I can’t believe I’m going to write this.

As a sports talk radio host, my life is basically dependent on getting sports figures to talk. As you’ve seen this football season, it’s been particularly beneficial (at least in terms of viral recognition) when folks like Ralph Friedgen or Joe Flacco have answered my questions in colorful ways.

At the beginning of every week, WNST Executive Producer Ryan Chell and I run through a list of folks we can reach out to for that particular week in hopes of having them appear on my radio show-or any of the other shows here at AM1570 WNST.net.

As Ryan and I were chatting Monday, I mentioned to him that I knew New England Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski a little bit. I had covered his brother (Cleveland Browns TE Dan Gronkowski) for awhile when he played for the University of Maryland and had stayed in touch a bit since then. I also spent time chatting with Rob at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis in 2010 and we exchanged phone numbers as I had reason to believe he was a legitimate target for General Manager Ozzie Newsome and the Baltimore Ravens in the upcoming NFL Draft.

(Of course, that was well before we found out the monster tight end had failed a physical with the team leading up to the Draft.)

Ryan reached out to Gronkowski Tuesday morning and got a call back from him just after “The Reality Check” hit the airwaves Tuesday afternoon. When Ryan asked him if he would be available to chat with me later in the show, the former University of Arizona star politely declined (he did offer to chat again after the season was over) and deferred to the Pats’ media availability this week.

While I was disappointed, I fully understood. To keep peeling back the curtain, I never allow myself to get too angry when a sports figure doesn’t end up on the air with us. I always tell our staff “they don’t owe us anything” and look forward to the next opportunity to chat.

Baltimore Ravens DL Arthur Jones took us up on the opportunity to chat Tuesday on the show. As much as I tried, I couldn’t get him to divulge information on what kind of pass rush the Ravens would offer in Sunday’s AFC Championship Game.

I tell this long-winded story because it ties into some other comments made this week that have lit up Charm City.

Ravens S Ed Reed appeared Monday on SiriusXM’s NFL Radio. You’ve read many of the quotes elsewhere on the internet, including…

“Joe was kind of rattled a little bit by that defense. They had a lot of guys in the box on him and they were giving it to him. I think a couple of times he needed to get rid of the ball. It just didn’t look like he had a hold on the offense.”

And…

“He can’t play like that. One specific play that sticks out to me was when Ray Rice came out and got pushed out of the backfield and (Flacco) still threw him the ball and he had Torrey Smith on the outside. I can say that sitting on the sideline or sitting in the stands. You don’t know what someone else is seeing.”

(Continued on Page 2)

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — As the Ravens turn the page to their 20-13 win over Houston and look ahead to Foxborough and the AFC championship game, they once again appear to have health on their side despite a physical fight against the Texans.

Coach John Harbaugh provided a similar prognosis for free safety Ed Reed’s injured ankle to what was offered following Sunday’s game. Reed told reporters Sunday his left ankle was not a concern after turning it on the final defensive play of the game.

“Ed looks like he’s alright with the ankle,” Harbaugh said. “Everything’s coming up OK as far as the x-rays.”

The prognosis is certainly good news as the Ravens prepare to face the NFL’s “most explosive offense” in Harbaugh’s words.

Though Reed being helped to the sideline certainly provided a scare, the Ravens are in good shape elsewhere with linebackers Brendon Ayanbadejo (quadriceps) and Jameel McClain having both played on Sunday after being game-time decisions. Ayanbadejo did not see much action defensively while McClain split time with Dannell Ellerbe at linebacker.

“We really got through [the game] it very well,” Harbaugh said. “The two toughest ones were Brendon and Jameel, and they fought through theirs. They were right to the last minute decisions, and they came out of it OK.”

Right tackle Michael Oher had his knee wrapped following the game, and defensive tackle Arthur Jones limped off the field with an apparent leg injury at one point, but neither injury was considered serious enough to report following Sunday’s game.

“Nothing serious [with them],” Harbaugh said. “I haven’t been told anything yet.”

Evans sighting

In an otherwise lackluster afternoon for the Ravens’ passing game, wide receiver Lee Evans provided an acrobatic one-handed catch on a third-down play to give Baltimore a first-and-goal at the Texans’ 9-yard line.

