Roch Kubatko Ravens Archive
The Ravens are in the red zone on their first possession, they're moving the ball through the air and on the ground, and they bring in Troy Smith. Why? Smith was going to pass but had to tuck the ball away under pressure. The play broke down, as did the ... Read More
Interesting headline of the day: Ohio Police Chief Accidentally Shoots Self It happens. The British parents of a young boy born with pulmonary arterial hypertension have been treating his condition by giving him up to six doses of liquid Viagra a day. The drug relaxes the pulmonary artery and allows ... Read More
Was Buffalo really trailing San Francisco, 10-0, at halftime? At home? Really? The Bills just got on the board with a field goal. Doesn't do much good when they're a seven-point favorite. Meanwhile, the Colts and their high-powered offense trail the Browns, 6-3, in Cleveland. Ridiculous. I went 3-0 picking ... Read More
The NFL has moved the Dec. 7 game between the Ravens and Redskins on NBC to 8:15 p.m. as part of its flexible schedule. I hope you're just as flexible if you bought tickets. Wasn't it orginally slated for 1 p.m.? Both teams are 7-4 after winning yesterday. The Redskins ... Read More
To a man, the Ravens seemed surprised that the Eagles benched Donovan McNabb and started backup Kevin Kolb in the second half. "We didn't know what happened, but we figured that's something the Eagles would work out," safety Ed Reed said. "It turned our antennas up. With a new quarterback, ... Read More
Good things happen when Ed Reed catches the football and holds onto it. Reed resisted the urge to lateral the ball after his fourth quarter interception, though I'm sure he was tempted as he neared the end zone. Safety Haruki Nakamura looked like he was asking for it as he ... Read More
The Eagles benched Donovan McNabb at halftime - and by that, I mean he wasn't even allowed in the lockerroom - and handed backup Kevin Kolb the keys to the offense. (McNabb actually joined his teammates in the lockerroom, but I'm serious about Kolb) McNabb was 8-for-18 for 59 yards, ... Read More
Matt Stover just kicked a field goal to break a scoreless tie late in the first half. Time to start working the clock. Is it too early to take a knee? Donavan McNabb is having another bad game. He's thrown two interceptions, and it easily could be four. He also ... Read More
I went 4-0 picking against the spread in the 4 p.m. games yesterday, and also hit with Dallas last night. Now the bad news: I lost Thursday night's game and went 1-8 in yesterday's early games, my only correct selection being Green Bay over Chicago. They don't call me "Mr. ... Read More
The budding partnership between the Orioles and Ravens brings me to another blog entry. This time, it's revisiting Willis McGahee's holiday food drive, which I wrote about earlier, and Adam Jones' involvement in it. The running back and center fielder met earlier this year when McGahee threw out the ceremonial ... Read More
In an unexpected development, the Orioles just changed their logo again as I was taking out the trash. OK, on a more serious note, they continue to partner with the neighboring football team, which is a positive development. We should all get along. And the Ravens and Orioles are the ... Read More
Before today, the Colts franchise had lost 12 straight games in Pittsburgh, including Baltimore's 28-10 loss in the 1975 playoffs at Three Rivers Stadium. Indianapolis prevailed today on a late TD, which might be hard for many of you to swallow, but it helps the Ravens - something the Redskins ... Read More
Reason No. 20 why I hate the holidays: "He went to Jared!" This diamond advertisement will be jammed down our throats every 17 seconds through New Years, especially if you're a football fan and spend Sundays on your couch. And it'll taste like a fruit cake that's been wrapped inside ... Read More
I'm switching to football for a few seconds. The Oakland Raiders, those unlovable losers who totaled 77 yards and three first downs in Sunday's 24-0 loss to the Atlanta Falcons, are on the verge of releasing cornerback DeAngelo Hall. Hall has a world of talent, though he's been burned so ... Read More
Joe Flacco threw for 248 yards and two touchdowns yesterday. Anybody still think Troy Smith should be starting? If so, state your argument. I thought the Smith plays were a bit forced. Gimmicks weren't necessary. I know head coach John Harbaugh wants to work Smith into the game plan, but ... Read More
While wondering if Game 5 will resume tonight or be included in next spring's World Baseball Classic... So I'm sitting here yesterday wondering whatever happened to Ron Rivera, the former Chicago Bears linebacker and defensive coordinator who was touted throughout the league as one of the hottest head coaching candidates ... Read More
I'm confused and could use a little help. Ravens head coach John Harbaugh indicated that Chris McAlister's benching on Sunday was related to the cornerback's sore knee. Then he said it had nothing to do with health or disciplinary reasons. Then he said it was linked to a dress-code violation, ... Read More
Cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones hasn't been a popular figure in this blog space, with his numerous arrests and transgressions and suspensions and overall deplorable behavior. But at least he's finally seeking help. It's being reported that Jones has entered an alcohol treatment facility. Maybe the guy is sick and that's ... Read More
While wondering whether the Rays can hold on... I've returned home from The Beach House in Dundalk, where I worked behind the bar with MASN's Jim Hunter and a hyperactive girl named "Peacock" with a fondness for throwing ice and initiating contact with anyone she passes. She's a popular attraction ... Read More
