Checking in with Charm City

An update on the Baltimore Ravens. Joe Flacco, Troy Smith and that other guy are all competing for the starting job. Let's not kid ourselves. That other guy has no shot. Here's what Flacco had to say regarding the competition: "We don't really have anything against each other. All we're trying to do is win a spot and do the best we can do. It's just the nature of the position. I don't really have any hard feelings." I bet you Troy Smith has a few hard feelings, especially if he doesn't win the job. Smith had a horrible showing in practice this week (1-5 with 3 INTs); however, I still think Smith is the lead horse to start week one at home against the Bengals. The Ravens haven't even hit full-squad practices, so I'm not going to freak out about such terrible numbers. Smith has dropped a dozen pounds since last year, so he should be even more elusive than Happy Feet Boller and certainly more so than Mr. Big Flacco. I'm not sure why I'm such a supporter of Smith. I'm definitely an OSU hater, so I suppose it's because I think he has a chance to be a solid NFL QB. Don't make me look foolish, Heisman. Suggs to skip training camp. Is anyone surprised? Does anyone care? Does it really matter? Sometimes I forget he's on the team. After Pryce went down with an injury, Suggs played as though he were sitting out. Disappeared. Poof. Ghost. Last year was a great year to QB against Baltimore. No other team in the league gave up more deep-ball plays than your "#1" Ravens D. The secondary shares the blame, but the secondary can't guard guys forever. You've got to pressure the QB. Few other things: Second-round draft pick Ray Rice has signed a four-year deal. Third-round safety Tom Zbikowski has also signed with the team. Samari Rolle is excused from the team to deal with his father's untimely death (heart attack) last week. Then again, death is never timely. Sort of like Kyle Boller in the pocket. My bad. That was mean. All the best to the Rolle family, and, Kyle, get that clipboard ready.