percent of his passes against Cincy, but averaged just six yards per attempt and was intercepted twice. Ball control and a strong run game will help those averages come up. Control the line of scrimmage, win the game. C Matt Birk knows how loud the Metrodome can be when the opponents have the ball. The only advantage the offense has in a situation like is the snap count, audible or (in this case) silent.

The Ravens have to take their chances against the Vikings’ “Williams Wall.” If the offensive line can push open holes, RBs Willis McGahee, Ray Rice, and maybe even Le’Ron McClain can get big yards and keep some pressure off Flacco.

Ultimately, the Vikings will dare Flacco to throw when he is not being harassed by the interior linemen. The Ravens have to try to play-action and stretch the defense at times to slow down the run-stuffing Minnesota D.

PREDICTION: You’ll see the same gameplan from both defenses: Stop the run, and make the quarterback throw to win. The Vikings receiving corps is better against a Ravens’ secondary that has struggled because of pash-rush problems. The more Favre gets knocked down, the better chance the Ravens have of winning, but I see Minnesota holding down Flacco’s production and getting Peterson loose. The Ravens will cut down on penalties, but they have to play catch-up through the air in the second half, and it won’t be enough. Minnesota 23, Baltimore 17.