Coaching updates: Marty Ball and Harbaugh

Little birdies have told me that the Ravens are now speaking with Trace Armstrong, Marty Ball's agent. Also, John Harbaugh remains a possibility. Neither of these two updates are very surprising. What is somewhat surprising is how short the list is right now. At this point, it's slim pickings for the Ravens.

Josh McDaniel and Kirk Ferentz bowed out before the process began, and Rex Ryan was probably never really considered with that much sincerity. Garrett's interest in the Ravens also may have been marginal, and the interviews could have been nothing more than bargaining chips for the man who seems poised to take over whenever Wade Phillips decides to step down gets fired.

Random fact: John Harbaugh's sister is married to Tom Crean, men's basketball coach at Marquette (and of course his brother coaches Stanford, which earlier this year upset USC). Not a bad family tree when it comes to coaching. Daddy Harbaugh was a coach, too.