TJ Houshmandzadeh Game Winning Touchdown vs Pittsburgh Steelers (HD)

Michael Oher Dodges a Bullet

(from ProFootballTalk)

The 8-3 Ravens need left tackle Michael Oher for Sunday night’s prime-time showdown against the 8-3 Steelers. And it looks like the Ravens will have him.

A sprained knee suffered Sunday by Oher against the Buccaneers doesn’t look to be serious. As explained by a certain Internet hack during the Chargers-Colts post-game injury rundown with Bob Costas, Oher currently is expected to play.

Oher’s primary task on Sunday night will be to keep Steelers linebacker James Harrison from separating Joe Flacco’s head from his body.

Maybe Ed Reed Should Play Offense

If the 21st Century NFL adopted the two-way "iron man" playing rules of the sport's early days, no modern player would have an easier transition than Ravens safety Ed Reed, a defensive player who turns into an offensive playmaker as soon as the ball comes his way.

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Associated Press

Baltimore Ravens' Ed Reed

Last Sunday, Mr. Reed caught the 50th interception of his career, and, as usual, he didn't let the play end there. Mr. Reed is fond of transforming himself into an option quarterback after he intercepts a pass, and he celebrated Sunday's interception in style, gaining 19 yards before lateraling the ball to teammate Dawan Landry, who ran 23 more yards for a touchdown. It was the sixth time Mr. Reed has lateraled an interception to a teammate, and those teammates have averaged 9.7 more yards after getting the ball from Mr. Reed.

But where Mr. Reed really shines is when he keeps the ball to himself. He has 1,338 interception-return yards in his career, averaging 26.8 yards a return. That's the highest interception-return average in NFL history among players with at least 30 interceptions; the only other player with at least 30 picks to average more than 25 yards a return is Mr. Reed's former teammate, Deion Sanders.

Mr. Reed is third in NFL history in total interception-return yards, 145 yards shy of Rod Woodson's record. With a little bit of luck, Mr. Reed could break that this season. After all, he set the NFL record for the longest interception return when he ran one back 106 yards in 2004, only to break his own record in 2008 with a 107-yard return.

—Michael David Smith

Great ESPN Article on Haloti Ngata

Most of the Baltimore Ravens had cleared out of the team's locker room one recent afternoon, leaving defensive tackle Haloti Ngata ample space to attack his latest challenge.

He eyed wide receiver Donte' Stallworth with a contemptuous glare, then tossed a lavender beanbag toward a blackboard halfway across the room. When the bag landed on the board and slid within inches of a small, circular hole in the wood, Ngata smirked like a man certain of his talents. Stallworth may have asked for this latest game of Cornhole, but Ngata darn sure planned on ending it with a victory. Still, the most noteworthy aspect of that contest wasn't Ngata's skill at a game that defensive end Cory Redding introduced to the locker room this offseason. It was the unadulterated joy Ngata displayed while bonding with a teammate. For all the notoriety the fifth-year veteran has gained for his on-field dominance, Ngata is really a people person at heart. And it's the chemistry on this 7-3 team that has him most excited about a championship run being part of Baltimore's near future.

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AP Photo/Michael DwyerIn Week 6, Ngata sacked Patriots QB Tom Brady twice.

All they have to do, in Ngata's eye, is keep feeding off the bonds they've established this season. "This year feels different to me," Ngata said after finishing his game. "The offense and defense isn't split as much [in the locker room] and we do things together as a team. It really is a great thing to see. Something like this game might seem like a small thing to somebody on the outside, but it really is huge. You see people playing it who might never spend time together." Haloti Ngata (pronounced ha-LOW-tee Nahtah) covets camaraderie for two key reasons: He knows it leads to success on the field and it also makes him feel most comfortable off it. It's not enough for him to just be a rising star in the NFL. He wants that success to mean something. He wants his teammates to feel just as good about where their careers are heading. Of course, it also helps that the 6-foot-4, 350-pound Ngata has matured into a one-man wrecking crew for the Ravens. On a defense that has long been defined by the passion of middle linebacker Ray Lewis and the brilliance of safety Ed Reed, Ngata is steadily emerging as the most vital component in this scheme. He doesn't like talking too much about his success -- "It's great to be talked about being among the best defensive tackles in the game, but I also want to get better," he said -- but his teammates understand his importance. Currently, he ranks second on the team with five sacks and third with 48 tackles. As Lewis said, "I depend on our defensive line in the same way a running back depends on his offensive line. If a blocker is able to get off on me, then 99 percent of the time Haloti is going to make the play. You try blocking him one-on-one and he'll beat you every time, which means all I have to do is just flow [to the ball]."

