Ravens free safety Ed Reed and Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward have made it clear that they’re not the best of friends. In many contests involving their respective teams, Ward has delivered some teeth-rattling hits to Reed, who has accused Ward of searching for cheap shots. But about an hour prior to Wednesday’s practice and four days prior to Sunday’s season...

Four days before Sunday’s season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Ravens showcased a full and healthy squad at Wednesday’s practice. Several players with injury concerns – wide receiver Lee Evans (left ankle), center Matt Birk (left knee surgery), right guard Marshal Yanda (back spasms), cornerback Chris Carr (left hamstring) and rookie quarterback Tyrod Taylor...

Ravens-Steelers chat with Sun sports editor Ron Fritz and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Jerry Micco

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�...

After spending last season on the Ravens’ practice squad, Albert McClellan achieved his primary objective on Saturday when the team elected to keep him on the 53-man active roster. But the outside linebacker said that accomplishment doesn’t satisfy him completely. “I made it here, but I want to keep getting better so that I can stay here,” he said after Monday’s practice...

One immediate reaction to the Ravens’ decision to sign free agent center Andre Gurode Sunday was that it raised questions whether starter Matt Birk would be able to play in Sunday’s season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Those questions found no footing with Birk, who said his surgically-repaired left knee is slowly improving to the point where he hopes to start against...

Cary Williams confirmed what his agent revealed Sunday, saying that he is in line to begin the upcoming season as a starting cornerback. “That’s what it looks like right now,” Williams said after Monday’s practice at the Ravens’ training facility in Owings Mills. “I don’t know anything for sure, but that’s what it is right now. I came out with the ones [first defense...

Four days after suffering a bruised left shoulder that knocked him out of the Ravens’ preseason finale against the Atlanta Falcons, rookie quarterback Tyrod Taylor returned to practice Monday, and the team’s sixth-round pick vowed to be available for Sunday’s season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers. “Oh yeah, I’ll be available on Sunday,” he said. “I think the...

One of the more shocking details that emerged from the Ravens’ final cuts on Saturday was the decision to keep rookie defensive end Michael McAdoo – who had joined the team on Aug. 23 – on the 53-man active roster. Now it appears that McAdoo’s stay will last for about a week. Coach John Harbaugh said that McAdoo will remain with the team for the week of preparations leading...

Lee Evans returned to practice Monday, and the starting wide receiver said that his injured left ankle is much improved. “I was able to run and move and cut, made a few plays,” he said. “So it was good to just get out there and run around.” Since the Ravens acquired him in a trade with the Buffalo Bills on Aug. 13, Evans led the team in the preseason with 128 receiving...

The leg injury to wide receiver Lee Evans is starting to concern me, but maybe that will be eased later today. If Evans isn't at full tilt or can't play against the Steelers on Sunday, the Ravens are in serious trouble. Well, they are in serious trouble anyway because I'm not sure how their tackles, Michael Oher and Bryant McKinnie, match up with Pittsburgh outside...

Five years ago, the additions of left tackle Bryant McKinnie and center Andre Gurode would be reason for celebration. You would have added two Pro Bowl-caliber players heading into their prime. Now, you're signing two guys who have had trouble staying in shape and frankly, were released by two teams with Super Bowl aspirations. Do you really think the Vikings and Cowboys give...

The Ravens bolstered their offensive line Sunday by agreeing to a one-year deal with center Andre Gurode. Gurode, a five-time Pro Bowler with the Dallas Cowboys, is entering his 10th NFL season. He has started 122 career games, including every game in each of the past three seasons. "We just got better as a team," Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome said in a news release...

The Ravens announced Sunday afternoon the eight players who will make up their practice squad for the upcoming regular season. They are: running back Damien Berry, guard Justin Boren, quarterback Hunter Cantwell, cornerback Danny Gorrer, defensive tackle Bryan Hall, fullback Ryan Mahaffey, safety Mana Silva and linebacker Chavis Williams. Every player except for Cantwell and Gorrer are rookies.

