Baltimore Ravens
Team name:Baltimore Ravens
State:Maryland
Stadium:M&T Bank Stadium Capacity:69,084
Colours:Black,purple and metallic gold
Address:
11001 Owings Mill Boulevard
Owings Mills,Maryland 21117
Telephone:(410)654-6200
Coach:Brian Billick
Owner:Steve Bisciotti
website: www.baltimoreravens.com
Best Play: Jamal Lewis 82-yard Touchdown run on the same day he achieved 295 rushing-yards to break the record. 14/9/2003
Best Player: Linebacker Ray Lewis
Best Moment: 2001 Superbowl XXXV 34-7 win against NY Giants
Brandon Stokley celebrates the Ravens first Touchdown of the game Jermaine Lewis returns a kickoff for a TD
Superbowl MVP Ray Lewis
NEWS
On the eve of free agency, originally set to begin at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, March 3, both sides of the NFL collective bargaining agreement negotiations have agreed to extend the start of the 2006 NFL year until 12:01 a.m. on Monday, March 6. Whenever the signing period begins, the Ravens are poised to fully test the waters of free agency with a significant cushion to spare.
To position themselves under a potentially lower-than-anticipated cap, many organizations have been forced into wholesale cuts, thus stocking the free-agent talent pool with both high-profile names and young, developing talent.
Ravens director of pro personnel George Kokinis believes the team is set up for success to compete, whether it's now or in the near future, in what will certainly prove to be a busy free agency market.
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| DT Maake Kemoeatu is one of 15 Ravens unrestricted free agents. |
"I think that with the amount of players that are out there, you're going to find players with any strategy."
Kokinis, along with the rest of the Ravens' personnel staff, has been anticipating the start of the signing period since January. In reality, the last Ravens game of the year marks the start of Kokinis' season, when he and his staff form an early version of that strategy.
It's a process that begins by looking internally and evaluating each Ravens player down to the minute details, both on and off the field, with special regard to their contract situation.
"The only things that are really discussed in those early meetings are where those players are and what we feel about those players," Kokinis stated. "What comes out of that is discussing which players we are not going after. A lot of the time, we want to get our own players back, as many as we can."
With 15 unrestricted free agents and seven restricted free agents on the roster, the Ravens have a lot of decisions to make in the coming months. Trying to keep all your players in-house is one thing, but actually accomplishing the feat is another, a problem made all the more difficult by the stellar play of such Ravens free agents as defensive tackle Maake Kemoeatu, punter Dave Zastudil and linebacker Bart Scott in 2005.
"I think we're going to look at all of them," said Kokinis. "If we don't sign Kemo, for example, what's another option? If we can't afford it, what is the option there? There are certainly guys that have been released, and there are certainly guys in free agency that are viable options."
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| P Dave Zastudil had a career year in 2005, recording 43.5 yards per punt. |
"Of the recent guys that have been released, both Trevor Pryce and Gary Walker have been quality players in this league for a long time," he said. "There are also a bunch of quality players that were already free agents, like Grady Jackson, Kimo von Oelhoffen, Ryan Pickett and Darren Howard. There are a lot of quality players at that position, which is unusual. You want to hold on to defensive linemen as much as you can."
But regardless of the talent a player has, character plays a major role in free agency. Just like the internal investigation, the personnel staff evaluates both qualities, which are equally important to the Ravens.
"With the money that gets thrown out there, it's a risk to the organization to go after guys when you have a question about their character," said Kokinis, who thinks that you don't have to sacrifice ability for moral fiber.
"Last year was a perfect example in Derrick Mason," he continued. "There were a lot of quality free agents out there, but we felt that Derrick brought that production and the locker room leadership, whether it's vocally or by example."
So far, Kokinis likes what he sees, but preaches patience when it comes to the signing period. The Ravens have a history of making quality additions to the team in the days leading up to training camp. Sam Adams, a stalwart nose tackle, and fullback Sam Gash - both starters for the Ravens Super Bowl championship team - were signed in the waning weeks of the 2000 offseason.
"I think we signed (linebacker) Bernardo Harris the day before (2002) training camp, and he ended up being a productive backup for us and playing a lot that year," Kokinis added.
"I think there's going to be quality players throughout, so I don't think any panic buttons need to be pushed. We don't have to necessarily empty out the pocketbooks with this first wave (of signings). We just need to be smart and have a couple of plans."
With some room under the cap and some great talent in the pool, the Ravens are hoping for some quality catches this offseason. Luckily, Kokinis and Co. have a few plans to make a splash.
Ravens Rookie Earns Honors
Ravens wideout Mark Clayton was named to both the 2005 Pro Football Weekly All-Rookie Team and the 2005 Professional Football Writers of America All-Rookie Team. Clayton broke the team's rookie records for catches (44) and receiving yards (471). A first-round (22nd overall) selection in the 2005 NFL Draft, Clayton scored two receiving touchdowns and one on the ground.
Sams Honored as Specialist
B.J. Sams, who broke on to the NFL scene with 1,826 total return yards as a rookie in 2004, was named to the Sporting News' 2005 All-Pro Team as a punt returner. Sams ranked second in the league in punt return average (12.2) and had 1,399 combined return yards in 2005
source: http://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/article.jsp?id=8314
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