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Super Bowl XXXIV Retrospective: Titans' Wasted Timeouts

Posted: Jan 29th 2009 2:30PM by Matt Snyder (author feed)
Filed under: NFL, Super Bowl

2 COMMENTS
In anticipation of Cardinals-Steelers, FanHouse takes a look back at some forgotten storylines from past Super Bowls.

Everyone remembers Kevin Dyson stretching out with the football from the one yard-line in a desperate attempt to tie the game in Super Bowl XXXIV as time expired. The Rams won the game, Kurt Warner won the MVP, Dick Vermeil won his only Super Bowl championship, and Vermeil "retired" for Mike Martz to take over as coach.

What many people don't consider about that game is: Why did the Titans only have one timeout on that final drive?
Continue Reading Super Bowl XXXIV Retrospective: Titans' Wasted Timeouts

New England Hires Floyd Reese

Posted: Jan 27th 2009 2:40PM by Adam Gretz (author feed)
Filed under: Patriots

0 COMMENTS
As the Patriots continue to rebuild their front office and coaching staff following another offseason exodus, the team has announced the hiring of former Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans general manager Floyd Reese as a senior football advisor. According to the team's official press release, he will work alongside director of player personnel Nick Caserio and head coach Bill Belichick in "various football-related assignments, including contracts."

Here's what Patriots owner Robert Kraft had to say on the hiring:
"We consider ourselves fortunate to have the opportunity to add someone with Floyd Reese's NFL experience and expertise to our staff," said Patriots Chairman and CEO Robert Kraft. "Floyd will be a tremendous asset serving Coach Belichick in an advisory role."
Continue Reading New England Hires Floyd Reese

Ravens Are Interested in Chris Simms, Are Dark Horse Candidates to Win the Division

Posted: Aug 31st 2008 12:55PM by Ryan Wilson (author feed)
Filed under: Ravens, AFC North

3 COMMENTS

At least the Ravens didn't wait until the last minute. Kyle Boller's bum shoulder could put his season in jeopardy, and Troy Smith's Level 5 tummyache forced him to miss the final two preseason games. Which meant that rookie first-round pick Joe Flacco was the depth chart.

Baltimore signed backup Casey Bramlet long enough to cut him, but they're still in the market for a longer-term solution behind whoever ends up winning the starting job.

Ideally, Smith would be ready to go this week and Flacco would get comfortable holding a clipboard for the '08 season as the No. 3 option. One problem: with Boller's future in doubt, the team doesn't have a veteran backup. Luckily, plenty of semi-qualified names hit the open market yesterday, which is potentially good news for the Ravens.
Continue Reading Ravens Are Interested in Chris Simms, Are Dark Horse Candidates to Win the Division

Joe Flacco Gets First Start, Ravens Are Worse Than We Thought

Posted: Aug 24th 2008 11:06AM by Ryan Wilson (author feed)
Filed under: Ravens, AFC North

4 COMMENTS
It seems like a lot longer than two seasons since the Ravens ripped off 13 wins, won the AFC North, and earned a home playoff game. Gone are Brian Billick and Steve McNair, replaced by fresh faces -- both coaches and quarterbacks -- although Kyle Boller, like a rash, refuses to go away.

Except for last night. The sixth-year player is nursing a shoulder injury and was unable to fill in for starter Troy Smith, who was a late scratch because he ate some bad Chinese food*. Which meant that rookie first-rounder Joe Flacco, who, according to some people, is barely 10 pages into the playbook, got his first NFL start.

Surprisingly, it was a little rocky at times. Still, Flacco finished 18 of 37 for 152 yards and one touchdown, but head coach John Harbaugh was reserved in his post-game comments.
"Joe did OK in there without much preparation this week," coach John Harbaugh said. "He'll settle down as he plays more."
As the Baltimore Sun's Jamison Hensley writes, this was supposed to be the preseason game where Smith staked his claim to the starting quarterback job. Instead, events conspired against him and Flacco found himself under center when the game started.

Hensley's colleague, David Steele, still has plenty of questions about the Ravens' next QB, but places most of the blame on the 10 other guys on offense. All fair points, for sure, but I'm pretty sure this is somehow all Brian Billick's fault.

* Speculation on the Chinese food, but Smith was unable to play because of a tummy ache. Maybe he ate too many pre-game jelly beans.

