By Zach Wilt, on May 15th, 2012  Not many Ravens fans questioned Billy Cundiff’s ability until he shanked a potential game tying 32-yard field goal in the AFC Championship. I still blame head coach John Harbaugh, who failed to call a timeout while Cundiff raced to the field to kick the most important field goal of his career, but that’s beside the point.
This summer, Cundiff will receive some competition from undrafted rookie Justin Tucker and the early reports from rookie camp on the new kid are pretty good.
I can’t wait to head out to Westminster to check out this competition! …wait…
Tucker kicked a 55-yard field goal and almost made one from 60 out at Owings Mills according to Jason Butt of CBSSports.com. ”All I can say is I look forward to it, competing with a guy who’s had success,” Tucker said.
If you’re worried a rookie in a clutch situation, Tucker, from the University of Texas, is most famously known for hitting a game winning 40-yard field goal against Texas A&M during his senior year.
By Zach Wilt, on May 4th, 2012  Ravens training camp as we know it is dead, but today the team announced details of three open-to-the-public practices this summer.
- Saturday August 4 at M&T Bank Stadium
- Sunday August 12 at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis
- Sunday August 19 at Stevenson University Mustang Stadium in Owings Mills
“We know we can’t duplicate the fan experiences we had at McDaniel College, but these opportunities will give many people an opportunity to get up close and personal outside of our home games,” Ravens president Dick Cass said in the team’s press release.
Thanks for thinking of us three times a year, Mr. Cass.
If you can’t make these three practices, you’re out of luck. All other practices will be at the Ravens complex in Owings Mills. Unless you have a super secret special badge, can punch in the 20 digit combination and pass through a retina scanner, you’re not watching a Ravens practice.
In addition to these three practices, John Harbaugh and members of the coaching staff will host the Ravens Football Clinic and Joe Flacco will host a “Passing Academy” with Tyrod Taylor at McDaniel College.
The Ravens also donated $100,000 to help McDaniel finish the construction of their new on-campus stadium.
By Zach Wilt, on May 3rd, 2012 
UPDATE: Yaffe’s tweet has since been deleted, but the post is still active on Facebook. We reached out to him on Twitter for an explanation, but have yet to hear a response. No other media members have reported that Dunn was let go.
According to a WNST’s Damon “The Bulldog” Yaffe, the Baltimore Ravens have fired their assistant strength and conditioning coach John Dunn.
Dunn was brought to Baltimore in 2008 by John Harbaugh and has 28 years of coaching experience in the NFL.
A commenter on Yaffe’s Facebook page linked Dunn to Terrell Suggs’ Achilles injury, but Yaffe responded, “the dots might not connect the way you think.”
We’re standing by for more info Bulldog.
By BSR Staff, on May 3rd, 2012   Dana and Chris Hoiles join the podcast to discuss Orioles baseball, their roll in the community, the work Chris is doing with the O’s and Dana’s sports themed jewelry line.
Join Zach, Patrick and Matt for this week’s edition of the best sports podcast in Baltimore, the BSR Podcast.
Here are some of the topics discussed on this week’s show:
Interview With Dana And Chris Hoiles
- Dana and Chris discuss Opening Day 2012 and being back at Oriole Park at Camden Yards for the celebration of the ballpark’s 20th Anniversary.
- Chris discusses his new role with the Orioles and talks about the possibility of one day managing at the big league level.
- The guys ask Chris if has held a grudge (like Orioles fans have) against Cito Gaston for selecting Terry Steinbach over him for the All-Star game at Oriole Park in 1993.
- Chris discusses the World Series determining home field advantage in the World Series.
- Chris gives his opinion of Matt Wieters development.
- Dana tells the guys that she didn’t know who Cal Ripken was when she first came to Baltimore and discusses a growing love for sports while watching Chris and her three boys.
- Dana discusses her sports themed jewelry line and talks about her upcoming meet and greet with Chris at the Greetings & Readings in Hunt Valley on May 12 at 1 PM.
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By Zach Wilt, on May 1st, 2012  GAHH!!! HARBAUGH IS JERK FOR SPEAKING TRUTH!!! I’ve been extremely critical of John Harbaugh during his four year tenure as the Ravens head coach. I’ve criticized his clock management, leadership, in-game decisions and his approach with the media numerous times here on BSR.
It’s not because I don’t like the guy, it’s because I think he took over a Super Bowl caliber team that has lost in two AFC Championships and two AFC Divisional playoff match ups.
While there are plenty of actual football related criticisms of Harbs, I can’t disagree or bash him for his comments about the Patriots and Saints.
