Baltimore Ravens Have New Standards for Offense

A day after they set a team record for total yards of offense, the big question in Baltimore is whether the Ravens’ offensive philosophy has shifted.

One game into the season, it’s too early to tell, but it’s not an unreasonable question. Not when a team typically known for its defense throws for 307 yards and runs for another 198, gains a franchise-best 32 first downs, and scores five touchdowns, not one off of a turnover.

“This is a new year, a new offense, a new mentality, [and} everything starts over,” said wide receiver Mark Clayton. “And we are kind of reformed or remaking ourselves and to be able to throw the ball down the field, it’s fun, one, and its puts points on the board, two. The last time I checked, the team with the most points wins. That’s our goal is to score every time.”

Fans in Charm City saw something in the season opener they hadn’t seen since the days of Vinny Testaverde—a potentially prolific offense.

Quarterback Joe Flacco completed passes to seven different receivers. Running back Ray Rice ran for 108 yards all on his own, while Clayton, tight end Todd Heap, and running back Willis McGahee all did their part to quiet the murmurs that the Ravens needed another receiver.

“Everybody talks about how we don’t have weapons,” said head coach John Harbaugh after the Ravens’ 28-24 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. “I think we have weapons, if you want to use that term. We have really good players who can make play, and those guys made plays.”

The offensive line play was a large part of the success of the passing game. With the additions of right tackle Michael Oher and center Matt Birk, Flacco’s protection became that much more effective, and it showed against Kansas City.

Flacco threw the ball 43 times on Sunday. He likely won’t be expected to do that every week, but it’s clear that offensive coordinator Cam Cameron believes in his second-year quarterback and will continue to gauge his ceiling.

As Flacco develops so will the offense. And if he continues to play as he did against the Chiefs, Baltimore may very well be amidst a philosophy change.

Flacco was inaccurate at times, and did throw an interception, but remained poised and led his team to a game-winning drive in the last three minutes of the game. But like many successful quarterbacks, Flacco is a perfectionist.

“We have to continue to get better,” Flacco said. “We didn’t really convert some of our drives into touchdowns early on in the game. As long as we continue to get better, we look at what we can correct, we go in there and look at the film and just start working towards San Diego.”

And in San Diego lies the Ravens’ first true challenge of the season. Generally regarded as one of the most talented teams in the NFL, Flacco will have to contend with a constant pass rush from outside linebacker Shawn Merriman, as well as an effective secondary featuring Quentin Jammer and Antonio Cromartie.

Flacco’s teammates are confident he can handle the challenge.

“I think there’s going to be many more [big games] to come,” said Todd Heap. “We just saw the emergence, we just saw the beginning of what [Flacco’s] capable of. We’ve been seeing it all offseason, we saw it all last year, and I’m glad to see it starting to come to fruition for him.”

Baltimore’s strategy against the Chargers will reveal much more about the Ravens game plan for 2009. But it’s already clear that if throwing the ball is the best way to win, the Ravens will be prepared.

“That’s been a goal of ours,” Harbaugh said. “Maybe that’s what [everyone] saw—figuring out more ways to attack people in the passing game. We’re going to try to keep expanding on that.”

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Baltimore in Prime Position For a Strong Kickoff

There’s no such thing as a sure thing in the NFL; there are no gimme games.

But the Baltimore Ravens kickoff weekend matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs is about as ideal an opener as a team could hope for.

The Ravens have won seven of their last last nine home openers, including last year’s upset against the Cincinnati Bengals, which featured then rookie quarterback Joe Flacco and first-year head coach John Harbaugh.

But after 2008’s 11-5 finish and an appearance in the AFC Championship game, expectations are as high as they’ve ever been in Baltimore, especially after the Ravens 4-0 preseason. Flacco has looked impressive, and the defense seemingly hasn’t missed a beat under first year coordinator Greg Mattison.

Outside linebacker Terrell Suggs had a strong showing in the final preseason contest despite sitting out most of training camp with a heel injury. Many of the Ravens other offseason additions, including cornerback Domonique Foxworth and offensive tackle Michael Oher, have all come into their own in Baltimore’s system.

Meanwhile, Kansas City is coming off of a 2-14 season, and is breaking in a first-year head coach themselves in Todd Haley. And their key acquisition from the offseason, quarterback Matt Cassel, may not play due to a knee injury. That would leave fourth-year man Brodie Croyle, who only has eight starts in his career.

