NEW ORLEANS — After being named a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2013, the late Art Modell fell short once again for election on Saturday in New Orleans.

As one of his former players, offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden, was elected to Canton, Modell failed to make the final 10 as he was eliminated along with fellow former owner Eddie DeBartolo, wide receiver Tim Brown, outside linebacker Kevin Greene, and guard Will Shields.

Modell was the longtime owner of the Cleveland Browns before moving his franchise to Baltimore in 1996 and maintained control of the Ravens as they raised the Vince Lombardi Trophy for the owner’s first Super Bowl title. Current Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti bought the team from Modell, purchasing a 49-percent stake in 2000 before acquiring the remaining majority stake in 2004.

Despite being regarded as a pioneer in viewing television as having a prominent role in taking the NFL to unprecedented heights, Modell’s candidacy for the Hall of Fame has been thwarted on multiple occasions because of the controversial move from Cleveland to Baltimore. He was one of 15 finalists for Canton in 2001 and a semifinalist in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2011.

“The man never did anything out of spite,” Ogden said. “His move was out of necessity; he had no choice. What he did was make sure that Cleveland kept their history. Irsay stole Baltimore’s history from them with the Colts — the name, the records, everything. You can’t tell the story of the NFL without mentioning Art Modell.”

Modell passed away at age 87 on Sept. 6, 2012.

NEW ORLEANS — Others to play for the Baltimore Ravens have walked through the doors of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden is the first to say he played his entire career with the organization.

The first draft selection in the history of the franchise in 1996 and regarded as the original Raven, Ogden was inducted into Canton in his first year of eligibility on Saturday evening in New Orleans, a day before the Ravens prepared to play in their second Super Bowl. The 6-foot-9 offensive lineman played 12 seasons in Baltimore and was named to 11 Pro Bowls as he was regarded to be the best left tackle in the NFL for a large portion of his career. Only four offensive linemen in NFL history — Bruce Matthews, Randall McDaniel, Jim Otto, and Will Shields — earned more Pro Bowl nods in their careers.

“With the Ravens here in New Orleans and me being the original draft pick of the Ravens, I just want to thank the city of Baltimore, the fans, Ozzie Newsome, who was tremendous,” Ogden said. “Hopefully, I get a chance to go out there on that field [Sunday] and see Ray Lewis play in his last game while I get to go into the Hall of Fame while he’s playing in the Super Bowl.”

Ogden was a key member of the Ravens’ Super Bowl XXXV championship as he was the anchor of an offensive line for a dominating running game that featured rookie running back Jamal Lewis. He was also named to ten All-Pro teams and was selected to the NFL’s All-Decade team for the 2000s.

He was inducted into the team’s Ring of Honor in 2008 and no player has worn his No. 75 since he retired following the 2007 season.

“I got a chance to be the first Raven, the chance to start an organization, and to start a new fan base because a lot of those guys didn’t even know the Colts,” Ogden said. “It was really just a tremendous opportunity, and our town has grown to become the best in the NFL. We’ve got the best fans in the NFL in Baltimore.”

The offensive tackle chose to retire in part because of a toe injury that hampered him over the final year of his career. He ranks third in all-time games played by a Ravens player (177) and is second in games started (176).

Ogden spent his rookie season playing the left guard position before sliding outside to left tackle for the final 11 seasons of his career.

“Preparing for the pass rush on the left side was never an issue,” former Ravens coach Brian Billick said of his longtime left tackle. “It didn’t take any meeting time. We’d start game-planning with: ‘OK, we’ll run behind J.O. and slide our protection to the right side.’”

Ogden was joined in the Class of 2013 by wide receiver Cris Carter, guard Larry Allen, lineman Curly Culp, head coach Bill Parcells, linebacker Dave Robinson, and defensive tackle Warren Sapp. Culp and Robinson were seniors committee selections while Allen and Sapp joined Ogden as inductees in their first year of eligibility.

The No. 4 overall pick in the 1996 draft joins defensive back Rod Woodson, cornerback Deion Sanders, and tight end Shannon Sharpe as members of the Hall of Fame to have played for the Ravens, but Ogden is the first of that group to spend his entire career in Baltimore. He remains beloved in Baltimore and will be on hand for Super Bowl XLVII on Sunday.

