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…

Since the Baltimore Ravens claimed a 34-31 victory over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII, I’ve found myself asking one particular question in regards to QB Joe Flacco. I’ve probably asked some 15 or 20 NFL analysts who have appeared on “The Reality Check” on WNST that same question.

“Do the Ravens need to put the right playmakers around Flacco to prop him up or should they assume he’s good enough to make lesser players around him better?”

I have probably tended to lean a little bit more to the former. I made my feelings about the team’s decision to trade Anquan Boldin over a desire to save a couple million bucks quite clear. The Ravens however have made it clear at least thus far that they’re operating with a lean to the latter.

The Ravens lost six starters from their Super Bowl winning defense, replacing them with potential starters in Chris Canty, Marcus Spears, Elvis Dumervil, Rolando McClain, Michael Huff and top Draft picks Matt Elam and Arthur Brown. At this time, three starters from their Super Bowl winning offense are currently not on the roster and the Ravens have replaced them with…well…I mean…I guess they DID draft a reserve fullback?

Coming out of the NFL Draft, the Ravens still find themselves particularly thin at receiver. Torrey Smith and his freshly-trimmed locks lead the way with Jacoby Jones, Tandon Doss, David Reed, LaQuan Williams, Deonte Thompson, Tommy Streeter and Aaron Mellette falling in some sort of similar order behind. The Ravens will certainly have high expectations for TE Dennis Pitta (who we might not see back in Baltimore for awhile as he hopes to get a long-term deal) as well as fellow TE Ed Dickson.

This group makes you believe the Ravens are thinking more along the lines of “Joe Flacco is good enough to make these guys better.” It’s not so terribly unthinkable that this group could help the Ravens win a third straight AFC North title. Certainly the New York Giants felt comfortable enough with Eli Manning under center that they were willing to simply elevate Domenik Hixon and some unknown receiver from UMass named Victor Cruz going into the 2011 season. For their troubles, the Giants were rewarded with their second Vince Lombardi Trophy in the Tom Coughlin era.

Returning with this group would inherently mark a belief that Joe Flacco has reached the level where his ability in Jim Caldwell’s offense is enough to make those he throws the football to better. A decision to obtain a veteran WR cut before the start of the season (similar to what the Ravens did with T.J. Houshmandzadeh in 2010) or to deal for a veteran WR (similar to what the Ravens did in 2011 with Lee Evans) or even to add one more current free agent receiver (Brandon Stokley remains on the market?) might mark more of a belief that the team still needs to help prop up their quarterback via more talented offensive weapons.

A similar situation continues to play out at left tackle. 5th round pick Ricky Wagner is unlikely to be of any sort of help this season, meaning the Ravens’ options are Kelechi Osemele, a possible return of Bryant McKinnie and similar late offseason considerations.

The Ravens may well believe Flacco’s quicker release in the Caldwell offense makes the need for a left tackle upgrade less necessary. The team won a Super Bowl with a left tackle who played significantly in only one regular season game. The Super Bowl winning left tackles in the prior three seasons were Jermon Bushrod, Chad Clifton and David Diehl. All were nice players, none Hall of Famers. The quarterbacks they protected for were Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers and Eli Manning.

The Ravens made it quite clear that they feel Flacco is in that group, giving him a contract worth $120 million ($52 million guaranteed) this offseason. That decision made the organization’s faith in their sixth year starter evident, but the decisions they’ve made since then have made it even more so apparent.

The roster we see at OTA’s and minicamp in the next month won’t be a direct reflection of the roster that invades Denver September 5th to face the Broncos, but there won’t be many drastic roster changes to be made.

The Ravens won’t be better offensively in 2013 because of the big splash they made in free agency. They won’t be better offensively in 2013 because they drafted a hot shot receiver or mountainous offensive tackle out of the SEC at the back end of the first round.

Instead, they’ll hope to be better offensively in 2013 simply because of how they REALLY spent their money in free agency…their quarterback. They clearly think the guy is ready to make the rest of the group even better.

I guess my question has essentially been answered. The only question moving forward will be whether or not the decision was the right one.

-G

Ravens wide receiver Torrey Smith has said goodbye to his trademark look since his days starring at the University of Maryland.

