Baltimore Ravens: Scout.com poll

A few days ago in the mail I received Scout.com's NFL fantasy football preview as part of my premium subscription. In it is a poll of NFL experts, and while the Ravens didn't place in the top of the "Super Bowl Champion" predictions, or even the "AFC Champion" predictions, Ray Lewis and the team did place high in two categories.

Most Hated Team: The Baltimore Ravens ranked third behind only the Cowboys and Raiders, numbers one and two, respectively.

Most Hated Player: LB Ray Lewis took the silver medal behind, you guessed it, T.O.

Cincinnati Bengals: 10th arrest in 14 months

Guess who's in trouble again? That's right, a Cincinnati Bengal! (ESPN.com article.) RB Quincy Wilson, who played with perennial police-target Pacman Jones at West Virginia, was nailed with a disorderly conduct charge at a wedding this past weekend. Apparently it was getting late (3:00 a.m.) and Wilson didn't want to go home, even though 30 minutes earlier shots had been discharged from a weapon about a block away. Smart move, Wilson.

That makes 10 Bengals arrested in a little more than a year, during which time the team has only eight wins. Talk about commitment. Wilson hardly played last year, so don't be surprised to see the Bengals cut their losses. The team needs to improve its image more than it needs a second-rate running back who likes to drink past last call.

Baltimore Ravens: minicamp ends; team update

Brian Billick missed the final day of voluntary-minicamp practice yesterday. Pretty good excuse, though: his daughter's high-school graduation. A list of players who didn't volunteer to practice with the team includes, on the offensive side of the ball: QB Steve McNair, RB Willis McGahee, RB Mike Anderson, OT Jonathan Ogden, WR Derrick Mason, WR Damien Linson. On defense, it was: LB Ray Lewis, LB Terrell Suggs, S Ed Reed, CB Chris McAlister, CB Samari Rolle.

Defensive coordinator Rex Ryan, who after last season we're lucky to have as our defensive coordinator and not some other team's head coach, ran the practice in Billick's absence. According to Ravens beat reporter Aaron Wilson in this Scout.com pay article, LB Bart Scott had this to say about Rex's performance as de facto head coach for a day: “I think Rex looked real comfortable. We want to hold onto him, but, realistically, we don’t know how much longer we can."

Rex Ryan will get a head coaching job somewhere; it's just a matter of whether it's after this season or maybe the season after that. Like Marvin Lewis, Jack Del Rio and Mike Nolan, he's not going to be in Charm City forever. Enjoy it while it lasts.

The team won't practice together again until late July.

San Francisco 49ers and Jacksonville Jaguars: coaches lookin' classy

The league today announced that it is allowing head coaches Mike Nolan (49ers) and Jack Del Rio (Jaguars) to wear suits during home games next season. All eight of 'em. Last year the league let both of them test the waters and approved suit-wearing for what I believe was two games. The next move should be letting them wear real dress shoes. Last year they had to wear these silly looking Reebok quasi-dress shoes, which sort of defeated the purpose of wearing a suit in the first place. From a distance they looked OK, but when you wear a suit with what amounts to tennis shoes, you look like a clown.

As it turns out, the NFL said starting this season any coach will be allowed to rock the suit and tie for home games, but only Nolan and Del Rio -- both former Ravens guys -- expressed interest when the league asked around during the annual meetings this past March in Arizona.

Baltimore Ravens: WR Mark Clayton on the team's offensive philosophy

“This year our attitude when we’re on the field is we’re attacking. We want to put points on the board and then let our defense pin their ears back and have at it. Steve has a year under his belt so hopefully this year we’ll be able to step it up to another level.”

Sounds like it could have been Brian Billick that spoke those words. But it wasn't. It was WR Mark Clayton, who was quoted in a recent Scout.com pay article by team beat reporter Aaron Wilson. It sounds nice, but we've been hearing the same thing from Billick for years. This is the year we're going to be aggressive. This is the year that the offense steps up to the caliber of the defense. But nearly every year it's the same story: Our defense is top-notch and our offense is bottom of the barrel.

