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Rams DT Aaron Donald Announces Retirement - NFL Tracker

Keep up to date around the NFL as free agent players sign their new contracts.

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MARCH 15 DONALD IS DONE Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle had his contract restructured this morning, then just moments after ... announced his retirement.

The restructure frees the team up to sign others in free agency, but the Rams won't have Donald. 

The 32-year-old has registered 543 total tackles with 340 solo and 176 for loss, 260 quarterback hits seven fumble recoveries, 24 forced fumbles and one safety over 154 regular season games.

Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

MARCH 14 HOLLYWOOD TO KC Former Baltimore Ravens and Arizona Cardinals receiver Hollywood Brown is heading to the midwest.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Brown is signing a one-year deal worth up to $11 million with the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs.

The move gives Patrick Mahomes another big-time target who can make the offense that much more dynamic.

MARCH 14 DESHON TO PITTSBURGH The Pittsburgh Steelers have agreed to terms with former Ravens safety Deshon Elliott per Bleacher Report's Jordan Schultz. 

The deal is for a reported two years and $6 million.

Baltimore drafted Elliott in 2018 in the sixth round and he became a regular starter in 2020. Elliott played 50 games for the Ravens, Lions and Dolphins in the past four seasons.

He now joins former Ravens linebacker Patrick Queen in the Steelers' secondary.

MARCH 11 DUVERNAY TO JAGS The Baltimore Ravens are losing their return specialist. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Jacksonville Jaguars are signing Devin Duvernay to a two-year deal worth $8.5 million.

COUSINS TO ATLANTA Former Minnesota Vikings Kirk Cousins has reportedly agreed to a four-year deal with the Atlanta Falcons. No other terms of the agreement were made public.

BARKLEY TO PHILLY Former New York Giants running back and Ravens free agent target Saquon Barkley has reportedly agreed to terms for a three-year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday.

Per Adam Schefter of ESPN, Barkley’s contract is for $37.75 million and includes $26 million fully guaranteed at signing, and is worth a maximum of $46.75 million.

Barkley took to social media to confirm the report.

“Thank you to everyone who has shown me love and support over the past six years,” Barkley said in a separate post. "[F]orever grateful! Excited for the next chapter.”

JACOBS TO GREEN BAY Former Las Vegas Raiders running back is headed north from the desert to the frozen tundra. Jacobs and the Green Bay Packers have reportedly agreed to terms.

Last season, Jacobs led the NFL with 1,653 yards and added 400 yards receiving. All after the Raiders declined his fifth-year option.

COWBOYS' POLLARD OFF THE FA BOARD Former Dallas Cowboys running back Tony Pollard will have a new address after agreeing to a three-year, $24 million deal with the Tennessee Titans. 

It's the second consecutive season the Cowboys have said goodbye to their RB1 after releasing Ezekiel Elliott last offseason.

The Ravens will still have interest in other top-tier running backs.

RAVENS OUT ON SWIFT D'Andre Swift reportedly will be the first free agent running back to sign with a new team. According to KPRC, Swift will sign a three-year, $24 million deal with the Chicago Bears when free agency starts on Wednesday. The Ravens have been connected with Swift, Derrick Henry, Josh Jacobs and Saquon Barkley since the end of last season.

MARCH 9 JOE REPLACES DESHAUN? After an impressive end to the regular season with the Cleveland Browns after taking over for an injured Deshaun Watson, former Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco will hit free agency at the age of 39.

Flacco said he would like an opportunity to start. But the Browns are at the top of his list of desired destinations. If Cleveland decides to bring Flacco back, it's going to create some tension on the team and in the quarterback room.

Flacco looked better in a handful of games last season than Watson has looked since arriving in Cleveland via trade from the Houston Texans.

“This is the year that Deshaun Watson — if he is ever going to justify that deal — this is the year,” Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk said on Thursday, March 7. “It helps to have somebody who can play like Joe Flacco did. Does it help Deshaun Watson, though, to have Joe Flacco around, especially if he struggles at any point in the season?

“They don’t need those Browns fans chanting ‘Flacco, Flacco, Flacco’ any time Deshaun Watson throws an incomplete pass.”

MARCH 8 NAJEE HARRIS' FIFTH-YEAR OPTION The Pittsburgh Steelers must decide on picking up running back Najee Harris' $6.79 million fifth-year option by May 2. That figure will be fully guaranteed if they do.

"We have until the first week in May to make a decision. We have a new offensive coordinator, so that's gonna play into the decision-making process," Steelers general manager Omar Khan told reporters.

"We're having conversations with Arthur. It's been great. We've been engaging frequently, and coach Tomlin and Arthur and I, we've kind of been talking about the offense and what the vision is for it."

MARCH 3 COMMANDERS TO CUT GATES Ravens cross-town rival Washington announced on Saturday that it will cut center Nick Gates after just one season into his three-year, $16.5 million deal. That deal included $8 million in guaranteed money.

Gates was signed to be the starting center but was benched after just seven games last season. He'll count $5.3 million against the Commanders cap, but the team is seemingly ok with that just to cut him loose.

As the team enters the Dan Quinn era, they seem to be moving on from some contracts and players that aren't working. Charles Leno and Logan Thomas will also reportedly be cut as the new ownership tries to clear up roster spots and cap space heading into the offseason.

nick gates

FEB 29 RUDOLPH 'LIKELY' TO RE-SIGN IN PITTSBURGH With rumors swirling at the NFL Combine and around the league with regard to quarterbacks and free agency, ESPN's Bill Barnwell thinks it's unlikely the Pittsburgh Steelers are involved in a trade to bring a big-name quarterback to town.

With names like Russell Wilson and Justin Fields being thrown out as available, and with Kirk Cousins available in free agency, it looks like the Steelers could stick with Mason Rudolph per Barnwell.

"Rudolph's brief burst of production was out of line with his prior career performance, and he is likely to re-sign with the Steelers," Barnwell wrote.