Foe: 'The only time I've been frightened of another player'

Opposing players already understand the problems Ngata creates for offenses. Carolina Panthers center Ryan Kalil spent most of last Sunday trying to help contain Ngata in the Ravens' 37-13 win. That effort reminded Kalil of all the times he faced Ngata when Kalil was at USC and Ngata at Oregon. In fact, Kalil recently described one play in college when Ngata stood up over him, then walked back a few yards before charging forward at the snap. If not for the assistance of a guard who chipped Ngata on the play, Kalil might still be shaking off that collision. "That was the only time in my life that I've ever been frightened of another player on a football field," said Kalil, who is listed at 6-foot-2 and 295 pounds. "But that's why Haloti's presence alone is such a big thing. He has the size, the strength and the quickness to do whatever he wants out there."

Scouts Inc.: Best DTs

Who are the best "space-eaters" in the NFL? Scouts Inc.'s Matt Williamson names his top five.

1. Haloti Ngata, Ravens: He is like no other player I have seen. People with his amazing size just shouldn't move like him. He's incredibly powerful. It doesn't matter the scheme, Ngata can excel at any position on the defensive line -- and can also play from a two-point stance or as a goal-line fullback. He is very special ... and getting better. 2. Kevin Williams, Vikings: Not as dynamic as he once was getting after quarterbacks, Williams remains a very difficult player to move in the run game. He makes all of those around him better and has been atop this list now for some time. Consistent, durable and reliable, Williams should be a future Hall of Famer -- even though he has never gotten the credit he deserves. 3. Jason Jones, Titans: Jones might be the best pass-rushing interior lineman in the league. The Titans are great at rotating in a lot of defensive linemen, but Jones has emerged as the clear-cut best of the bunch. 4. Kyle Williams, Bills: A terror versus the run, Kyle Williams is also a very good player against the pass. He's having an amazing season on a terrible football team. Get to know this player. 5. Vince Wilfork, Patriots: Wilfork is a one-trick pony as a run-stuffer. But he is simply magnificent at it. Bill Belichick has moved Wilfork around more this season, playing him some at defensive end to entice the opponent to run in Wilfork's direction ... but that is never a good idea. Also: Shaun Rogers, Browns; Jonathan Babineaux, Falcons.

Ngata's power is only one reason why he's become an elite talent. He's so intelligent that Ravens defensive line coach Clarence Brooks said, "If you told him to make a defensive call, he could tell you exactly what all 11 men are supposed to do on any given play." Ngata also is so freakishly gifted that the Ravens have no problems sliding him from the three-technique defensive tackle spot to nose tackle or defensive end. On top of all that, the man plays with unbridled desire. "I've seen wide receivers take off after catching screen passes and Haloti will catch them 25 yards downfield," said Ravens center Matt Birk. "I'm not saying that's an impossible feat but most guys his size can't do that." As is his way, Ngata credits the people around him for helping his game develop. "The guys in this locker room have meant a lot to me," Ngata said. "I've been around great leaders like Ray Lewis and Ed Reed, who have helped me learn how to study film. I've had the chance to watch a guy like [nose tackle] Kelly Gregg play the run and I learned pass-rush moves from [former Ravens and current New York Jets defensive end] Trevor Pryce. I became a better player by being around all those guys." Such humility has made Ngata one of the most respected and likable players on the Ravens. Just don't mistake that characteristic for softness. Kalil said the word has gotten around the league that Ngata is so quick-tempered that one little cheap shot is capable of taking him off his game. Ngata also recently received a $10,000 fine from the league for hitting Miami Dolphins quarterback Chad Henne in the chest with the crown of his helmet on a pass play in a 26-10 win on Nov. 7. That aggressiveness even catches Ngata's teammates off guard at times. They've seen the days when he'll lift an unsuspecting Lewis into the air and playfully wrestle him to the ground. They've watched him shimmy in front of his locker when The Temptations' "My Girl" is playing on his iPod. They've even chuckled this week as Ngata kept a bushy mustache that he'd grown to fit into a recent 1980's theme party. What those players see from Ngata during the week is a soft-spoken, unassuming giant. What they see on Sunday is, as Kalil said, "The NFL's version of the Incredible Hulk." Said Redding: "For being as big and talented as he is, Haloti is down-to-earth and he cares about others. If somebody is getting rough-housed on the field, he's the first to jump in. He'll even get on the side of somebody losing a debate in the locker room, just so that person doesn't lose ground." Said Ngata: "The guys in the locker room know I'm a chill, laid-back guy. But once I get on the field, it's a totally different story."