The 24-year-old had teased cutting off his dreadlocks in the past but officially changed up his hairdo on Sunday as fans provided mixed reviews. The 2011 second-round pick had been pulled down by his hair in the past, prompting fans and media to ask whether he should cut it off to prevent slower players from catching him.

Smith broke the news via his official Twitter account by writing, “Just a lil change…same face and big cheesy smile.”

The receiver explained that he was simply growing tired of the long locks, but fans will hope the haircut doesn’t have the same impact it had on Samson in the Bible. Of course, the possibility of the new look making the already-speedy Smith a split-second faster is a scary proposition for opposing defensive backs.

If you’re reading this, congratulations on making it through the difficult part of the Ravens’ offseason.

Needless to say, it’s been an interesting five weeks as a number of key contributors to the Super Bowl XLVII championship team have departed with several newcomers arriving to fill those voids. And once again, general manager Ozzie Newsome has emerged to look as shrewd as ever just a few weeks after many fans and media alike questioned what exactly the Ravens were trying to accomplish by gutting their roster after winning their second NFL title in 13 years.

It was painful waving goodbye to the legendary Ed Reed as well as other defensive contributors such as Paul Kruger, Dannell Ellerbe, Bernard Pollard, and Cary Williams, but Newsome has walked away from free agency with an elite pass rusher (Elvis Dumervil), good defensive line depth (Chris Canty and Marcus Spears), a solid replacement for Reed (Michael Huff), and a low-risk, high-reward inside linebacker just three years removed from being a first-round pick (Rolando McClain). Though far from a guarantee, the argument can be made that a flawed Baltimore defense last year will emerge even stronger with the wholesale changes made this offseason.

With the Ravens now less than two weeks away from the draft, one position and one particular departure stands above all others in terms of the urgency felt to address it.

No, it isn’t left tackle, where the Ravens see veteran Bryant McKinnie dangling on the free-agent market while looking internally to find — yes — Michael Oher and Kelechi Osemele as potential candidates to man the blindside for quarterback Joe Flacco. The mere suggestion of Oher moving back to the left side — not a decision I endorse, mind you — is enough to keep many fans awake at night, but the Ravens aren’t nearly as concerned about the position as everyone else, even though they’ll keep their eyes open during next week’s draft for a long-term solution.

For all the encouraging moves made by the Ravens in response to the mass exodus that occurred in mid-March, it’s still difficult to move past the trade of wide receiver Anquan Boldin to the San Francisco 49ers for a sixth-round pick. There’s no need to rehash the details; the Ravens made it clear they didn’t believe Boldin was a $6 million player anymore and the 32-year-old wasn’t willing to take a $2 million pay cut.

It was a business decision that cleared enough cap space to make the signing of the Pro Bowl pass rusher Dumervil and several others first conceivable and eventually a reality, but that still doesn’t replace the production left behind by the veteran receiver. Over the last two seasons, Boldin accounted for 23.7 percent of the Ravens’ total yards via the air. His 2012 postseason is well documented as the possession wideout was on the receiving end of exactly 1/3 of Flacco’s 1,140 passing yards and reined in four of the quarterback’s 11 touchdown passes.

Make no mistake, we’re not talking about a bona fide No. 1 receiver and Boldin was struggling more and more to gain separation in man coverage, but his strong hands and ability inside the red zone must be replaced by someone — or some combination of players. The Ravens say they’re confident in tight end Dennis Pitta as well as young receivers Tandon Doss and Deonte Thompson to compete to fill the void in the slot, but there’s a reason why the latter two were little more than afterthoughts on the 53-man roster last season. Maybe one or both will emerge to become serviceable receivers, but the Ravens can’t possibly count on either to bring even a modest fraction of what Boldin offered.

Torrey Smith and Jacoby Jones certainly remind you that the cupboard isn’t totally bare at the position like it was a decade ago, but neither provides enough consistency in the short-to-intermediate passing game and are too valuable as vertical threats on the outside.

It’s worth asking how much of the burden will fall on Flacco, who is entering his sixth NFL season and is in the prime of his career after signing a six-year, $120.6 million contract earlier this offseason. Is the quarterback dependent on good receivers to be successful or are young receivers relying on the Super Bowl MVP in their own development at this stage in the game?