Rudolph was named along with former Steelers quarterback Mitch Trubisky - who was cut by Pittsburgh a few weeks ago - in Barnwell's Tier 6 list of signal callers who were called "backups likely to earn a roster spot."

FEB 26 HIP-DROP TACKLE TO BE BANNED? The NFL's use of hip-drop tackles has been controversial for a couple of years now as the tackle becomes more popular and more used in the league.

On the heels of Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews being injured during a hip-drop tackle last season and missing seven regular season games and one playoff matchup, the league has announced the injury rate during a hip-drop tackle is "20-25 times greater than that of other tackles."

Because of that, NFL executive vice president Jeff Miller said “it’s certainly my hope” that the NFL will ban hip drops this off-season, according to Judy Battista of NFL Media.

One of the issues is that the tackle itself seems hard to define well enough to create a rule or a ban involving it. The NFL Players Association has resisted pressure for the ban, even though it continues to injure players league-wide.

FEB 24 BIENIEMY HIRED ON THE WEST COAST Former Washington Commanders offensive coordinator is heading back to college.

Per ESPN's Adam Schefter and reported by CommanderCountry.com, former Washington assistant head coach and offensive coordinator Eric Bieneimy has been hired by the UCLA Bruins to serve in the same role.

Bieniemy coached running backs for the Bruins from 2003-05 and now returns.

Bieniemy was rumored to have been working with the Kansas City Chiefs again ahead of Super Bowl LVIII after being dismissed from new Commanders coach Dan Quinn's new staff. But that arrangement was apparently temporary as Bieniemy has found a new home with an old employer.

FEB 23 Former NFL cornerback Shareece Wright is one of 12 plaintiffs suing Colton Joint Unified School District and it's former athletic trainer, Tiffany Strauss-Gordon.  Wright was a third-round pick out of USC by the Chargers in the 2011 NFL Draft, and played the 2015 and 2016 seasons in Baltimore.

Wright told ESPN's "Outside the Lines" that he's speaking out to hopefully stop this from happening to other kids. "The less it's kept a secret, the harder it is for it to continue to happen," Wright said, via ESPN.

The former Raven said he first met Strauss-Gordon when she was 21 and he was 15. She is the daughter of legendary high school football coach Harold Strauss and worked at the time under her father. 

Wright said Strauss-Gordon touched him inappropriately during treatment sessions, and was accused of performing oral sex on him.

Wright's attorney, Morgan Stewart, spoke to ESPN about this disturbing situation.

"You've got football, you've got the coach's daughter, you've got a permissive school environment where it's allowed to happen," Stewart said. "I mean, you've got sort of a perfect storm of sexual abuse that could be covered up easily."

FEB 20 MURDER CHARGES FILED AFTER CHIEFS SUPER BOWL PARADE SHOOTING Charges have been filed in response to the Super Bowl parade shooting that left a woman dead and multiple others - including children - injured.

Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker announced on Tuesday through the Kansas City Star that Lyndell Mays and Dominic M. Miller will both face a felony murder charge. 

Lisa Lopez-Galvan, a local radio personality was killed and more than 20 others injured. According to Baker, Mays was arguing with another parade attendee and drew a gun. Others - including Miller - also drew firearms and began shooting. Police evidence indicates a bullet from Miller's gun killed Lopez-Galvan. 

FEB 8 HEYWARD WINS WALTER PAYTON NFL MoY AWARD Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward was named as the 2023 recipient of the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award as the NFL Honors show wrapped up on Thursday night.

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex was on hand to announce the Steelers captain as the winner of the award. 

It was Heyward's sixth time being nominated and his first win. The Steelers standout was honored for his Heyward House Foundation that honors his late father, Craig "Ironhead" Heyward, that has a number of initiatives to combat childhood hunger, literacy, to support students and teachers and fight cancer.

FEB 3 FLACCO'S BROTHER FINDS UFL TEAM If Baltimore Ravens fans are looking for a football fix this spring, they might have a new rooting interest. 

As revealed by the latest attempt at spring football itself, Joe Flacco's younger brother Tom has signed with the San Antonio Brahmas of the United Football League, the new joint venture between the XFL and the United States Football League. Having previously starred for Towson on the collegiate level, the younger Flacco has appeared in the systems of several different CFL and XFL squads and now joins a crowded quarterback room that also includes former Aaron Rodgers backup Kurt Benkert and Notre Dame alum Jack Coan.

The debut season of the UFL project opens on March 30.

JAN 20 NOT HIS FIRST RODEO Odell Beckham Jr.'s 'Texans Rodeo' pregame outfit - complete with cowhide and black leader and baby-blue accents - is going viral in advance of the Ravens' NFL Playoffs opener today in Baltimore with Houston in town.

Yes, people are talking about OBJ. Yes, that's exactly the way OBJ likes it.

JAN 17 MELVIN GORDON CUT The Baltimore Ravens are saying goodbye to one of their running backs.

According to NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero, the Ravens are waiving running back Melvin Gordon, who played four games with the team this season.

Gordon ran the ball 26 times for 81 yards and a touchdown. Now, the Ravens head into the weekend with Gus Edwards and Justice Hill on the active roster. Dalvin Cook is on the practice squad.

JAN 13 NO FLACCO REUNION There will be no Joe Flacco-Ravens reunion in the playoffs as the Flacco-led Browns lose to the resurgent Texans at NRG Stadium on Saturday 45-14.

The loss eliminates Flacco and the Browns from the playoffs.

The Ravens will have to wait until Monday to find out who their Divisional round opponent is after the Steelers-Bills game was moved because of blizzard-like conditions in Buffalo.

Since Baltimore will play the lowest remaining seed, possible candidates are Texans (4), Dolphins (6) and Steelers (7).

JAN 9 HOUSTON SIGNS IN MIAMI Former Ravens defensive end Justin Houston has reportedly agreed to a deal with the Miami Dolphins.