That first draft produced Ogden and Lewis, who will play his final NFL game on Sunday and undoubtedly join Ogden in the Hall of Fame five years from now.

“His size gave you the confidence that we could run the world,” Lewis said in a statement released by the team. “His passion was the reason for his dominance. I was drafted with one of the best of all time, and no one deserves this honor more. He’s the first drafted Raven, and now he’s our first Hall of Famer.”

Former Ravens owner Art Modell did not make the final 10 and missed induction. He was also a finalist for Canton in 2001 and a semifinalist in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2011.

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — General manager Ozzie Newsome cannot help but wonder if he’s walking around in a dream state these days as the Ravens prepare to play in the second Super Bowl of the 17-year history of the franchise.

But it’s more than just a chance for a second championship for Newsome when you remember the only owner he knew in his first 26 years in the NFL as both a player and front office executive, the late Art Modell, and the first player he drafted in Baltimore, offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden, are both up for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame next Saturday. Super Bowl XLVII will also mark the final game in the career of linebacker Ray Lewis, the greatest player in the history of the franchise and the second pick made by Newsome in Baltimore.

The story would be almost too perfect for the architect of one of the finest franchises in the NFL.

“That has been the little dream that the little kids have along the way when they are growing up,” Newsome said. “Wouldn’t that be nice that we’re playing in the Super Bowl, and then we have the ultimate that our ultimate warrior is going to play his last down of football in that game? I don’t think you could write a script — I don’t think any of you guys could have written that script.”

In a rare in-season session with the local media, Newsome expressed pride over the Ravens’ resolve to overcome trials, injuries, and a three-game losing streak in December to make the trip to New Orleans. Newsome labeled the city his favorite destination for a Super Bowl and admitted he began thinking about the possibility of playing in this particular Super Bowl 15 months ago, with Ogden and Modell potentially up for Hall of Fame induction in the same year.

Sentimental story lines aside, Newsome appreciates watching the team he constructed finally get back to the Super Bowl after a 12-year absence following the Ravens’ first championship in Super Boxl XXXV.

“I said this to John [Harbaugh] on the bus ride: You just don’t know how hard it is to get to the Super Bowl,” said Newsome as he reflected on the aftermath of last Sunday’s win over the New England Patriots. “It’s even harder, now you have to go and win it. But 12 years since we did this, and we got knocked out in the AFC Championship twice; it’s hard. You’ve got to manage injuries, so many different things that you have to manage just to get this opportunity, and the other 31 teams don’t care for you. It’s hard to do.”

Asked to state the case for Modell to finally be inducted posthumously after he passed away shortly before the start of the regular season, Newsome presented clear evidence for the longtime owner who relinquished control of the team to Steve Bisciotti in 2004.

Next Saturday would appear to be Modell’s last best chance for enshrinement with his memory fresh in voters’ minds and the Ravens dominating the limelight as one of the two Super Bowl entries in New Orleans.

“He was involved in the collective bargaining agreement, involved in the TV deal, involved in the merger, won a championship in 1964, won a Super Bowl, diversity [in being] the first one to hire an African American,” Newsome said. “When you look at the body of work that Art did, then why shouldn’t he be in [the Hall of Fame]? If this game is as good as it is today – and we all think we have a very good game – then Art was an architect of the game. He helped build the game for what it is.”

Modell’s long-awaited induction would be one thing, but to see Ogden earn enshrinement while Lewis rides off into the sunset with a second Vince Lombardi Trophy would be the icing on the cake after Newsome chose the pair as the newest additions to a brand-new franchise in Baltimore in 1996.

It’s enough to make Newsome not want to wake up before Super Bowl weekend.

“It’s part of the dream, I think,” said Newsome as he laughed. “I don’t know, I’ve got to pinch myself to see if I’m still dreaming.”

Mum on Flacco contract

Newsome made it clear he would not discuss contracts and other offseason topics — saving those conversations for the team’s end-of-the-year press conference following the Super Bowl — but that didn’t stop a national media member from asking about the expiring rookie deal of quarterback Joe Flacco anyway.

“I’m not discussing that,” Newsome said. “You know what? I’ve gone on record -– Joe and I have a very good understanding about his contract and where we are. End of story.”