Still, you have to wonder what the Ravens have up their sleeve with barely a whisper of any significant interest in this year’s crop of free-agent wide receivers. Are the Ravens simply turning to the draft with confidence in a late first-round option such as Clemson’s DeAndre Hopkins, Cal’s Keenan Allen, or USC’s Robert Woods to potentially step in and contribute from Day One? Would a second-day target such as 6-foot-4 Justin Hunter of Tennessee or troubled Tennessee Tech wideout Da’Rick Rogers strike their fancy?

Or should we be on alert for a trade? Manned with 12 selections in next week’s draft, the Ravens have never shied away from dealing picks for established talent as they completed draft-weekend deals for wide receiver Kevin Johnson and cornerback Fabian Washington in the last decade.

Their summer trade two years ago for Lee Evans may have failed miserably, but it was another example of Newsome’s willingness to part with a mid-round selection to snag a wideout. And, of course, the Ravens dealt two picks to the Arizona Cardinals for Boldin three years ago in a deal that worked to perfection.

This offseason, all is quiet on the wide receiver front with no big names publicly on the block, but it’s difficult to imagine the Ravens simply standing pat with what they currently have at the position. Baltimore tried to enhance its wide receiver depth in each of the last three years by signing T.J. Houshmandzadeh in 2010, trading for Evans in 2011, and inking Jones last year, so the thought of Newsome and the front office allowing draft weekend to come and go without an impact draft selection or failing to explore a trade to address the void left behind by Boldin just doesn’t seem plausible.

By no means does it need to be a carbon-copy replacement, but Boldin’s giant shadow is still too great not to address with either a savvy veteran or a young player holding a higher ceiling than the candidates already on the roster.

In an offseason in which patience has been preached over and over, the Ravens will ask for a little more as nearly every other position has been handled in some shape or form for the short term. Even left tackle has several accessible backup options if a young prospect doesn’t fall into the Ravens’ laps in the first two days of the draft.

But failing to address the Boldin departure would be too great of a risk to take.

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver TORREY SMITH’s inspiring Week 3 performance is the 2012 GMC NEVER SAY NEVER MOMENT OF THE YEAR, the NFL announced tonight at “2nd Annual NFL Honors” – a star-studded football and entertainment event saluting the best players, performances and plays from the 2012 season.  “2nd Annual NFL Honors” airs nationally on Saturday, February 2, 9-11 pm (ET) on CBS.  The GMC NEVER SAY NEVER MOMENT OF THE YEAR is the best moment or play of the year that represents determination and perseverance.

In what would become a preview of the AFC Championship game, the Baltimore Ravens and New England Patriots squared off in an emotional Week 3 showdown which would touch the hearts of many.  Less than 24 hours after his brother died in a motorcycle accident, Ravens WR Torrey Smith, despite permission by his coach to sit out Sunday night’s game, wanted to play. In one of the NFL’s most inspirational individual performances, Smith produced the Never Say Never Moment of the Year, catching six passes for 127 yards and two touchdowns in the Ravens’ come-from-behind victory over New England on Sunday Night Football.

Smith’s performance was selected from among five moments by voters on NFL.com/gmc. The five finalists were selected among 17 of the most memorable GMC Never Say Never Moments during the 2012 NFL season.  Each week the NFL selected three nominees for the moments of the week on which the fans voted for the winner on NFL.com/GMC. The other four moments nominated for GMC Never Say Never Moment of the Year are in bold in the chart below.

 Below are the winners of the 2012 GMC NEVER SAY NEVER MOMENT OF THE WEEK awards:

WIDE RECEIVER TORREY SMITH

(on the season) “It’s a fun one. We are where we wanted to be, so you can’t really complain. Regardless of what’s been thrown in, that’s life. We were able to overcome everything and I think that’s a credit to our team.”

(on how often he runs go routes) “It all depends. It’s not like they say, ‘Hey Torrey, just run straight down the field all the time. Some of it is scheme-wise to open other guys up. Against certain coverages, I have certain responsibilities. We do attack vertically. That’s a strength of ours, and I’m one of the guys that they definitely use to do that.”

