Aug. 17, 2012; Glendale, AZ, USA; Oakland Raiders linebacker (55) Rolando McClain against the Arizona Cardinals during a preseason game at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the Raiders 31-27. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

There are coincidences and then there is former Oakland Raiders first-round draft pick Rolando McClain retiring from the NFL not long after joining the Baltimore Ravens and then being arrested. Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome announced on Wednesday that the linebacker and former Alabama Crimson Tide product had informed him of his intentions to retire effective immediately.

“Rolando let me know that he plans to retire from the NFL,” Newsome stated, via the Baltimore Ravens web site. “We have placed him on the Reserve/Retired list.”

McClain was always a talented player and showed flashes of being a great linebacker in his rookie season with the Raiders, but his troubles off the field are what dominated his playing days and is ultimately what ended them. Twice this year McClain has been arrested, once in January and then again in April just ten days after signing a one-year deal with Baltimore.

His retirement likely stems directly from his arrest for resisting police officers as the linebacker is due in court on June 9th. McClain was most likely going to be punished by the NFL, so rather than take that punishment he’s just going to retire. That may not be his motivation, but the dots connect in an awful convenient way.

Things got strange with McClain late in his Raiders career and the team took forever to cut him. There were rumors of the Raiders cutting McClain around the time of his fist arrest in 2013, especially after McClain was vocal in saying the police had either set him up or had the wrong person in custody. His second arrest to to bed the notion that people were out to get McClain, as his biggest opponent was never a running back or even the law — it was alway himself.

Now he has plenty of time to contemplate his life decisions, but the sad fact of the matter is that given his track record, the last thing McClain is likely to do with his free time is think on his mistakes. Hopefully he gets the help he desperately needs, as at the end of the day McClain is a lost and troubled 24 year old kid just trying to make it in the world.

He needs help, he’s just not going to be getting it from the NFL anymore. Chances are if he can get his life back on track he’ll make a comeback as he’s still extremely young, but a lot needs to change before that comeback is even considered.

Feb 3, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Jacoby Jones (12) dances in the end zone after his touchdown in Super Bowl XLVII at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Jack Gruber-USA TODAY Sports

NFL players have had loads of success on the Dancing With the Stars stage. The latest pro football player to join the show’s cast is Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Jacoby Jones. Like the NFL players before him, Jones has been doing extremely well on the show and he may go down as one of the best athletes to ever grace the stage.

In his latest performance, Jones performed a Paso Doble with a twist.

It is hard enough for untrained dancers to take the stage with one professional, but he was hit with the task of dancing with two partners — his usual partner Karina Smirnoff along with professional dancer and Dancing With the Stars regular Cheryl Burke.

For his performance, Jones received a 25/30 from the judges.

I am no dancing expert, but he certainly appeared to do a good job and that was reflected by the judges’ scores and comments.

“You have such an impressive presence on the floor.  It was really good.  The man is suppose to take care of their women on the dance floor.  We wanted a little more finesse,” judge Carrie Ann Inaba said.

With that latest performance, it is safe to say that Jones will survive tonight’s elimination episode to see another day.

Here is Jones’ Paso Doble trio:

Not bad for a football player, right? And I’m sure we can’t all help but think, “what a lucky man.”

Sep 08, 2012; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Maryland Terrapins tight end Matt Furstenburg (89) celebrates scoring during the second quarter against the Temple Owls at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

The 2013 NFL Draft is complete, but that does not mean a number of talented players are still available to be had. Every year, the players who were not selected in the draft will still have an opportunity to contribute and make a NFL roster thanks to the undrafted free agency process.

There have been stars all around the league that emerge from the undrafted free agent ranks and this year will be no different.

Who did the Baltimore Ravens bring in as an undrafted free agent? Here is the list (alphabetical order by last name):

• Jeff Braun, OL, West Virginia
• Jose Cheeseborough, CB, Florida International
• Jermaine Copeland, OLB, Pennsylvania
• Jordan Devey, OL, Memphis
• Matt Furstenburg, TE, Maryland
• Roger Gaines, OT, Tennessee State
• Ray Holley, RB, Louisiana Tech
• Murphy Holloway, TE, Ole Miss
• Moe Lee, CB, Utah
• Gerrard Sheppard, WR, Towson
• Nate Stanley, QB, Southeast Louisiana
• Trent Steelman, QB, Army
• Brynden Trawick, DB, Troy

All of the players will have an uphill battle if they hope to make the Ravens roster, but you can never count these motivated players out. Remember, current NFL starters like Arian Foster, Tony Romo and Wes Welker have all emerged from the UDFA ranks.

NOTE: Lists of undrafted free agents have been put together by gathering info from multiple media sources around the Internet, including NEPatriotsDraft.com.

Apr 26, 2013; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens safety Matt Elam (center) is introduced to the media with (from left to right) national scout Joe Hortiz , head coach John Harbaugh , general manager Ozzie Newsome and director of college scouting Eric DeCosta at the Under Armour Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports

The 2013 NFL Draft has come and gone, and now it’s time for some reflection. While some teams traded around to get who they want, others stood pat to see who would slide to them — and if there’s one thing to remember about this draft it’s players that slid around the rounds. But now that the draft is behind us, the all important grading phase has begun, so lets take a look at how the Baltimore Ravens did in this year’s NFL Draft.