Kansas City also recently fired their offensive coordinator Chan Gailey, a likely indicator of internal strife. Combined with opening on the road against in a hostile environment like Baltimore, and it could be a recipe for disaster for the Chiefs.

But the Ravens aren’t looking at it that way. Harbaugh noted the team isn’t too far removed from where the Chiefs are now, and that they respect the program they’re building.

“There’s a lot of mystery to the Chiefs, X- and O-wise, and there’s a lot of mystery personnel-wise,” Harbaugh said. “We are in the dark as far as a lot of things they are going to do.”

The Ravens, after all, were determined to start strong despite all the questions in 2008, and they expect the same from the Chiefs this weekend.

“We had a new coach [last year]. We can came out and we had something to prove, we felt, and we wanted to play hard and play hard for our coach, play hard for the city and play hard for us,” Flacco said of his Week One opponent. “We know that Kansas City is going to come out ready to play. They’ve got a new coach, and they really have something to prove.

“They’ve been playing pretty well in the preseason. They’ve had a handful of sacks, and they’ve stopped the run pretty well. Their front seven is playing pretty well. So, we’re going to have to come out ready to play and give them all we’ve got.”

The strong preseason stats will mean nothing come Sunday afternoon. Neither will 2008. The Chiefs won’t accomplish something similar to what the Ravens did last season, but the Ravens want to accomplish something more.

Anything can happen on any given Sunday, but the Ravens are favored by 10 1/2 points for a reason. The ingredients are in place for a strong outing on Sunday, and the Ravens have shown no sign they plan on letting down.

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Baltimore Ravens’ Route to Division Title Will Go Through Pittsburgh

The Baltimore Ravens are ready to make a Super Bowl run in 2009, but they’ll need to navigate their way through their division first, namely the NFL’s reigning champion.

It’s not a far cry to say that last year’s best teams in the conference, maybe even the entire NFL, came out of the AFC North. The Ravens took a rookie quarterback and first-year head coach and made history, making it all the way to the AFC Championship game. But the Pittsburgh Steelers overcame the league’s toughest schedule to win their sixth Vince Lombardi Trophy, besting Baltimore three times by a total of of 16 points.

The Ravens know they need to overthrow the Steelers to earn their next division title, let alone their next Super Bowl appearance. What was already a bitter rivalry will become that much more crucial when the Steelers travel to Baltimore in Week 12 on November 29, and when the Ravens head to Pittsburgh in Week 16 on December 27.

A revamped offensive line, including Matt Birk at center and first-round draft pick Michael Oher at right tackle, will be better equipped to handle the pass rush from James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley that gave Joe Flacco so much trouble last season. A faster secondary, featuring Domonique Foxworth and Fabian Washington, will force Pittsburgh receivers Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes to up their game.

And perhaps most importantly, Terrell Suggs’ place on the defense is secure after signing a long-term contract. With the return of Kelly Gregg after missing all of 2008, Baltimore’s defensive line will be at full strength and be that much more effective at getting to elusive Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger.

But the Steelers are in the ideal position to repeat as champions. They are returning 20 of their 22 starters, and lost no personnel on the coaching staff. All three losses to the Steelers stung last season. The Ravens will remember them, and be that much more focused on finishing the job in 2009.

Which isn’t to say the Ravens’ remaining division foes won’t present their own challenges.

The Cincinnati Bengals have emerged as a bit of a sleeper in 2009. A healthy Carson Palmer has always given the Ravens trouble, as has a non-disgruntled Chad Ochocinco. The Bengals appear to have both this year. Their defense, led by Mike Zimmer, showed marked improvement toward the end of last season and could put the Bengals in the mix throughout the season.

The Cleveland Browns, on the other hand, have yet to name a starting quarterback and overhauled their roster yet again in the offseason. However, the Browns have always played the Ravens hard, perhaps an indication of their own rivalry.

And it was this time last year that the Ravens and Browns were in each other’s position. The Browns appeared ready to contend while the Ravens were the ones with identity issues. It goes to show how anything can happen in the NFL. Cleveland should not be overlooked for that simple reason.

The Ravens know the importance of winning their division, which is why they devoted practice sessions during the offseason to each of the AFC North rivals. They’ve shown under John Harbaugh that they’ll be disciplined and ready for each opponent, divisional or not. Baltimore’s 4-0 preseason suggests they’re ready.

But the Steelers have shown the same thing under Mike Tomlin. The Steelers allowed a league-low 37 points this preseason. They want to repeat.