Sports provides no buffer from tragedies

The people who've known Ngata for years have a better understanding of the contrasting elements in his personality. They'll tell you Ngata's fiery nature comes from an intense love of competition and an inner confidence in his skills. The man was talented enough to be a star rugby player during his high school days in Salt Lake City. To this day, Ravens coaches still marvel at the sight of Ngata rumbling through opponents on a game tape that one of his friends sent to the staff.

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Tom Hauck/Getty ImagesAt Oregon in 2005, Ngata (right) was a finalist for the Outland Trophy.

As for Ngata's sensitivity, that comes from his parents. His father, Solomone, was a vibrant, hard-working man who was reputed for how warmly he hugged people upon first meeting them. His mother, Olga, was just as loving while caring for her five children (four sons and one daughter) at home. They were the kind of couple that left a lasting memory on whomever they met, which made their tragic deaths all the more painful for those around them. Solomone died in December 2002, the first year that Haloti spent at Oregon. The father had just finished visiting his son when he lost control of his semi-truck while leaving town on a local highway. The rig rolled over and eventually landed in a canal, where Solomone drowned. Haloti was so devastated by the accident that he cursed God, shut out the world and nearly left school after his sophomore year to help Olga. Though Ngata did find success on the field after a slow start -- he sustained a torn ACL in 2003 but earned PAC-10 co-Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2005 -- he found that sports couldn't keep him from experiencing more pain. Olga had been so crushed by Solomone's death that she had let her health lapse in the years following his loss. By Jan. 1, 2006, she had checked into a Phoenix hospital to receive kidney dialysis resulting from complications with her diabetes. Twelve days later, she suffered a heart attack and died. At that point, Ngata's hopes of playing in the NFL weren't just about fulfilling boyhood dreams. They were about providing for a family. "It sucked that my parents weren't around when I got [to the NFL]," Ngata said. "I wanted to spoil them. My dad worked three jobs and my mother was a stay-at-home mom. I wanted to give them a house, a car, something that would allow them to share in my accomplishments." "The lowest I've ever seen Haloti was when his dad died," said Ngata's wife, Christina. "He wanted to give up on everything and take [care] of his mother. When his mother died, that was awful but it was more like she was at peace after all her struggles. I think Haloti learned how to handle death after his dad died."

The Ravens' foundation for the future

Ngata also gained invaluable maturity during those tumultuous times. As Larry Wilson, his former Highland High School coach said, "It made him grow up faster than he would've liked. When he got to the NFL, he understood this was a job to be taken seriously. He understood clearly that you're always one bad play away from being out of the game."

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Courtesy of the Haloti Ngata familyNgata lost his father Solomone and mother Olga in separate tragedies.

That growth also helped confirm the Ravens' belief that Ngata deserved to be their first-round pick in the 2006 draft. They had heard many rumors that the big kid from Oregon didn't play hard on every down. But when Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome interviewed former Oregon teammates Demetrius Williams and Kellen Clemens during the draft process, he heard a different story. "They both told us that that talk wasn't true," said Newsome, who eventually traded up one spot to take Ngata 12th overall that year. "They said they had to get him off the field a lot of times just so they could practice. He was that disruptive." Ngata was excited about joining Baltimore -- he had wanted to play on a dominant defense and his advisors liked the team's family atmosphere -- but he was sheepish when he first walked into a locker room filled with big, boisterous personalities. When Ngata was in his first training camp, Lewis teased him about not returning a phone call earlier in the summer. Ngata was so unsettled that he shrugged his shoulders and apologized.

“

When I first got here, I watched everybody to see where I fit in. Now everybody knows who I am and what I'm about.