ROSTER RECAP: SPECIAL TEAMS A look at how special teams shape up after the final major cutdown (although more changes could occur this week): SPECIAL TEAMS Kicker: Billy Cundiff Punter: Sam Koch Long Snapper: Morgan Cox Comment: There really was no question that this same group from a year ago would return. Cundiff is coming off his first Pro Bowl, and Koch is looking to reach...

ROSTER RECAP: Defense A look at how the defense shapes up after the final major cutdown (although more changes could occur this week): DEFENSIVE LINE Starters: DT Haloti Ngata, NT Terrence Cody, DE Cory Redding. Backups: DE Arthur Jones, NT Brandon McKinney, DE Pernell McPhee and DE Michael McAdoo. Comment: There’s been an influx of youth here with Cody stepping into a starting...

ROSTER RECAP: OFFENSE A look at how the offense shapes up after the final major cutdown (although more changes could occur this week): QUARTERBACKS Starter: Joe Flacco. Backup: Tyrod Taylor. Comment: There were no surprises here because Flacco and Taylor were locks to make the team. It’s still undecided whether a banged-up Taylor (left shoulder contusion) will remain the primary...

In what may qualify as the most surprising turn of events, rookie defensive end Michael McAdoo confirmed via text message that he has made the Ravens' 53-man roster. McAdoo joined the team one day after passing through the supplemental draft on Aug. 22. Because of his limited time with the organization, McAdoo was thought to be one of the 27 players that club would release on...

For Chykie Brown, playing in the NFL was a wistful idea on the periphery of reality during his playing days on the youth and high school level. It wasn't until he became a starter at he University of Texas when he was encouraged by defensive backs coach and assistant head coach Duane Akina. "Once I started playing in college, that's when my coach opened my eyes and...

Rookie cornerback Chykie Brown confirmed via text message that he has earned a spot on the Ravens' 53-man roster. Brown, a fifth-round pick in April, figures to be the sixth cornerback retained by the team, joining Domonique Foxworth, Chris Carr, Lardarius Webb, Cary Williams and rookie Jimmy Smith. Brown may have sealed his candidacy with his performance in the Ravens'...

Rookie wide receiver LaQuan Williams confirmed via Twitter that he has made the Ravens' 53-man roster. "Got the opportunity to live out my dream," Williams wrote via his Twitter account (i_amQUAN). "Made the 53 man roster. Phase 1 complete now time to take my game to the next level." Williams, an undrafted free agent from the University of Maryland, caught...

Running back Jalen Parmele knew he was competing with rookie Anthony Allen for the No. 3 tailback spot behind starter Ray Rice and backup Ricky Williams, but Parmele acknowledged that he didn't anticipate being released by the Ravens on Saturday. "We were shocked," he said shortly after announcing his release via Twitter. "I wasn't expecting it, but at the...

News of the Ravens' final roster cuts are beginning to filter out, and two players have confirmed with The Sun that they have been released. Running back Jalen Parmele said via email that the team waived him Saturday morning. Similarly, tight end Davon Drew confirmed via text that he is no longer a member of the organization. Parmele also wrote about his release via his Twitter...

Hunter Cantwell played as well as he could in the Ravens’ 21-7 victory over the Atlanta Falcons Thursday night. But the quarterback said he’s not sure if he did enough to cement a spot on the team’s 53-man roster – even with rookie Tyrod Taylor suffering a bruised left shoulder in that game. “I have no idea,” Cantwell said Friday when asked about his future with the...

In his limited time with the Ravens, rookie defensive end Michael McAdoo demonstrated what he can do. McAdoo sacked and stripped Atlanta Falcons quarterback John Parker Wilson late in the fourth quarter, forcing a turnover that would lead to the Ravens’ final touchdown in a 21-7 victory on Thursday night. It was McAdoo’s first appearance in a game this preseason as he had signed...