The Ravens failed to score on the possession after they were stymied on fourth down from the Houston 1, but the reception by Evans provided a glimpse of what the organization expected after trading a fourth-round pick to Buffalo for him in the preseason. Harbaugh also hopes it’s a sign of things to come for the remainder of the postseason.

“Lee’s huge for us. We would’ve liked for Lee to have been involved, obviously, all the way through,” Harbaugh said. “That’s something that we will like to see as we go forward here trying to get that done, and we’re not going to stop trying to get that done. Seeing that play get made, you get kind of excited. He’s certainly capable of making those plays; we’ve seen him make them his whole career. I think it brought a smile to everybody’s face. We’ll be looking forward to more of that.”

After missing seven games with an injured left ankle, Evans posted only four receptions for 74 yards despite entering the season as the Ravens’ No. 2 receiver on the depth chart.

Carr still in Ravens’ plans

With Ayanbadejo and McClain the only question marks on the Ravens’ injury report entering Sunday’s game, it was surprising to find veteran cornerback Chris Carr’s name on the list of inactives against the Texans.

Battling hamstring and back injuries that sidelined him for seven games this season, Carr has slid down the depth chart behind starters Lardarius Webb and Cary Williams as well as rookie Jimmy Smith, who enters the game in the nickel package. With Houston limited in the passing game, the Ravens elected to activate cornerback Danny Gorrer for his special teams prowess, leaving Carr as the odd man out in the divisional playoff.

Carr started all 16 games for the Ravens a season ago after Domonique Foxworth suffered a season-ending knee injury in training camp and Lardarius Webb was coming off an ACL injury of his own.

“Chris is a big part of what we’re doing, especially when we play teams that throw the ball a lot, so that could be a big factor this week,” Harbaugh said. “We put the extra [defensive] lineman up this week because of the type of offense we were playing, and then special teams were a part of that decision, too.”

With New England owning the second-ranked passing game in the league, the Ravens will need all hands on deck to contain the Patriots as much as possible. Though his 5-foot-10 frame certainly won’t help against the likes of tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez, it’s a good bet Carr fits into defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano’s plans for certain passing situations on Sunday.

Visit the BuyAToyota.com Audio Vault to hear from Harbaugh, Jarret Johnson, and Torrey Smith right here.

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — The prospects for right guard Marshal Yanda being available against the Cincinnati Bengals are growing dimmer as the Ravens’ Pro Bowl offensive lineman missed his second straight day of practice on Thursday.

Yanda is dealing with rib and chest contusions that forced him to miss the second half of the Ravens’ 20-14 win over Cleveland on Saturday. The fifth-year guard was named to his first Pro Bowl on Tuesday and has graded out with a “winning performance or better” in every game this season, according to the Baltimore coaching staff.

Linebacker Dannell Ellerbe was also missing from practice for the second straight day as he continues to deal with a concussion suffered against the Browns.

Safety Bernard Pollard was a new addition to the injury report as he missed practice with an illness. In contrast, defensive tackle Arthur Jones returned to work as a full participant a day after dealing with a stomach bug. Pollard’s absence might suggest the bug is moving through the locker room, so the Ravens will need to keep their fingers crossed over the next few days.

Billy Cundiff practiced on a limited basis for the second straight day, an encouraging sign that the Pro Bowl kicker may return to action in Cincinnati. Special teams coordinator Jerry Rosburg said fill-in kicker Shayne Graham’s experience kicking at Paul Brown Stadium after seven years with the Bengals would not factor into the decision of who kicks on Sunday, instead declaring the decision will be based on Cundiff’s health.

“He’s had two good practices,” Rosburg said. “We’ll see what the trainers say [Friday].”

Cornerback Cary Williams and defensive end Cory Redding were limited participants for the second straight day as both appear on track to play against the Bengals. There have been conflicting reports whether Williams has been cleared for contact, but the Ravens are confident that he will pass his concussion test in time to play on Sunday.