Ravens Locker Room Quietly Lobbying for Troy Smith for QB

Posted: Aug 10th 2008 10:04PM by Ryan Wilson (author feed)
Filed under: Ravens, AFC North

5 COMMENTS

Surely noboby was surprised by Kyle Boller's mostly-effective-save-two-turnovers performance against the Pats in the preseason opener last week. Boller's been in the league since 2003 and that's his M.O. Two years ago, it got him benched -- the Ravens were finally able to a) admit they had some shortcomings at the position, and b) do something about it by trading for Steve McNair.

McNair "retired" this offseason, Baltimore drafted Joe Flacco, and while he matures into an NFL superstar, Boller and second-year player Troy Smith are battling for the job. Boller was 11 of 15 for 102 yards and an interception on Thursday night; Smith was 5 of 12 for 74 yards. But according to the Boston Globe's Mike Reiss, Smith's the locker room favorite.
One of the undercurrents felt from the Ravens' visit to Gillette Stadium was the support in the team's locker room for Troy Smith to be the team's starting quarterback on opening day. Linebacker Ray Lewis, in particular, is privately lobbying for Smith - the former Heisman Trophy winner from Ohio State - to take the reins over Kyle Boller and 2008 first-round draft choice Joe Flacco.
Has Ray Lewis ever done anything "privately?" I think not. Whatever, it seems many fans are in agreement, and since we all know what Boller can do, giving Smith a shot doesn't seems like such a bad idea. Not sure if it'll happen, but if it does, no one would be complaining. Particularly those who play for the Ravens.

Kyle Boller Shines Early, Offensive Line Is the Biggest Question

Posted: Jul 31st 2008 11:13AM by Ryan Wilson (author feed)
Filed under: Ravens, AFC North

4 COMMENTS
The Ravens are in the midst of finding their starting quarterback, even though they drafted Joe Flacco, the future of the franchise, three months ago. But he's a rookie, and as these things go, it takes time to make the transition from college (particularly Division I-AA) to the NFL.

Which means former future of the franchise Kyle Boller, and second-year player Troy Smith are the front runners for the job. According to the Baltimore Sun's Don Markus, Smith struggled during yesterday's practice, and Flacco, well, looked like a rookie. Which is to say, he was all over the place. Yesterday's big winner? Boller, who was the most consistent of the bunch.

Still, nothing has been decided, so the race is still wide open. But with a slew of injuries along the offensive line, it's not clear who will be blocking for the eventual starter.
With both Jared Gaither and Adam Terry out with injuries, it has been left second-year player Mike Kracalick to fill the spot left vacant by perennial All-Pro Jonathan Ogden. Kracalick definitely has the size (6-8, 340), but he needs work on his footwork.
Hmm. You think there's a drop off from Kracalick to Ogden? On the upside, at least we won't have to watch the already-fragile Steve McNair take repeated body blows every Sunday, so there's that.

The regular season is more than a month away, so there's plenty of time to get everybody healthy, then it'll be just a matter of getting everybody on the same page. Plus, it could be a lot worse.

Kyle Boller's Good Looks Might Not Be Enough to Overcome Ravens' Preseason Injuries

Posted: Jul 27th 2008 5:42PM by Ryan Wilson (author feed)
Filed under: Ravens, AFC North, NFL Injuries

4 COMMENTS
Good thing the season doesn't start tomorrow, because the Ravens might have to un-retire Steve McNair, have him drop a few pounds, and move to left tackle or defensive line. Jared Gaither, the guy in line to replace Jonathan Ogden, sprained his right ankle yesterday, and 2006 first-round pick, defensive tackle Haloti Ngata, was carted off the field earlier today with an injured right leg.

Starting running back Willis McGahee is also recovering from a leg injury and safety Ed Reed, cornerback David Pittman, running backs Cory Ross and P.J. Daniels, and offensive tackle Davie Hale joined him on the sidelines today. In less depressing news, cornerback Chris McAlister was given the A-OK to return to practice after rehabbing from offseason knee surgery.

I'm not sure this will have much effect on how the Ravens start the season; presumably, everybody will be relatively healthy in short order and the preseason schedule will give the team an opportunity to prepare for the real thing.

That said, if Kyle Boller wins the starting quarterback gig, it won't much matter how all these injuries turn out; the Ravens will be playing for 2009, when Joe Flacco will hopefully be ready to assume the full-time job (if not sooner).