The Ravens desperately want to reach a long-term agreement with Flacco to avoid using the franchise tag. That designation would award him an estimated salary of $14.6 million and eat up the little cap room the organization is projected to have for the 2013 season. Signing Flacco to a long-term contract would increase the chances of keeping such impending free agents as linebacker Dannell Ellerbe and cornerback Cary Williams.

Newsome will address those issues after Feb. 3, however.

“I worry about winning today, but I’ve got to also worry about winning tomorrow,” Newsome said. “I’ve got to be able to balance those books every year.”

McKinnie move

CONTINUE ON NEXT PAGE >>>

Former Baltimore Ravens offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden and late owner Art Modell were named among the 15 finalists in consideration for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2013 on Friday.

The first ever draft pick of the Ravens in 1996, Ogden was taken with the fourth overall pick and played 12 seasons in Baltimore, earning trips to 11 Pro Bowls as he was regarded as the best left tackle in the league for most of his career. Ogden was a key member of the Super Bowl XXXV championship team of the 2000 season.

This is Ogden’s first year of eligibility.

Modell was the longtime owner of the Cleveland Browns before moving his franchise to Baltimore in 1996 and maintained control of the Ravens as they raised the Vince Lombardi Trophy for the owner’s first Super Bowl title. Current Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti bought the team from Modell, purchasing a 49-percent stake in 2000 before acquiring the remaining majority stake in 2004.

Despite being regarded as a pioneer in viewing television as having a prominent role in taking the NFL to unprecedented heights, Modell’s candidacy for the Hall of Fame has been thwarted on multiple occasions in the past because of the controversial move from Cleveland to Baltimore. He was one of 15 finalists for Canton in 2001 and a semifinalist in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2011.

Modell passed away at age 87 on Sept. 6, 2012.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame’s 17 finalists (15 modern-era selections and two seniors committee nominations) for the Class of 2013:

Larry Allen (G/T), Jerome Bettis (RB), Tim Brown (WR), Cris Carter (WR), Curley Culp (DT/G), Edward DeBartolo Jr. (owner), Kevin Greene (LB), Charles Haley (DE), Art Modell (owner), Jonathan Ogden (OT), Bill Parcells (coach), Andre Reed (WR), Dave Robinson (LB), Warren Sapp (DT), Will Shields (G), Michael Strahan (DE), Aeneas Williams (CB)

Former Baltimore Ravens offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden and late owner Art Modell were named among the 27 semifinalists in consideration for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2013 on Friday.

The first ever draft pick of the Ravens in 1996, Ogden was taken with the fourth overall pick and played 12 seasons in Baltimore, earning trips to 11 Pro Bowls as he was regarded as the best left tackle in the league for a large portion of his career. Ogden was a key member of the Super Bowl XXXV championship team of the 2000 season.

Modell was the longtime owner of the Cleveland Browns before moving his franchise to Baltimore in 1996 and maintained control of the Ravens as they raised the Vince Lombardi Trophy for the owner’s first Super Bowl title. Current Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti bought the team from Modell, purchasing a 49-percent stake in 2000 before acquiring the remaining majority stake in 2004.

Despite being regarded as a pioneer in viewing television as having a prominent role in taking the NFL to unprecedented heights, Modell’s candidacy for the Hall of Fame has been thwarted on multiple occasions in the past because of the controversial move from Cleveland to Baltimore.

Modell passed away at age 87 earlier this year on Sept. 6.

It’s in the books!

Paul Mittermeier and I have compiled our own rankings of the Top 25 All-Time Baltimore Ravens. Our initial master listing included nearly 70 players and contributors, which we paired down to individual Top 25′s. I’m sure as the years roll on we’ll have to make tough decisions on where players from our current rankings ultimately belong. Will Joe Flacco ascend as high as #1 before his career comes to a close? Will Ray Lewis always be #1, with no other player ever coming close? In years to come, where will Courtney Upshaw end up? Will players like Ray Rice and Haloti Ngata achieve the ultimate goal – a Super Bowl ring – and sky rocket up the ranks of All-Time greats as a result?

We will revisit our rankings on an annual basis, and see where our initial choices stand. For now, our inaugural picks are in the books.