BALTIMORE
OUT: WR Anquan Boldin (knee)
DID NOT PARTICIPATE: LB Dannell Ellerbe (head), S Bernard Pollard (illness) , G Marshal Yanda (chest)
LIMITED: K Billy Cundiff (left calf), DE Cory Redding (ankle), CB Cary Williams (head)
FULL: DT Arthur Jones (illness)

CINCINNATI
DID NOT PARTICIPATE: DE Carlos Dunlap (hamstring), S Taylor Mays (hamstring), LB Dontay Moch (illness)
LIMITED: WR AJ Green (shoulder), DE Frostee Rucker (neck), T Andrew Whitworth (knee), S Chris Crocker (knee)

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Though veteran Shayne Graham would love the opportunity to kick against his old team in Cincinnati, Billy Cundiff returned to practice on Wednesday in hopes of making his return against the Bengals in the regular-season finale.

Cundiff had not practiced since Dec. 7 and was limited in games against Indianapolis and San Diego before fully resting his injured left calf last week. The 2010 Pro Bowl kicker now appears confident in wanting to get back on the field.

“It’s come a long way,” Cundiff said. “Obviously, I needed the rest. I couldn’t even make it through the game, so now this is just a matter of trying to progress it and see if I can make it through practice. If we can do that, then hopefully we’ll be able to play on Sunday.”

Right guard Marshal Yanda, linebacker Dannell Ellerbe, and defensive tackle Arthur Jones did not participate in Wednesday’s practice. Speculation persists about the severity of the rib and thigh contusions that forced Yanda out of Saturday’s game. Ellerbe is still waiting to be cleared to play after suffering a concussion against Cleveland.

Defensive end Cory Redding and cornerback Cary Williams returned to practice on a limited basis on Wednesday. Williams has been cleared for practice after being concussed on Christmas Eve.

Unsurprisingly, wide receiver Anquan Boldin has already been ruled out after undergoing knee surgery last Thursday.

For Cincinnati, wide receiver A.J. Green and defensive end Carlos Dunlap both practiced on a limited basis. The rookie Green has been dealing with a shoulder injury, but Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis said he was “doing fine” in his teleconference with the Baltimore media.

BALTIMORE
OUT: WR Anquan Boldin (knee)
DID NOT PARTICIPATE: LB Dannell Ellerbe (head), DT Arthur Jones (illness), G Marshal Yanda (chest)
LIMITED: K Billy Cundiff (left calf), DE Cory Redding (ankle), CB Cary Williams (head)

CINCINNATI
DID NOT PARTICIPATE: S Chris Crocker (knee), S Taylor Mays (hamstring), LB Dontay Moch (illness)
LIMITED: DE Carlos Dunlap (hamstring), WR AJ Green (shoulder), DE Frostee Rucker (neck), T Andrew Whitworth (knee)

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Preparing for arguably the most important regular-season game in the history of the franchise, the Ravens returned to the practice field with several ailing players at their disposal.

Right guard Marshal Yanda (rib and thigh contusions) was not one of them as the Pro Bowl lineman was absent from the portion of practice open to the media, joining linebacker Dannell Ellerbe (concussion), defensive lineman Arthur Jones (undisclosed), and wide receiver Anquan Boldin (knee surgery) as absentees.

With Boldin already expected to miss Sunday’s game in Cincinnati, Yanda’s injury is the most concerning as the Ravens are faced with the possibility of using veteran Andre Gurode or rookie Jah Reid at right guard, which is neither player’s primary position. Gurode did play right guard early in his career with the Dallas Cowboys but earned five trips to the Pro Bowl at the center position.

Meanwhile, cornerback Cary Williams has been cleared for contact and return to the practice field after sustaining a concussion in last Saturday’s win, a positive development considering how equipped the Cincinnati Bengals are at the wide receiver position with A.J. Green and Jerome Simpson.

Defensive end Cory Redding (ankle) and kicker Billy Cundiff (left call) also returned to the practice field after both were sidelined in the 20-14 win over the Cleveland Browns on Christmas Eve. Redding emphatically told reporters prior to Wednesday’s practice that he plans to play on Sunday — the veteran made a similar statement last week — while Cundiff revealed he would try kicking in Wednesday’s practice.