These two teams match up well, but Pittsburgh has been getting the best of the Ravens recently, even if just by the skin of their teeth.

The Ravens won’t overlook the Bengals or Browns, but the Steelers are the main event. Fans around the league will do best to circle the teams’ two meetings on their calendars. The Ravens certainly will.

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Woodson Helped Set The Tone for Blossoming Baltimore Franchise

When Rod Woodson takes his rightful place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame this weekend, he’ll speak largely of his time in Pittsburgh. When his legacy is discussed in the years and decades to come, it will be as a Steeler, and rightly so.

But Baltimore fans will always have a soft spot for Woodson in their hearts, even if his primary allegiance is to the Ravens’ greatest rival. Woodson was a key role in the 2000 defense that brought the Super Bowl back to Baltimore. Simply put, Woodson helped put Charm City football back on the map.

Woodson spent ten years in Pittsburgh carving his legacy, before bouncing around the league for the remaining seven. Four of those final seasons he spent in Baltimore, signing as a free agent in 1998. He would go on to start all 16 games of his four seasons with the Ravens, registering 20 interceptions and five touchdowns.

Converting from cornerback to safety once arriving, Woodson was joined by the likes of Tony Siragusa and Sam Adams, and along with Baltimore mainstays like Ray Lewis, Chris McAlister and Peter Boulware, Woodson helped forge a record-setting defense for his lone Super Bowl ring.

Prior to Woodson’s arrival, the Ravens were a young and fledgling franchise still trying to find their way. Woodson’s playmaking and veteran mentality helped set a template for what Baltimore would hope to be.

Nearly a decade after their first championship, the Ravens are considered one of the more dominant defensive teams in the NFL. And Woodson’s legacy is so strong that he will be enshrined into Canton in his first year of eligibility.

He maintains to this day that he never played the game for personal accolades. And while it may not be home, Baltimore gave him the one accolade he likely did care about: a Super Bowl ring.

It was a fitting trade between a veteran player seeking the ultimate prize and a team seeking stability and greatness of his own.

Woodson will be remembered as a Steeler, but when he remembers his finest moment from his playing career, he’ll think of his time in purple.

Mason’s Return Doesn’t Change Goal of Receiver Corps

The return of Derrick Mason to the Baltimore Ravens this weekend was a welcome one. 80-catch, 1,000 yard receivers are hard to come by in the NFL, but it doesn’t change what should be the M.O. for the remaining wide receivers should be focused on: step up, and have a key role in the offense in 2009.

The Ravens have expressed their confidence in the batch on many occasions, before and after Mason’s retirement. Many of them remain unproven, however. Mark Clayton has been a solid starter, but has not put up the spectacular numbers one may expect from a former first-round draft pick.

Demetrius Williams had a solid rookie year but has finished the last two seasons on Injured Reserve. Marcus Smith only played in five games in 2008 and Justin Harper’s rookie season ended before it began last year, being put on IR during training camp.

Kelley Washington, while a veteran, only had one catch in 2008, and may be more of a special teams contributor this season.
 
While that may make Masons’ return all that more integral for 2009, the Ravens never flinched on where their corps stood.

“I’ve said it from the beginning and I’ve told Derrick this: We’re a better football team with Derrick Mason,” said head coach John Harbaugh one day after the veteran’s return. “We though we’d be a good team no matter what, but we’re better with Derrick.”

Mason’s presence will help further the development of second-year quarterback Joe Flacco, who developed a strong rapport with Mason in his rookie year. But he is only one cog in an offense with Super Bowl expectations for 2009.

Clayton has never had a true quarterback to catch the ball from, and with Flacco entrenched as the starter for the second year, both could blossom under offensive coordinator Cam Cameron. Williams has the size and speed the Ravens covet, and even bulked up in the offseason, but he needs to stay healthy to prove he can be a contributor.

Smith and Harper did not have many chances to shine last year, but Smith impressed the coaches during mini-camps and Harper has made an early impact on practice during the first week of training camp at McDaniel College.

With so much potential, it’s easy to see why Ozzie Newsome and company have stuck to their guns and not reached out for Anquan Boldin or Brandon Marshall, both high-profile receivers who sought trades in the offseason. But at least one of these young talents needs to prove their trust was warranted. Mason cannot do it alone.

Fans are clamoring for an impact receiver to take the Ravens to the next level. The hope of the many lies in the hands of these few.