” -- Ravens DT Haloti Ngata

"I'm sorry," he said, "I didn't know you wanted me to call you back, Mr. Lewis." It wouldn't take long before the Ravens coaches gave Ngata reasons to come out of his shell. Former defensive coordinator Rex Ryan -- now the Jets' head coach -- didn't merely envision Ngata as a massive interior force. He saw Ngata's athleticism and figured he would fit nicely in a scheme known for asking players to line up in various positions to confuse an offense. By his second year, Ngata was lining up at linebacker and even safety as many as 10 to 12 plays a contest. "I thought it was crazy at first," Ngata said. " But [Ryan] helped me see how talented I was. He taught me that it was OK to not be afraid of being a finesse guy at times instead of always relying on power." When the Ravens talk about Ngata today, they see a player who's become capable of hurting defenses in a variety of ways. "He has a lot of natural ability but he's learned to play with better technique and pad level," Newsome said. Added defensive coordinator Greg Mattison: "Haloti has always been a tremendous run player but now he's become a good pass rusher. He's recognizing run and pass faster because he's studying things like down and distance and [lineman] stances." Still, most people think Ngata's recognition has been long overdue. He was selected to his first Pro Bowl last season; many thought he was snubbed by voters in 2008. Fittingly, Ngata didn't use the trip to Miami to club-hop or mingle at parties. Instead, he and Christina focused on caring for their infant son, Sam, and hanging out with relatives. "It was a unique experience," Ngata said. "But the big thing for me was being with my family." Ngata is even more focused on family now that he's watching his son grow. He often shows Sam, now 16 months old, pictures of Solomone and Olga when Ngata is sitting around the house. Before games, Ngata always points to the heavens and whispers "I love you" to the sky to honor his deceased parents. Then there are the days when fatherhood touches his heart. When Sam recently went to the barber for a haircut, Ngata noticed that his son now looked less like a toddler and more like a little boy. Ngata added that being a father has given him a new perspective on life. "Having a son changed me," Ngata said. "It's not just about me anymore. It's about supporting my family."

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Courtesy of the Haloti Ngata family Ngata and wife Christina welcomed son Sam in 2009.

The Ravens are hoping Ngata, who turns 27 on Jan. 21, can be just as strong a presence in their own locker room in the years to come. He's already trying to help rookie defensive tackle Terrence Cody adjust to life in the league and it's apparent that Baltimore will be asking for more leadership from him. Lewis is now 35 years old, Reed is 32. The Ravens have tried to add youth to the mix. "As guys move on, we'll build the defense around him eventually," Newsome said. "I can't get too ahead of myself but I don't see him leaving." Ngata surely feels the same way about being with the Ravens. You could see that when he trotted back out to finish his game with Stallworth following his interview. He looked like a man savoring the fact that his career is playing out like he'd hoped in a place he appreciates. "When I first got here, I watched everybody to see where I fit in," Ngata said. "Now everybody knows who I am and what I'm about." The Ravens also recognize something else: The success of their long vaunted defense may soon rest on his broad, capable shoulders.

Coughee Monster's Ravens 2K10 Anthem

Back to the Blog

It's been over a year since we abandoned this blog, I am going to try to revive it.

Tailgate Location

Star indicates location of Purple Pandemonium

CLEVELAND CLOWNS

The Cleveland Clowns are headed to Baltimore this Sunday which means Purple Pandemonium will once again be in full force!!

Come join our army of tailgaters this Sunday as we prepare for the Ravens quest to be 3-0. For those who didn’t come visit week 1, we can be found in the back of lot H. As always we will be starting bright and early at 8 am. This week’s menu features hamburgers, hotdogs, grilled chicken, pulled BBQ, wings, steam shrimp, sweet and sour meatballs, crab dip, and much more! Plus, as an added bonus this week our resident mixologist will be making a special purple pre-game shot to send everyone off with some extra cheer. As a reminder PP is BYOB but we will be providing keg tubs and ice to keep everyone’s beer cold!

GO RAVENS!

Bart Scott again....

Ironic how after posting a blog about Bart Scott praising his former employer, he makes questionable comments regarding Harbaugh's role as head coach last year. For those who haven't read his comments here they are:

Ryan "was the head coach of that football team [the Ravens] last year, whether you guys know it or not," said Scott. "He kept that team together. The defense leads that team over there, and he controls the defense."