Draft Picks

• Matt Elam, safety, Florida — Round 1 (32)
• Arthur Brown, linebacker, Kansas State — Round 2  (56)
• Brandon Williams, defensive line, Missouri Southern St. — Round 3 (94)
• John Simon, defensive end, Ohio State — Round 4 (129)
• Kyle Jusczyk, fullback Harvard — Round 4 (130)
• Ricky Wagner, offensive tackle, Wisconsin — Round 5 (168)
• Kapron Moore-Lewis, defensive end, Notre Dame — Round 6 (200)
• Ryan Jensen, offensive tackle, Colorado State-Pueblo — Round 6 (203)
• Aaron Mellete, wide receiver, Elon — Round 7 (238)
• Marc Anthony, cornerback, Cal — Round 7 (247)

Best Pick: Arthur Brown

The ability to get a player like Brown, who is clearly a first-round talent on the tape, is just a major steal for the team. Because of medicals and a few off-field issues, Brown slid down draft boards, but the teams that passed on his services are going to be sorry that they did.

Worst Pick: Ryan Jensen

There isn’t much chance for Jensen to make the roster. It is just a sixth-round pick, but the Ravens could have had a chance to add a solid special teams player or developmental quarterback.

Analysis: The way the Ravens started out their draft was as impressive as anyone else in the league. To score two first-round talents in your first two picks and follow that up by adding a freakishly athletic defensive lineman with tremendous upside is just incredible. When you factor in the fact that they were able to get a Ricky Wagner in round 6 and a wide receiver like Aaron Mellete in the final round, it was an all-around success for the Ravens.

2013 Draft Grade: A

Apr 26, 2013; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens safety Matt Elam (center) is introduced to the media with (from left to right) national scout Joe Hortiz , head coach John Harbaugh , general manager Ozzie Newsome and director of college scouting Eric DeCosta at the Under Armour Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports

Despite the defensive casualties the Ravens have suffered due to free agency it doesn’t appear this team is ready to back down from its inherited title of being one of the most proficient defenses in the NFL.

When Baltimore decided to pick up safety Matt Elam at the end of the first round it became clear that a highly touted defense was the desired hallmark for this team to fulfill its desire to still be an intimidating force on the field.

While Elam may lack an imposing stature, he more than makes up for this weakness with his quickness and his ability to make open field tackles consistently. On top of that, his versatility to play both strong and free safety allows him to compete with the recent free agent acquisition Michael Huff. This type of competition will foster a new sense of defensive urgency and fortitude that will allow Baltimore to be more durable and consistently effective in the secondary game in and game out.

It seems that the Ravens are systematically trying to fill the voids that have been vacated by supreme legends, most specifically that of the future first ballot Hall of Famer Ray Lewis. This issue appeared to be addressed last night when Baltimore drafted Arthur Brown with the 56th overall pick in the second round. A Kansas State Wildcat, Brown was considered a first round draft pick, but ultimately dropped out of the first round due to his size. Like Ray Lewis, Brown is a secure tackler, and brings immense hard-hitting power to the field especially when attacking ball carriers in the open field. His lack of size also allows him to be an effective blitzer to quickly close open gaps.

For their final pick of the night, the Ravens selected defensive tackle Brandon Williams with the 94th overall pick in the 3rd round. His upper body strength and his quick reflexes allow Williams get off his blockers with a degree of swiftness and control that allows him to impose himself effectively on any offensive line man who stands in his way. On top of that, he is able to direct teammates effectively, allowing them to get a jump on almost any offensive scheme before it occurs. He can also line up anywhere on the defensive line, making him a versatile defensive powerhouse that is both persistently present and reliable.

While there are still four remaining rounds for the Ravens to bolster the rest of their team as a whole, the defense at this point has seemed to blossom into a youthful core of individuals that have the potential to reinvigorate a defense that has been injury prone the last couple of years.

Oct 6, 2012; Manhattan, KS, USA; Kansas State Wildcats linebacker Arthur Brown (4) during the first half against the Kansas Jayhawks at Bill Snyder Family Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Sewell-USA TODAY Sports

The Baltimore Ravens may have just pulled off one of the biggest steals in the 2013 NFL Draft. With the No. 56 overall pick, the Ravens selected Kansas State linebacker Arthur Brown. Brown was the best player remaining on the draft board and will be able to provide an immediate upgrade the middle of the Ravens linebacking corp.

After losing Ray Lewis to retirement and Dannell Ellerbe in free agency, the Ravens needed to add middle linebackers.

Like Ray Lewis, Arthur Brown is not the biggest guy at his position, but he is a great leader and has incredible instincts that always have him flocking to the ball. If Brown lives up to his potential which caused many to believe he could be a top twenty pick, the Ravens will be very happy with their selection.

Here is how the second-round of the 2013 NFL Draft is shaping up:

