Baltimore Ravens WR/KR Jacoby performed his final dance on Season 16 of ABC’s “Dancing With The Stars” Tuesday night in Los Angeles. He scored a perfect 30 out of 30 for his salsa, but it wasn’t enough to bring home the Mirrorball Trophy.

Jones and partner Karina Smirnoff finished in third place despite an exceptional group of final dances in Week 10.

Jones performed a “Jive” in finale week…

He performed as part of a “Cha-Cha-Cha” relay…

And Jones also performed a “Super-sized freestyle” with elements of the “Seven Nation Army” chant included…

Country singer Kellie Pickler won the season, Disney Channel star Zendaya Coleman finished in second place. Olympic gymnast Aly Raisman was eliminated before Jones, finishing in 4th place.

Jones is expected to return to Charm City for Ravens Organized Team Activities (OTA’s) Thursday.

Honorable Mention: Golf-PGA Tour Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial (Thursday & Friday 3pm live on Golf Channel Saturday & Sunday 1pm live on Golf Channel 3pm live on CBS. All golf from Ft. Worth, TX), Champions Tour Senior PGA Championship (Thursday & Friday 12pm live on Golf Channel Saturday & Sunday 3pm live on NBC. All golf from St. Louis), Bahamas LPGA Classic (Thursday & Friday 6:30pm Saturday & Sunday 3pm from Paradise Island, Bahamas live on Golf Channel); Boxing: Carl Froch vs. Mikkel Kessler (Saturday 6pm from London live on HBO); WNBA: Washington Mystics @ Tulsa Shock (Monday 3pm from Tulsa live on ESPN2); High School Lacrosse: MPSSAA Championship Games-1A/2A Final: Patterson Mill vs. Fallston (Tuesday 6pm UMBC Stadium), 2A/3A Final: Glenelg vs. Hereford (Wednesday 4pm UMBC Stadium), 3A/4A Final: South River vs. Westminster (Wednesday 8pm UMBC Stadium)

10. 10 Years (Thursday 7:30pm Rams Head Live); 10,000 Maniacs (Wednesday & Thursday 8pm Rams Head on Stage); Korn (Tuesday 8pm Fillmore Silver Spring), Kelly Rowland & The Dream (Sunday 8pm Fillmore Silver Spring); Macy Gray (Thursday 7:30pm Birchmere); SWV (Friday 8pm Howard Theatre); Lonestar (Wednesday 8pm Strathmore); Trey Anastasio (Wednesday 8pm Kennedy Center); Shooter Jennings (Thursday 8pm State Theatre); Kenny Chesney/Eric Church/Eli Young Band (Saturday 5pm FedEx Field); Delfest feat. Del McCoury Band, Old Crow Medicine Show, Jerry Douglas, Carolina Chocolate Drops (Thursday-Sunday Allegany County Fairgrounds); Daft Punk “Random Access Memories”, Darius Rucker “True Believers” and 30 Seconds to Mars “LOVE LUST FAITH + DREAMS” available in stores/on iTunes (Tuesday)

As far as country music goes, Eric Church ain’t too bad.

There’s so much I’d like to see at Delfest. I hope you know how great Jerry Douglas is.

Or how great Carolina Chocolate Drops are.

Lot of people who want to prove how cool they are have been trashing Darius’ version of “Wagon Wheel.” Not among that group of people, the band that first turned Bob Dylan’s half song into a full song.

9. Greg Proops (Tuesday 8pm DC Improv), Godfrey (Thursday-Sunday DC Improv); Chris Hardwick (Saturday 6pm 9:30 Club); “The Hangover Part III“, “Epic” and “Fast & Furious 6” out in theaters (Friday); “Parker” available on Blu-Ray/DVD (Tuesday); Brew At The Zoo (Saturday & Sunday Maryland Zoo in Baltimore); “Arrested Development Season 4” debuts (Sunday 3am Netflix)

It’s kinda hard to remember just how great “The Hangover” ever was at this point. I THINK I’ll end up seeing the new one, but I’m not promising.

Also, you’ll be watching this video until 3am Sunday…

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An announced crowd of 117,203 attended Preakness Saturday at Pimlico Race Course. A certain number of them were perhaps a bit more interesting than others.

