FanHouse RayLewis

Let's be honest, there are few things more entertaining in sports than when an athlete is absolutely despised by a city. And I don't mean despised in the Michael Jordan-tears-out-Cleveland's-heart-with-a-wooden-spoon level hate. That's rooted in Jordan's superhuman play on the field.

I mean on a level like LenDale White stomping on the Terrible Towel and refusing to apologize -- where the entire city is outraged at one particular player.

Earlier this week, EA Sports released the player ratings for Madden 10. And now, with the NFL Draft in the rearview, and nothing else to do between now and training camps, we'll ponder the important questions. Like: How is [Player who is obviously rated too high] rated above [Player who is obviously rated too low]?

It's fun and original!

Who moved to the head of the NFL class during the draft? Find out with FanHouse's team-by-team 2009 Draft Grades.

Jonathan Ogden retired last summer, leaving the Ravens with a young but deep group of offensive linemen to protect rookie quarterback Joe Flacco. Not surprisingly, Ogden's replacement, Jared Gaither (a former supplementary draft pick) was inconsistent, but occasionally flashed glimpses of big-play potential.

With the draft approaching, we ignore projections and identify the dream scenario for each team in a series we call The Perfect Draft.

To say the 2008 Dallas Cowboys season was tumultuous wouldn't really be giving credit to the word. The team had suspensions, Jessica Simpsons and the incredible absence of TD-ing. Dallas missed the playoffs after being a favored team going into the season and now has gone through a total redesign.

With Terrell Owens shipped to Buffalo, the passing game will go through Roy Williams, who has never been the player to take control of an offense. Balking on Ray Lewis and sticking with Tony Romo, this crew has a long way to go to be the best in their division, which is the toughest in the NFL. Along with all their obvious holes, the offensive line is a tad thin and the safety position could be improve drastically.

With the draft approaching, we ignore projections and identify the dream scenario for each team in a series we call The Perfect Draft.

In 2007, the Ravens finished a disappointing 5-11, stuck with an offense that created scoring opportunities about as effectively as a broken Brita filter cleans water. A draft later, the Ravens picked up lesser-known Joe Flacco, who fell into the job as starting quarterback and led Baltimore to the AFC Conference Championship, eventually losing to the NFL Champion Steelers. The Ravens filled holes at running back last year when they snagged Ray Rice in the second round.

Now, the Ravens know they can win even with a spotty offense, but it is something they need to focus on. Last year, only one wideout, Derrick Mason, caught over 700 yards, and he is 35.

There will be no retired player on the cover of EA Sports' Madden NFL 10. Instead, EA Sports will return to its custom of jinxing an active player picking one of the NFL's biggest stars for the cover of their best-selling annual game.

The game itself won't be released until August, but the process of choosing this year's cover boy is well underway. The company has narrowed its choices down to nine finalists. If you think we're due for a defensive player on the cover, this may be your year.

James Harrison and DeMarcus Ware couldn't have had more dissimilar starts to their careers. Harrison was an undrafted free agent who played in NFL Europe and toiled away on the Ravens' and Steelers' practice squads; Ware has been a starter since the Cowboys drafted him 11th overall in 2005.

Both linebackers have been to multiple Pro Bowls, and Harrison was named the 2008 Defensive Player of the Year. And on Monday, he got a shiny, new deal out of it. Originally set to make just over $1 million next season, the Steelers renegotiated his contract to pay him more in line with his talents: six years, $51.2 million, $20 million guaranteed.

The road to the AFC North crown goes through Pittsburgh, but the Ravens would prefer to take their chances against the defending Super Bowl champs during daylight hours, at least when they travel to Heinz Field. According to the Baltimore Sun's Jamison Hensley, the Ravens have "asked not to be considered for a prime-time game at Heinz Field this season when they submitted their scheduling requests to the league..."

While the Terrell Owens news might have been the most talked about, a bigger issue in Dallas was how thin the Cowboys were becoming in the secondary. No worries for Jerry Jones and company, who signed former Jaguars safety Gerald Sensabaugh to a one-year deal.

Sensabaugh will be helping a depleted secondary that saw Roy Williams part ways with Dallas and Keith Davis possibly head to Kansas City. This signing gives the Cowboys a younger player that can fit in at both strong safety and free safety, who recorded 82 tackles last season and four interceptions.

Ray Lewis didn't get the free agency coronation that he -- and many of us -- figured was coming his way. The Cowboys, Jets, and even the hometown Ravens, showed little interest in the future Hall of Fame linebacker, presumably because his contract demands weren't in line with reality: at 33, there wasn't much left in the tank, as the thinking goes.