1 (33) Jacksonville Jaguars — Jonathan Cyprien, safety, Florida International
2 (34) San Francisco 49ers (from Chiefs) – Justin Hunter, wide receiver, Tennessee
3 (35) Philadelphia Eagles — Zach Ertz, tight end, Stanford
4 (36) Detroit Lions — Darius Slay, cornerback, Mississippi State
5 (37) Cincinnati Bengals (from Raiders) —  Giovanni Bernard, running back, North Carolina
6 (38) San Diego Chargers (from Cardinals) — Manti Te’o, linebacker, Notre Dame
7 (39) New York Jets — Geno Smith, quarterback, West Virginia
8 (40) San Francisco 49ers (from Titans) — Tank Carradine, defensive end, Florida State
9 (41) Buffalo Bills — Robert Woods, wide receiver, USC
10 (42) Oakland Raiders (from Dolphins) — Menelik Watson, offensive tackle, Florida State
11 (43) Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Johnthan Banks, cornerback, Mississippi State
12 (44) Carolina Panthers — Kawann Short, defensive tackle, Purdue
13 (45) Arizona Cardinals (from San Diego Chargers) — Kevin Minter, linebacker, LSU
14 (46) Buffalo Bills (from St. Louis Rams) — Kiko Alonso, linebacker, Oregon
15 (47) Dallas Cowboys —  Gavin Escobar, tight end, San Diego State
16 (48)  Pittsburgh Steelers — Le’Veon Bell, running back, Michigan State
17 (49) New York Giants — Johnathan Hankins, defensive tackle, Ohio State
18 (50) Chicago Bears — Jonathan Bostic, linebacker, Florida
19 (51) Washington Redskins — David Amerson, cornerback, North Carolina State
20 (52) New England Patriots (from Vikings) —  Jamie Collins, outside linebacker, Southern Miss
21 (53) Cincinnati Bengals — Margus Hunt, defensive end, SMU
22 (54) Miami Dolphins (from Colts) — Jamar Taylor, cornerback, Boise State
23 (55) San Francisco 49ers (from Packers) — Vance McDonald, tight end, Rice
24 (56) Baltimore Ravens (from Seahawks) — Arthur Brown, linebacker, Kansas State

Feb 3, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; Baltimore Ravens fans celebrate after a victory against the San Francisco 49ers 34-31 in Super Bowl XLVII at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

The Baltimore Ravens are coming off of a Super Bowl victory, but the still have a number of holes on the roster after losing multiple key contributors to their postseason run to either retirement or free agency.

The team patiently waited in the first-round and eventually made Florida safety Matt Elam their selection to close out round one of the festivities, but it is not out of the question that the Ravens could be much more active in day two of the 2013 NFL Draft.

From John Eisenberg on the Baltimore Ravens official website:

But after going with a rock-solid pick and avoiding raising eyebrows Thursday night, it wouldn’t surprise me to see the Ravens engineer a surprise Friday night and make a trade to move up as the second and third rounds of the draft unfold.

Asked late Thursday night to assess what would be available Friday, Ravens Assistant General Manager Eric DeCosta said there were “probably 20 players, 30 players that we’d love to get at the end of the second round.” That could pose a problem for the Ravens, who currently have the night’s 32^nd pick – the last selection in the second round. They would need to move up to get one of those 20 or 30 players DeCosta referenced.

There are a number of players who would bee good fits for the Ravens defense, so the move up would make sense.

After replacing Ed Reed with the No. 32 overall pick, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Ravens make replacing Ray Lewis their next priority.

When you look at the draft board, players like Manti Te’o, Arthur Brown and Kevin Minter all remain, so there are some great options out there for the Ravens to select.

Day two of the draft kicks off at 6:30 p.m. ET tonight, so we will see whether or not they decide to trade up and target a middle linebacker.

November 3, 2012; Gainesville FL, USA; Florida Gators defensive back Matt Elam (22) during the first quarter against the Missouri Tigers at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The Baltimore Ravens had an opportunity to select Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o to finish off the first-round of the 2013 NFL Draft, but they chose to find Ed Reed’s replacement rather than Ray Lewis.

With the final pick in the first-round, the Ravens picked Florida safety Matt Elam. Elam is a hard-hitting safety that will keep the Ravens physical mindset going. He has some great instincts that can allow him to develop in to a star safety. 

With the first-round now coming to a close, players like Geno Smith, Manti Te’o, Eddie Lacy and Jonathan Cyprien remain on the board.

Here is how the first-round of the 2013 NFL Draft played out:

1. Kansas City Chiefs — Eric Fisher, offensive tackle, Central Michigan
2.  Jacksonville Jaguars — Luke Joeckel, offensive tackle, Texas A&M
3. Miami Dolphins (via Oakland Raiders) — Dion Jordan, Outside Linebacker, Oregon
4. Philadelphia Eagles —  Lane Johnson, offensive tackle, Oklahoma
5. Detroit Lions — Ezekiel Ansah, defensive end, BYU
6.  Cleveland Browns — Barkevious Mingo, outside linebacker, LSU
7. Arizona Cardinals — Jonathan Cooper, guard, North Carolina
8. St. Louis Rams (from Buffalo Bills) —  Tavon Austin, wide receiver, West Virginia
9. New York Jets —  Dee Milliner, cornerback, Alabama
10. Tennessee Titans —  Chance Warmack, guard, Alabama
11. San Diego Chargers — DJ Fluker, offensive tackle, Alabama
12. Oakland Raiders (from Miami Dolphins) — DJ Hayden, cornerback, Houston
13. New York Jets (from Tampa Bay Buccaneers) — Sheldon Richardson, defensive tackle, Missouri
14. Carolina Panthers —  Star Lotulelei, defensive tackle, Utah
15. New Orleans Saints — Kenny Vaccaro, safety, Texas
16. Buffalo Bills (from St. Louis Rams) —  EJ Manuel, quarterback, Florida State
17. Pittsburgh Steelers — Jarvis Jones, linebacker, Georgia
18. San Francisco 49ers (from Dallas Cowboys) — Eric Reid, safety, LSU
19. New York Giants — Justin Pugh, offensive tackle, Syracuse
20. Chicago Bears —  Kyle Long, guard, Oregon
21. Cincinnati Bengals — Tyler Eifert, tight end, Notre Dame
22. Atlanta Falcons (from St. Louis Rams) — Desmond Trufant, cornerback, Washington
23. Minnesota Vikings — Sharrif Floyd, defensive tackle, Florida
24. Indianapolis Colts —  Bjoern Werner, defensive end, Florida State
25. Minnesota Vikings (from Seattle Seahawks) — Xavier Rhodes, cornerback, Florida State
26. Green Bay Packers — Datone Jones, defensive end, UCLA
27. Houston Texans — DeAndre Hopkins, wide receiver, Clemson
28. Denver Broncos —  Sylvester Williams, defensive tackle, North Carolina
29. Minnesota Vikings (from New England Patriots) — Cordarrelle Patterson, wide receiver, Tennessee
30. St. Louis Rams (from Atlanta Falcons) —  Alec Ogletree, linebacker, Georgia
31. Dallas Cowboys (from San Francisco 49ers) – Travis Frederick, offensive line, Wisconsin
32. Baltimore Ravens — Matt Elam, safety, Florida

