Chicago Bears: Lance Briggs (DWI?)

Chicago Bears LB Lance Briggs crashed his Lamborghini Monday morning sometime around 3:00 a.m. Then he reported it stolen sometime around 4:00 a.m. Shortly thereafter he came clean and said he crashed it and "panicked," which must be Chicago-speak for "I got drunk and wrecked my car so instead of sticking around and getting a DWI and a probable suspension from the league I shirked my responsibilities and when I sobered up I owned up to my mistakes and look at me now nothing happened I'm so lucky to be alive."

If the Bears don't have the decency to do it themselves, the league should suspend Briggs for at least a game.

Briggs: "When it happened, the first thing I did was, obviously, I panicked. I didn't want there to be a big scene there. And so I left the scene. When I left, I called the tow truck. I also was startled, and I called to report that my car was stolen. Within probably 10 minutes, I called back and accepted responsibility for what I did because it was ridiculous in the first place."

Baltimore Ravens: Jonathan Ogden update

According to Baltimore's AM1570 and WNST.net, Baltimore Ravens LT Jonathan Ogden has passed a physical and is now on the active roster. This is great news, though Baltimore fans shouldn't think all is necessarily well.

The turf toe that has bothered Ogden since last year hasn't gone away. And it won't. It will linger for the rest of the season, and the rest of his career should he decide to play beyond this year. The injury is here to stay, but that doesn't mean Ogden and the offensive line can't be successful. Ogden's ability to once again anchor the line will depend upon his ability to cope with the pain. He did it last year, and I think barring further aggravation that he can do it again.

Ogden has said that he may not be ready for the season-opening game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday, September 10 in Cincinnati. If that's the case, or if Ogden misses time at any point this season, look for fifth-round supplemental-draft pick Jared Gaither to step in and fill the void. Gaither has looked great during the preseason, but there is a big difference between playing well in the preseason and filling in for a future Hall of Famer during the regular season.

Baltimore Ravens: Bart Scott on "Black Monday"

Black Monday is today (or yesterday if you're on the east coast). It is the day when teams trim their rosters and players hold their breath. A guy like LB Bart Scott is not going to get cut, of course, at least not this year, but according to his most recent blog post, the day isn't fun for anyone.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Kevan Barlow

Today the Pittsburgh Steelers cut RB Kevan Barlow, who previously played for the San Francisco 49ers and New York Jets.

"Barlow, a third-round pick by San Francisco in 2001, has rushed for 3,984 yards on 1,022 carries in six NFL seasons. He gained a career-high 1,024 yards while averaging 5.1 yards per carry in 2003."

Barlow was always one of my favorite players when he played in San Francisco. That's all I've got for you on the subject of Kevan Barlow.

Baltimore Ravens: Drew Olson

I have heard that if you learn how to be a long snapper, you'll never get cut from a football team. Not so for long snapper Nick Leeson, who today was cut by the Baltimore Ravens, along with five other players, one of whom was QB Drew Olson.

Olson may have outplayed QB Troy Smith during the preseason, but the coaching staff kept Smith because he has more potential. Smith is not guaranteed a spot on the team, though. If the Ravens decide to go with two quarterbacks, as they did last year, Smith will be relegated to the practice squad. Otherwise he will be the third option, behind Kyle Boller and Steve McNair.

Cleveland Browns: Brady Quinn will not start

Despite having missed nearly two weeks of practice due to a contract holdout, Cleveland Browns QB Brady Quinn has had a strong preseason.

But according to Browns GM Phil Savage, either Charlie Frye and Derek Anderson will start the season under center, not Brady Quinn.

Baltimore Ravens: Brian Billick is the problem

Last night's game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Washington Redskins was suspended in the third quarter because of the weather, which was making more noise than either team's offense.

Two weeks ago Baltimore fans had travel plans to Phoenix all but booked for next year's Super Bowl, and now they're clamoring to figure out why exactly the offense can't put points on the board. Yes, it's "only preseason," but the fact remains that Baltimore's offense has been, year after year, one of the worst in the league.