Also reported in the article is that Clayton has lost 10 pounds, and his hamstring, which has bothered him in the past, is in much better shape. "So far, so good," he says. Knock on wood, Baltimore fans.

Baltimore Ravens: Baltimore Sun article on Ray Lewis

An article in today's Baltimore Sun echoes pretty much what I wrote five days ago, which is that Ray Lewis claims to be in the best shape of his life despite recently having celebrated his 32nd birthday, which in football-player years equals, oh, I don't know, 85 years old?

Cincinnati Bengals: Chad Johnson outruns a horse

Today Cincinnati Bengals WR Chad Johnson raced a horse for charity. And won. Granted, Johnson received a head start of about 100 meters, but still, outrunning a horse is impressive. Last week I wrote that I didn't think he could do it. Clearly I was wrong.

After the race, Johnson said: "Floyd Mayweather, you're next. I want to fight you. I'd like to take Kobe and LeBron one-on-one. Jeff Gordon, we can take a couple laps."

I'm interested to see what's next for the NFL's resident funny man.

Baltimore Ravens: Daunte Culpepper would be a mistake

Miami Dolphins QB Daunte Culpepper to the Baltimore Ravens. The scenario has been floated and discussed at great length, so I'll keep it short: Baltimore should not attempt to acquire or sign Culpepper.

For starters, Culpepper hasn't fully rehabbed his knee. Secondly, the Ravens already have a great backup in Kyle Boller. I'm not saying Kyle Boller is a great quarterback. I'm saying that given all of the circumstances he makes for a great backup, at least for Baltimore. He knows the offense and is comfortable with his role. And that's the only reason the Ravens would sign Culpepper: to compete with Kyle Boller to backup Steve McNair. I think that the only reason most any team would sign Culpepper: to play backup.

I'm not a cap-space expert, but I don't think the Ravens could afford to sign another quarterback anyway. We certainly couldn't afford to trade for Culpepper, though chances are his prohibitive contract will eventually force his release. The Dolphins will probably hold out for as long as they can, hoping that someone will throw a bone their way -- a late-round draft pick, perhaps -- but I wouldn't be surprised to see the team simply cut their ties and release the 30-year-old veteran, who publicly has been at odds with the organization ever since they acquired former Chiefs QB Trent Green to replace him.

Baltimore Ravens: Ray Lewis says he's in the best shape of his life

"Some say you go in reverse once you hit the 30 mark, but I think I'm going the other way. Where I am right now, it's scary."

Words from Ray Lewis, living legend, linebacker extraordinaire, Charm City's hero in the middle who recently celebrated his 32nd birthday.

Apparently Lewis updated his training regimen this offseason and subsequently looks even stronger and healthier, according to Ravens beat reporter Aaron Wilson, who writes in this pay article on Scout.com that Ray's face, at this week's minicamp, "was noticeably thinner, his arms and legs were ripped, and he appeared 10 to 15 pounds lighter."

Ray Ray stopped working out at 6:00 a.m. and instead now works out at night. He also sleeps as many as 14 hours a day, during which time I imagine he dreams about sidelining permanently the likes of Ben Roethlisberger and Carson Palmer. "Rest is probably the No. 1 thing. It's really paid off because right now I'm sitting at a place that I don't think I've ever been in my career."

I doubt if Ray is "going the other way," so to speak, but I do believe that he's not the overrated linebacker that outsiders like to think he is. Last year it was trendy to say thinks like, 'Best linebacker in the league? Ray isn't even the best linebacker on his team!' It makes for good copy, but it's simply not true.

Adalius Thomas and Bart Scott are good linebackers, but even late in his career I'd take Lewis over both of them. And probably over any linebacker in the league, save for maybe -- and I might get crucified for this -- Bears LB Brian Urlacher. (Shawne Merriman won't even be considered unless he gets himself a better dance.) Urlacher isn't better than Ray was in his prime, but he's younger and also better than we Ravens fans like to admit. That said: I still think Ray Lewis is the best.

New England Patriots: CB Asante Samuel threatens holdout

New England Patriots CB Asante Samuel wants a new contract. The Patriots, who tagged Samuel as their franchise player, tendered him a one-year offer worth nearly $8 million. But Asante wants more.