I think a lot of fans and the media are taking these comments the wrong way. The way I see it is Bart was simply making a statement about his confidence in his current coach. I don't think he meant it to downplay Harbaughs role but rather to support Rex Ryan. Look it only makes sense for him to say these things about Rex. He wants to get the rest of the Jets to buy into what Rex is doing over there and the best way to do that is to endorse him as a great leader for the Ravens.

Ravens fans shouldn't take it too personal. I still hope the best for Bart and Rex, that is except for when the Ravens are playing them.

Bart Scott

A link from ESPN's James Walker's "Morning Take":

"Jets LB Bart Scott praises former employer

The season has just begun, which may explain why New York Jets linebacker Bart Scott didn’t unload both barrels on the Ravens.

Then again, judging by his comments to the media prior to Monday night’s preseason clash between the Ravens and Jets, the former Ravens linebacker seems to still have room in his heart for the NFL franchise that took a chance on him and signed him as an undrafted rookie.

"We’re going against a great running team and we pride ourselves on being able to defend the run," Scott said. "So I think it will be a tremendous test. They’ve got three tremendous backs. Each poses a different problem and I think it will be a great test for us to see where we’re at. We’re far away from where we need to be. That unit over there, if you want to talk about the defensive unit has been together for a long time. Of course, they would be ahead of us. They still have continuity and chemistry and that’s what we’re trying to build. So, it will be good for us to step on the field and of course, we will be trying to show ourselves well. And they will be trying to show themselves well."

Scott declined to get baited into criticizing the Ravens. "It’s a preseason game," he said. "It’s important for us to take the next step. It’s two quarters. The starters play a little longer, get that football conditioning up. [We will] get ready to have a great showing for our fans on a Monday night game that is national. [We want to] make sure we cut down on the mistakes. It’s all about us trying to get better to be ready for the opening.""

Game day baby Game day, Wooooh!!!

That's right, its gameday baby! Although a pre-season game is nothing compared to the real thing its still provides plenty to be excited about. There's no greater place on this green earth than M&T Bank stadium and tonight provides the first audition for every member on the team that is fighting for either a starting position or a roster spot.

There has been a lot of talk about the early injuries to our wide receiver corp. As none of the injuries to our starters appear serious I think this may be a great opportunity to find out if one of our young receivers can contribute to this team. All camp long I have read nothing but good things about Justin Harper. My hope is he is a gameday play maker that just needs to be given an opportunity. He will get one tonight, let's see what he makes of it.

I'm also very excited to see rookie Ladarius Webb play. This guy was born a Raven. He grew up idealizing Ed Reed and has been taken under his wing. Although he comes from a small 1-AA team he was originally recruited to play D-1A. The guy has all the athletic ability in the world and can contribute all over the field- Corner, Safety, kick/punt returner, etc. My predicition is he will be the starting nickelback this season and a future shut down corner.

There are plenty of other players I will be watching tonight, but these 2 will be on the top of my list.

Oh by the way, for those who are wondering Purple Pandemonium will not be holding its Inaugural tailgate until week one. We are getting everything in place so that we will be in full operation for September 13th.

Go Ravens!

YBYSA

This is the shirt that T-Sizzle was wearing at training camp!!!!

Mason!

I know I am posting this a little late, but thank god D-Mase is coming back! I would've posted when I heard the news, but I was out of town over the weekend.

Either way, that is a huge relief!

Mason is back to work already and we know that we will get 100% effort out of him.

Rumors from camp are that Demetrius Williams is on a mission to prove his worth, and, according to the media, he is apparently doing a pretty good job of it so far (even though we are only a week into training camp). From what I hear, he has packed on about 15 pounds of muscle so hopefully that will help keep him from getting injured again.

Clayton isn't practicing right now because of minor injury (to his hamstring, I think).

Hopefully Washington, Smith, or Harper will turn into a diamond in the rough and give us some much needed support this season. Last summer everyone was high on Marcus Smith, but he didn't catch a single ball all season. Apparently he has been dropping some catchable balls in practice now, too. Justin Harper is getting a lot of praise for his performance in camp right now, so hopefully he isn't the "Marcus Smith story" of 2009! It sure would be nice to have a surprise breakout receiver!