To whom should the finger of collective ire be pointed? That's easy: Head coach Brian Billick, who for the better part of a decade now has had tried and failed to put together a decent offense for the Baltimore Ravens.

Yes, there have been problems at quarterback, and even today, leadership skills aside, there are still problems with Steve McNair (namely a weak arm that prevents deep threats from materializing). But in the age of the salary cap, all teams have shortcomings. Deal with it.

The team needs to reestablish itself in the running game, and it needs also to find ways to be less vanilla in its execution. McNair can't throw the deep ball, but there is no reason that the offense shouldn't be able to more effectively spread the field, particularly now that Willis McGahee is coming out of the backfield as opposed to Jamal Lewis, who despite his strength in the trenches always had hands of stone.

Photograph: Baltimore Sun

Baltimore Ravens: Willis McGahee & Mike Anderson

There has been some debate as to whether or not Willis McGahee should be the starting RB for the Baltimore Ravens, that maybe RB Mike Anderson, who had better numbers in the most recent preseason game, should be the starter. The debate has been neither too loud nor too serious because the situation is clear: The job belongs to Willis McGahee.

I felt sorry for McGahee when in 2002 he busted his knee in the Orange Bowl against Ohio State, back when McGahee was a star RB at the University of Miami. I also felt sorry for his teammates, who clearly on the whole were better than the Buckeyes. But thanks to a little luck and some bad officiating, Ohio State pulled out a double-OT victory in that national-championship game.

I also felt sorry for the Buffalo Bills when the team drafted McGahee with the twenty-third overall pick in the 2003 NFL Draft. Not because he wasn't a first-round talent, but because McGahee was about three months removed from a disastrous knee injury. Things never really panned out for him in Buffalo. It remains to be seen what will happen in Baltimore.

Here's what Billick recently had to say about McGahee: "We'll get a better Willis McGahee, not because we're better coaches but because of Ed Reed and Ray Lewis. There is something about those guys. They hold each other to a certain level of accountability. Who in Buffalo led Willis McGahee? Who in Buffalo pushed Willis McGahee? Not that that's anybody's responsibility. But he has a very clear-cut mandate here from his teammates, not just us, that he thus far has been responsive to."

When Billick says "they" hold one another accountable, he is talking about University of Miami players. I think it's a nice story that Willis McGahee went to the University of Miami, as did Ray Lewis and Ed Reed, but I don't think that fact will necessarily make or break whether or not McGahee succeeds in Baltimore's offense. If after four years in the league a player can't be successful without a few alum at your side, that is a bad sign. Ultimately it's going to boil down to whether or not Billick can field a successful offense without Randy Moss.

Because that's the last time Billick had a great offense, when he had Randy Moss on the Minnesota Vikings, and that was nearly a decade ago. Back then he was an offensive coordinator. He's never once had a great offensive team as a head coach. Not once. But this year he has the talent, and if LT Jonathan Ogden can remain healthy there are no excuses for Billick, who has spent the last six or seven years jumping back and forth between the hot seat and the catbird seat.

Baltimore Ravens vs. New York Giants: Giants 13, Ravens 12

I hurt my arm and have to type with one hand, so I'll keep this short: Even though it was "only a preseason game," 4 FGs and 0 TDs is a poor showing, though I suppose it's better than coming up with 2 FGs and 0 TDs during a playoff game.

Baltimore Ravens: Antwan Barnes injury

Ravens rookie LB Antwarn Barnes, a fourth-round selection out of Florida International, has been playing very well in preseason. At least that's the word from the team's best beat reporter, Aaron Wilson, who expects Barnes to get between five and six situational chances per game this season.

But this afternoon Barnes had to be carted off the field toward the end of practice. There has been no word on his injury. Hopefully this guy doesn't catch Dan Cody-syndrome, which results in spending all of your time being injured and not living up to expectations.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Steely McBeam

The Pittsburgh Steelers have a new mascot: Steely McBeam. The name was chosen out of more than 70,000 entries submitted by fans.

I know this because the Pittsburgh Post-Gazzette dedicated three paragraphs to the news (link to article), which sounds about right for a name-the-mascot contest. But at the bottom of the article: "More details in tomorrow's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette."