The draft is always a treat for NFL fans, so be sure that you tune in and see who the newest players to rock your favorite teams uniforms will be, and stay tuned to FanSided.com throughout the draft for the latest news, rumors and analysis of every pick.

October 6, 2012; Gainesville FL, USA; LSU Tigers linebacker Kevin Minter (46) rushes during the second half against the Florida Gators at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Florida Gators defeated the Louisiana State 14-6. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

This pick was made by Josh Hill of Fansided.com

The Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens select Kevin Minter from Georgia.

One thing the Baltimore Ravens need to make is back to the Super Bowl is a great interior linebacker to replace Ray Lewis. Incase you haven’t noticed, Rolando McClain is not the guy for the job, but Kevin Minter is an interesting choice.

McClain has a troubled past and the Ravens took a chance on him being able to clean up his act. McClain messed up almost before the ink was dry on his contract and he’s likely on his way out. But the guy really hurt by McClain’s actions is Alec Ogletree who would otherwise be a no-brainer here for the Ravens. But Ogletree himself has a troubled past and the Ravens may want to take a break from giving guys a second life for a while.

That’s where Minter comes in, as he’s considered by some to be a mid-first round pick. Coming out of LSU, Minter has all the SEC credibility that Ogletree would have brought to the team, only Minter doesn’t bring baggage. He’s a tough, dedicated player who can step up as a leader in the Raven locker room. No one will be able to completely replace Ray Lewis’ voice on that team, but Minter can fill the shoes physically and learn to come as close as he can to Lewis as a mentor and leader.

Here is the results of our final Mock Draft:

1. Kansas City Chiefs — Eric Fisher, offensive tackle, Central Michigan
2. Jacksonville Jaguars — Dion Jordan, defensive end, Oregon
3. Oakland Raiders — Sharrif Floyd, defensive tackle, Florida
4. Philadelphia Eagles — Luke Joeckel, offensive tackle, Texas A&M
5. Detroit Lions — Ezekiel Ansah, defensive end, BYU
6. Cleveland Browns — Dee Milliner, cornerback, Alabama
7. Arizona Cardinals — Lane Johnson, offensive tackle, Oklahoma
8. Buffalo Bills —  Chance Warmack, guard, Alabama
9. New York Jets — Jarvis Jones, linebacker, Georgia
10. Tennessee Titans — Jonathan Cooper, guard, North Carolina
11. San Diego Chargers —  Star Lotulelei, defensive tackle, Utah
12. Miami Dolphins —  Xavier Rhodes, cornerback, Florida State
13. New York Jets (via Tampa Bay) — Tavon Austin, wide receiver, West Virginia
14. Carolina Panthers — Sheldon Richardson, defensive tackle, Missouri
15. New Orleans Saints — Barkevious Mingo, defensive end, LSU
16. St. Louis Rams — Cordarrelle Patterson, wide receiver, Tennessee
17. Pittsburgh Steelers — Tyler Eifert, tight end, Notre Dame
18. Dallas Cowboys — Kenny Vaccaro, safety, Texas
19. New York Giants — Tank Carradine, defensive end, Florida State
20. Chicago Bears — Manti Te’o, linebacker, Notre Dame
21. Cincinnati Bengals — D.J. Fluker, offensive tackle, Alabama
22. St, Louis Rams (via Washington) — Eric Reid, safety, LSU
23. Minnesota Vikings — Arthur Brown, linebacker, Kansas State
24. Indianapolis Colts — Datone Jones, defensive end, UCLA
25. Minnesota Vikings (via Seattle) — Sylvester Williams, defensive tackle, North Carolina
26. Green Bay Packers — Menelik Watson, offensive tackle, Florida State
27. Houston Texans — Justin Hunter, wide receiver, Tennessee
28. Denver Broncos — Björn Werner, defensive end, Florida State
29. New England Patriots —  Markus Wheaton, wide receiver, Oregon State
30. Atlanta Falcons — D.J. Hayden, cornerback, Houston
31. San Francisco 49ers — Jesse Williams, defensive tackle, Alabama
32. Baltimore Ravens — Kevin Minter, linebacker, LSU

Jan 12, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Detailed view of a Baltimore Ravens helmet on the bench against the Denver Broncos during the AFC divisional round playoff game at Sports Authority Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The 2013 NFL Draft kicks off tonight with the first-round live from Radio City Music Hall. Every team in the league is preparing to select who they think will be the next breakout stars in the league, but first they will have to use the picks in their arsenal to draft the players they want.