After losing both Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb to season-ending injuries, the Dolphins were tapped out on the edge. Houston had an impressive two-year stop in Baltimore from 2021-2022 but was cut due to salary cap constraints.

He signed with Carlina where he was cut last month after a less-than-stellar showing.

JAN 8 RIVERA OUT THE DOOR The Ravens' cross-town rivals are looking for a new head coach.

With new ownership in place led by managing general partner Josh Harris, changes were likely to happen. And now they have. After finishing the season 4-13, Harris and the powers-that-be fired head coach Ron Rivera after four seasons.

And it didn't help that the Commanders just got embarrassed by their arch-rivals, the Dallas Cowboys 38-10 in the season finale.

Rivera's time in Washington ends with a 26-40-1 overall record, one playoff appearance, one NFC East title and zero winning seasons.

DEC 27 RAVENS VS. 49ERS MAKES MNF HISTORY The Baltimore Ravens' win on Monday Night Football against the San Francisco 49ers on Christmas Day was historic.

Apart from Week 11's Super Bowl rematch between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs, it was the most-watched Monday Night Football game in the last 27 years, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Now, 27.2 million viewers had a chance to see just how dominant the Ravens can be as they push towards another Super Bowl.

DEC 25 AFC'S NO. 1 SEED IN SIGHT The Ravens don't necessarily need to beat the 49ers on Monday to win the top seed in the AFC. Per ESPN Analytics, if the Ravens beat San Francisco, they will possess a 72 percent chance of locking down the No. 1 seed. With a loss, that goes down to 45 percent.

If Baltimore wins on Christmas Day, then it can clinch the top seed with a win over Miami on Sunday.

DEC 19 WELCOME BACK, BEN! The Ravens have signed former Ravens FB/TE Ben Mason to the practice squad the team announced on Wednesday.

Mason was a 2021 fifth-round pick out of Michigan in 2021 by Baltimore and was supposed to be the eventual replacement for Patrick Ricard. Mason was cut by the team in August ahead of the 53-man roster cuts.

DEC 18 MELVIN GORDON SET TO SUB FOR MITCHELL The Melvin Gordon transaction rollercoaster is about to hit another loop.

Per Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team, Gordon is "expected" to be re-added to the Baltimore Ravens' roster after Keaton Mitchell endured a season-ending injury in Sunday's 23-7 win over Jacksonville. Gordon, 30, has been stationed in the Ravens' system since training camp and previously appeared in two games earlier this regular season. He amassed 99 yards from scrimmage in those appearances and five of his 16 carries resulted in first downs.

DEC 15 TYLER HUNTLEY WELCOMES 1ST CHILD Baltimore Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley made one of the best roster adjustments on Thursday, as he welcomed his first child, a boy named Tyler Jr. Weighing in at eight pounds and 12 ounces, Tyler Jr.'s arrival caused his father to miss practice on Thursday, though he was back in tow during Friday's prep. 

"It's a life-changing moment," Huntley said, per Ryan Mink of the Ravens' official site. "It's just love to see life being brought into this world."

Huntley, 25, is in the midst of his fourth season in Baltimore, serving as a recurring backup to Lamar Jackson. The Utah alum has appeared in three games this season, throwing eight passes including one that went for a touchdown.

DEC 14 PAST AND PRESENT RAVENS PART OF ROONEY AWARD NOMINEES There's no shortage of Baltimore Ravens representation on the list of finalists for the Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award: current guard Kevin Zeitler is one of the eight finalists alongside former Charm City fullback Kyle Juszczyk and linebacker C.J. Mosley, who respectively rep the San Francisco 49ers and New York Jets. 

The award, which was introduced in 2014, will be one of the many titles bestowed at the upcoming NFL Honors, which will held on Feb. 8 in the lead-up to Super Bowl LVIII. Other nominees include Budda Baker (Arizona), Maxx Crosby (Las Vegas), Khalil Mack (LA Chargers), Dak Prescott (Dallas), and Bobby Wagner (Seattle).

Baltimore will, ironically enough, look to take home the sportsmanship title named after the founder of the Pittsburgh Steelers for the second consecutive season: former defensive lineman Calais Campbell, currently of Atlanta, was last year's winner in his third and final season in purple.

DEC 12 'LOUISVILLE REUNION' The Baltimore Ravens have bolstered their quarterback depth with the signing of rookie signal-caller Malik Cunningham off the New England Patriots practice squad, per a report from Adam Schefter. 

Which will reunite him with fellow former Louisville and current Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, who was on the same team back in 2017 as a member of the Cardinals. 

DEC 11 OPENING ODDS FAVOR RAVENS IN JACKSONVILLE Oddsmakers favor the Baltimore Ravens in the early prep stages of their next game, a Sunday night showdown against their fellow division leaders, the Jacksonville Jaguars (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC). Opening odds stage the Ravens (10-3) as 3.5-point favorites as they seek to further close in on the AFC's top seed and the first-round bye that comes with it.

Jacksonville (8-5) has dropped two in a row but continues to lead the AFC South. They appeared to have avoided major disaster when it came to franchise quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who left last Monday's loss to Cincinnati early with an ankle sprain, but dropped a 31-27 heartbreaker to the Cleveland Browns on Sunday afternoon on the road.

This Sunday night will feature the 24th all-time meeting between the Ravens and Jaguars, the latter leading the all-time set so far at 13-10. Jacksonville won last year's meeting in November by a 28-27 final.

DEC 10 RAVENS WR ODELL BECKHAM JR. CELEBRATES TIME WITH RAMS Current Ravens wideout OBJ has fond memories of his short stint with the LA Rams two seasons ago. After all, he won a Super Bowl ring because of it.

OBJ was seen on the field at M&T Bank Stadium during warmups before Baltimore's matchup with the Rams, wearing a hoodie that depicted his time with the Rams.

He was also seen embracing former Rams teammates like Cooper Kupp.