A number of Baltimore Ravens were in attendance for Saturday’s event, including WR Torrey Smith, K Justin Tucker, OT Michael Oher and G Kelechi Osemele. Smith posted this picture of the group hanging out with one of Charm City’s finest…

Smith also posted this picture of himself hanging out with former Ravens LB/future Hall of Famer Ray Lewis…

Ravens DL Arthur Jones was also hanging out with the group, he and Tucker ended up posing for this picture with KISS’s Gene Simmons. You read that sentence right.

This was just before Simmons managed to photobomb D. Wayne Lukas’ celebration on NBC after Oxbow won the race…

And to wrap up the Gene Simmons portion of today’s show, his model/actress long-time girlfriend Shannon Tweed posted this picture claiming how much money she won…

Ravens LB Jameel McClain was also in attendance and he made some interesting hand gestures…

Maryland football coach Randy Edsall attended the event with his wife…

New Orleans Pelicans G (and former Terp) Greivis Vasquez was also seen hanging out near the Under Armour tent Saturday afternoon…

“House of Cards” star Kevin Spacey was at Preakness and spent some time with Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley…

“The Good Wife” star and Baltimore native Josh Charles was also at Preakness, he even stopped to pose with our own Glenn Clark’s fiancé Margaret…

The Baltimore Sun snapped this photo of former Buffalo Bills quarterback hanging out at Preakness Saturday…

Other celebrities in attendance included Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, former NBA player/coach Avery Johnson, celebrity chef Bobby Flay, Towson football coach Rob Ambrose, former NFL coach/ESPN analyst Herman Edwards, former U.S. Olympic Gymnastics coach Bela Karolyi, Senator Ben Cardin, former NFL Coach/Terrapins OL Mike Tice and more.

Platinum artist Pitbull headlined the Infieldfest festivities as pictured below. Other performers included Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Chevelle and Florida Georgia Line.

The biggest star of the day was surprisingly Oxbow, who stunned the crowd by winning the race while Kentucky Derby winner Orb finished 4th. Perhaps the best photo of the moment was captured by ESPN The Magazine…

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Since Ravens insider linebacker Rolando McClain surprisingly declared his intention to retire from the NFL on Wednesday afternoon, many have questioned the motives and sincerity of his decision to walk away from football at the age of 23.

Some have even gone as far as suggesting it’s an orchestrated plan to keep McClain out of the limelight while he deals with the fallout of three arrests in the last 16 months and could ultimately lead to his return to the Ravens as early as this August. By placing McClain on the reserve-retired list, general manager Ozzie Newsome and the Ravens retain the former 2010 first-round pick’s rights by way of the one-year, $700,000 deal he signed in April.

McClain attempted to clarify his unconventional decision Thursday and made it known that the Ravens had nothing to do with his choice to retire after three tumultuous seasons with the Oakland Raiders and before making it to organized team activities in Owings Mills.

“Clearly, my decision to retire has raised some questions,” McClain said in a statement released to several media outlets. “Quite simply, I love football, but I have decided at this time it is in my best interest to focus on getting my personal life together. Beyond that, I’m not sure what the future holds for me, including football. This was entirely my decision and the Ravens have been very supportive during this process. I am very grateful for the opportunity they gave me and wish them the best of luck in the future. God willing, maybe I’ll play for them one day.”

The details of how McClain intends to get his personal life in order remain unknown as he vowed earlier this offseason that he needed to avoid spending time in his hometown of Decature, Ala., where he was arrested for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest just 10 days after signing a one-year contract with the Ravens. Of course, the biggest takeaway from his statement was his way of leaving the door open to not only a return to the NFL but also the Ravens.

If McClain is truly committed to making the necessary changes in his life to reverse the treacherous route he’s walked over the last couple years, you hope we’ve heard the last of the 2010 first-round pick on the polite scanner. However, the Ravens shouldn’t be interested in being burned a second time by an individual who showed his appreciation to the organization by being arrested less than two weeks after signing and failing to commit himself to the offseason training program.

The former University of Alabama standout may very well receive another opportunity in the NFL one day, but the Ravens shouldn’t let the fact that they hold his current rights cloud the truth that played out over the better part of a month. They can’t give into temptation and risk looking foolish yet again while sending the wrong message to the current players on the roster.