“I want to get out there as soon as I possibly can,” Cundiff said. “That’s probably what led to more of the problems is that I played when I probably shouldn’t have. But hindsight’s 20/20. Right now, I’m going to [practice] today, see how it responds, and then base all of our judgments off of that. Instead of trying to add in some forecast of what it might be, let’s just kind of go off and see how it responds.”

Veteran Shayne Graham made both of his field goal attempts against the Browns, connecting from 48 and 43 yards, while taking Cundiff’s place.

Baltimore coach John Harbaugh provided no new updates on injuries prior to Wednesday’s workout, simply saying everyone is “progressing” and receiving treatment for their various ailments.

Honorable Mention: Golf-PGA Tour Franklin Templeton Shootout (Friday 3pm live on Golf Channel Saturday 2:30 Sunday 3pm live on NBC. All golf from Naples, FL); Bowling: PBA World Championship (Sunday 1pm from Las Vegas live on ESPN); Women’s College Basketball: Delaware State @ Maryland (Thursday 7pm Comcast Center), Maryland @ George Mason (Sunday 2pm Patriot Center); High School Basketball: Mt. St. Joseph @ Archbishop Spalding (Sunday 3:30pm); St. Frances @ Mount Carmel (Tuesday 7pm), St. Frances @ McDonogh (Friday 7pm)

10. Corey Taylor (Saturday 7pm Baltimore Soundstage); WMZQ Winter Fest feat. Rodney Adkins, Kellie Pickler, Thompson Square (Saturday 5:30pm Patriot Center); Robert Cray Band (Tuesday 8pm Rams Head on Stage), Emerson Hart (Wednesday 8pm Rams Head on Stage), Duncan Sheik (Sunday 12:30pm Rams Head on Stage); Wiz Khalifa/Snoop Dogg (Wednesday 11pm 9:30 Club), City and Colour (Saturday 8pm 9:30 Club); America (Tuesday 7:30pm Birchmere), Jars of Clay (Thursday 7:30pm Birchmere); Anthony Hamilton/Chrisette Michelle (Thursday 7:30pm Meyerhoff Symphony Hall); The Black Keys “El Camino”, Amy Winehouse “Lioness: Hidden Treasures”, The Roots “Undun”, Chevelle “Hats Off To The Bull” available in stores/on iTunes (Tuesday)

Corey Taylor is from the band Slipknot. Since I don’t know even a single song by the band Slipknot, I suggest you might know him this way…

Emerson Hart is from the band Tonic. I’m such a fan.

If you’re not listening to Anthony Hamilton, you should be listening to Anthony Hamilton…

Chevelle is one of the few bands on the face of the planet that I will spend money on EVERY time they drop a record. Just…solid.

9. “Diner” 30th Anniversary Celebration (Saturday 8pm Shriver Hall Johns Hopkins); Gilbert Gottfried (Thursday 8pm Magooby’s Joke House); Alonzo Bodden (Thursday-Sunday DC Improv); “The Sitter” out in theaters (Friday); “The Hangover Part II” available on DVD/Blu-Ray (Tuesday)

In honor of the Diner anniversary, I think I’m headed to Blue Moon Cafe.

I mean, is there ANY possible better way to celebrate than a trip Fells Point for some Captain Crunch French Toast???

On and since we’re here, The Hangover Part II wasn’t great. But it did spur Mike Tyson’s singing career, and I think the whole world can say thank you for that…

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — For the third week in a row, the Ravens have listed linebacker Ray Lewis as questionable on the final injury report of the week.

And it appears the final outcome will remain unchanged as Lewis is likely to miss his third straight game as Baltimore takes on the Cleveland Browns on Sunday afternoon. Head coach John Harbaugh stated he was hopeful that Lewis might be able to play early in the week, but his comments were brief and uninspiring when asked about his star linebacker’s odds for playing in Cleveland.

“I feel like there is a chance,” said Harbaugh, who said earlier this week he was hopeful Lewis would be able to play against Cleveland. “We’ll just see how it goes.”