Drew Bennett Signing Indicative of Newsome’s M.O.: “The Job Is Never Done”

The Ravens’ recent addition of free agent receiver Drew Bennett may appear to be a compensatory move, an effort to replace the void left by Derrick Mason should his recent retirement announcement hold true.

But a quick look at the Ravens’ history, specifically general manager Ozzie Newsome’s moves, may suggest otherwise.

The Ravens signed full back Lorenzo Neal halfway through training camp last year. They brought in tackle Willie Anderson three days before the season opener. Newsome is constantly evaluating his team, and if he believes there’s someone available who can make Baltimore a better football team, he’s shown he’s prepared to pull the trigger on such a move.

“You know my track record,” Newsome said shortly after this year’s draft. “The job is never done as far as I’m concerned.”

That strategy is consistent with head coach John Harbaugh’s way of thinking. He has insisted all offseason that the Ravens are constantly searching to improve all positions, not just wide receiver, as fans and media have speculated upon.

“We’re interested in anybody that can help our team,” noted Harbaugh during Organized Team Activities (OTAs) this past spring.

But Bennett isn’t the sort of improvement fans were looking for. The eight-year veteran only played one game last season for the St. Louis Rams, and ended the season on Injured Reserve.

Many in Baltimore were clamoring the the Ravens to make a deal for Anquan Boldin out of Arizona or Brandon Marshall out of Denver. Both are explosive receivers wanting new contracts with new teams.

Yet Newsome wasn’t willing to part with the first- and third-round draft picks either move would likely require.

After Mason announced his intention to walk away from the game after 13 seasons, trade rumors began swirling again. The Ravens have not publicly accepted Masons’ retirement, instead emphasizing their hope that he returns in 2009. After speaking with Mason, Harbaugh noted he was “optimistic and hopeful” that Mason would do just that.

Though Bennett’s arrival in Baltimore may appear to contradict that hope, it stands to reason that Newsome, Harbaugh and the Ravens are just sticking to their methods.

If Mason does return, then Bennett adds quality depth. If he does not, then a healthy Bennett could emerge as one of the candidates to take his place on the starters’ rotation. Either way, the move is consistent with Newsome’s strategy of the past. And heading into 2009, consistency is one of the things Baltimore hopes to achieve.

Optimism Running High for Joe Flacco, with or Without Derrick Mason

The newest Reebok Fantasy Files commercial features Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco at a skeet shooting range. As the the discs are shot up in the air, the young quarterback substitutes the shotgun for his gun of an arm, breaking two clay discs with his pinpoint spirals.

As the spot ends, Flacco looks directly into the camera and speaks in his typical cool demeanor what Baltimore fans are all hoping holds true in 2009.

“Last year was just the beginning.”

Ravens fans and NFL fans in general are likely to be impressed with the feat, and even more impressed to see it’s a Baltimore quarterback gaining some attention for once. But the optimism Charm City had for 2009 took a significant hit when veteran wide receiver Derrick Mason announced his intention to retire, not more than two weeks before training camp was scheduled to begin.

That doesn’t mean hopes have diminished for the season.

A second year under offensive coordinator Cam Cameron’s system, an improved offensive line, and Flacco’s individual talent and improvement could lead to big things for the former Blue Hen.

“I think as a football player, he’s really going to take a giant leap forward,” said Michael Lombardi of the National Football Post. Lombardi spoke of Hall-of-Fame head coach Bill Walsh’s assertion that quarterbacks often make drastic improvements in their sophomore seasons.

Still, 1,000-yard receivers are hard to come by in the NFL. Mason was Flacco’s security blanket in 2008, registering 80 receptions for 1,037 yards, well ahead of the rest of Baltimore’s receiving corps. The 35-year-old’s season could be considered even more gutsy considering he played with an injured shoulder for the latter half of the season.

Mason has yet to file his retirement papers with the NFL, and Baltimore head coach John Harbaugh told reporters he was scheduled to meet with the receiver in the coming week, but the Ravens have already taken steps to fill the potential void, confirming they intend to hold a tryout with four veteran wideouts, including D.J. Hacket, formerly of the Carolina Panthers.

Flacco, meanwhile, will have the likes of Mark Clayton, Demetrius Williams, and Marcus Smith to throw to. Though their names don’t inspire confidence in most, the Ravens coaching staff has faith that the trio has the potential to step up and produce.

That’s the magic word for the Ravens’ offense in the season of the decade: potential. Flacco made history in his first season in the pros, becoming the first rookie quarterback to win two playoff games.