Odell Beckham Jr.
Odell Beckham Jr / LA Rams on X

DEC 7 RAVENS COORDINATORS TO HEAD COACHING JOBS? Over the past two offseasons, the Baltimore Ravens have had to separately fill the respective defensive and offensive coordinator spots. Come this winter/spring, they may have to fill both.

Anonymous NFL executives hinted to Jason La Canfora of the Washington Post that Mike Macdonald and Todd Monken, the respective heads of the Ravens' defense and offense, could find themselves promoted to the top spot come this offseason. 

“I think they’re both getting (head coaching) jobs,” one general manager told La Canfora. “(Head coach) John (Harbaugh) has to know that’s a real possibility. They’re both going to get interviews.”

Another unnamed executive said that Monken, in his first season at the helm of Baltimore's offense, could have the inside edge thanks to prior experience: Monken spent three seasons wearing the top headset at the University of Southern Mississippi and he also two national championship rings from his time as the Georgia Bulldogs' offense coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

“Baltimore is going to lose them both. I like the OC more than the DC," the latter executive said. "The OC is going to be somebody’s head coach, man. He’s done it (at Southern Mississippi) before. His offense was great at Georgia. He’s ready."

DEC 6 RAMS SIGN MASON CROSBY BEFORE RAVENS GAME The Baltimore Ravens could face a new kicker when the Los Angeles Rams come to town this weekend.

The Rams announced that they have signed 16-year veteran Mason Crosby to the practice squad.

Crosby, 39, kicked in every game for the Green Bay Packers from 2007-22. Now, he could join the Rams as they fight for a playoff spot.

The Ravens host the Rams on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.

DEC 5 WALTER PAYTON MAN OF THE YEAR NOMINEE The Baltimore Ravens have announced starting inside linebacker Roquan Smith was nominated as their Walter Payton Man of the Year candidate, via the team's official Twitter account Tuesday.

The Walter Payton Man of the Year award "recognizes an NFL player for his excellence on and off the field. Smith is one of 32 nominees for the award which was last won by Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. The winner will be announced on February 8 during the NFL Honors which will air live on CBS at 9 p.m. (EST). 

DEC 4 REED PULLS FOR CLEVELANDER FLACCO One Baltimore Raven is delivering an olive branch to the Cleveland Browns in the wake of recent events. 

Ravens great Ed Reed is among the many watching the Browns with great interest after his former AFC North divisional rival added his ex-teammate Joe Flacco under center. Flacco, the longtime franchise quarterback in Charm City and Super Bowl XLVI MVP, made his orange-helmeted debut on Sunday in the wake of injuries to starters Deshaun Watson and Dorian Thompson-Robinson as the Browns fight for an elusive playoff spot.

“It might be a Cinderella thing," Reed declared in a conversation with NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. "It might be awesome if Joe can get them to the playoffs."

Reed outright pulling from the Browns and Flacco dressing in Cleveland colors might prove equally shocking to Ravens fans, but the former assured supporters that it could always be worse.

"It's not like he's going to the Steelers, man!" Reed said in regards to those worried about Flacco committing treason. "He's somewhere that actually has a connection to Baltimore."

Reed, of course, refers to the Ravens' 1996 formation that spawned from the Browns' controversial move away from Cleveland. The history of the franchise remained in Ohio while the Ravens have been regarded as a de facto expansion franchise. Baltimore has dominated the ensuing divisional rivalry to the tune of a 36-14 record since Cleveland's return, though the two sides split the season series this time around.

Flacco, 38, put up respectable numbers in his Browns debut, going 23-of-44 for 252 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception in a 36-19 interconference loss to the Los Angeles Rams. As it stands, the Browns (7-5) placed sixth in the AFC and hold one of three wild card spots between four teams with matching records. They return to action on Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars (1 p.m. ET, CBS).

DEC 4 RAVENS LOSE NO. 1 SEED IN AFC The Baltimore Ravens' time atop the AFC has come to an end for the time being. 

The Miami Dolphins' 45-15 win over the Washington Commanders improved their record to 9-3 and moved them atop the AFC. The Ravens (9-3) are now the No. 2 seed as they're currently on their bye week. 

The Kansas City Chiefs fell behind Baltimore and Miami by a game after their 27-19 loss to the Green Bay Packers. The Jacksonville Jaguars (8-3) will have a chance to have the same record as the Ravens and Dolphins with a win on Monday Night Football against the Cincinnati Bengals (5-6). 

Baltimore will have its chances to reclaim the No. 1 seed later this month when they face the Jaguars in Jacksonville on Dec. 17 and on Dec. 31 when it hosts Miami. 

NOV 30 MADUBUIKE DESTINED FOR FRANCHISE TAG? Adam Schefter revealed that the Baltimore Ravens attempted to lock down the future of standout pass rusher Justin Madubuike before this season began. The failure to do so ... and Madubuike's finest professional season to date ... could force the Ravens to place the franchise tag on him. 

“Baltimore put on a press to sign him this summer, he rolled the dice, he bet on himself," Schefter said on his eponymous podcast. "If they can’t get him re-signed they’ll probably have to use their franchise tag on him.”

Madubuike has certainly cashed in on that bet: he's already set a new career-high with 10 sacks, one of 10 defenders to reach double-figures in quarterback takedowns this season.

NOV 29 DESEAN JACKSON TO ANNOUNCE RETIREMENT Three-time Pro Bowl receiver DeSean Jackson is set to announce his retirement on Friday, his 37th birthday. It will end a 15-year career that finished with the Baltimore Ravens last season. Jackson is set to sign an honorary contract with the Philadelphia Eagles, his original and longest-tenured NFL employers (2008-13, 2019-20).

"DeSean Jackson was a dynamic playmaker who captivated Eagles fans with his game-breaking speed, unique skill set, and explosive play," Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie said in a statement on the team's official site. "What made DeSean truly stand out during his accomplished 15-year career was his ability to make miraculous plays look routine.