Here's a tribute to the warrior himself:

Training Camp in Full Force

Although I wasn't able to make it to training camp today for the Ravens first full team practice, the power of the internet has allowed me to feel like I'm right there. Due to the creation of tweeter you can now read real time updates from Westminister, including play by play of inter-squad scrimmages. On hand today is ESPN's Adam Schefter and his morning updates gave me goosebumps. Here are a couple:

"There are a line of cars to pull into parking lot of Ravens camp. A loooong line. Wow."

"One word to describe Ravens camp - madhouse. They're expecting 10,000 fans today. For practice."

"Ravens market their training camp so well, how it should be. Fans close to field, tents, souvenirs, playgrounds - and a great PR staff"

Looks like the rest of Baltimore is just as excited as Purple Pandemonium. If you have never been to training camp it is worth the trip. Its free and a great opportunity to get up close to the players as they compete.

Here is a pic taken from this mornings session:

Another video

For those of you that haven't seen it (and I'm sure if you are reading this page, you probably have) here is the Ravens 2009 Training Camp Promo Video. Here it is to put you in the mood...

The Blind Side

If you havent already, pick up a copy of The Blind Side by Michael Lewis.

Without giving away any of the details, this book is the story of Michael Oher and the evolution of the left tackle position.

Madden 2010

Here is the Madden 2010 AFC North Trailer. Paul Coppock, this is for you. Most people that read this blog love the Ravens, but I have never met anyone who is such a die-hard Ravens fan AND a die-hard Madden gamer! Even though you aren't that good at Madden, your passion never wanes as Charlie beats you down time and time again!

Willis talking nonsense.......

From WNST:

Here is a video of Willis on Day 1 of camp (today) in Westminster. Pointless video, really, but I thought it was funny. Take the damn towel off your head!

32 Teams in 32 Days

The Wait Ends

On the eve of the start of training camp I am met with the same emotions this year that I experience every year. The most obvious is excitement- excitement that the NFL season is almost here, excitement for the daily training camp updates I can expect over the next 6 weeks, excitement to see how the team the Ravens front office has been shaping for the past 6 months will come together. But with excitement also comes nervousness. You wait all off-season long to see what kind of moves the team made in free agency, who is drafted, etc. and yet there are so many unknowns. Every day a player is one play/drill/sprint away from injuring themselves. It seems like every year we lose a key starter to injury during camp. Last year Kelly Gregg was the victim of such bad fortune, and although the team performed amazingly with his absence you can't help but think what kind of difference he would have made if he were healthy. On the flip side our team is much deeper now as a result.

Unfortunately, that like so many things in life, the success of each teams NFL season has a lot to with luck. Every team is susceptible to injury and although some teams are built to endure it better than others, no team is immune to its potential impact. Take New England for example. Some people will be quick to say despite Tom Brady's injury they still had an amazing season and proved that they don't live and die by any one player, especially since they still finished 11-5 without there all-world QB. I on the other hand think this is a perfect example of a team being crippled by a major injury. You look at the season before when NE had a perfect 16-0 regular season and broke every major offensive record in the books. NE despite losing in the Superbowl had arguably the greatest team in the history of the NFL. Coming into the 2008 season, NE was a census pre-season pick to make the Superbowl. However, with out Tom Brady they couldn't even make the playoffs. To me that is a huge swing. In my opinion the fact they didn't make the playoffs is a testament to Matt Cassell's inadequacies. Anyway, I digress. The point is the NFL is just as much about getting the right players and as it is about being lucky and staying healthy.

I really hope the Ravens can avoid the injury bug this year. If you can eliminate that wildcard there is a lot to be excited about. So with that, I ask only for a healthy training camp with no major injuries.... oh and I wouldn't mind a Derrick Mason either. Let the season’s journey begin!

Fantasy Football

As many teams begin training camp this week, I start to think about sleepers and locks for the upcoming fantasy football season. I also wonder what Baltimore Raven will be drafted first…

This year, it will probably be the defense.

Bennett Retires

Well the Drew Bennett Era in Baltimore has ended. After signing a 1 year deal on Friday Drew Bennett has decided to retire. Maybe Derrick Mason called him and told him how great retirement is and he couldn't resist. Either way, I'd rather have the guy retire now then play and get injured week 1 costing us more money. Not sure he was going to bring much to the table anyway.