The good news is that third-year linebacker Dannell Ellerbe is probable after sitting out last week’s win over San Francisco with a re-aggravated hamstring injury. Ellerbe was a full participant in practice all week and will likely start in place of Lewis after progressing nicely in workouts, according to Harbaugh.

Cornerback Chris Carr will miss his second straight game with a back injury. He practiced on a limited basis on Wednesday before sitting out the last two practices of the week.

Defensive tackle Arthur Jones will make his return to action after missing the Ravens’ last two games with a concussion he sustained against the Seattle Seahawks on Nov. 13. The second-year Syracuse product is eager to rejoin the defensive line rotation and to stop big Cleveland running back Peyton Hillis, especially after an unpleasant recovery period from the head injury.

“I can’t wait,” Jones said. “I feel great. It was a fun week of practice, feels good being back out there. Two weeks off in a dark room wasn’t fun trying to get my body and my physical health back right.”

The Browns ruled out starting safety T.J. Ward, adding to their woes on the starting defense after end Emmanuel Stephens and linebacker Scott Fujita were placed on injured reserve earlier in the week.

BALTIMORE
OUT: CB Chris Carr (back)
QUESTIONABLE: LB Ray Lewis (foot)
PROBABLE: RB Anthony Allen (thigh), LB Dannell Ellerbe (thigh), DT Art Jones (head)

CLEVELAND
OUT: LB Quinton Spears (hamstring), DB TJ Ward (foot/finger)
QUESTIONABLE: DB Mike Adams (shoulder), RB Montario Hardesty (calf), DL Jayme Mitchell (ankle), OL Tony Pashos (ankle), DB Dimitri Patterson (ankle)
PROBABLE: RB Peyton Hillis (hamstring), QB Colt McCoy (right elbow), LB Kaluka Maiava (knee), FB Owen Marecic (head), DL Scott Paxson (shin)

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — If not for the absence of their star inside linebacker for Wednesday’s practice, the Ravens would be feeling very good about themselves from a health standpoint after playing two games in a five-day stretch last week.

Of course, Ray Lewis is a gigantic missing link as Baltimore prepares to play the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.

Lewis was the only member of the team not to take part in Wednesday’s workout as several players returned to practice including cornerback Chris Carr, linebacker Dannell Ellerbe, and defensive tackle Arthur Jones. The 36-year-old linebacker has missed the Ravens’ last two games and will be a game-time decision against the Browns.

The Browns saw both of their starting safeties, Mike Adams and T.J. Ward, sit out on Wednesday as well as backup running back Montario Hardesty.

Cleveland running back Peyton Hillis was a full participant after making it through the Browns’ loss in Cincinnati on Sunday without re-aggravating the hamstring injury that’s plagued him for several weeks.

BALTIMORE
DID NOT PARTICIPATE: LB Ray Lewis (foot)
LIMITED: CB Chris Carr (back)
FULL PARTICIPATION: RB Anthony Allen (thigh), LB Dannell Ellerbe (thigh), DT Art Jones (head)

CLEVELAND
DID NOT PARTICIPATE: DB Mike Adams (shoulder), RB Montario Hardesty (calf), LB Quinton Spears (hamstring), DB T.J. Ward (foot/finger)
LIMITED: LB Kaluka Maiava (knee), DL Jayme Mitchell (ankle), OL Tony Pashos (ankle), DB Dimitri Patterson (ankle)
FULL PARTICIPATION: RB Peyton Hillis (hamstring), QB Colt McCoy (right elbow), FB Owen Marecic (head), DL Scott Paxson (shin)

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Practicing outside on a chilly, windy day in Owings Mills to prepare for December conditions in Cleveland, the Ravens saw all but one of 53 players on the active roster take part in the workout.

But that one was linebacker Ray Lewis, who was absent from the portion of practice open to the media as he continues to recover from a turf toe injury that’s kept him sidelined the last two games. Coach John Harbaugh would not provide any update on Lewis’ status when asked on Wednesday afternoon.