Jackson's final NFL action thus came with the Ravens, who had him on the field for seven games last season. He earned 153 yards on nine receptions in that span. His other NFL stops include Washington, Tampa Bay, Los Angeles (Rams), and Las Vegas.

NOV 28 SUNDAY REF EXPLAINS STONE NO-CALL Some felt that the Baltimore Ravens caught an early break in Sunday's 20-10 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers: on the hosts' opening drive, quarterback Justin Herbert's scramble out of bounds five yards away from the end zone wasn't enough to avoid a heavy hit from Ravens defender Geno Stone, leading to brief extracirriculars between the two sides before order was restored. 

Only post-play penalties were called and the Chargers eventually settled for a Cameron Dicker field goal that opened scoring. Referee Alan Eck further exonerated Stone after the game, saying that the Baltimore defender committed to the tackle before Herbert stepped out of bounds.

"While he was still in bounds, the defender committed to the tackle,” Eck said, in the pool report curated by PFWA member Joe Reedy “As his foot landed out of bounds, the defender made contact. So, since the defender already committed to the tackle while the quarterback was in bounds, it was deemed a legal hit.”

NOV 27 THE FALL OF TUCKER Ravens kicker Justin Tucker has been the best kicker in the NFL almost since he came into the league as an undrafted free agent in 2012 from the University of Texas. But not anymore.

The 34-year-old Austin Westlake product missed a 44-yard attempt in the Ravens' 20-10 win over the Chargers on Sunday night, which dropped his season field goal percentage to a career-low 80.8 percent.

Tucker didn't just relinquish the title of "most accurate ever," he's not even average this season. 

The NFL average is 85.8 percent, far above Tucker's 80.8 success rate. The Ravens rank No. 23 of the 32 NFL teams in field goal percentage.

NOV 21 ED REED DID IT FIRST Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery, and Philadelphia Eagles defender Jalen Carter offered tribute on Monday night: in the midst of Philadelphia's widely-viewed 21-17 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, Carter attempted to intercept a Patrick Mahomes spike at the end of the first half with a dive past the line of scrimmage as the ball left the passer's hand. 

According to former Ravens defender Dominique Foxworth, Ed Reed attempted a similar gambit against Joe Flacco in a Baltimore practice of yesteryear. 

“One time, actually it was more than one time, I saw Joe Flacco complete a pass and they get ready to spike the ball, Foxworth recalled. "Ed Reed creeps up to the line of scrimmage, Joe Flacco snaps it and steps back and spikes the ball. Ed Reed dives under the center’s leg to try to catch the spike and hits his hand.”

Reed, one of the most lauded secondary defenders in recent NFL memory certainly didn't need any help in the race to be the Ravens' all-time leader in interceptions: over 11 seasons in Charm City (2002-12) earned 61 interceptions, 30 more than his closest competitor Ray Lewis.

NOV 20 RAVENS WORK OUT POSSIBLE ANDREWS REPLACEMENT The Baltimore Ravens lost starting tight end Mark Andrews in Thursday's 34-20 win over the Cincinnati Bengals, and despite the ankle injury not being as bad as originally feared, they have already started looking at making a potential signing. 

Per a report from NFL.com's Tom Pelissero, the Ravens held free-agent workouts on Monday for "a group of tight ends" that included former first-round pick O.J. Howard. 

Howard, 29, has been a free agent since the beginning of August when the Las Vegas Raiders released him after signing with them in free agency last offseason.  His release from the Raiders followed a short stint with the Houston Texans, where he played in 13 games and totaled 145 yards and two touchdowns on 10 receptions.

If he were to sign with the Ravens, it would be the fourth team for the former first-round pick after spending the first five years of his career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

NOV 20 TRUMP ON 'ELITE' Joe Flacco is back in the NFL. ... which means former President Donald Trump is back in the news.

Or maybe neither of them ever really left.

The Super Bowl-winning quarterback - with the Baltimore Ravens, of course - is signing with the Cleveland Browns, "coming off the couch'' in the wake of the injury to Deshaun Watson.

And that's enough to review the Trump review of Flacco, who is the centerpiece of an almost trite question about whether a given quarterback is "an elite quarterback.''

“I think Joe Flacco is, actually, a very elite quarterback,” Trump said. “He won a Super Bowl, he did it really, to a certain extent, with that great arm of his. I would say absolutely. He is an elite quarterback.”

The only problem with the take, turned modernized? It's from 2015 ... and Cleveland which did improve to 7-3 on the year with a win over Pittsburgh on Sunday in its attempt to keep pace with the 8-3 Ravens in the AFC North ... and Flacco, who did play with the Jets for a time last year, is now 38 years old.

NOV 17 JOE FLACCO VISITS BROWNS The former face of the Baltimore Ravens franchise could be joining one of their biggest rivals.

Per ESPN's Jake Trotter, the Cleveland Browns are hosting Joe Flacco for a workout.

The Browns are in need of some quarterback help after losing Deshaun Watson to a shoulder injury for the season. The team is starting fifth-round rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson on Sunday and third-stringer P.J. Walker has also started two games for the team in 2023.

NOV 14 HARBAUGH JUICES UP JACKSON In the wake of a trying ... if not mercifully short ... week for the Baltimore Ravens, head coach John Harbaugh backed his embattled quarterback Lamar Jackson after another high-profile shortcoming.

Jackson was far from the primary reason for the Ravens' 33-31 heartbreaker at the hands of the Cleveland Browns but completed only 1-of-5 passes in the fourth quarter, one of which was tipped and taken back for a pick-six. Harbaugh's public, emphatic vote of confidence comes as the Ravens (7-3) are preparing for another crucial divisional duel on Thursday against the Cincinnati Bengals (8:15 p.m. ET, Amazon Prime Video).