More details? What more is there to say? The Pittsburgh Steelers have a new mascot. His name is Steely McBeam. A fan submitted the name. End of story. Perhaps a footnote regarding the fact that Steely looks like Bill Cowher.

But the following day's newspaper dedicated 22 paragraphs to Steely ("Say hello to Steely McBeam"). You could announce a quarterback change with fewer words than that. One more paragraph and they would have equaled the number of interceptions thrown last year by Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger.

Baltimore Ravens vs. Philadelphia Eagles: Ravens win 29-3

I couldn't watch the Baltimore Ravens game, at least not on television, because I live in San Francisco and the 49ers played the Broncos tonight. Fortunately my buddy in Baltimore has Slingbox, which allows me to access his cable box, including his DVR, from my laptop. All it requires is a simple software download and a password. And, yes, it's totally legal.

I had planned to avoid the score, but I failed, thanks to both my Google Reader and one of the Baltimore Sun football blogs, which published a post that included the score.

Still, I'll probably watch at least some of the game, if not all of it. I just got finished watching the Ravens' first drive of the game.

Steve McNair: Looked great. Only one bad pass, I think. Completed a couple of key third-downs and threw a touchdown pass.

Willis McGahee: Not bad. Busted off one 17-yard run through a hole created by Jared Gaither, who was at left tackle in place of Jonathan Ogden.

Todd Heap: One 22-yard reception. Predictably good.

Sorry. I realize this is a weak post, but trust me when I say you don't ever want to be in a position where your only option is to watch the game with a choppy feed on what is maybe seven-inch video player on your computer screen.

Philadelphia Eagles: Donovan McNabb to skip preseason opener

Philadelphia Eagles coach Andy Reid said that QB Donovan McNabb is going to ride the pine during the team's first preseason game, which is tomorrow night against the Baltimore Ravens (ESPN.com article).

It's probably a wise move. McNabb is recovering from knee surgery, and going against one of the league's best defenses is not exactly the best way to ease back into things. Even if it is only preseason. Just ask Michael Vick, who four years ago broke his leg in a preseason game against Baltimore.

Who will play QB in McNabb's his place?
First quarter: A.J. Feeley
Second quarter: Kelly Holcomb
Third and fourth quarters: Kevin Kolb

Baltimore Ravens: reasons to be nervous

If you spend too much time on message boards with Baltimore Ravens fans, you might get the impression that there is no logical outcome to the 2007-2008 season that doesn't involve the team winning the Super Bowl and walking off with another Lombardi Trophy.

Willis McGahee is the answer at running back. Demetrius Williams is a secret-weapon deep threat. Fifth-round supplemental draft pick Jared Gaither is the second coming of Jonathan Ogden. And of course nothing is ever wrong with the defense.

Certainly the Ravens have a pretty good shot at winning it all. No worse of a shot than any other team, in my opinion. But that doesn't mean there aren't reasons for Ravens fans to be nervous.

Steve McNair is old. His numbers over the past few years have been relatively consistent, but he is 34 years old and at some point he is going to run out of gas.

Matt Stover is old. The guy is a beast, but will he still be able to nail a 52-yard field goal with the clock winding down, as he did last year when the Ravens squeaked out a 15-14 victory against the Browns?

It's still Baltimore. Say what you will about the addition of Willis McGahee, but the fact remains that the Ravens have never been able to put together a great offense. Ever. Not once.

Jonathan Ogden is hurt. The team has some great young talent on the offensive line but Ogden is the anchor, and the turf toe that slowed him down last year is a nagging injury that likely will bother him for the rest of his career.

The secondary has holes. Well, one hole: Samari Rolle. Last-season's whispers suggested that his disappointing play was partly a result of poor communication with Ed Reed, and reports out of camp suggest that Rolle's game has improved, but I'll believe it when I see it.