If Mason’s absence sticks, it will be a blow, but not as crushing as it may seem. With their first young promising signal-caller in franchise history, Baltimore isn’t about to lose sight of the prize because of one player’s decision.

Suggs and Ravens’ Deadline on Extension Looming

With the 2009 NFL season still two months away, a key decision that will impact the Ravens’ fate in 2010 and beyond lies in waiting this week. Whether the Ravens are able to sign outside linebacker/defensive end Terrell Suggs to a long-term extension is a key question that must be answered.

Suggs was designated the franchise tag for the second consecutive season this February, and as a result was not present for the team’s minicamp and Organized Team Activities (OTAs).

The deadline for the team to sign their franchised player to long-term deals is July 15 at 4 p.m.

If a new deal isn’t reached, Suggs would have no other option but to sign his franchise tender, and the Ravens would have to wait until the season is over to sign Suggs to a new deal, once he becomes a free agent once again.

Failing to re-sign Suggs could spell trouble down the line. Though it would not necessarily mean Suggs would leave the Ravens, Suggs would be become a free agent for the third straight year. This would put pressure on the team to either franchise him again or get a deal done quickly.

Suggs is confident a deal will be done on time.

“I feel like we’re getting close,” Suggs told the team’s official Web site last month. “Negotiations are going on. Fans can be optimistic that I’ll be [at Training Camp]. He emphasized there are minor things to work out.

The Ravens are in a unique situation in that Suggs is still a very young player. When he was drafted 10th overall in 2003, he was the youngest player to ever play in the NFL.

While the Ravens have felt comfortable letting older players move on, like Adalius Thomas after the 2006 season, Suggs is entering his prime, and an elite pass rusher is hard to find in this league.

Signing Suggs could also free up salary cap room, allowing the Ravens to pursue other players leading into the preseason.

Suggs held out of Training Camp all last season and still earned his third Pro Bowl trip, finishing with 102 tackles, eight sacks and two interceptions, both of which he turned into touchdowns.

The Ravens have a history of retaining high impact players like Suggs. They designated former No. 1 cornerback Chris McAlister the franchise player two years in a row before signing him to a long-term deal. They also signed long-time defensive leader Ray Lewis to a new contract this offseason.

Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome has made re-signing Suggs a priority, and according to Suggs, he and the pass rusher have been in conversation.

It has believed that Suggs wants a contract resembling the one Indianapolis Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney signed in 2007, but Suggs said that he just wants something that’s fair. Freeney signed a six-year, $72 million contract two years ago, making him the highest paid defensive player in NFL history at the time.

With a new defensive coordinator in Greg Mattison, the Ravens would like to see Suggs in camp on time to adjust.

Suggs has stayed focused this offseason with a strict training program in Los Angeles.

With mere days to go before the Ravens end the Suggs saga or see it extended another year, Baltimore fans and media alike will keep a keen ear on all news coming out of 1 Winning Drive.

AFC North Not as Clear Cut as it Seems

Conventional wisdom suggests the AFC North will once again come down to the Ravens and the Steelers, considering they were the top two teams in the conference last season and both appear well-equipped to make runs in 2009.

But conventional wisdom doesn’t always have a place in the NFL.

One-year turnarounds have become commonplace in the league, as both Baltimore and Pittsburgh can attest.

They may have played each other in the AFC Championship game last season, but the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns have each taken significant steps to improve and contend with last year’s champion and conference runner-up.

For a team like Baltimore, which has taken measures itself in the offseason to hopefully elevate themselves into the elite, the pitfalls associated with overlooking a divisional opponent could be costly. This is why head coach John Harbaugh made preparing for the divisional foes a priority during the last few weeks of Organized Team Activities (OTAs).

“We have to win our division,” Harbaugh emphasized during the team’s last full-team OTA. “That’s a goal for us, and those are the teams that we know we’re going to play twice.”

Though failing to beat the Steelers, Baltimore swept both Cleveland and Cincinnati in 2008, after being swept by both of them in 2007. The fluctuating standings of the AFC North from year to year are the first indicator that not all could end the way it’s being set up for the black & blue division.

Another reason not to count the Ohio teams out is the bad blood that typically exists in division play. Each team more often than not plays their best ball against the teams they are the most familiar with, and despise the most.

The Ravens and Steelers have been named the biggest rivalry in the NFL right now by FoxSports, TheSportingNews.com and other outlets, but there was once a time where Pittsburgh and Cleveland held that title.

Baltimore and Cincinnati have had battles in the past as well, and Cleveland shares a similar contempt for Baltimore.