“Nobody’s perfect in every game,” Harbaugh said, per Jonas Shaffer of The Baltimore Banner.. “Lamar competes. He fights. He plays hard. You’re going against the best defenses in football, the schemes in crazy situations. I just wouldn’t rather have any other quarterback in the league than Lamar Jackson in a tough situation." 

"We all try to do our best in every situation. We all try to build and improve through all these experiences that we have, and he’s no different."

NOV 10 RAVENS VISIT ANNAPOLIS With Veterans' Day landing on Saturday and M&T Bank Stadium set to partake in the NFL's Salute to Service campaign the day after, members of the Baltimore Ravens visited the United States Naval Academy to host a youth football clinic in Annapolis.

Young children, descendants of military personnel, partook in a football clinic hosted by active Ravens Keaton Mitchell and Morgan Moses on the turf of Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. 

"The kids are out here, having a great time running around with some of the great players on the football team," Moses said in video from the Ravens. "Just being able to get out here on the field, take time with them, answer questions, and just being able to see them in person and enlighten their day is a big factor to us."

Just before the Ravens battle the Browns in a crucial AFC North showdown on Sunday (1 p.m. ET, Fox), the Navy Midshipmen (3-5, 2-3 AAC) host UAB the afternoon before (3:30 p.m. ET, CBSSN). 

NOV 9 RAVENS HIGH IN PLAYOFF PICTURE The Baltimore Ravens have established themselves as one of the most dynamic and complete teams in football in the early portions of the 2023 NFL season, but there is a lot of football left to be played.

The Ravens (7-2) currently sit atop the AFC North, but the rest of the division would also be in the postseason picture if the season ended today. How does the Ravens' record stack up against the rest of the AFC?

The current playoff picture can be found below.

1. Kansas City Chiefs -- 7-2

2. Baltimore Ravens -- 7-2

3. Jacksonville Jaguars -- 6-2

4. Miami Dolphins -- 6-3

5. Pittsburgh Steelers -- 5-3

6. Cleveland Browns -- 5-3

7. Cincinnati Bengals -- 5-3

8. Buffalo Bills -- 5-4

NOV 5 SEYMOUR AND WORLEY RETURN The Ravens made a pair of roster moves in preparation for their Week 9 matchup with the Seattle Seahawks.

Defensive back Daryl Worley has been removed from IR and placed on the 53-man roster, while Baltimore also re-signed corner Kevon Seymour, who was released on Thursday and cleared waivers.

Worley, 28, suffered a shoulder injury in Week 4 against the Browns and is returning after a mandatory four-week absence. Seymour was re-signed and placed on the active roster in the event he needs to play against Seattle on Sunday.

NOV 2 RAVENS RELEASE SEYMOUR Per ESPN's Field Yates, the Baltimore Ravens have released cornerback Kevon Seymour. The sixth-year defender has been on and off the Ravens' roster in each of the past three seasons and was mostly relegated to special teams this time around. Seymour could return to the Ravens' system via the practice squad.

Seymour's departure could potentially make room for fellow secondary man Daryl Worley, who was activated from injured reserve earlier this week. Worley has not played since injury his shoulder in Week 4's victory in Cleveland. 

NOV 1 LEAVING LAS VEGAS Mired in an abysmal 3-5 season where little has gone right, the Raiders have fired head coach Josh McDaniels and general manager David Ziegler on Tuesday night.

The move came a day after an ugly 26-14 loss to the Detroit Lions in front of a national audience on Monday Night Football.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that linebackers coach Antonio Pierce will be the team's interim head coach. Pierce will have his work cut out for him as the Raiders currently rank 31st in the NFL in points scored per game and 30th in yards gained per contest.

OCT 31 BROWNS TRADE WR DONOVAN PEOPLES-JONES The final day of the NFL trade period featured just one move on the jam-packed AFC North: while Baltimore, Cincinnati, and Pittsburgh stood pat, the Cleveland Browns traded receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones to the Detroit Lions for a fifth-round pick in 2025. 

The trade is a homecoming for Peoples-Jones, a Detroit native and Michigan alum before Cleveland drafted him in the sixth round of 2017's draft. Peoples-Jones set a career-high had 97 yards on eight receptions in seven appearances this season, which came after he tallied a career-best 839 on 61 grabs last year. 

"He'll be a good fit here. He's a high-character kid," Lions general manager Brad Holmes said of Peoples-Jones' arrival, per Dave Birket of the Detroit Free Press. "He's fired up about getting this process going."

Despite a 38-6 shellacking at the hands of the Ravens two weeks ago, Detroit (6-2) continues to lead the NFC North. They have a bye in Week 9 before returning to action on Nov. 12 against the Los Angeles Chargers (4:05 p.m. ET, CBS).

OCT 31 COMMANDERS DUMP DEFENSE The Washington Commanders have been busy during the NFL trade deadline on Tuesday.

Just hours after the Washington Commanders traded edge rusher Montez Sweat to the Chicago Bears for a second-round pick, they finalized their decision on edge rusher Chase Young.

The Commanders chose to trade Young before Tuesday’s trade deadline to the San Francisco 49ers for a third-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, per Commander Country.

It’s clear that, at 3-5, Washington doesn’t have a legitimate path to the playoffs, and the front office is acting accordingly. Both Sweat and Young looked to be headed to free agency, and looming extensions did not align with the timeline the Commanders had in mind.

OCT 31 HOUSTON-CARSON TO HOUSTON The Houston Texans are signing safety DeAndre Houston-Carson from the Ravens practice squad, reports indicated on Tuesday. 

Houston-Carson played his college ball at William & Mary, and he was selected in the sixth round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears. He has spent time with the Texans before joining the Ravens' practice squad, and he will now be heading back to Houston for his second stint there in 2023.

OCT 27 SMITH ENDS FEUD WITH BRONCOS' JEUDY Former Baltimore Ravens receiver Steve Smith took to the "Pat McAfee Show" on Friday to end his feud with fellow catcher and current Denver Bronco Jerry Jeudy. 

