#HappyBirthday Dennis Pitta! #Ravens #RavensNation by ravens

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Terrell Suggs behind the camera during a shoot for the #SNF opening. Follow @SNFonNBC for more pics. #Ravens #NFL by ravens

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#HappyBirthday to #Ravens NT Terrence Cody! by ravens

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#Ravens #TrainingCamp opens in just 25 days! Are you as excited as Arthur Jones? by ravens

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26 days until #Ravens #TrainingCamp! Besides @mspear96, who's #smiling about that?! by

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#BALTIMORE sure knows how to throw a party!!! #WorldChamps #Ravens by ravens

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Members of the #ravens staff take on staff from the #eagles, #nyjets, #redskins, and #nfl at their annual softball tournament. by ravens

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Today is Take Your Dog To Work Day. How many #ravens fans took their dog to work? #ravenspets #takeyourdog by ravens

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Enter the lottery to attend Training Camp at the UAPC: BaltimoreRavens.com/TCLottery #ravens #ravensnation #trainingcamp #practice by ravens

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Happy 23rd Birthday to #rookie Arthur Brown! #ravens #ravensnation #birthday by ravens

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The #ravens will hold 3 open off-site training camp practices. Enter a lottery at BaltimoreRavens.com/TCLottery for your chance to attend a practice at the UAPC. #ravensnation #trainingcamp #practice by ravens

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Happy Fathers Day!! #ravens #ravensnation #fathersday by ravens

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John Harbaugh is putting these kids quickly to work! #RavensFootballClinic by ravens

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Players Lost in Offseason & Their New Teams!

Unfortunately, this offseason the Ravens dealt with the departures of many great players. Here is the list:

• WR Anquan Boldin (San Francisco, via trade)  
• QB Dennis Dixon (Philadelphia)  
• LB Dannell Ellerbe (Miami) 
• LB Paul Kruger (Cleveland)    
• FS Ed Reed (Houston)  
• CB Cary Williams (Philadelphia) 
• SS Bernard Pollard (Tennessee)
• FB Vonta Leach (Free Agency - linked to Texans)
• LB Ray Lewis (Retirement)
• C Matt Birk (Retirement)

We wish all these players the best of luck with their new teams! 

Thank you for helping us win a Super Bowl! 

 However, when we play you, WE WILL WIN!  

GO RAVENS! 

#OnceARavenAlwaysARaven

Happy #FlagDay! #ravens #ravensnation by ravens

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MiniCamp Wrap Up: Offense & Defense

The Ravens wrapped up minicamp in high spirits for the upcoming season. Offensively, the Ravens have shown much potential. Joe Flacco has been quoted commenting on his trust in his receivers, stating how hard they have worked during the offseason. Wide Receiver,  Deonte Thompson, who was on the practice squad last year,  has made tremendous strides and is battling for a spot as reciever. Thompson, who has been clocked at 4.23 in the 40 yard dash, is joining fellow speedster receivers,  Jacoby Jones and Torrey Smith, in attempt for the Ravens to establish the speediest receiving tandem in the NFL. Ravens Offensive Coordinator, Jim Caldwell,  has been overwhelmed by the success in his offense, although, he has been aware of their potential all along. Defensively, the Ravens must give a lot of credit to General Manager, Ozzie Newsome, for successfully replacing the many players the Ravens have lost during the offseason. With the acquisition of superstar defender Elvis Dumervil, the signing defensive veterans Chris Canty and Marcus Spears, and drafting Matt Elam; the Ravens seem to have successfully restored their Defense. Entering his 2nd year as Ravens Defensive Coordinator, Dean Pees is expected to have much success guiding the Ravens notorious hard-hitting defense for yet another successful season. As mini camp comes to a close, the Ravens leave us with high hopes for the upcoming 2013 NFL season.

@diggz32 Marc Anthony @huffy247 Corey Graham @trulybean #defense #ravens #DBs #minicamp by ravens

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#Indoor #minicamp #practice today. #flacco #ravens by ravens

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Brady to Blame for Ed Reed's Injury?

In case you don't remember, in the AFC Championship game between the Ravens and the Patriots, Tom Brady slid into Ed Reed, seeming to attack Reed with his cleat. Ed Reed announced today that he believes the cause of his injury is because of the following play.

 (US Presswire)

The #storm is coming!!! #DarkClouds #ravens by ravens

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Matt Birk Declines White House Invitation

                                                                                Larry French/Getty Images

When the Super Bowl winning Ravens took the customary trip to the White House, there front and CENTER  man, Matt Birk, was a no-show. Birk, who is a Harvard graduate, and very politically outspoken, opted not to go based on a statement President Obama recently made. The quote that made Birk a no-show was, "Thank God for planned parenthood." Birk, a devout Christian, disagrees strongly with the statement and once again, had no problem voicing his opinion. "Planned Parenthood performs about 330,000 abortions a year," Birk told the radio station. "I am Catholic, I am active in the Pro-Life movement and I just felt like I couldn't deal with that. I couldn't endorse that in any way." Birk continued: "I'm very confused by the statement. For God to bless a place where they're ending 330,000 lives a year? I just chose not to attend." Birk played 14 years in the NFL, 10 of them with the Vikings, and retired after winning the Super Bowl this past year with the Ravens.