[FoxSports.com: Ngata hurts leg, adding to list of Ravens injuries]

Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2013 Could be the Greatest!

Posted: Jun 13th 2008 6:23PM by Sportz Assassin (author feed)
Filed under: Buccaneers, Cowboys, NY Giants, Packers, Raiders, Ravens, NFL Hall of Fame

5 COMMENTS

This week we saw Michael Strahan and Jonathan Ogden retire ... two men who will see their way into Canton, OH. One of the greatest offensive tackles and defensive ends in our time should both enter the Hall in 2013.

If'n that weren't the only guys on that list.

Add in a certain guy by the name of Brett Favre (who now owns most of the quarterback records), Larry Allen and Warren Sapp ... not to mention the possibility of Junior Seau ... and and we could have one of the best classes in HoF history.

There are even a few fringe guys like Steve McNair, Rod Smith, Bryant Young and Priest Holmes who will get some love, but probably won't make it in -- at least not in '13.

But what a class that could be? There is a cut-off of five inductees (not counting ones from the Senior Committee) that can go in a single year ... meaning a name or two won't make the cut. Favre, Strahan, Ogden, Sapp and Allen each have won a Super Bowl. They have all kinds of Pro-Bowls on their resumes and several have records to boot ... making them the five favorites to get in (Seau could push Sapp out of that loft).


Continue Reading Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2013 Could be the Greatest!

If Matt Ryan's Gone, Ravens Could Trade Down and Take Chad Henne ... 10th Overall

Posted: Apr 26th 2008 10:35AM by Ryan Wilson (author feed)
Filed under: Ravens, NFL Draft, NFL Fans, NFL Rumors

4 COMMENTS

That the Ravens could be in the business for a quarterback is hardly news; in fact, it would be more of a story if they finally settled on someone who could hold down the job for more than a year.

The position becomes more of an immediate need now that Steve McNair has retired, although Kyle Boller was just as (in)competent filling in for McNair for parts of last season.

Baltimore used a second-day pick on Troy Smith a year ago, but no one would be surprised if the team drafted Matt Ryan with the eighth-overall pick should he still be hanging around the Aaron Rodgers Memorial Green Room.

But ESPN's John Clayton writes that should Ryan be off the board, the Ravens will probably trade down and try to grab Chad Henne later on Day 1. Sounds about right until you read this:
Most draft experts believe Henne should go in the bottom of the first or the top of the second round, but it's not out of the question for the Ravens to consider him as high as the 10th pick.
Number 10. Hmm. Two things: first the Ravens have a pretty spotless track record when it comes to evaluating talent, and it's hard to criticize their personnel decisions; second, their evaluative powers are rendered useless when it comes to drafting quarterbacks.

I can't imagine this actually happens, but if it does, look for Baltimore to re-draft Kyle Boller in the second round and then make a trade for Chris Redman. It would be only slightly less ludicrous than taking Henne tenth overall, I think.

Is Steve McNair a Hall of Famer?

Posted: Apr 21st 2008 8:50AM by Josh Alper (author feed)
Filed under: Ravens, Titans, NFL Gossip

3 COMMENTS
When Steve McNair retired last week, it became inevitable that his candidacy for Canton would be evaluated. His trip from Alcorn State to the Super Bowl erased the last lingering doubts about the fitness of black quarterbacks and he threw for 31,304 yards in his career.

That's a nice number but it's also less than Kerry Collins. He only threw for 20 touchdowns three times, though, and the Titans went to the Super Bowl on Eddie George's legs and a strong defense more than McNair's right arm. They also didn't win that game, falling a yard short of forcing overtime and that may be the defining yard of McNair's chances at enshrinement. Hailed as a tough-as-nails gamer around the league, McNair with a ring would be a much more appealing candidate than without one.

Hashmarks spoke with one HOF voter who is keeping an open mind about McNair's chances, though.
"I can't say that I would never vote for McNair. There are some guys like Warren Moon that I didn't think was a Hall of Famer at first, but as time passed, the numbers stood out and I was convinced that he was."
That's a hard case to make given McNair's era. Peyton Manning, Tom Brady and Brett Favre are guaranteed spots in Canton and there's likely to be one or two others coming from behind that will surpass McNair's modest overall resume. McNair isn't a HOFer right now and time isn't likely to help him much either.

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