Are you kidding me? According to Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com, the Baltimore Ravens will be investigated for using full pads at a recent rookie minicamp, which is a violation of the collective bargaining agreement, a league source said.
Hensley: “A Ravens official said the team is unaware of any investigation but explained there was a five-minute period on May 6 when rookies and first-year players suited up in pads during a non-contact punt protection drill. The team believed rookie minicamp didn’t fall under the same rules as the organized team activities and immediately pulled players off the field once it received clarification from players’ union representative Benjamin Watson, according to a Ravens official.”
“Teams are not allowed to suit up in full pads until training camp. Offseason rules have become more strict since 2011, when the latest CBA was passed.”
“For an investigation to begin, a player has to report a violation to the union or league. A Ravens official said everything can be verified because all practices were taped.”
“In 2010, the Ravens were disciplined by the NFL after six players complained to the players’ union about late meetings and two others reported being held too long on the field after practice. Baltimore had to cancel the final week of offseason workouts.”
This has got to be a joke, right? I mean we are talking about a team that was absolutely victimized by Tom Brady and the Patriots’ bending of the “eligible receiver” rules just a year-and-a-half ago…
This is crazy. “The League” has it out for the Ravens for some odd reason.
Bigger question is—which owners “control” the League? I’m guessing Robert Kraft is up there in the picture somehow…Talk about deflecting the attack towards a rival…
Meanwhile the Ravens were busy signing quarterback Josh Johnson and guard Vladimir Ducasse Monday morning, adding more competition at those positions this summer.
Baltimore’s 90-man roster is now filled.
Ducasse is a 6-foot-5, 325-pound offensive lineman and former second-round pick of the New York Jets (2010). He didn’t see a lot of action in New York, but has gradually received more starts. Ducasse started 11 games last year with the Chicago Bears.
The Ravens will be his fourth team in four seasons (Jets, Vikings, Bears).
Baltimore will have a heated competition at left guard this offseason as they look to fill Kelechi Osemele’s starting spot. Ducasse will challenge Ronnie Stanley (if he isn’t at left tackle), John Urschel, Ryan Jensen, fourth-round pick Alex Lewis and more.
Johnson adds a third arm for the Ravens to have during team workouts and the upcoming Organized Team Activities (OTAs). He’ll compete for one of Joe Flacco’s backup spots with Ryan Mallett and Jerrod Johnson.
Josh Johnson is a long-time backup quarterback who was an original 2008 fifth-round pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers out of San Diego. He’s entering his ninth season and joining his seventh team in six seasons.
The 6-foot-3, 205-pound signal caller hasn’t attempted a pass since 2011, his final season with the Buccaneers. He started five games with the Bucs during his four years in Tampa Bay.
Since then, Johnson has bounced between the Browns, Bengals, 49ers, Colts and Bills. He has completed 54.2 percent of his 177 career passing attempts for 1,042 yards, five touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
The Ravens also signed another rookie free agent Sam Brown, a defensive back from Missouri Western State.
Oh yeah… the picture at the top? That’s Joe Cullen…
Baltimore is adding Joe Cullen to their staff as a defensive line coach. While the Ravens already have a stellar coach at the position, Clarence Brooks, Cullen has been brought on to aid Brooks as he recovers from his battle with esophageal cancer.
Cullen previously coached the Lions, Jaguars, and Buccaneers as a defensive line coach. While he has led some good front lines over the years, Cullen is most known for infamously driving through a Wendy’s drive-through naked and not being able to recall the events. In an interview with the Florida Times-Union, Cullen went on record and quite bluntly told it as it was. “Well, it’s simple; it’s called a blackout,” said Cullen to the newspaper.
His bouts with alcohol aside, Cullen appears to be a solid coach. His Bucs’ squad had the fifth-highest sack rate in the league, although they were just in the middle of the league against the run. The hope is that Cullen can rejuvenate the Ravens’ bottom-half defensive front. With the talent in his hands now, it’s certainly not a stretch at all.
Before beginning his NFL coaching career, Cullen spent 16 years tutoring on defense at the collegiate level. He served mostly as a defensive line coach, but had two stints as defensive coordinator at Indiana (2004) and Richmond (2000). Cullen attended the University of Massachusetts, where he was a four-year nose guard from 1986-89, earning three All-Conference honors.
You cannot make this stuff up!
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