"I'm not coming to camp. I'm not showing up until the 10th week. I feel unappreciated. The way they're treating me is just wrong."

Apparently following the rules is wrong.

It's a business and Asante wants to get paid. Unfortunately, Asante, the franchise tag is part of this business. Report to camp or cry me a river. But don't expect a new contract. Not from the Patriots.

Cincinnati Bengals: LB Odell Thurman accused of assault

Odell Thurman isn't technically a Cincinnati Bengal. Technically he isn't on any roster. That's because the linebacker keeps getting himself suspended. He missed all of last year after what initially was a four-game suspension for missing a drug test. The season-long ban went into effect when he was arrested for driving drunk. Quality guy.

Thurman is eligible for reinstatement, but don't hold your breath. Especially considering he went and got himself into some trouble again. Odell Thurman allegedly kicked and hit two men. Charges may or may not be filed, but you can be sure that Thurman won't be playing in the NFL next season, probably not ever again at this rate.

Cincinnati Bengals: CB Deltha O'Neil upset with coach Marvin Lewis

Deltha O'Neil has seen better days, albeit maybe not since 2005, his last good season. O'Neill recently missed a voluntary workout and Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis called him out publicly. "You get the chance to right your ship, particularly for a defensive back, and today he missed out on some work that he shouldn't miss on," Lewis said. "He just put himself further behind."

O'Neill is unhappy with Lewis' comments.

Yes, O'Neill put himself further behind. But missing a voluntary camp has nothing to do with whether or not he's righting his ship. If there was a family emergency then attending to that instead of voluntary practice shows maturity, something the Bengals could use. Then again, O'Neill was suspended last season for a DUI so I can see why he's not given the benefit of the doubt.

O'Neill also had a shoulder injury and played poorly last year, so draft pick Leon Hall will have a legitimate shot to compete for the starting job. O'Neil should worry about that, not about what his coach is saying, regardless of whether or not Lewis was right to say what he said.

Cincinnati Bengals: Chad Johnson to race a horse

As much as I love watching the Bengals lose, which usually means getting to see WR Chad Johnson put his foot in his mouth, I have to admit the guy is funny. At the very least unpredictable and original.

Next Saturday Chad will race a horse for charity at Cincinnati's River Downs. The horse runs 1/8 mile and Chad runs only 1/16 of a mile. Still, I'm guessing the horse wins. Being a fast human is one thing but being a horse is an entirely different thing. A faster thing, to be specific.

Carson Palmer: "I don't think he really understands how fast horses are. I've been to the Kentucky Derby and been to different tracks and seen horses run. I don't think he knows what he's getting himself into."

T.J. Houshmandzadeh: "It's not a Kentucky Derby horse, so he's probably going to win, I think."

It might not be a Kentucky Derby horse, T.J., but it's still a horse.

Prediction: Horse beats Chad.

Dallas Cowboys: Tony Romo and Miss USA

Cowboys QB Tony Romo exploded onto the scene last year, starting for the first time in his career (10 games) while completing more than 65 percent of his passes (19 TDs, 16 picks) and earning a passer rating north of 95. And of course he led the Cowboys to the playoffs. But he fell apart when it mattered most. In the playoffs.

How could you forget Tony Romo's bobbled snap. There's no question mark because it's a rhetorical question. You can't forget it. Cowboys fans definitely won't forget it. They may forgive, but they'll always remember. Romo lost his composure, the field goal was blown and the game was lost, 21-20. Seattle advances.

So when Romo watched Miss USA take a spill during the recent Miss Universe contest, he could sympathize. Big stage, big blunder. He was a guest judge at the competition and admitted to giving her a higher score for having the courage to get back up and continuing, uh, doing whatever it is you have to do in the Miss Universe competition.

Classy move, Tony.

It'll be hard to muster an encore that matches last year's performance, but next season Tony Romo will have a new coach in Wade Phillips, which will make things even more difficult. New coach, new offense. So if Tony Romo puts together another solid season, you know the undrafted quarterback out of Eastern Illinois is the real deal.