The Baltimore Ravens have twelve picks to work with throughout the draft. Will they be able to use them to position the team to grab some of the draft’s top talent? It all begins tonight.

[RELATED: NFL Draft 2013: Start Times, Live Stream, TV Info, Draft Order and More]

Here is the current list of the Ravnes selections heading in to the 2013 NFL Draft:

• First-round: Pick 32
• Second-round: Pick 30
• Third-round: Pick 32
• Fourth-round: Pick 32, Pick 33 (comp)
• Fifth-round: Pick 32, Pick 35 (comp)
• Sixth-round: Pick 31 (from San Francisco), Pick 32, Pick 35 (comp)
• Seventh-round: Pick 32, Pick 41 (comp)

The draft is always a treat for NFL fans, so be sure that you tune in and see who the newest players to rock your favorite teams uniforms will be, and stay tuned to FanSided.com throughout the draft for the latest news, rumors and analysis of every pick.

Oct 13, 2012; Dallas, TX, USA; Oklahoma Sooner tackle Lane Johnson (69) in action against Texas Longhorns defensive end Alex Okafor (80) during the red river rivalry at the Cotton Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

The 2013 NFL Draft is top heavy with offensive line talent, and there is a wide spread belief that a run on offensive tackles could begin very early. With three elite tackle prospects in this year’s class — Luke Joeckel, Eric Fisher and Lane Johnson — a team that is looking to select one of the prospects may have to be willing to jump up to the draft order to land the pass protector.

One of the teams that could contemplate the move is the Baltimore Ravens.

According to Mike Preston of the Baltimore Sun:

The Ravens will be keeping an eye on Oklahoma left offensive tackle Lane Johnson.

He is rated the third-best at the position in the draft, and a lot of the experts have predicted he will go in the top 10 picks, but the Ravens might trade up for him at a reasonable cost. The Ravens have some options because they have 12 picks. Johnson is athletic, durable and the pro scouts like his demeanor. He plays with the nastiness of a defensive lineman.

After investing so much money in quarterback Joe Flacco during the offseason, the Ravens need a top player to protect his blind side.

The defending Super Bowl champions lost a lot of talent during the offseason, and it is very possible that Bryant McKinnie could not be returning to the team. If that is the case, Baltimore will need to make a move in order to land a blind-side protector for Joe Flacco.

If Baltimore is unsuccessful in their attempt to trade up in the draft order, a player like Menelik Watson, Terron Armstead or Justin Pugh could be a nice option.

Dec 18, 2011; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders middle linebacker Rolando McClain (55) warms up before the game against the Detroit Lions at O.co Coliseum. Detroit defeated Oakland 28-27. Mandatory Credit: Jason O. Watson-USA TODAY Sports

More details are rolling in regarding Baltimore Ravens linebacker Rolando McClain’s arrest. The newly signed linebacker wasted no time in proving you can change your setting but not your character when he was arrested this weekend for the second time in a calendar year. But as if being arrested again wasn’t enough, McClain continued his public disdain for authority when he verbally abused the police upon his arrest.

Per a USA Today report:

Decatur (Ala.) police say Rolando McClain’s arrest for disorderly conduct was a result of his ignoring orders to stop walking after yelling, “F— the police!” at officers who had ordered a crowd at a park to disperse.

We don’t think McClain was singing the NWA song either. McClain’s verbal attack on police echo something he said when he was arrested back in January of this year. At the time of that arrest, McClain reportedly said that corrupt cops were out to get him and that he had essentially been framed. McClain was much more to the point with his criticism this time around.

Local police released a statement on the events leading up to McClain’s arrest.

“The man yanked his arms away from the officers as other individuals in his group moved in and tried to prevent the officers from arresting him. At this point, the officers recognized the man as Rolando McClain. McClain continued to struggle with the officers as the officers had to contend with his friends as well as him. Members of the crowd stepped forward and tried to get McClain and his friends to calm down and let the police do their job.”

McClain being signed by the Baltimore Ravens was supposed to be his shot at redemption, but that could be a short lived endeavor. The Ravens have not room for a trouble maker on their roster and while they’ve given no indication of what they’re going to do, McClain could very well be on the open market again soon.

Aug. 17, 2012; Glendale, AZ, USA; Oakland Raiders linebacker (55) Rolando McClain against the Arizona Cardinals during a preseason game at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the Raiders 31-27. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Recently signed Baltimore Ravens linebacker Rolando McClain just doesn’t seem to get it. After being given a brilliant opportunity to resurrect his career with the defending Super Bowl champions, McClain went out and got arrested, yet again, on Sunday evening. It is the third time since 2011 that McClain has been arrested in his home town of Decatur, Alabama.

According to WHNT News 19, McClain was arrested and charged for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.

Per the report:

Eyewitnesses at the scene told WHNT News 19 that police officers had ordered McClain and several other people to leave the park after a large crowd had gathered there. McClain allegedly refused to do so, and began cursing at the officers. Authorities said McClain was eventually handcuffed and taken to the city jail before bonding out a short time later.

McClain was also arrested in Decatur in January when he was pulled over for a window tint violation. Police said McClain gave the traffic officers a false name in that incident. The former Alabama linebacker was also arrested by Decatur police in 2011 on assault and menacing charges. He was later convicted.

It will be interesting to see how the Ravens handle this situation.