Smith, a five-time Pro Bowler, apologized for calling out Jeudy while manning pregame coverage for Amazon Prime Video's coverage of "Thursday Night Football" on Oct. 12, when Denver faced Kansas City, claiming the active receiver blew him off when he tried to apologize for an earlier jab on his podcast. 

“I apologize for how I said it, what I said, and it didn’t sit well," Smith declared. "That wasn't my intent, but what's done is done and I'm sorry. It makes me more aware that I gotta use different words and not make it come across like I'm jealous or envious of the current players, because I'm not."

Smith, 44, played his final three seasons with the Ravens (2014-16), earning 2,534 yards and 14 touchdowns through the air in that span.

OCT 26 FAN FINDS UNUSUAL HAT IN RAVENS TEAM STORE To quote Indiana Jones ... it belongs in a museum.

It was instead found in the Baltimore Ravens' team store: a fan brandished his latest purchase, a $30 hat that bore the famous emblem of the Ravens over text that read "Steelers," the name of Baltimore's longest-standing NFL rivals. Naturally, the buyer, or at least their friend, sought retribution on X, showcasing the rare find to the official accounts of the Ravens, Steelers, cap maker New Era, and Barstool Sports, as well as those of Lamar Jackson and Rich Eisen.

The headwear hex is undoubtedly a mistake, as it's unlikely that any fan from either Baltimore or Pittsburgh would be caught dead wearing it. Since the Ravens entered the league in 1996, their series with the Steelers has been one of the NFL's most tightly-contested matchups and has, more often than not, altered the fate of the AFC North division. 

Pittsburgh took the first half of the latest yearly couple by a 17-10 final on Oct. 8. The two teams will do battle in Baltimore during the final week of the regular season in January. 

OCT 23 RAVENS 'SPOKE TO' NDAMUKONG SUH ABOUT NFL RETURN Ndamukong Suh appears to be plotting an NFL return and the Baltimore Ravens appear interested in hosting. 

While partaking in Sky Sports' NFL coverage on Sunday ... shortly after the Ravens dismantled the Detroit Lions by a 38-6 final ... Suh revealed that Baltimore management called him about a potential 14th NFL season. 

“Last week it was the Ravens that spoke to me, so they seem to be interested and played great today,” Suh said. “You never know. We’ll see when we get back to the States, huddle up with the wife and family, get settled, and keep training.”

“Where’s the right fit? Where’s the right opportunity? Where can I go and add value? I don’t just want to sit there and watch other guys be successful,” Suh said. “Have options, that’s the key, and make decisions from there.”

Suh, 36, spent the latter half of last season with the Philadelphia Eagles, picking up 10 tackles and a sack and appearing in all three games of the team's NFC title run. 

OCT 19 INTERNATIONAL FLAGS You'll see some changes to some NFL helmets around the league for Weeks 7 and 8. Hundreds of players will add flag decals to their helmets representing the countries of their heritage.

The league has announced more than 330 players have committed to participate, representing 72 nations, with Nigeria being the most-represented foreign country, with 80 players committing to wear the Nigerian flag.

OCT 17 RAVENS ADD SUPER BOWL CHAMP ANDREW ADAMS Per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Baltimore Ravens are set to add safety Andrew Adams to their practice squad and a "quick elevation" could be in store considering the team's injury situation: during their 24-16 win over Tennessee in London, the Ravens lost Marcus Williams to a hamstring issue. 

Adams, 30, has built a lengthy NFL career since emerging as an undrafted free agent out of Connecticut in 2016. He earned a Super Bowl ring after the 2020 season with Tampa Bay and played 13 games (11 starts) with the aforementioned Tennessee Titans last season. 

In a presumed corresponding move to make room for Adams, the Ravens released veteran running back Kenyan Drake from the practice squad, per the team's official site.

OCT 15 CHEAP SHOT! Odell Beckham Jr. took offense to a Tennessee Titans cheap shot and kneed Jeffery Simmons in the groin area after a Zay Flowers catch ... and the refs only catch the tail end of the conflict - so when Simmons responded by pushing Beckham down to the turf in London in this Week 6 tilt, it was the Ravens who get the benefit and the 15 yards and a first down after Simmons was penalized. Watch below ...

The Ravens are in control early with a 15-3 lead.

OCT 13 LEWIS BACKS DOWN OHER CTE CLAIMS Michael Lewis, the author of the book that eventually became the film "The Blind Side," retracted previous claims about the story's subject, former Baltimore Ravens offensive lineman Michael Oher. In a prior interview with Samanth Subramanian of The Guardian, Lewis hinted that Oher's lawsuit against the Tuohy family concerning profits made from the 2009 film starring Sandra Bullock was a "change of behavior" brought about by head/brain injuries from football.

Lewis backed down from that claim in a subsequent discussion with Brett Martin of GQ.

"I got pushed and I said something in anger that I probably shouldn’t have said," Lewis said in the latter interview. "I don’t know what’s going on. I just don’t know. It breaks my heart though."

When commenting on the evolving Oher situation, Lewis, known to be a friend of the Tuohy family, has often spoken out in their defense, blaming other factors such as Hollywood accounting for the alleged financial discrepancies. In the GQ article, Lewis stated he could understand Oher's frustration with the movie but not his anger toward the Tuohys.

 can understand him being upset with the movie. I have a problem with him accusing people of stealing money from him when all they did was give him money," Lewis said. "He’s really upended these people’s lives who really never did anything but mean him well and love him and take care of him and I just felt like they needed defending because nobody else was doing it."

OCT 12 JON GRUDEN AN OPTION FOR PITTSBURGH STEELERS Jon Gruden's second return to the NFL may be closer than ever, and if rumors come to fruition, the Baltimore Ravens could be facing him twice a year. 

Pittsburgh-Post Gazette reporter Gerry Dulac tabbed Gruden as an option to become the Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator next season, citing his relationship with head coach Mike Tomlin from their time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Gruden was the Bucs' head coach from 2002-2008, and Tomlin was the team's defensive backs coach from 2001-2005.