I've been touched by the many heartfelt responses to the entry I filed a few days ago about former Ravens fullback Chuck Evans passing away unexpectedly on Sunday. He obviously impacted a lot of people, and he left us much too soon. I've decided to gather the comments I've received ... Read More
As if things weren't bad enough around here, now we'll have to worry about Rays Nation invading Camden Yards next season. Tampa Bay starter Andy Sonnanstine is working on four days' rest. And that's just during the top of the sixth inning. So how do you feel about a Rays-Phillies ... Read More
I'm absolutely floored by the news that former Ravens fullback Chuck Evans died yesterday of heart failure at age 41. You never expect someone to die so young. I hung out with Evans for a few hours last month at Bay Cafe. It was a Sunday, and he happened to ... Read More
ESPN is reporting that Tommy Bowden has been fired as Clemson's football coach following Thursday night's loss to Wake Forest, which lowered the Tigers' record to 3-3. And Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo could miss at least four weeks with a broken pinkie finger, an injury sustained yesterday on the ... Read More
The immediate reaction to the Ravens' brutal loss to the Colts today is predictable: Bench Joe Flacco. Or stuff him in a crate, nail it shut and mail him back to Delaware, though that seems a bit drastic. And pretty costly in postage. I assume they'd charge by the pound. ... Read More
It's comforting to know that the officiating at the collegiate level is just as bad as the NFL. How are things in your flag-football league? Oklahoma's first touchdown never should have been allowed. The receiver's knee hit the ground short of the goal line. Texas quarterback Colt McCoy has fallen ... Read More
It's being reported that Adam "Pacman" Jones was involved in a fight with one of his bodyguards late Tuesday night before attending a previously scheduled team meeting with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. Who had Oct. 7 in their office pool? Fighting with his own bodyguard? Next week, we'll find out ... Read More
I'll be sitting across from Anita Marks today from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on MASN and ESPN Radio 1300. I stopped by the Ravens' complex in Owings Mills earlier today. The team placed nose tackle Kelly Gregg on injured reserve after he underwent arthroscopic microfracture knee surgery yesterday. The ... Read More
I just turned on the Vikings-Saints game, and within five minutes I saw the officials miss an obvious face mask penalty. Reggie Bush's head was spun 180 degrees. Linda Blair would have been in awe. And the whistle never blew. But at least the refs noticed the illegal forward lateral ... Read More
I understand that times change, but the NFL needs to step back and start embracing its roots. Just not too tightly, or an official is going to throw a flag for unnecessary roughness. It's a game for sissies now, and I say that knowing fully that Ray Lewis could bend ... Read More
I'm 7-3-2 against the spread going into tonight's game between Jacksonville and Pittsburgh. I took the Jags, giving up four points. The two pushes involved the Ravens (+3) and Broncos (-3). And don't get me started on the Ravens' game. That roughing the quarterback call against Terrell Suggs was beyond ... Read More
Maybe it wouldn't have made a difference in the end, but the roughing call on Terrell Suggs for a phantom blow to the head of Titans quarterback Kerry Collins on third down with 5:53 left in the game was about 20 miles past absurd. And much more damaging than the ... Read More
It's a good topic if we're talking about the Orioles, but not as much when we're focusing on today's Ravens-Titans game. Joe Flacco looks more like a rookie today, which was absolutely going to happen. It's not like the kid's been throwing for 400 yards every weekend. He has one ... Read More
Kerry Collins is moving the Titans' offense. Then he's giving the ball to the Ravens. Collins has thrown two interceptions - to Justin Bannan after Haloti Ngata's deflection, and Chris McAlister. And that's why the Ravens lead, 3-0, despite committing roughly 47 penalties in the first quarter. This is an ... Read More
Can't get enough of me? Rather than seek counseling, as I would, check out this site. I'm heading to the Ravens game, and I'm expecting the home team to knock Tennessee from the ranks of the unbeaten. I just don't have much faith in Kerry Collins, and not only because ... Read More
So, do you still like that Angels-Cubs World Series? Maybe next year. Former NFL running back Lawrence Phillips has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison after being convicted on seven counts of assault with a deadly weapon. Phillips has been jailed since 2005 after driving his car onto ... Read More
We know all about receiver Chris Henry's repeated offenses during his time with the Cincinnati Bengals, which ended and began again when the team re-signed him. Now it's Travis Henry who's back in the news. The former Denver Broncos running back has been arrested following an alleged cocaine deal, the ... Read More
Miami Dolphins running back Ricky Williams says he was briefly tempted to smoke marijuana during his team's bye weekend, which probably would have led to a permanent ban from the NFL. But Williams resisted the urge. "There's no space, no wiggle room for me," Williams said. Then again, Williams might ... Read More
I hope you stayed up last night for the White Sox-Twins game that determined the AL Central winner and the Rays' opponent in the American League Division Series. Jim Thome's solo home run in the seventh inning provided all the scoring. It was a classic. I like Tampa Bay to ... Read More
Baseball has been my primary beat, but I know a thing or two about the NFL. And in some weeks, a lot more. I went 10-3 against the spread to win my weekly pool. I took the Ravens +5 ½, but had the Steelers prevailing, 23-20. You'll have to take ... Read More