(on whether it requires patience to come up with big plays) “No, big plays are only 15 or 20 of my catches. I had 50, so, the other catches weren’t all bombs. We do a little bit of everything. I run all the routes. Big plays are obviously a little harder to come by.”

(on whether he thinks there are big-play opportunities against the 49ers) “I think we can get big plays against any defense we play. You just have to go out there and do it. They’re professionals just like we are. They’re a great secondary, and they have playmakers. They have made a lot of plays this year. It is definitely going to be a tough challenge, but it’s one-on-one battles. If we go out there and play our game, we’ll be fine.”

(on whether he can be a No. 1 receiver) “I think I can play ball. I can run all the routes and that’s what a receiver needs to do. I can make all the catches and I’m very confident I can do that. I’ve proved I can do that. In regards to what people think about me in terms of pre-draft, it doesn’t really matter. I’m playing well in the NFL.”

(on how Anquan Boldin has helped him) “Anquan has helped me out a lot. He’s been a great mentor both on and off the field. I’m thankful to be paired up with him.”

(on what it means to him personally to make it to the Super Bowl) “It means a lot. We worked to get here. It’s not about me personally at all. It’s all about our team and that was our goal during the offseason – to work maybe to the Super Bowl and win it. We’re one game away and we have the opportunity to do that. We have the opportunity to do that. We’re thankful to be here, but at the end of the day, we’re here to win a football game. If we don’t win, none of it really matters.”

(on where Joe Flacco ranks among the NFL’s quarterbacks) “I think he’s a great quarterback. I’m not really one for all the rankings and stuff. I think that if you want to talk about winning, Joe gets it done. He’s also on a team that he’s the Super Bowl quarterback. We’re in the Super Bowl. All we have to do is go out there and win it and he’ll have that on his resume. I think he’s playing well and people are finally starting to respect him. But, everything he’s doing, we’ve already seen him do.”

(on Joe Flacco’s arm) “I think he can make every throw. I think that is his best asset. There are a lot of great quarterbacks in the league, but not every quarterback can make every throw. It’s rare and he’s one of those guys.”

(on his favorite team growing up) “I never had a team. I had favorite players. I played quarterback, so my favorite quarterback growing up was Mike Vick. I’m a big Randy Moss fan, Jerry Rice, Barry Sanders – there were a lot of players. I’d definitely say Vick and my favorite receiver was Randy Moss.”

(on bandwagon fans) “It comes with the territory. I think the best part about it is that the two local teams, us and the Redskins, we’re in two different conferences. If we weren’t in it and the Redskins were still in it, folks would want them to do well. I’m glad that folks are supporting us as well.”

-more-

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Super Bowl XLVII – Thursday, January 31, 2013

QUOTES FROM BALTIMORE RAVENS MEDIA SESSION

MORE WIDE RECEIVER TORREY SMITH

(on Vernon Davis’ career at Maryland) “There is nobody that’s been able to do what he’s done (at Maryland). He was drafted high, he played well at tight end and he’s a freak. There weren’t too many guys like him.”

(on whether Vernon Davis had a better college career than he did) “I mean, I think – who had better numbers? We both left after three years. He played more than I did as a freshman. I played receiver, so it’s kind of hard to compare and contrast. But, there is no tight end that was like Vernon. There is no tight end that’s been like Vernon athletically. He’s a rare talent.”

(on whether he thinks about the big plays wide receivers have made in recent Super Bowls) “I just think about going out there and playing my game. Making plays is a part of that. I do imagine myself making plays and that’s the same way I approach any game. I feel like you have to see it, you have to visualize it for it to happen. More importantly, you have to go out there and do it. I’m looking forward to the challenge this weekend.”

(on visualizing big plays) “You just think about what it’d be like, what you have to do to get open, what you have to do to make the catch – look the ball all the way in. I definitely do that. I’m a big visual guy. I kind of took that from Michael Jordan. I remember reading that one time that he was a huge visual guy. I think it helps.”

(on whether he likes pressure) “I love pressure situations. That’s when the best come out. Folks who love competition, folks who are competitors, the cream rises to the top.”

