Ravens aren’t done yet

By Darrell Laurant  |   Tuesday, March 28, 2006  |  Comments( 0 )

Baltimore Ravens
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Watch out for the Baltimore Ravens in the redzone this year -- the first wave of free agency left the team with three 230-pound running backs.

Assuming the worst -- that Jamal Lewis was history -- Baltimore promptly picked up Mike Anderson from the Denver Broncos. Then all of a sudden, Lewis decided to remain a Raven after all. And finally, the team re-signed Musa Smith, who spent most of last year recovering from a broken leg.

Chances are the Ravens won't be drafting LenDale White.

So the red zone is taken care of -- it's getting there that might be problematic. The Ravens still aren't completely sold on Kyle Boller as the quarterback starter, and the departure of Anthony Wright leaves them with no viable backup. General manager Ozzie Newsome was recently quoted as saying he might wait until after the draft to see which veterans might be available -- a field that still includes Kerry Collins, Jamie Martin, Joey Harrington and other middling QB's.

If the Tennessee Titans take Matt Leinart with their third pick, however, that might lead to their cutting loose Steve McNair -- and if that happens, the Ravens will be ready with checkbook in hand.

Certainly, no one can accuse Baltimore Ravens' president Dick Cass of being a tightwad this time around. Besides Anderson, the team picked up DT Trevor Pryce from Denver and re-signed LB Bart Scott (119 tackles as Ray Lewis' replacement last season), DT Justin Bannen, TE Gary Wilcox and several key special teams performers.

Out the revolving door went RB Chester Taylor, DT Maake Kemoentu, DE Tony Weaver and LB Peter Boulware.

Besides a backup (or, more likely, competition) for Boller, the Ravens need help at safety and perhaps another linebacker to replace Boulware. What they do with the 13th pick in the draft will obviously depend upon what everyone else does.

Cass has been mentioned as a possible replacement for departing NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue, but the Ravens' boss said recently that he had no intention of leaving his current job.

He's having too much fun.
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