Harbaugh told 98 Rock, “What happens, even the thing in New England, no matter whether those things had any impact on whether they won their championships or not, they got asterisks now.” ”It’s been stained,” he said.
And he is 100 percent correct. It’s not an opinion from Harbaugh, it’s fact.
This isn’t some looney conspiracy that he’s chasing, the NFL punishment’s of both New Orleans and New England support Harbaugh’s statement.
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By Zach Wilt, on May 1st, 2012  John Harbaugh won’t stand for stinking cheaters.
When asked this morning about the Saints bounty controversy, Harbaugh compared it to Spygate in New England. ”In the end, everything is brought before the light of day, when it’s all said and done,” he told 98 Rock.
“What happens, even the thing in New England, no matter whether those things had any impact on whether they won their championships or not, they got asterisks now. It’s been stained.”
I’ve been saying this for years. Take away cheating and Tom Brady and how smart is the genius Bill Belichick?
“You have to find a way to do things better than somebody else,” Harbaugh added. ”But if you’re cheating, in the end, you’re going to get discredited. It’s not worth it.”
Expect these comments to get the full ESPN treatment. Side by side arguments between Skip Bayless and Stephen A. Smith, Rachel Nichols live at Owings Mills and Toss Up on PTI. Get ready.
UPDATE: Harbaugh issued a statement this afternoon in response to the coverage of his comments.
“While on the 98 Rock show this morning to talk about the run to honor O.J. Brigance and raise funds for ALS research, I answered a question about playing within the rules and referred to the perception that the Super Bowl championships won by the Patriots and Saints have a stain. My reference was to the perception out there that came as the result of the league’s actions. I could have been more clear that I was referring to those viewpoints.”
I liked it better when he meant it.
By Zach Wilt, on April 24th, 2012  Matt Stover is a legend in Baltimore. In my 16 years as a Ravens fan, he is still the only guy that I really felt comfortable watching trot out there for a game winning field goal.
Despite being run out of town by the current coaching regime, Stover never turned his back on the Ravens. He was inducted into the Ring of Honor last season and will announce the team’s second and third-round draft picks during the NFL Draft on Friday.
“I’m very, very grateful to do it,” Stover told Ryan Mink at BaltimoreRavens.com. ”It’s such a neat opportunity to represent my team and my city.”
The Ravens should feel very fortunate that Stover holds no harsh feelings towards the franchise. A lesser man probably could have turned their back on a team that gave up on one of its most consistent players. John Harbaugh and the Ravens parted ways with the then 18-year veteran after the 2008 season and brought in Steve Hauschka and Graham Gano to compete for Stover’s position. There was never an option for the veteran to prove he still had enough in the tank to keep his job.
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By BSR Staff, on April 13th, 2012  The MLB season is a week old, the Red Sox have slumped, the Orioles are .500 and the Miracle Mets have taken a small step back.
The guys break down the Orioles start to 2012 and talk about the story lines around the league. They also break down the Capitals postseason series against the Bruins and talk about the possibility of HBO’s Hard Knocks featuring the Ravens.
Join Zach, Patrick and Matt for this week’s edition of the best sports podcast in Baltimore, the BSR Podcast.
Here are some of the topics discussed on this week’s show:
Orioles Season… A Week Later
- Sweeping the Twins, swept by the Yankees. What does it say about the Orioles?
- With the exception of Brian Matusz, the Orioles saw some encouraging things the first time through the rotation. Can Jake Arrieta continue to lead the O’s at the top?
- Nick Markakis has demonstrated more power early on this season than last. How encouraging is that coming off Abdominal surgery and can that trend continue?
- Matt Wieters is a Gold Glove winner who’s offense could take the next step in 2012. The guys discuss that possibility.
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By Zach Wilt, on April 11th, 2012  Not surprisingly, HBO wants to feature Rex Ryan’s circus in New York once again on the 2012 season of “Hard Knocks.” What is surprising is that according to Adam Schein of FOXSports.com, Ryan is against the show highlighting his New York Jets.
Ryan apparently doesn’t want the “atmosphere around the Jets after last season’s bickering and collapse and this offseason’s trade for Tim Tebow.” Give credit where credit is due, good for Rexy for taking three years to learn how to finally handle the media.
Other teams on HBO’s hit list include the San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens. Seems like HBO has a little obsession with the Harbaugh boys.
I still say there’s a better chance of me getting struck by lightning while sitting on the back of a unicorm than the Ravens saying ‘yes’ to “Hard Knocks.” They won’t even let fans watch their practices, why would they let in television cameras?