Do your own version and let us know what you think of our Top 25 All-Time Baltimore Ravens…

Paul Mittermeier’s Top 25

#25- FS Eric Turner

#24- LB Jarret  Johnson

#23- WR/KR Jermaine Lewis

#22- OL Wally Williams

#21- QB Steve McNair

#20- WR Michael Jackson

#19- DE Rob Burnett

#18- FS Rod Woodson

#17- RB Ray Rice

#16- DT Tony Siragusa

#15- WR Derrick Mason

#14- QB Vinny Testaverde

#13-  CB Chris McAlister

#12- TE Shannon Sharpe

#11- TE Todd Heap

#10- K Matt Stover

#9- DT Haloti Ngata

#8- QB Joe Flacco

#7- RB Jamal Lewis

#6- DE Michael McCrary

#5- LB Peter Boulware

#4- LB Terrell Suggs

#3- S Ed Reed

#2- OT Jonathon Ogden

#1- LB Ray Lewis

Damon Yaffe’s Top 25

25. Sam Koch (P)

24. Duane Starks (CB)

23. Rob Burnett (DL)

22. Jamie Sharper (LB)

21. Ray Rice (RB)

20. Bart Scott (LB)

19. Edwin Mulitalo (OL)

18. Jermaine Lewis (WR/KR)

17. Jarret Johnson (LB)

16. Kelly Gregg (DL)

15. Adalius Thomas (LB)

14. Shannon Sharpe (TE)

13. Rod Woodson (DB)

12. Joe Flacco (QB)

11. Todd Heap (TE)

10. Derrick Mason (WR)

9. Haloti Ngata (DL)

8. Terrell Suggs (LB)

7. Chris McAlister (DB)

T6. Michael McCrary (DE) & Jamal Lewis (RB)

5. Peter Boulware (LB)

4. Matt Stover (K)

3. Ed Reed (S)

2. Jon Ogden (OL)

1. Ray Lewis (LB)

(Yeah, ok…I have 26 listed. Sue me. Sam Koch belongs on my list.)

• CHARLES ALEXANDER - TB, LSU (1975-78)
• OTIS ARMSTRONG - HB, Purdue (1970-72)
• STEVE BARTKOWSKI - QB, California (1972-74)
• HAL BEDSOLE - SE, Southern California (1961-63)
• DAVE CASPER - TE, Notre Dame (1971-73)
• TY DETMER - QB, BYU (1988-91)
• TOMMY KRAMER - QB, Rice (1973-76)
• ART MONK - WR, Syracuse (1976-79)
• GREG MYERS - DB, Colorado State (1992-95)
• JONATHAN OGDEN - OT, UCLA (1992-95)
• GABE RIVERA - DT, Texas Tech (1979-82)
• MARK SIMONEAU - LB, Kansas State (1996-99)
• SCOTT THOMAS - S, Air Force (1982-85)
• JOHN WOOTEN* - OG, Colorado (1956-58)

* Selection from the FBS Veterans Committee

COACHES

• PHILLIP FULMER - 152-52-0 (74.5%); Tennessee (1992-08)
• JIMMY JOHNSON - 81-34-3 (70.0%); Oklahoma State (1979-83) and Miami (Fla.) (1984-88)
• R.C. SLOCUM - 123-47-2 (72.1%); Texas A&M (1989-02)

“We are extremely proud to announce the 2012 College Football Hall of Fame Class,” said Manning, a 1989 College Football Hall of Famer from Ole Miss. “Each year the selection process becomes increasingly more difficult, but Gene Corrigan and the Honors Court do an amazing job of selecting a diverse group of the most amazing players and coaches in our sport’s rich history. This class is certainly no exception, and we look forward to honoring them and celebrating their achievements throughout the year ahead.”

The 2012 College Football Hall of Fame Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) Class will be inducted at the 55th NFF Annual Awards Dinner on December 4, 2012, at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City. They will be honored guests at the National Hall of Fame Salute at the Allstate Sugar Bowl in New Orleans on January 2, 2013 and officially enshrined in the summer of 2013.

Today’s announcement was made from The NASDAQ OMX MarketSite in Times Square, which has hosted the event for the past four consecutive years. XOS Digital produced the NFF web streams for the second consecutive year, and the Orange Bowl and the law firm of Troutman Sanders LLP participated as the supporting sponsors of the announcement.

