Free agents passed extensive background checks

The Ravens gambled by signing some players with troubled past like running back Ricky Williams and offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie, but they did their homework as far as background checks. They were pretty extensive. "It's just like the draft," said Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome. "We do a lot of research. We talk to teammates. We talk to coaches who’ve coached them. I get a chance to talk to personnel people about the players and we’re able to call the league. We ask the league where they are in the drug and conduct program. We have the ability to call the league and get that information from them" "With Bryant — one of John’s [head coach John Harbaugh] best friends is Brad Childress," said Newsome. "Now that Brad is out of Minnesota, he can give us information that you probably couldn’t get from anyone else and now you have a head coach talking to a head coach. When you get that type of information and he has no skin in the game, y...