Cornerback Chris Carr (back), linebacker Dannell Ellerbe (thigh), and defensive tackle Arthur Jones (concussion) returned to practice after missing the Ravens’ Thanksgiving game against the San Francisco 49ers. Jones has finally been cleared for contact after suffering a concussion in Baltimore’s loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Nov. 13.

Linebacker Terrell Suggs had his wisdom teeth removed over the weekend and continues to deal with the effects of the procedure despite being present during the open portion of practice on Wednesday afternoon.

Safety Emanuel Cook took part in his first practice with the Ravens after being claimed from the New York Jets on Tuesday afternoon. Harbaugh said Cook, a 2009 undrafted free agent from South Carolina, will contribute to the special teams units and will have the potential to work his way into the rotation at safety in the future.

Harbaugh also expressed the organization’s condolences over the passing of former Pro Bowl defensive tackle Chester McGlockton, who served as an intern coach for the Ravens two years ago. McGlockton played for four teams during his NFL career, including the Chiefs, Broncos, Raiders, and Jets.

Visit the BuyAToyota.com Audio Vault to hear from John Harbaugh, Joe Flacco, Ray Rice, Terrell Suggs, Cory Redding, and Lee Evans right here.

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Despite a few extra days of rest following a dominating defensive performance in a 16-6 win over the San Francisco 49ers on Thanksgiving night, the Ravens still find themselves guessing whether emotional leader Ray Lewis will be back on the field against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.

The 36-year-old linebacker missed his second straight game with a toe injury he suffered in the loss to Seattle Seahawks two weeks ago. In Lewis’ absence, the Ravens recorded a franchise-record nine sacks in limiting the 49ers to just six points on Thanksgiving night.

Coach John Harbaugh took a familiar stance in discussing Lewis’ status for Sunday, but he specified the veteran’s injury for the first time publicly, confirming previous reports and projecting an unclear timetable for the All Pro’s return.

“Ray has a sprained toe, turf toe kind of a thing, so those are a little more unpredictable,” Harbaugh said. “I am hopeful. I have used that word before. I think he has a real good chance [to play on Sunday], but we’ll just have to see how it goes.”

With fellow inside linebacker Dannell Ellerbe also inactive on Thursday as he continues to deal with hamstring and groin injuries that have plagued him for the better part of two months, second-year undrafted free agent Albert McClellan made his first career start next to Jameel McClain on the inside. He finished with four tackles against San Francisco and split time with Brendon Ayanbadejo at the position.

McClellan also filled in at the spot in the second half of the Ravens’ 31-24 victory over the Bengals in Week 11 when Ellerbe left the game in the second half.

“I think Albert [McClellan] played very solidly,” said Harbaugh, who revealed the second-year linebacker had only begun focusing on inside linebacker over the last six or seven weeks. “That was something that really we had no idea how he was going to play, in all honesty. He’s never really played inside linebacker ever in his career. At Marshall, he moved around and played different positions. He was outside backer, inside backer, nose guard, defensive tackle – he played it all there. I think it shows you what kind of a football player he is.”

With the Ravens receiving a few days to recuperate after playing two games in five days last week, Harbaugh is hopeful his team can get healthy in time for a critical game against an AFC North opponent. Lewis will remain the biggest mystery in terms of a possible return for Sunday, but the Ravens envision Ellerbe and cornerback Chris Carr — suffering from a back ailment — making their respective returns in Cleveland.

“The rest part of it is big,” Harbaugh said. “The fact that all those guys are going to get an extra three or four days of rest and more time to recover, because it is kind of a cumulative process in terms of recovery. Ray [Lewis] is probably the guy that is the furthest away, if you are going to look at all the guys, but then again, you never know. [Dannell] Ellerbe looks good. Chris Carr looks good. Most all those guys look good coming into Monday.”

Defensive tackle Arthur Jones continues to be sidelined after suffering a concussion against the Seattle Seahawks on Nov. 13. The second-year lineman declined interviews with reporters in the locker room on Monday, revealing he had yet to be cleared to return to action.

Visit the BuyAToyota.com Audio Vault to hear from John Harbaugh, Dannell Ellerbe, Cory Redding, Jarret Johnson, and Terrence Cody right here.