Ravens Ink Bennett to a 1 year deal

http://www.baltimoreravens.com/News/Articles/2009/07/Bennett_Signs_One-Year_Deal.aspx

The difference a retirement makes..

Speaking of receivers I have been thinking about Brandon Marshall again. When his name initially surfaced as a possible trade option, and Mason was still an active member of the NFL, it was a no brainer to me that we shouldn't go after a guy like him. He didn't fit in our locker room and wasn't worth the risk. However, with the recent news of Mason's retirement I have re-visited the notion. I still think the guy carries a lot of risk, however now you have to ask yourselves- Can the Ravens win our division without a big play receiver? No one can answer the question with certainty, but if you don't think we can is it worth the risk to get someone like Marshall. If the Ravens front office thinks we can't win a Super bowl with out a big time receiver then maybe the reward out weighs the risk? You figure worst case scenario he turns out to be a cancer and it keeps us from making the playoffs, would that be a worse position than if we didn't get him? When compared with the potential upside, i.e. he pulls a Randy Moss, gets his shit together and totally elevates our offense, is the risk worth the potential reward?

I'm not saying one way or another whether we should go after someone like Marshall, but I think the retirement of Mason totally changes how you look at the potential acquisition. The front office should at least re-visit the idea, and consider the aforementioned questions. At the end of the day, I have total confidence in our front office so I believe they are going to decide what is best for our organization.

Harrison?

The more i ponder our current WR situation the more intrigued I get with the idea of Marvin Harrison in the Purple and Black. Not necessarily from a production standpoint but more for what he could bring in the way of mentoring the younger guys on the team. Not to mention what he could teach Joe about developing a wide receiver/quarterback relationship. I definately dont' think we could expect anything close to the 80 receptions that just retired but I feel like what Marvin may lack in numbers could very well be made up for by elevating the game of the rest of the guys around him. It's my understanding that he wants to wait until training camps begin before he makes any decisions but I'd like to hear what everyone else thinks

Tickets are here!

Nashville

As I published the previous post, I figured I might as well post some pictures of our Nashville road trip.

Purple Pandemonium away game representatives: myself, Matt Hook, Kevin, and Drew.

A whole lotta Ngata

Kevin just posted this above picture to the Purple Pandemonium Facebook page. This was taken at Max's in Fells Point about a week before the Ravens upset the Titans in Tennesee to move on to AFC Championship game. Most of you probably recognize me (Nic), Kevin, and Haloti Ngata (the monster in the middle), but if you were wondering about the guy in business casual whole looks like he could be John Harbaugh's illegitimate son, his name is Drew. Drew is a die-hard Ravens fan too, something I learned when we took him into enemy territory to witness the Ravens destroy the Titans Super Bowl hopes.........again.

Suggs' deal

For the details of his deal, check out:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4328590

55

T Sizzle just signed!!!! Man was that close! 6 years, $63 million. Must be nice.........

Now to address the WR situation.

Purple Pandemonium Mission Statement

Below is our Mission Statement which was written by Matt Hook, re-written by Gabe McCaig, and then edited by like 5 or 6 different Ravens fans...............and who knows, it still may change.


"It is the Mission of Purple Pandemonium to celebrate the Baltimore Ravens, the greatest football franchise in the NFL, by providing the finest tailgating experience Charm City has to offer. We strive to help Ravens fans prepare both mentally and physically for each game, where we proudly support and motivate our team in its quest for victory. We seek to encourage and facilitate the involvement of as many Ravens enthusiasts as possible as we dedicate ourselves towards preserving the reputation of M&T Bank Stadium as the premier site to experience the intensity and passion of the NFL."

Is Mason really done?

A lot of the media, both locally and nationally, seem to be skeptical of Mason's plan to retire. No one will really know what his motives are, but this story might be one we have to wait on until he officially fills out his retirement papers. My only hope is that if he is definitely going to retire, just get it over with (no Favre bullshit, please) so we can say our goodbyes and move on [to winning the Super Bowl]. Personally, I am a big fan of Mason, but we can't have any distractions. In that same vein......Suggs needs to sign that fucking contract NOW! As I leave you with that thought, I will leave you with a beautiful image of our beloved Sizzle..........

Ozzie's on vacation?