McClain’s time in Baltimore should be over for good.

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Rolando McClain’s run with the Baltimore Ravens is apparently over as well as his NFL career.

The troubled 23-year-old linebacker has informed the Ravens he’s elected to retire after three tumultuous seasons that started with the Alabama standout being selected with the eighth overall pick of the 2010 draft by Oakland and ended before he even took part in as much as a practice with the Ravens.

“Rolando let me know that he plans to retire from the NFL,” general manager Newsome said in a team statement. “We have placed him on the reserve-retired list.”

McClain signed a one-year, $700,000 contract with the Ravens on April 12. He became available after Oakland elected to release him and eat roughly $11 million in dead money on their 2013 salary cap to rid themselves of a player with off-field issues as well as a reputation for being a malcontent in the locker room.

The signing drew criticism from many who labeled it as an uncharacteristic move by an organization that prides itself on having strong-character players. McClain faced misdemeanor charges of third-degree assault, menacing, reckless endangerment, and illegal discharge of a firearm in his hometown of Decatur, Ala. in 2011. The charges were eventually dropped after an original conviction was appealed. The 2009 Butkus Award winner was also arrested in January after failing to sign a citation related to illegal window tint on his vehicle.

Newsome and coach John Harbaugh met with McClain to share their expectations before offering him a deal that included the potential to make $400,000 in incentives to supplement his base salary. McClain followed that initial meeting by being arrested once again in Decatur on April 21 with charges of disorderly conduct and resisting arrest, both misdemeanors.

Despite cries from some to release McClain and then the selection of Kansas State linebacker Arthur Brown in the second round of last month’s draft, the Ravens appeared committed to giving McClain another opportunity as Newsome and assistant general manager Eric DeCosta never gave any indication that the former Raider’s offseason roster spot was in jeopardy.

The inside linebacker collected 274 tackles, 6 1/2 sacks, one interception, one forced fumble, and 23 pass breakups in 41 career games with the Raiders.

After a weekend hospital scare for partner Karina Smirnoff, Baltimore Ravens WR/KR Jacoby Jones put together his best overall week of the season on ABC’s “Dancing With The Stars”. First up was the Argentine Tango, which earned the Super Bowl XLVII hero his first ever perfect score of 30/30.

Later in the show ABC aired interview pieces with many people from Jones’ life, including Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, WR Torrey Smith and former Ravens LB Ray Lewis. He then performed the Lindy Hop, bringing in a score of 29/30 from the judges.

On Tuesday night’s show Jones found out he had advanced to next week’s finals as soap star Ingo Rademacher was eliminated. Also advancing to the finals are Disney Channel star Zendaya Coleman, county singer Kellie Pickler and Olympic gymnast Aly Raisman.

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Ravens tight end Dennis Pitta has signed his second-round restricted tender for the 2013 season.

It was only a formality, but the tender will pay the fourth-year tight end $2.02 million this season before he is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent next winter. General manager Ozzie Newsome and the Ravens have already expressed interest in signing the tight end to a long-term contract, but that task often becomes difficult when a player enters his final season before free agency.

In 2012, Pitta caught a career-high 61 passes for 669 yards and seven touchdowns as he continued to be one of quarterback Joe Flacco’s favorite targets. The 27-year-old added to those numbers in the Ravens’ run to a Super Bowl title, making 14 receptions for 163 yards and three touchdowns in four postseason games.

With the offseason trade of Anquan Boldin and the Ravens not yet bringing in a veteran receiver to replace him, many have speculated that Pitta will see more time lining up in the slot and will have an expanded role in helping to replace Boldin’s production. Such a plan would certainly help Baltimore’s passing attack but would also complicate efforts to re-sign Pitta to an extension prior to the end of the 2013 season.

In other news, the Ravens announced the signings of four rookie free agents: wide receiver Rashaad Carter from Tusculum, cornerback Moe Lee from Utah, safety Gary Walker from Idaho, and outside linebacker Meshak Williams from Kansas State. Williams, of course, was a teammate of second-round linebacker Arthur Brown.

Baltimore also announced the release of wide receiver Tori Gurley, who played at South Carolina.