They were hoping that the new team would provide McClain an opportunity to clean up his act, but he quickly showed us all that he just can’t stay in trouble. If the Ravens decide to part ways with McClain before ever giving him a chance on the field, he may struggle to find another opportunity in the league.

Dec 9, 2012; Tampa FL, USA; An NFL logo is seen on the field after a game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

The NFL regular season is nearly five months from kickoff, but the 2013 schedule has been released and it’s always fun to talk about what team has the “most favorable” schedule, and what team doesn’t have a chance to win more than five games.

As with every sports schedule, there are games that people look forward to more than others, and this season will be no different.

Divisional ones aside, there are games that don’t come around often that have a lot of people talking, and rightfully so. There are also some games that don’t have a lot of hype, but should.

Here are ten games that every football fan needs to circle on their calendar, and, as the saying goes, get their popcorn ready for.

Feb 3, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) celebrates after defeating the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

In something that bucks the trend for nearly the past decade, the defending Super Bowl champions will open their season as underdogs. The Baltimore Ravens will be making the journey to Mile High to face off against the Denver Broncos and they will enter the game as 7.5-point underdogs.

Over the past eight years, this has never happened before.

Here is how the past eight years played out:

Year    __Defending SB Champ   _______Opponent/Result                              ______   Spread                                  

2005:    New England Patriots    (vs. Oakland Raiders: 30-20 Win)            New England 7.5 Point Favorites

2006:    Pittsburgh Steelers        (vs. Miami Dolphins: 28-17 Win)             Pittsburgh 1 Point Favorites

2007:    Indianapolis Colts          (vs. New Orleans Saints: 41-10 Win)       Indianapolis 5.5 Points Favorites

2008:    New York Giants           (vs. Washington Redskins: 16-7 Win)      New York 4.5 Point Favorites

2009:    Pittsburgh Steelers        (vs. Tennessee Titans: 13-10 Win)           Pittsburgh 6.5 Point Favorites

2010:    New Orleans Saints       (vs. Minnesota Vikings: 14-9 Win)           New Orleans 4.5 Point Favorites

2011:    Green Bay Packers        (vs. New Orleans Saints: 42-34 Win)       Green Bay 4.5 Point Favorites

2012:    New York Giants           (vs. Dallas Cowboys:  24-17 loss)          New York 3.5 Point Favorites

The defending Super Bowl champs were victorious seven of the last eight years, with the lone loss coming last season. They were also favored in every match up until the Broncos opened up -7.5 against the Ravens.

Who will win the season opener? Sound off in the comments section and share your thoughts.

Nov 4, 2012; Cleveland, OH, USA; The Baltimore Ravens equipment staff works on a helmet during a game against the Cleveland Browns at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Baltimore won 25-15. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

The NFL released the 2013-14 regular season schedule on Thursday exclusively on NFL.com and the NFL Network. For NFL fans, seeing the schedule for the upcoming season is like an early Christmas that drums up excitement and allows you to plan out trips to nearby stadiums to watch your favorite teams in action. Before the schedule release, we already knew the home and away opponents for each team, but now we have an exact idea of when everyone will face off.

Without further introduction, here is the regular season schedule release that you have all been waiting for.

What does the Baltimore Ravens schedule look like for this season? Here it is:

What are the match ups that you are looking forward to the most? Will you be making the trip to any home or away games? Sound off in the comments section and share your thoughts.

Sept 8, 2011; Denver, CO, USA; General view of the new stadium naming signage during a media event at Sports Authority Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

The full 2013 NFL regular season schedule will be released on Thursday afternoon, but we already knew one bit of information prior to the official release. After a scheduling conflict that kept the Baltimore Ravens from hosting the 2013 season opener, we knew that the defending Super Bowl champions would open their season on the road in primetime.

Finally, we have an opponent.

The Ravens will travel to Mile High where they will face off against the Denver Broncos on Thursday night to officially kick off the 2013-14 NFL season.

Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports had the report:

The Ravens will open the 2013 season at Denver in a Thurs night kickoff. Full NFL schedule to be released tonight

— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) April 18, 2013

Last season, the Ravens ended the Broncos season in the divisional round of the playoffs.

Now, they will be looking for revenge with a new group of weapons, while the Ravens have watched their roster get depleted by retirement and free agency.

We are just a few hours away from the official unveiling of the full regular season schedule, but at least we now have a small taste of things to come and we know who will start the upcoming year of incredible action.

Dec 18, 2011; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders middle linebacker Rolando McClain (55) warms up before the game against the Detroit Lions at O.co Coliseum. Detroit defeated Oakland 28-27. Mandatory Credit: Jason O. Watson-USA TODAY Sports

The Baltimore Ravens lost both Ray Lewis and Dannell Ellerbe after their Super Bowl run, and now they have begun looking for replacements. Baltimore has reached out to former Oakland Raiders linebacker Rolando McClain and the two sides are working on finalizing a deal that would make him a Raven.

Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter:

Former Raiders LB Rolando McClain is nearing deal with Ravens. Two sides scheduled to talk today to see if they iron out unresolved issues.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 10, 2013

The move makes sense on a number of fronts. First, it fills a clear need with a talented player. There are character concerns surrounding him, but with Ozzie Newsome’s ties to the Alabama program and a great group of professionals around him, they should be able to find a way to keep McClain under control.

It is a great opportunity for the 23-year-old to resurrect his career with an outstanding organization and you can be sure the Ravens are making that loud and clear.