According to the sun this morning Ozzies on vacation and although I am sure that it is WELL deserved, it doesn't seem like he chose the most opportune time. In my opinion, the devastating blow dealt by Derrick Mason yesterday calls for swift action. Camp starts in exactly 2 weeks and despite my high expectations and hopes i don't get a warm and fuzzy feeling when I think of Clayton as our veteran leadership and go to guy in the receiving corp. Apparently he hasn't turned in the appropriate paperwork, but if this retirement is for real, I think we would have to make a huge play for Boldin or a receiver of that caliber and experience for the the good of Joe and the rest of the receivers. The question is how does this effect contract negotiations for Suggs? With Wednesday being the deadline, Oz away and not a peep from either side it doesn't look good and this can't help. At least we got something to talk about on our new blog...
Steve

Jealous

So a couple months ago, this van was parked across the street from my office in Lansdowne (at the trailor park, classy, I know). The guy driving it was pretty white trash and I am going to assume this is his everyday means of transportation. Bad ass.

One day, Purple Pandemonium will have a van/bus like this, but it will be way bigger and look way awesomer.

On another note, if anyone reading has any connections, we are looking to purchase a M&T Bank Stadium parking pass for the upcoming season. Besides the pass, everything else seems to be falling right into place.

RIP Steve McNair

Tweet, tweet

Follow us on Twitter, too!  Matt = PanDemon1, Nic (me) = PanDemon7, Kevin = PanDemon23....

New Purple Pandemonium logo/mascot to be unveiled by the end of the week to go along with Facebook page.....

Hello internet world...

Hell internet world. I am Kevin, and like Nic & Matt, am a co-founder of Purple Pandemonium. They have both already stated the goal of this blog, so I see no need in repeating.

My most notable Ravens moment: telling anyone that would listen, that we needed to draft Joe Flacco.

My posts will probably lack in substance, creativity, and certainly grammar, but I will try hard to be a solid contributor to this site, and most importantly the Purple Pandemonium family.

I would like to add that the season is rapidly approaching, and NOW is the time to begin mentally and physically preparing yourself for the longevity, that is the Baltimore Ravens season.

Derrick Mason just announced his retirement!?!?!?!?! Holy shit, I didn't see that one coming! Hopefully Ozzie's got something up his sleeve!!!!!!!!

shocked!?!

Count down to training camp

Matt here, co-founder of Purple Pandemonium. There is much to look forward to in the coming weeks. Purple Pandemonium is about to launch its facebook page and begin its recruiting members. Myself and the rest of the Purple Pandemonium has put their heart into creating the greatest Baltimore Ravens fan base this city has ever seen. In the coming months I hope to use this forum to keep you up to date with Purple Pandemonium news and updates as well as Ravens news and perspective.

Tomorrow will be 2 weeks from the start of training camp, however a less exciting date is looming. July 15th (2 days from now) is the deadline for the Ravens to sign Suggs. Since the Ravens opted to franchise tag him again in 2009, we have till Wednesday to sign him to a long term deal. Failure to do so will mean that he will remain a franchise player for all of 2009, and the Ravens will not be able to negotiate a new contract until the free agency period begins in 2010. If we don't get him signed, he will most likely hit the free agent market forcing the Ravens into a bidding war for his future services. With Haloti Ngata becoming a free agent in 2010, we can't afford to wait.

The word on the street is the deal is substantially in place with only incentives to be worked out. Let's hope this thing gets wrapped up so we can have a happy Suggs in camp ON time.

Can't wait for July 28th to get here, its gonna be pandemonius!

More authors

Kevin, Steve and MattHook are now authorized authors for this blog! Hopefully they will entertain.........

Some old Pandemonius Pics

FANS!

The beginning..........

Welcome to the voice of Purple Pandemonium. I am Nic, a co-founder of Purple Pandemonium. I am starting this blog to help express the feelings, thoughts, ideas, dilemmas, and any other news associated with Purple Pandemonium. The rest of Purple Pandemonium is not yet aware of this blog, but they soon will be. I plan to give blogging access rights to my fellow PanDemons so we all will have the power of cyber-expression. If no one ever reads this blog except for the handful of people who will be writing on it, oh well.......but if we can convince at least one person to become a Ravens UberFan, it will all be worth it. Stay tuned for the future of blogging, I will begin to shed the light on the true essence of Purple Pandemonium. It's Pandemonius.......

Nice to meet you, my loyal audience of zero,

Nic