WIDE RECEIVER TORREY SMITH

(on 49ers tight end Vernon Davis) “He’s a wide receiver in a tight end’s body. He doesn’t play like a tight end. When it comes to blocking he definitely gets down. He’s very physical. He can make all the plays as a receiver. He is fast – you can put him out there and line him up against a corner and he can beat him. I think that shows the type of talent that he has.”

(on his game following his brother’s death) “I play the same regardless. Even though my brother passed, I’ve always gone out and played my heart out for my family every time I step out on the field. That’s my brothers, my sisters, even my mother and my grandmother. Those are the people that helped me get to this point and depended on me.”

(on whether the talk about the Harbaugh brothers makes him think about his brother’s death) “No, I have brothers, I have two sisters.”

(on the 49ers secondary giving up big plays to Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones) “They were able to make some plays. One of them looked like busted coverage on the post. He was just a little flat footed and a little miscommunication. Julio was able to make some plays against them and other wide receivers too. That’s just part of the game. You win some battles and lose some battles. Julio played a great game last week. I think that’s a credit to him because they’re definitely a tough secondary. That isn’t easy to do.”

(on whether it gives him confidence knowing that Julio Jones was able to have a big game against the 49ers ) “I approach each team the same, regardless if they’ve allowed zero passing yards all year or a million. I feel like I can go out there and make big plays against everyone. You just have to go out there and do it.”

(on being a balanced offense) “I feel like we can run and throw with anybody. They are one of the best defenses in the league, but we play against the Steelers and they’re one of the best defenses in the league. It’s an NFL defense. They’re tough. They have some playmakers and they are great in all phases – especially up front. They are stout against the run and they can rush the passer. When you have that it makes it a lot easier for the guys in the back end, not to mention they’re already talented. We’re not looking past them by any means. If we go out there and play our game, we feel like we’ll be alright.”

(on handling his brother’s death) “That’s just life. That’s just how I am as a person anyways. I don’t really get caught up in an emotional roller coaster, I just try to stay steady. Part of doing that is staying consistent in what you do. Being part of this team and part of this family, we’re focused on one task at hand. Regardless of my brother passing or Mr. (Art) Modell or injuries, we all stay focused at the task at hand and that is trying to be the best team we can possibly be and make it to New Orleans. We’re here and we have an opportunity to win it all. That’s what we want to do.”

(on the challenges of staying focused on football after his brother’s death) “There are ups and downs in everything. That’s the beauty of this game. There are always going to be a lot of different challenges. It’s about how you overcome them. There are going to be a lot of highs, a lot of lows. You have to stay steady through it all. That’s why I think our quarterback is a great person for it. He’s really a testament of us. He stays level headed. We could be down by 100 and he could have the same facial expressions as if we were winning. I think that’s how our team is built.”

(on the 49ers defense) “I think they’re a great group. They’re very solid; All playmakers, very physical in the run game as well. Combine that with that defensive line and linebackers that they have and it’s a recipe for success. They’re very talented.”
 

(on his chemistry with Anquan Boldin) “Anquan means a lot to me. He’s like a big brother. He’s very smart. He’s like a quarterback on the field. You combine that with me coming in – I was a little bit raw. I needed to get better and more consistent with route running and things like that. ‘Q’ already had the work ethic and he’s a great pro to be matched with. There aren’t too many guys that will take you in as a rookie. For me, I could make plays but I wasn’t as polished. Anquan is very polished. To be around him, it’s helped me out so much over this past year.”

(on Anquan Boldin’s ability to be physical as a receiver) “Oh man, Anquan is physical. He’s (outrun defenders) several times this year. He’s huge. He has a linebacker’s mentality at receiver. You see corners running from him sometimes. I think that the way he plays the game at receiver, you can admire it.”

(on if he’s learned how to come down with the ball from Anquan Boldin) “You just have to have that anyways. I wouldn’t say necessarily that he taught me to go up and get the ball. I know if the ball is in the air, it’s either that guy or me. In order to benefit our team, I need to come down with it. I’ve always had the mentality that if the ball is in the air, it’s mine.”