McClain has always been a great talent, but he never was put in a position to succeed.

But now, things are looking up for the 2009 Butkus Award winner. In Baltimore, all of the pieces are there for the 2010 No. 8 overall pick to turn around his career.

Feb 4, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco poses for a photo with the game MVP trophy at a press conference at the New Orleans Convention Center the day after defeating the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

Upon first glance when the news surfaced that Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco would be playing NFL legend in an upcoming film, the news appeared to be almost as outrageous as his $100+ million contract. It looked like something that came straight from The Onion, but unfortunately it was true.

Unitas’ son, Joe Unitas, co-wrote the film titled Unitas We Stand and wanted Flacco to play the role of his father.

While Joe Unitas appears on board, there are some members of the Unitas family that aren’t too happy about the decision to have Joe Flacco portray the great Johnny Unitas.

One of Unitas’ grandsons, J.C., took to Facebook to say Flacco was an “embarrassing choice.”

He went on to add, ”My grandfather and his legacy deserves only the best, and this is not it. Has Baltimore forgotten that Trent Dilfer also won a Super Bowl while playing for Baltimore?”

J.C. also criticized the decision by Joe Unitas to seek out funds for his new project.

“It disgusts me that one of the son’s of my grandfather would put his hands out and ask for donations to make a movie based off of a book that was mostly built off of non-factual events in my grandfather’s life,” J.C. said. “Moreover, a movie of my grandfather conceptualized by a son who never saw my grandfather play a down of football.

“The Unitas family is a family that never asked for handouts, although it appears there is a hand out, shaking a proverbial soup can for money to fund a movie.”

Ouch.

John Unitas Jr. was also very critical of the move saying, ”If you want a quarterback, go with Peyton Manning,. My father was just like that. This is a joke.”

This situation could really get ugly. John Jr. and Joe don’t see eye to eye and their sibling rivalry is now playing out in public. If some sort of resolution or communication doesn’t open between the two sons of Johnny Unitas, then this innocent movie project could play out in the public eye.

“They’re trying to do anything on the coattails of my father’s name,” John said. “It’s like prostituting yourself. My father would have nothing to do with it. It makes me angry, but there’s nothing I can do about it until they slip up. If they start selling some things with Johnny Unitas on it, then I have legal recourse.”

You know, if Joe Flacco wouldn’t have gone on a miracle run in the postseason, he wouldn’t be stealing money from the Ravens and he wouldn’t have sparked a public war between two brothers.

Way to go, Joe Flacco. This one’s on you.

Jan 8 2012; Denver, CO, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker James Harrison (92) before the start of the 2011 AFC Wildcard Playoff game against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

When James Harrison was cut by the Pittsburgh Steelers, it was assumed that some teams would show an interest in signing a veteran linebacker who clearly still has the grit to play the game. But now that we’re a month into James Harrison’s unemployment, it’s becoming clear that getting a second job is going to be a lot harder than initially thought.

Teams have been linked to Harrison, like the Ravens and Browns but no one has taken any interest past the simplest level of inquiry. Mainly, teams were linked to Harrison thanks to his agent, who plastered Harrison’s name to every team in the universe. But here we sit, a month later, and Harrison is still without a job.

According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, the Cleveland Browns will not be signing Harrison as the team as zero interest in the veteran.

The Browns have no interest in James Harrison and are unlikely to sign a 36-year-old defensive back. Woodson, who’s coming off an injury, admitted this week that the phone’s not ringing. I do think they’ll re-evaluate the roster after the draft to see where they can fill some holes and might add another reserve free agent or two.

- Mary Kay Cabot

Harrison’s only visit was to the Ravens and they’ve since decided to invest what little money they have in Elvis Dumervil and others. It’s a sad story when you look at it, as Harrison is a classic case of a guy who has sacrificed his body (and the bodies of others), but isn’t able to find a job when he hits the market. It’s truly a demoralizing feeling for a guy in Harrison’s position, but his continued unemployment can really be chalked up to timing. Right now we’re weeks away from the NFL Draft, which means teams are focused on the various linebacking prospects rather than a thirty-something veteran who is prone to illegal hits.

Harrison will find work again, he’ll just have to wait longer than we all thought he would.

Feb 3, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) celebrates with the Vince Lombardi Trophy after defeating the San Francisco 49ers 34-31 in Super Bowl XLVII at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Super Bowl winning quarterback Joe Flacco is set to play the role of former Baltimore Colts star Johnny Unitas in an upcoming film. The film, titled Unitas We Stand, is based off of Tom Callahan’s biography Johnny U:  The Life and Times of Johnny Unitas.

Johnny Unitas’ son, Joe Unitas, co-wrote the script for the film and recently told the Baltimore Sun that Flacco will be filling the role in the upcoming movie.

“Obviously, the Baltimore ties are very important to me,” Unitas said, via the Baltimore Sun.  “I think it’s great that Joe just won the Super Bowl with the Ravens and was Most Valuable Player in the game.  A lot of the way Joe plays and his demeanor reminds me a lot of my dad.  He’s not a rah-rah guy.  He throws a touchdown and maybe there’s a little fist pump.  He understands his job is all about winning and he does a phenomenal job leading the offense and the team and obviously they’ve developed a lot of trust after becoming a champion.  He’s an awesome teammate and great leader of the team.