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By Zach Wilt, on April 5th, 2012  This morning, The Sun’s Jeff Zrebiec broke the news that the Ravens have signed cornerback Lardarius Webb to a six-year deal.
BaltimoreRavens.com later confirmed the report with a nifty little blogpost of their own. The deal is worth a maximum of $50 million with a $10 million signing bonus and goes through 2017 according Albert Breer of the NFL Network.
Webb is entering his fourth year in the NFL and his second season as a full-time player.
He tore his ACL in December of 2009 and returned to play 15 games in 2010 and all 16 in 2011.
BR.com reports that the Ravens had been trying to work out a long-term deal with Webb and fellow corner Cary Williams.
Good for the Ravens for getting this deal done. Webb earned the contract last season. My only request is that we keep him off special teams. Is that alright with you Harbs?
By Zach Wilt, on March 14th, 2012  As Peyton Manning’s quest for a new home dominates the headlines this week, another storyline has developed. Where will Tim Tebow go if the Broncos bring in Manning?
The Broncos seems to be seriously making a push to bring in Manning, which would almost certainly put their fan favorite quarterback from last season on the trading block. Where could Tebow go?
Sports Illustrated’s Peter King thinks he could be a fit in Baltimore.
…Like the Baltimore Ravens.
King writes that he thinks Denver could get a fourth-round pick for Tebow and while fans in Jacksonville certainly want him, he does see GM Gene Smith bringing him in.
He argues that a strong coach like Bill Belichick, John Harbaugh or Pete Carroll would be good for Tebow. Someone “not worried about the public pressure to play him to take Tebow on, in my opinion.”
“I could see Belichick or Harbaugh making him a wild card type of player, playing 15 snaps a game all over the offense,” King wrote.
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By Zach Wilt, on February 24th, 2012  Wide receiver continues to be a position that the Ravens look to improve upon. This season they saw a breakout rookie performance from Torrey Smith and added the veteran Lee Evans from Buffalo.
But according to John Harbaugh, who’s out in Indianapolis for the NFL combine, the Ravens still aren’t content. ”We’re looking,” Harbaugh told 105.7 The Fan’s Jerry Coleman. ”I think a receiver in the draft is a big possibility,” he added.
Harbaugh was specific about the type of receiver that the Ravens are looking for and says that quite simply, they want a guy with good hands. ”Obviously the number one thing we’re looking for is a guy who can catch. That may sound obvious, but sometimes you get caught up in other things.”
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By Matt Lund, on February 10th, 2012 
The 2011 Ravens brought about one of the best seasons in franchise history. They finished the regular season with a 12-4 record en route to the team’s third AFC North title in team history.
They finished 8-0 at home for the first time ever and swept the season series against the Pittsburgh Steelers for the first time since the 2006 season.
They featured a running back in the name of Ray Rice who led the NFL in total yards from scrimmage and brought along a rookie wide receiver in Torrey Smith who finished the season with seven touchdowns, setting a Ravens rookie record. They added a third Defensive Player of the Year award to the mantle with linebacker Terrell Suggs winning this season.
The Baltimore Ravens were two plays away from playing in Super Bowl XLVI, but overall was a season to remember for fans everywhere. Let’s take a final look at the Ravens season unit by unit. READ MORE >>>
By Zach Wilt, on February 3rd, 2012  Well the Ravens have their man. The team announced on Thursday afternoon that Don Martindale will be Baltimore’s new linebackers coach. Martindale replaces Dean Pees who was promoted to defensive coordinator after Chuck Pagano left to coach the Colts.
We all should have known that Jack Del Rio wouldn’t reunite with the Ravens. I cited “different eras” as my reasoning when first discussing candidates to replace Pagano. Del Rio came from the Brian Billick era Ravens, a team and method that the front office and ownership have decided to put behind them.
Martindale comes to Baltimore with 18 years of coaching experience in both the NFL and at the college level. Not surprisingly, he was on Jack Harbaugh’s coaching staff at Western Kentucky.
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By Zach Wilt, on February 3rd, 2012  I’ve eagerly awaited the day that Brian Billick gets his next head coaching job so that I can add my second favorite NFL team. I love the guy. The demeanor, attitude and confidence of the Ravens during his tenure were a direct translation of his personality and became my favorite attributes of the early Ravens.
Billick hasn’t coached a game since 2007 and all signs point to him remaining in the booth rather than returning to the sideline.
“It’s a general manager’s game. I’m not what they’re looking for,” Billick said according to Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com. ”That’s fine. They want a head coach today that doesn’t have to worry about personnel, the cap or even the media. We’ll lock you in a room and you come out with a genius game plan. They’re looking for X’s and O’s guys. That’s the world we live in right now.”
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