The late-season schedule is brutal. Week 12 on the road against the San Diego Chargers. Weeks 13 and 14 against the New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts. Week 15 in Miami, playing the Dolphins in the southeastern-most part of the country. Week 16 it's the northwestern-most part of the country, on the road against the Seattle Seahawks. To top it all off, they finish the season at home against the division-rival Pittsburgh Steelers.

Carson Palmer will be healthier. After another full year to rehabilitate his knee, Carson Palmer will be healthier and prepared to inflict wounds upon Baltimore's secondary.

Ben Roethlisberger will be better. Could he play any worse than he did last season? Is that even possible?

Cleveland Browns: Jamal Lewis trashes Baltimore

Former Ravens RB Jamal Lewis has long been one of my favorite players. Even after he spent four months in federal prison after getting convicted to conspiring to distribute narcotics, I supported him. As did the team.

At the time, as a joke, I printed out a picture of Jamal in a suit, being led somewhere by the arm. Whether it was to or from court, or to or from prison, I don't remember. On the picture I wrote in big, black letters: Free Jamal. The picture still hangs there today, with one addition: Freed! 6/2/2005.

But after today I might have to take the picture down. In this USA Today article, Jamal trashes the Ravens.

On skipping town: "I was ready to go. I didn't want to be there no more. I think they were making excuses, more than anything else, as far as the running game."

On head coach Brian Billick: "It was just a bad deal, man. I didn't get along with Coach Billick. He didn't get along with me. There was just a lot of turmoil going on. I needed to go."

On the front office: "What did they do to make the running game better? Did they bring in new offensive linemen? No, they brought in a new quarterback, but got rid of Darnell Dinkins, a blocking tight end."

Baltimore Ravens: Kelly Gregg's knee injury

Baltimore Ravens DT Kelly Gregg, who Sports Illustrated's Peter King recently wrote was the most underrated player in football, has missed training camp because of what the team is calling a thigh bruise. Though according to Ravens beat reporter Aaron Wilson, "It's not a thigh bruise. It's a knee injury. He acknowledged it today, plus he's wearing a knee brace."

Wilson wrote those comments earlier today on Scout.com's premium (pay) message boards. Fortunately the word is that the injury isn't serious. Unfortunately it's tough to trust anything an NFL team says about injuries. Might be serious, might not be. But if it is serious, that's bad news for Baltimore.

Kelly Gregg is a beast in the middle and he's a large part of why Baltimore's defense is so successful against the run. And he's fast: Last Novemeber during Baltimore's 24-10 victory against the Falcons, Gregg broke through the line and sacked Michael Vick. Not a blindside Vick-didn't-see-him-coming sack, but a chased-him-down sack.

Baltimore Ravens: greatest hits

Courtesy of Tsizzles31, a regular presence on the Scout.com Ravens message boards. This video contains some of the best bone-crushing hits amassed by Baltimore's defense over the years. My favorite? That's easy: LB Bart Scott blindsiding Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger.

The video is only two minutes, so it's a perfect way for you short-attention-span folks to get even more excited about the pending start of the NFL season, which in a loosely defined way kicks off today when the Baltimore Ravens scrimmage the Washington Redskins at M&T Bank Stadium.

Cleveland Browns: Ryan Tucker suspended

After receiving a four-game suspension from the NFL, Ceveland Browns RT Ryan Tucker admitted to taking a banned substance (Associated Press article).

Here's what he had to say: "I didn't intend to compromise the integrity of the NFL, my team. I want to apologize to the fans, my family. It's been a long road in which I was pretty down and out last year. In my attempt to come back I took a banned substance. I'm going to fulfill this punishment and get it behind me."

Break the rules; pay the price. At least Tucker owned up to his mistake, unlike most of the athletes who get caught breaking the rules, who then deny, deny, deny.

Baltimore Ravens: training camp

This week marked the start of training camp for the Baltimore Ravens. I've been tempted to write about it all week, but I haven't because I've been really busy. Also, I haven't been at training camp, and I'm not really in the mood to recycle material and add my opinion. So instead I'll just include a link to Don Banks' Baltimore Ravens training-camp update (link). Frankly, I've hardly paid attention to it but I'm already sick of training camp. Bring on the regular season.