• 11 consensus First Team All-Americans (Alexander – 2x, Armstrong, Bartkowski, Bedsole, Casper, Detmer – 2x, Kramer, Myers, Rivera, Simoneau, Thomas)
• ONE unanimous First Team All-American (Ogden)
• THREE multi-year First Team All-Americans (Alexander – 2x, Detmer – 2x, Myers – 2x)
• TWO members of national championship teams (Bedsole, Casper)
• ONE Heisman Trophy winner (Detmer)
• THREE winners of college football major awards (Detmer – Maxwell, O’Brien; Myers – Thorpe; Ogden – Outland)
• FIVE conference player of the year honorees (Alexander, Armstrong, Detmer, Kramer, Simoneau)
• FIVE members of conference championship teams (Bedsole, Detmer, Myers, Ogden, Thomas)
• TWO NFF National Scholar-Athletes (Casper, Myers)
• TEN offensive players (Alexander, Armstrong, Bartkowski, Bedsole, Casper, Detmer, Kramer, Monk, Ogden, Wooten)
• FOUR defensive players (Myers, Rivera, Simoneau, Thomas)
• SEVEN first-round NFL draft selections (Alexander, Armstrong, Bartkowski – 1st overall, Kramer, Monk, Ogden, Rivera)
• FIVE decades represented: 1950s (1) – Wooten; 1960s (1) – Bedsole; 1970s (6) – Alexander, Armstrong, Bartkowski, Casper, Kramer, Monk; 1980s (2) – Rivera, Thomas; 1990s (4) – Detmer, Myers, Ogden, Simoneau

COACHES:

• TWO national championships (Fulmer, Johnson)
• SIX conference championships (Fulmer – 2, Slocum – 4)
• 33 bowl berths (Fulmer – 15, Johnson – 7, Slocum – 11)
• 28 Top 25 finishes (Fulmer – 13, Johnson – 5, Slocum – 10)
• 45 First Team All-Americans coached (Fulmer – 19, Johnson – 12, Slocum – 14)
• SEVEN major award winners coached (Fulmer – John Henderson, Peyton Manning, Michael Munoz; Johnson – Bennie Blades, Russell Maryland, Vinny Testaverde; Slocum – Dat Nguyen)
• FOUR NFF National Scholar-Athletes coached (Fulmer: Peyton Manning and Michael Munoz. Johnson: Doug Freeman. Slocum: Lance Pavlas)

It was another outstanding weekend of Baltimore Sports. I love this time of year because there is so much going on in the sports world. I really had trouble ranking the top three sports events of the weekend because they were all fantastic. I really think that any one of these three could be number one. Here’s how I have them ranked.

#3

The Baltimore Ravens didn’t do anything on day one of the 2012 NFL Draft but they were certainly busy on day two and day three. In case you misssed it here is the complete Ravens 2012 Draft:

We all had a chance to go out and meet Alabama Linebacker Courtney Upshaw, Iowa St. Tackle Kelechi Osemele and Temple Running Back Bernard Pierce on Saturday.  My initial impression was that Upshaw is the real deal who is anxious to come in and compete day one. I know a lot of Ravens fans were hoping for Donta Hightower to come in to be the heir apparent to Ray Lewis at the ILB position. Instead they get a guy that could possibly replace Jarett Johnson.

Kelechi Osemele is a little bit more of a raw talent that may take a little while longer to integrate himself into the Ravens starting Offensive Line. He will have to slide inside to the Guard position. I don’t see him unseating Michael Oher as the Right Tackle on this team anytime soon.

Bernard Pierce will compete for the back-up Running Back position. He is anxious to get into camp and show the Ravens what he can do. Pierce’s biggest challenge will be acclamating himself to the Ravens passing game. Bernard wasn’t a big part of the passing game at Temple, and if he wants to get on the field he will need to work on learning the Ravens protection schemes. Here’s Bernard sharing his thoughts with “Bulldog” and I.

#2

6,000 fans descended on the Ridley Sports Complex to watch the Loyola Greyhounds take on the Johns Hopkins Blue Jays. How big was this game? Here is the blog post from Geoff Shannon from Inside Lacrosse before the game:

The line winding up the hill into the Woodberry neighborhood (where the Ridley Athletic Complex is officially located) is already stretched back to Coldspring Lane in North Baltimore, as the anticipation builds for the Charles Street Rivalry matchup between No. 1 Loyola University and No. 11 Johns Hopkins.