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With Mother’s Day this Sunday, Major League Baseball will continue its initiative for breast cancer awareness by providing pink bats for players to use on the holiday for the eighth consecutive year.

The initiative holds special meaning for Nick Markakis with his mother being a breast cancer survivor, but you’re unlikely to see the Orioles right fielder swinging a pink piece of lumber on Sunday.

The reason?

The pink bats made by MaxBat for Markakis and others who own a contract with the maple wood bat company will not be permitted for use by MLB due to an exclusive agreement with Louisville Slugger. The famous wood bat company produces all of the bats distributed by the league to players for Sunday’s games.

On a day meant to raise awareness and celebrate breast cancer survivors around baseball, we will instead witness the latest example of many of these initiatives being as much — or more — about a money grab and protecting sponsors as they are about doing something good. The simple notion that MLB won’t allow pink bats made by other companies for players to use for one day in the season reflects how much more concerned the league is with keeping a sponsor happy rather than allowing players to pay tribute to those fighting the disease.

By no means is the initiative without charity as MLB claims to have raised more than $1 million through auctions of these game-used bats over the last eight years. Pink personalized bats made by Louisville Slugger will also be sold on MLB.com, with $10 from each bat going to Major League Baseball Charities to be apportioned to fight breast cancer. The league says more than $300,000 have been donated from sales of these personalized bats.

But are these dollars representative of a sincere effort to help or little more than a write-off in order to strike a profit behind a veil of charity?

Of course, MLB isn’t alone as the National Football League faced criticism with the revelation that a measly five percent of the profits made from the massive amount of pink gear sold — players and coaches also wear pink throughout the month of October — is donated to the American Cancer Society. According to the league, the rest of the profit is pumped back into its breast cancer awareness program titled A Crucial Catch, but that has drawn scrutiny from those believing the pink merchandise is much more about marketing the league to women than truly trying to make a difference in defeating breast cancer.

Charities and non-profit organizations constantly face questions over how the money they raise from the public is ultimately used, but it’s frustrating to see entities worth billions being stingy when the curtain is pulled back with programs such as these.

It’s understandable for MLB to use its partnership with Louisville Slugger to produce these pink bats as well as the light blue ones used on Father’s Day to raise awareness for prostate cancer, but to prohibit players like Markakis from using pink lumber produced by other companies for use on Sunday reveals the league’s true colors.

And there’s much more green than there is pink.

(Updated at 8:15 p.m. – After receiving plenty of negative reaction on Friday evening, Major League Baseball released the following statement via Twitter:

“All players can use pink bats Sunday with any bat company that makes a modest donation to @KomenForTheCure.”)

Needing to fill their void at center, the Ravens have acquired A.Q. Shipley from the Indianapolis Colts to compete with second-year lineman Gino Gradkowski for the 2013 starting job.

General manager Ozzie Newsome will send a conditional pick in next year’s draft to the Colts in exchange for Shipley, who made five starts and appeared in 14 games during the 2012 season. The 6-foot-1, 309-pound lineman was a seventh-round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2009 and spent time on practice squads in Pittsburgh (2009) and Philadelphia (2010) before signing with Indianapolis last year.

Considering the Ravens invested a 2012 fourth-round pick in selecting Gradkowski, you’d expect him to have the inside track in emerging as the retired Matt Birk’s replacement. He appeared in 16 games during his rookie season, serving primarily on special teams and saw limited time at center.

Shipley would be the ideal fit for a role similar to the one held by veteran Andre Gurode in 2011 when he served as Birk’s backup and filled in at both guard positions as well.

According to Pro Football Focus, Shipley earned a +6.9 grade in 476 offensive snaps last season. The Ravens drafted Colorado State-Pueblo lineman Ryan Jensen in the sixth round of last month’s draft to presumably offer some competition to Gradkowski, but the addition of Shipley diminishes the rookie’s chances of making the 53-man roster.

Shipley was a four-year letterman at Penn State and was an All-America selection, Rimington Trophy winner, and Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year as a senior. He is a native of Moon Township, Pa. and attended Moon Area High School in Pittsburgh. 

The Ravens also announced Thursday morning that they’ve released rookie guard Jeff Braun, who played at West Virginia and attended Winters Mill High School in Westminster.