Rolando McClain Returns to Alabama in Order to Reinvent Himself

Jason O. Watson-USA TODAY Sports

The ripe young age of 23 seems to be a bit soon to call it a career, but that is exactly what former first-round pick Rolando McClain did when he recently retired from the NFL.

Selected with the eighth-overall pick by the Oakland Raiders three years ago, McClain ran afoul of the law a number of times out by the Bay. Named the Butkus Award winner as the nation’s top linebacker in2009, however, the talent to dominate was obviously there — but the will to put it all on the practice field was not. Thus, instead of joining the Baltimore Ravens after signing a one-year contract with the defending Super Bowl champions, McClain retired.

He did so in order to get his personal life together. One huge step in the right direction for McClain is re-enrolling at the University of Alabama, where he starred as a national champion but left for NFL riches after his junior year.

credit: alabamagamedayr

#rice #ravens #minicamp #BEAST #grind by ravens

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Matt Elam Signed Deal With Under Armour

                                                                              (Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports)

Ravens first round draft pick, Safety, Matt Elam, has signed a deal with Under Armour. Here is what Elam had to say about the deal, “I am very honored to join the elite Under Armour family and partner with the fastest growing apparel brand in the world, Under Armour’s commitment to cutting-edge products will help me perform at my best.”

For more information on Matt Elam's deal with Under Armour, click HERE.

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Flacco Says Ravens Offense is Clicking Well!

After the 2nd day of minicamp, Joe Flacco has been quoted saying that the Ravens offense is making progress. Despite losing key offensive players like Anquan Bolding and Vonta Leach, (released yesterday) Flacco stated that "a lot of our young receivers have really taken a step forward in this offseason and took it upon themselves to make sure that they were able to get lined up quickly and know exactly what they were doing, so that way we didn’t have to worry about all that. So I’m happy with where we are, and we’ve just got a lot of progress to make, and I think we’ve got the guys that are willing to do it.” 

It's good to hear that Flacco is being optimistic about the situation, because it serves as motivation to the Ravens new and younger players. More reports to come soon regarding Day 2 of minicamp. For more information on this continue reading this on the Ravens Website.

#Ravens Mandatory #Minicamp continues today... by ravens

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Highlights From the First Day of Ravens Mini Camp!

After completing the first day of mini camp, Head Coach, John Harbaugh, said it went "exceptionally well." Here are the highlights reported by BaltimoreRavens.com.

• Tight end Ed Dickson says he wants to be more involved in the passing game this year, and he’s off to a great start during the offseason. He caught a number of passes during practice, including the highlight of the day, which was an impressive one-handed grab down the middle of the field. Dickson made the catch with safety James Ihedigbo in tight coverage, and he then outran everyone to the end zone for about a 50-yard touchdown.

• Overall, the tight ends were a big part of the passing game. Dickson and Dennis Pitta both caught a number of passes over the middle of the field. Veteran Billy Bajema, who was re-signed earlier in the day, also caught some passes working with the second team offense. 

• Terrell Suggs makes his presence known when he’s on the field. He’s constantly jawing at his teammates and cracking jokes. Even during the special teams portion of practice, Suggs came onto the field for punt coverage and caught a punt from Sam Koch. Suggs then took off down the field like he was a return man. Sizzle always keeps things interesting when he’s on the field.

• Suggs not only brought character to practice, he also showed off a slimmed-down figure and an explosive first step. He looked really good and immediately went right back to work with the first team defense. 

• Recently-signed linebacker Daryl Smith also got right to work in his first practice. He took reps with the first team and he will likely compete for a starting job this season. Smith still has to learn the defense, but he was fluid in his movement and kept pace during his first practice in Baltimore.  He showed no lingering signs of a groin injury that held him out of all but two games last season.

• Fullback Kyle Juszczyk put a big block on Smith to start off 11-on-11 drills. The rookie out of Harvard was the lead blocker for Rice on the play, and he delivered a hard-nosed hit on his new teammate. Not a bad way to make a statement now that Vonta Leach has been release and the rookie is the likely starter at fullback.

• The defensive line looks good. Chris Canty, Marcus Spears, Arthur Jones, DeAngelo Tyson andBrandon Williams all worked through a number of rotations. Those players give the Ravens a deep defensive front to go along with Haloti Ngata (knee) and Terrence Cody (hip) when they return to full strength.

• Ngata, Jameel McClain, Lardarius Webb and Albert McClellan – four starters from last season – were all limited participants during practice. They participated during individual drills and then ran wind sprints during full team drills.

• Pernell McPhee, who is playing more outside linebacker this year, definitely looks slimmed down compared to last season. He’s being used in more of a pass-rushing role, and getting after the quarterback is a task that could suit him well.

• Rookie outside linebacker John Simon has some pass-rushing prowess. The fourth-round pick showed off his motor on a number of plays and was able to get to the quarterback for sacks or to force quick throws.

• Running back Bernard Pierce is so shifty coming out of the backfield. He seems to glide with his blockers, and then can just cut through the hole whenever it opens up.

• Undrafted rookie wide receiver Rashaad Carter had a pair of really nice catches from quarterbackCaleb Hanie. He made one catch in tight traffic, and then came back a few plays later and caught a 35-yard pass down the sidelines.

• The defense got the best of quarterback Joe Flacco on a couple of occasions, as safety Michael Huff and linebacker Josh Bynes both had interceptions.   

Credit: BaltimoreRavens.com