“He does things the right way and is a good role model for kids and he gets what hard work is and does everything he can for the team.  There are a lot of parallels that can be drawn between Joe and my dad.  My production team is very fortunate and thankful that he’s dedicated to help us and play my dad.  I know he doesn’t do a lot of things away from the game, and football players’ time off in the offseason is very valuable.  For him to take time away and commit to doing this is very humbling.”

The only problem ahead for the film is funding. Unitas and others are rallying to raise money for their project that has a projected budget is $12.8 million. All proceeds from the film will be donated to USA Football and Gridiron Greats.

Filming is scheduled to begin on July 15.

Flacco is admittedly one of the most boring personalities in sports, so it will be interesting to see how he lights up once the cameras are rolling.

If you want to learn more about the film, check out the the official Unitas We Stand website.

Nov 4, 2012; Nashville, TN, USA; Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher (54) pursues a Tennessee Titans ball carrier during the second half at LP Field. The Bears beat the Titans 51-20. Mandatory credit: Don McPeak-US Presswire

Longtime Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher is on the open market after the team decided it was time to move on from their veteran leader. With Urlacher on the market, there are a number of teams that could benefit from adding the free agent linebacker. The fine folks from Bovada passed along the latest Vegas odds for Urlacher’s next home and the Baltimore Ravens topped the list.

For the Ravens, it would be a brilliant decision to sign the inside linebacker.

The team lost their leader Ray Lewis to retirement and watched Dannell Ellerbe leave for the Miami Dolphins in free agency. The team certainly could use help in the middle of their defense and Urlacher would provide them a few more years of solid production and the type of leader that they will need with Lewis’ departure.

Here are the complete odds:

• Baltimore Ravens                      9/4
• New York Giants                       5/2
• Cincinnati Bengals                     7/2
• Denver Broncos                        4/1
• Minnesota Vikings                     6/1
• Atlanta Falcons                         6/1       
• Oakland Raiders                        8/1

Which team will ultimate end up signing Urlacher? Sound off in the comments section and let us hear your thoughts.

August 4, 2011; Napa, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders free safety Michael Huff (24) acknowledges a teammate during training camp at the Napa Valley Marriott. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

A few weeks ago, everyone in the NFL was babbling about how tragic the Ravens will be in 2013 after having their defense gutted by free agency and retirement. The Ravens lost massive pieces of their linebacking corps as Paul Kruger and Dannell Elerbe took their talents to Cleveland and Miami respectively, and Ray Lewis finally hung up his cleats after a legendary career. In addition to that, Baltimore lost veteran safety Ed Reed to the Houston Texans and other pieces of the defense fell in other places.

But the Ravens have gone from being poor little Oliver and have now given things a twist. After signing free agent defensive end Elvis Dumervil this week, the team has announced that they’ve inked former Raiders safety and first round pick Michael Huff to replace Ed Reed in the secondary.

Ravens announced they reached agreement with former Raiders S Michael Huff, the man to replace Ed Reed.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 27, 2013

Some teams talk about doing it. The Ravens actually do it. They let the market come to them.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 27, 2013

The new deal with the Ravens will pay Huff a reported $6 million over the next three years. As Schefter pointed out, the Ravens have allowed the market come to them, and they’ve arguably gone from having one of the worst offseasons to one of the best so far in adding two defensive pillars to their illustrious unit. The work is still cut out for them, but the Ravens have saved face in the best kind of way and are now ready to enter the draft with the ability to build fort he future in comfort rather than do so out of necessity.

His signing has made fans forget about the departures of Ray Lewis, Dannell Ellerbe and Paul Kruger to the linebacking corp because he is a clear upgrade over the pass rushers they have lost.

Fellow outside linebacker Terrell Suggs went as far as to say that Dumervil will be the first elite pass rusher he has ever played against in the league. Whether or not he knows it, that was a direct shot at Paul Kruger, who left the team in free agency for the division rival Cleveland Browns.

For Ravens fans, it is exciting to see their new linebacker join the squad. If you missed it, here is the first look at Dumervil holding up his new No. 1 Ravens jersey at the press conference:

Photo via Baltimore Ravens on Twitter (@Ravens)

Will he provide the Ravens defense a boost or will all of the other losses be too much of an obstacle to overcome? Let us know your thoughts on the signing in the comments section.

Jan 31, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; Baltimore Ravens linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo (51) addresses the media during a press conference in preparation for Super Bowl XLVII between the San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Baltimore Ravens special teamer and linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo made an appearance out a rally where the Supreme Court  was debating whether the California ban on same-sex marriage violated the Constitution. Ayanbadejo has always been active in speaking up for and supporting same-sex marriage, so when he chose to speak at the rally it came as no surprise.

“First and foremost, I have to say I’m not here as a Baltimore Raven,” Ayanbadejo said, via Erik Brady of USA Today.  “I’m actually here as a patriot — as a patriot to uphold the Constitution of the United States, so this is a fight that we’ve seen here before, we’ve been here before.  How is this any different than Loving v. Virginia?

“Luckily, I’m a child of the ’70s, because in some states in the ’60s, I wouldn’t be here.  So I’m a testament to progress.  I’m a testament to things are changing.  Love is always going to win the game.”

There won’t be a ruling until June, so this battle is just beginning.

Fortunately, we have people like Ayanbadejo who are willing to go above and beyond their call of duty as a citizen to stick up for others and fight for equality. It isn’t always the most popular opinion, but men like Ayanbadejo should be applauded for sticking up for their fellow man.

It’s a noble effort and one that I wish more people would take a stand for. Equality is something that should be had by all.