But the largest factors to consider when evaluating the strength of the AFC North lie in what each of the Ravens’ opponents have done to get better.

The Bengals have a healthy Carson Palmer back and a seemingly re-motivated Chad Ochocino, who proclaimed that the Bengals would be going to the playoffs in 2009. Palmer showed similar confidence earlier in the offseason, saying fans would be surprised when Cincinnati began the season 6-0.

Their boasts may not be unfounded. Though the Bengals finished 2008 4-11-1, many of their losses came in one-possession games. Their defense also played well down the stretch, winning their last three match-ups.

That defense got a lift in the offseason with the addition of safety Roy Williams, defensive tackle Tank Johnson and second-round draft pick linebacker Rey Maualuga.

And despite the loss of wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh, the offense was bolstered with the addition of Laveranues Coles, as well as the draft picks Andre Smith and Rey Maualuga.

Cleveland is looking to reinsert itself into the hunt for the division crown as well. Under the new regime of head coach Eric Mangini and general manager George Kokinis, the Browns have rebuilt themselves from the ground up.

They signed free agents such as linebackers Eric Barton and Davin Bowens, cornerback Corey Ivy and receiver David Patten. They focused their first three draft picks on offense, bringing in center Alex Mack and wide receivers Brian Robiskie and Mohamed Massaquoi.

And little needs to be said about the world-champion Steelers, who bested the Ravens three times last season. They retained 20 of their 22 starters as well as the entire coaching staff.

Head coach Mike Tomlin will likely be mindful of the passive nature the Steelers had following their last world championship, and will not let the team make that same mistake.

Regardless of how it all ends, the AFC North featured the best teams in the conference last season. All four have worked toward maintaining that standard for 2009. The Ravens know much can change from year to year. And how large an impact just one division game can have on a season.

Let alone six.

Ravens’ Decision on Marshall Will Solidify Stance on Receiver Corps

The annual speculation on whether the Ravens will acquire a wide receiver has been reinvigorated this week with the reports that Baltimore is interested in trading for disgruntled Broncos wideout Brandon Marshall. Whatever the Ravens decide to do, it will be telling of how confident the team truly is in the position.

Reports from ProFootballTalk.com and The Baltimore Sun indicate the team is doing its homework on the talented by often troubled playmaker, who has requested a trade from Denver. At this point in the offseason, the coaching staff and personnel department has gotten a much closer look at what their 2009 squad will look like. If they feel the need to upgrade the position, this may be the last significant chance they have to do so.

“We’re interested in anybody that can help our team,” head coach John Harbaugh said when asked about Marshall. But he was quick express the same confidence general manager Ozzie Newsome has indicated all throughout the offseason in Derrick Mason, Mark Clayton, Demetrius Williams, and Marcus Smith.

“We don’t consider it a weakness by any stretch,” Harbaugh spoke of the current crop of receivers. “We try to make every position as strong as we possibly can. We’re open to any player at any position, anywhere that can make our team better.”

With the development of quarterback Joe Flacco and the solidification of the offensive line with the drafting of Michael Oher, the Ravens believe their offense will get better as a whole. Williams and Smith are expected to improve, and some pundits believe Clayton can have a break-out year to compliment the ever-steady Mason.

But the 25-year-old Marshall is an elite talent. He has posted 1,000 yard seasons the past two years and went to the Pro Bowl for 2008. However, he has run into legal trouble on multiple occasions, and will go to court later this summer on domestic violence charges. He could be suspended for part of the 2009 season under the league’s conduct policy. If the team was interested in making a move for Marshall, his off-the-field woes would likely work against him.

“Their background matters,” Harbaugh asserted. “We want to bring guys in here that are what we consider Ravens. So, any player that we bring in here, we’ve got to be convinced that he’s a man of integrity, a high-character guy, and that our players can respect him in the locker room.”

Marshall is not the first playmaker to be linked to the Ravens. Arizona Cardinals star Anquan Boldin was rumored to be on the Ravens’ radar before the draft. Like Boldin, Marshall would likely demand a first and a third-round draft pick, and would also require a new contract. The Ravens have yet to sign franchised-player Terrell Suggs to a long-term contract, and a big-money deal for a wide receiver would likely impede that from happening.

The team’s vote of confidence in their current corps would be diminished if they traded for Marshall. They haven’t relented from the stance as of yet, but rumors continue to swirl, and the wide receiver position will remain a question mark for fans and media.

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