(on the difference with Jim Caldwell as the team’s offensive coordinator) “I think it’s the same. It is a different guy calling the plays – that’s not knocking (former offensive coordinator) Cam (Cameron) or Jim. I always feel like I can get my baby brother to call plays and if we’re out there executing, he’s going to look like a genius. I just think that Coach Caldwell has done a great job mixing it up, being consistent and having a game plan and sticking with it. He has a vision and a goal for us – an objective, really – and he’s been able to accomplish getting that across.”

(on throwing downfield more in a dome)  “I don’t know. It just all goes with the flow of the game. We’re definitely going to take shots. We’re an aggressive offense. I think it all just depends on the flow of the game. (Offensive Coordinator Jim Caldwell) doesn’t just line up and say, ‘Hey, I’m going to throw 20 deep balls and just see what happens.’ It’s all part of his plan and we’ll see what he whips up.”

(on Joe Flacco’s personality) “I don’t think he’s necessarily boring, but if you didn’t know him, he could definitely come off that way. Once you interact with him and see how he goes about his everyday life and see him in the locker room, he’s not boring at all. He’s very sarcastic. He’s pretty funny. He has a lot of personality, but if you just look at him under the helmet, he has the same facial expression and it comes off that way.”

(on whether he can outrun Joe Flacco’s arm) “I’ve just learned to keep running. Never underestimate that it’s not going to make it. Just keep digging and you can always go back to it, but more often than not, he throws where it needs to be.”

(on Joe Flacco’s deep passes) “I think he throws a catchable ball, regardless of where it is on the field. There are times where you see a throw and you’re like, ‘Wow, how did he fit it in that window?’ He has a huge arm. He can make every throw and I think people really underestimate that.”

WIDE RECEIVER TORREY SMITH

(on Joe Flacco) “Joe is a playmaker and a great leader.  Although you may not see it, he is vocal.  And he never has any doubts in tight situations.  Believe me, he competes, but he doesn’t like to let it show.  He’s like Jim Brown who always got up slow so they couldn’t tell on which hits he was hurting.  Joe doesn’t want to let anyone see what he’s thinking.”

(more on Flacco) ”He has a huge arm.  He can throw the deep ball, but he also can make every throw on the field.”

(on Jim Caldwell taking over the offensive coordinator’s role) “It’s been good, but I couldn’t pinpoint any one thing.”

(on the Steelers) “It is a very respectful rivalry.  We play hard, but have good relationships off the field.”

(on why the Ravens are here and other teams like the Steelers are not)  “We got hot at the right time.  We kept working and you could see we were having better practices.  That had to show on the field sometime.”

(on partying in New Orleans) “We’re here to prepare for a game.  I go to sleep at 10:30 anyways.  I’m here to play a football game.”

(on who the 49ers remind him of)  “I think they are similar to the Steelers.  Like Pittsburgh, they are very physical.  And they have two guys that get after you, that are real physical in the middle in Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman.”

(on Vernon Davis) “He’s one of the greatest Terps.  He’s a great guy and we hang out in the offseason.  We’re not really playing against each other since we’re on the same side of the ball.  And so, either way, the University of Maryland wins.”

(on his nature) “I’m kind of even keel, never get too high, never get too low.  Winning the AFC was just another game, but maybe we celebrated a little more.  I don’t talk much on the field.  Anquan (Boldin) talks enough trash for both of us.”

(on fantasy football) “The fans will let you know about it, especially when you have a bad game.  But I play real football.  Am I a fantasy football star?  According to my Twitter, I’m terrible.”

(on Ray Lewis) “When he started in 1996, I was seven years old.  I had known about him and I played with his brother in college.  I was starstruck when he came to Maryland to see him.  Now, I’m a teammate and I look at him like a brother you can talk to about anything.”

(on Anquan Boldin) “He is the definition of a pro.  Faithful, religious, a great father.  He has always been willing to help me in any way.  And he is one of the great route runners of all-time, so I have certainly benefitted from that.”

(on if he thinks he is fast) “I don’t know.  But if I don’t, I know that the DBs do.  They tell me that a lot.  But whether I’m the fastest?  Every team has fast receivers.”

(on Jim Harbaugh) “He’s a great leader.  He has great thoughts about the game, as well as about life.  And he knows how to get his message across.  He’s the perfect coach for that.”