A lot was at stake in this one. Loyola was looking to wrap up a top four seed in the NCAA Tournament and Hopkins was looking to knock off #1 for the second time this season (they defeated Virginia 11-10 in OT at Charlottesville earlier this year). Hopkins came out on fire and built a 5-0 lead on the undefeated Greyhounds. Loyola showed that they deserved their #1 ranking with a furious four goal, fourth quarter rally that culminated in Justin Ward’s game tying goal with just :05 left in regulation. The Blue Jays got the game winning goal from Rob Guida with just :02 seconds left.  Here’s the game winner courtesy of the Loyola Webstream. (It’s absolutely ridiculous that this game was not on TV or radio)

http://www.hopkinssports.com/allaccess/?media=317664

#1

I don’t know whether its the fact that I’m not used to seeing the O’s win or that it was Matt “The Untouchable” Wieters who tied the game in the ninth yesterday, but in any event the Orioles come from behind victory is #1 this week. How clutch has Wilson Betemit been for this O’s team? Remember two weeks ago I was talking about him hitting a clutch home run in the eighth inning to tie up the game  in Toronto. Now he’s belting game winning, ninth inning homers. The Orioles won five games all of last year when they were trailing after seven innings. Now they have won five games when trailing after seven innings in the month of April.  Everyone will remember Betemit’s three-run homer, but this game was won and lost by plays that were made and not made at first base. It was 2-0 A’s headed into the bottom of the ninth. It could have been a lot worse if it wasn’t for the O’s defense. In particular Mark Reynolds had a great day with the glove at first base. Reynolds made a great play early in the game when Tommy Hunter’s throw was into the runner. Reynolds was quick enough to make the catch and get out of the way of the runner. Reynolds stole a double in the 4th inning. He snagged Kila Ka’aihue grounder that was headed into right field, and turned the 3-6-3 double play. Oakland A’s First Baseman Daric Barton wasn’t as good in the ninth inning. You certainly are not going to blame Barton for the A’s loss on Sunday, but he could have been a difference maker for the Athletics. J.J. Hardy started the inning with a ground ball up the middle. A’s Second Baseman Eric Sogard got to the ball but he one hopped the throw to first. That’s a do or die play for a first baseman. If Barton makes the play it’s the first out of the inning. Instead he can’t make the scoop and now the tying run is at the plate. Next up was Adam Jones. His soft tapper to the left of the mound was fielded by A’s pitcher Bartolo Colon. Colon had to rush his throw and once again Barton was in a do or die position when the throw bounced in front of him. If Barton makes the tough handle he keeps the winning run from coming to the plate. Instead he can’t make the play and now the tying run is on second and the winning run comes to the plate. The rest is history and it’s another great win for the O’s. Right now they are doing the little things that win ballgames and they have great momentum heading to New York and Boston.

The best non-sports event of the weekend.

Without doubt it was the 4th annual Jonathan Ogden Poker Tournament at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Timonium. The hold em tournament is always a good time. It was great to see J.O. and guys like former Ravens OT Spencer Folau and Ravens Long Snapper Morgan Cox. My night of Holdem ended early when my A K was knocked out by J 7 but that’s the way it goes sometimes. I still had fun playing Black Jack with Morgan Cox’s wife Lauren and Kori. I also got a chance to catch up with my old friend Skip Conrey. Skip used to hang out with us when we did the Tony Siragusa show at the Barn. Wow those were the days. (pictures below)

Until next time…

In honor of the “Purple Massacre” moves the Baltimore Ravens made Monday (and the chance the Charm City careers of Derrick Mason and Todd Heap may be over), today’s Morning Reaction “Tuesday Top 7″ topic was “The Next 7 Greatest Players in Ravens History.”

We say the “Next 7″ instead of the “Top 7″ because we’re in agreement that the Top 3 players in franchise history are Ray Lewis, Jonathan Ogden and Ed Reed.

This is a battle for spots 4-10.

Understood?

Glenn Clark’s list…

10. Haloti Ngata

9. Derrick Mason

8. Terrell Suggs

7. Todd Heap

6. Peter Boulware

5. Chris McAlister

4. Jamal Lewis