If Pittsburgh were to be interested in Gruden, it likely wouldn't be as cut and dry as hiring though he isn't currently employed by an NFL team. Gruden is currently suing the NFL after he was forced to resign as the Las Vegas Raiders' head coach on Oct. 11, 2021, after numerous misogynistic and racist emails that he sent to former NFL exec Bruce Allen were leaked during an investigation into the Washington Commanders. 

Pro Football Talk reported Gruden and the NFL along with commissioner Roger Goodell will appear in Nevada Supreme Court on Nov. 7. 

The Steelers (3-2) offense has struggled under current offensive coordinator Matt Canada. They were 26th in points per game last season and currently 29th through five games.

While hiring Gruden as an offensivsive coordinator would likely stir controversy, it could be a headache worth having for Pittsburgh if he can improve the offense and develop second-year quarterback Kenny Pickett.

OCT 9 RAVENS TO SPEND WEEK IN LONDON London's calling the Baltimore Ravens a little earlier this time around.

Following a heartbreaking defeat at the hands of the hands of the Pittsburgh Steelers, head coach John Harbaugh announced that the team will spend nearly all of this week in London as they prepare to do international battle against the Tennessee Titans next Sunday morning (9:30 a.m. ET, NFL Network).

Harbaugh said that the plan is influenced not by the 17-10 loss to Pittsburgh but rather by a 44-7 shellacking suffered when the Ravens faced the Jacksonville Jaguars in The Big Smoke in 2017. To date, it's one of the most lopsided games on the NFL's international ledgers.

"It's mostly driven by the fact that we didn't do well, so we did the opposite," Harbaugh said, per Jamison Hensley of ESPN. "There's no data, and we looked for it, to say when you should go out there and what's the ideal thing. I'll say this kind of in jest, what's the science on that? As often is the case, they really don't know. That's just the way it is."

Sunday's game will mark the final installment of a British tripleheader on the NFL slate, which featured two Jacksonville victories. All other participants, including the Titans, have departed for England on the Thursday before their respective games.

OCT 5 ROQUAN SMITH'S "NOT A RAVEN UNTIL..." Baltimore Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith is looking for another rite of passage, as the defender apparently refuses to acknowledge his purple-and-gold privilege until he beats the hated Pittsburgh Steelers again.

“I’m not a Raven this year until I beat Pittsburgh," Smith said, per Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic. "I take great pride being a Raven. I want to earn that right, as well.”

One of Smith's first outings as a Raven was a 16-14 triumph over Pittsburgh in December, one that saw him earn a sack and an interception. The former Chicago Bear, however, apparently sees continued success against the Steelers as a prerequisite for building a continued legacy in Charm City. Sunday's showdown against the Steelers (1 p.m. ET, CBS) will mark the first time the divisional rivals square off since Smith inked a five-year, $100 million contract extension that will keep him part of the rivalry for the foreseeable future. 

OCT 2 HARBAUGH "HOPEFUL" FOR RETURN OF HUMPHREY Fresh off a standout defensive effort in Cleveland, the Baltimore Ravens might be getting one of their brightest birds back.

As a matchup with the reeling Pittsburgh Steelers looms on Sunday (1 p.m. ET, CBS), it's possible Baltimore could get injured cornerback Marlon Humphrey back. 

"(He's) is within the range," Harbaugh said. "There is no gold (standard) … I've said it many times. You can't say a date. He's in the range, so I'm hopeful he will get back this week. I was hopeful he'd get back last week, and if it's not this week, it will probably be next week. He's in the range right now, right in the area right now. So, we'll see what happens."

Baltimore (3-1) is looking to go 3-0 against divisional opposition after previously topping Cincinnati and Cleveland. Even with Humphrey out, the unit had a sterling day against the Browns, allowing only 166 yards in a 28-3 triumph.

SEPT 29 JUDGE ENDS MICHAEL OHER CONSERVATORSHIP It began with "The Blind Side." It ends, or at least begins to, with "The Terminator." 

Shelby County (TN) Probate Court Judge Kathleen Gomes is ending the conservatorship the Tuohy family established for former Baltimore Ravens offensive lineman Michael Oher in 2004. The conservatorship was the main sticking point in the lawsuit filed by Oher against the Tuohy family concerning profits from "The Blind Side" film released in 2009. 

The Tuohy family has claimed that the conservatorship was an effort to keep NCAA concerns about boosters off their back when Oher sought to attend their alma mater of Mississippi. Judge Gomes, however, said that she had never seen such a conservatorship in her 43 years on the bench, especially one with an individual who was not disabled.

"I cannot believe it got done," she said in a statement to the Associated Press. 

Gomes made it clear that she is not dismissing the case as Oher's other claims, such as the idea that the Tuohys profited off his name and their relationship with him, will continue to be deliberated. 

SEPT 27 CLOWNEY HAS NO "BAD BLOOD" WITH BROWNS It's probably for the best that Taylor Swift won't be showing up to Sunday's AFC North clash between the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns. 

Ravens defender Jadeveon Clowney, perhaps unintentionally, used a song title from the lauded singer/songwriter to describe his feelings, or lack thereof, toward Baltimore's annual visit to Cleveland. It'll mark the first time that the Ravens face the Browns since Clowney played the last two seasons with an orange helmet.

"I got a lot of respect for a lot of those guys over there that I still consider friends," Clowney said on Wednesday, per Jamison Hensley of ESPN. "If I had any bad blood, I don't think I would have signed to go back there for two years in a row."

Clowney spent two productive years in Cleveland, amassing 11 sacks in that span. His tenure, however, is perhaps best remembered for his exit, in which he accused the team of being more focused on getting star defender Myles Garrett into the Hall of Fame rather than winning games. As a result of his comments, Clowney was suspended for the final games of the Browns' season in Pittsburgh.

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Timm Hamm
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