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Praising a team effort not just among his players but also with his coaches, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh made a key addition to his staff earlier this week that was lost in the excitement of the franchise’s first Super Bowl appearance in 12 years.

Former Eagles defensive coordinator and longtime offensive line coach Juan Castillo was hired as a consultant for the remainder of the season and will serve as the Ravens’ run-game coordinator next season, a new position that will aid offensive coordinator Jim Caldwell. Harbaugh announced that Caldwell would remain as the coordinator after being elevated to the position following the firing of Cam Cameron on Dec. 10.

Castillo will be working with a running game that finished 11th in the league by averaging 118.8 yards per game on the ground.

“He’ll be kind of a lead coach in terms of the run game and organizing the run game for us,” Harbaugh said. “Of course, he’ll work closely with Jim and all the coaches. Who’s in charge of what? Guys work together on a staff. Coach Caldwell’s done a great job of making that point time and time again. That’s true on the defensive staff, too.”

The decision to bring in Castillo isn’t surprising considering Harbaugh worked with Castillo for 10 years in Philadelphia, with Castillo serving as the Eagles’ offensive line coach and the Baltimore head coach serving as special teams coordinator and a secondary coach under Andy Reid. Castillo was promoted to Eagles defensive coordinator in 2011, but his tenure in that role turned into a disaster as Philadephia’s star-studded defense underachieved dramatically and the longtime assistant was fired on Oct. 16, 2012.

Reid was dismissed after the Eagles finished 4-12 in his final season. Castillo received opportunities to coach for several other teams but his familiarity with Harbaugh led to him joining the Baltimore staff at an ideal time.

“Juan is a tremendous football coach. He had lots of opportunities,” Harbaugh said. “He’s been coaching in the National Football League, both sides of the ball, obviously, with a lot of responsibility. Highly knowledgeable, great teacher. I had a chance to work with him for 10 years in Philadelphia, so I know this man very well.”

Given his wealth of knowledge working along the offensive line, Castillo figures to be a major asset for current offensive line coach Andy Moeller. The former Eagles assistant will also alleviate some pressure on Caldwell in terms of the running game, so he can continue to work closely with quarterback Joe Flacco.

Castillo’s role will be more clearly defined when this season ends and the Ravens get into the offseason.

“It’s an opportunity for us to improve our football team, the overall talent pool that we have here whether it’s player or coach,” Harbaugh said. “We try to get better — you either get better or you get worse — so we add him into our staff, which I think already is just a great stuff. It makes us better and that’s the whole idea.”

Suggs saving best for late

A simply look at the stat sheet tells you how much more of an impact linebacker Terrell Suggs is providing in the postseason after an injury-riddle season that included offseason Achilles tendon surgery and a torn biceps suffered in December.

Limited to only eight games in the regular season, Suggs finished with 22 tackles and two sacks. However, the 30-year-old has emerged in the postseason by posting 19 tackles, two sacks, and a forced fumble in three wins over Indianapolis, Denver, and New England.

Suggs is regaining his explosiveness in the latter portion of the season and played his strongest game of the season in Denver, collecting 10 tackles, two sacks, and a forced fumble in the Ravens’ 38-35 double-overtime win over Peyton Manning and the Broncos.

“We haven’t monitored or charted his explosive ‘quotient’ so far, but he is getting better,” Harbaugh said. “He’s becoming quicker, faster, more explosive, stronger, all those things. You can tell that it’s healing. He’s just playing more like a normal, 100-percent Terrell Suggs would play.”

With San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick providing a challenge as both a runner and passer, Suggs’ ability to set the edge as well as to provide pressure in the pocket will be critical in slowing the zone-read attack from the pistol formation.

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OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Much has been made about the acquisition of cornerback Aqib Talib and the effect it’s had on the New England secondary, but you’ll forgive the Ravens and wide receiver Torrey Smith if they aren’t overly impressed.

Of course, Baltimore wouldn’t share such a sentiment publicly about the Patriots’ 29th-ranked pass defense, but a 38-35 victory over the Denver Broncos in which Smith shredded All-Pro cornerback Champ Bailey for two long touchdowns won’t exactly cause you to fear New England’s underwhelming unit. Talib has provided a boost to New England’s defense, allowing the Patriots to move cornerback Devin McCourty to free safety, but they still struggle against the pass.

In two career games against the Patriots, Smith has caught nine passes for 209 yards and three touchdowns. His Week 3 performance in which he reined in two touchdowns less than 24 hours following the tragic death of his younger brother was one of the most inspiring efforts in the NFL this season.

“It’s not that there’s any difference against those guys,” Smith said. “I just play the game. I just happened to play well against them the past few times. It’s not like I have their number or anything. I just go out there and run our offense. I’ve been able to be OK against them – hopefully, it continues. But it’s going to be tough.”

During the regular season, the Patriots allowed a league-worst 74 passes of 20 yards or more, which should leave quarterback Joe Flacco licking his chops as the Ravens completed 62 passes of at least 20 yards and have repeatedly gone vertical in each of their two postseason wins this month.

Acquired for a fourth-round pick from Tampa Bay on Nov. 1, the mercurial Talib has stabilized the New England pass defense, but it’s difficult to imagine offensive coordinator Jim Caldwell shying away from the Patriots’ No. 1 corner after the Ravens went after Bailey repeatedly in the divisional round. In six regular-season games with New England, Talib made 19 tackles, broke up two passes, and intercepted one.

Labeled a “riverboat gambler” by Caldwell, Talib will likely be entrusted with slowing down Smith or Jacoby Jones in the vertical passing game, but the Ravens proved once again last Saturday that they won’t hesitate to attack any cornerback in the league.

“You don’t always go into a ballgame [with the thought] in mind that you are going to go after this guy or that guy,” Caldwell said. “You try to spread it around and look at what they do from a schematic standpoint and see where you can attack what best suits your offense. That’s kind of how we look at it more so than anything else.”

In other words, if Smith or Jones is matched up in single-man coverage against Talib with no safety help, you can bet Flacco will be ready to take a shot vertically.

Pees hiring hit man?

Asked how to make life uncomfortable for Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, Ravens defensive coordinator Dean Pees offered a humorous but candid suggestion about the man he watched closely in his days as a New England assistant to Bill Belichick.

“Hire Tonya Harding,” said Pees as he laughed. “If they were getting off the bus, I’d spray water outside the bus and hope it freezes. He is who he is. I went against him up there in practice for six years. He’s as competitive of a person as I’ve ever been around.”

In addition to trying to pressure Brady inside the pocket, Pees explained how critical it is to mix up coverages against New England’s many talented weapons, ranging from Wes Welker and Aaron Hernandez to Danny Woodhead and Shane Vereen out of the backfield.

Welker operates almost exclusively from the slot as he was targeted 125 times for 1,040 receiving yards from that position, according to Pro Football Focus. Cornerback Corey Graham will draw the daunting task of staying with Welker as the Ravens are expected to play the nickel package extensively, with Graham sliding inside as No. 3 cornerback Chykie Brown enters the game to play on the outside opposite Cary Williams.

“He is a very quick guy. He catches the ball well,” Graham said. “Brady is looking for him a lot, and he makes a lot of guys miss with fakes and things like that, so he is a complete receiver. I have my hands full in the slot, but I am up to the challenge.”

The Ravens will not have to deal with the matchup nightmare that is tight end Rob Gronkowski, who was placed on injured reserve Thursday after re-injuring his forearm against Houston last Sunday, but Hernandez also provides a unique blend of speed and athleticism at the position. Such an athlete at that position creates matchup problems as Pees must decide whether to use a linebacker such as Dannell Ellerbe or strong safety Bernard Pollard in coverage.

The answer will vary depending on the situation while facing a Hall of Fame quarterback, according to Pees.

“You can’t go in there and say, ‘The whole game, OK, I’m going to put a strong safety on this guy.’” Pees said. “That’s not going to take Brady very long to figure that one out, nor is it going to be the same if we end up putting a linebacker on him all the time. The key is to let them have to figure it out after the ball is snapped, who’s on him, and then you just can’t keep doing the same thing over and over with Tom, or he’ll gash you.”

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