YOU’VE GOT TO KNOW WHEN TO HOLD ‘EM, KNOW WHEN TO FOLD ‘EM ~ Many in the area have been critical of the Ravens offseason moves thus far.  Noticeably absent from the Ravens' personnel maneuvering are enhancements to the offensive line and improvement at the quarterback position, a move Ozzie Newsome committed to during the infamous January press conference with Steve Bisciotti. 

Sources close to the team say that the Ravens want to see how the Titans’ QB situation shakes out.  On GAMETIME last Sunday (which you can hear on our GAMETIME PODCAST) and during discussions with other guests on WNST this week, media personnel who cover the Titans seem to share the opinion that if any of the Titans’ QB’s are let go, it will be Billy Volek and not Steve McNair.  None of this has caused Ozzie to blink and he remains supremely patient.

In fact his patience should stir suspicion.  Perhaps the great and powerful Oz knows something that we all don’t.  Maybe he has a sneaking suspicion about the Titans’ potential moves or maybe it’s even more than that.

Keep in mind that Ozzie serves on the competition committee – a committee that is co-chaired by Titans’ head coach Jeff Fisher.  I have to wonder if over lunch or an evening cocktail, Fisher may have tipped his hand or maybe he’s even outright told Ozzie that McNair will be moved but they won’t go public with the plan so as not to weaken their bargaining position when structuring contracts or negotiating a trade of players, draft picks or any combination thereof.

Ozzie is not excused from accountability.  He made the commitment and after last season let’s face it, who in the Ravens’ front office or sideline management is an untouchable?

There’ll be time enough for accountability, when the dealin’s done!

DIRTY DEEDS…DONE DIRT CHEAP…DIRTY DEEDS AND THEY’RE DONE DIRT CHEAP…DIRTY DEEDS AND THEY’RE DONE DIRT CHEAP ~ Yesterday Ozzie and the Ravens didn’t sit Stills -- they acquired him as they increased their depth and bolstered their special teams agreeing to terms on three-year contracts with Gary Stills and Corey Ivy.

“Gary and Corey provide quality depth for our defense, and they’ll be core special teams players for us,” said Ozzie. “They bring toughness, enthusiasm and athleticism that fit right in with the Ravens’ way.”

Stills, who was originally drafted in the third round (75th overall) in the 1999 draft, spent the previous seven seasons with the Chiefs. He earned Pro Bowl honors (special teamer) in 2003 after leading the Chiefs with 29 special teams tackles, becoming the only player other than a kick returner to earn that distinction in Kansas City history. In his 88 career games, Stills has 80 tackles (41 solo), 7½ sacks (-62.5 yards), four tackles and three passes defended. He also owns the Chiefs’ franchise record with 148 career special teams tackles, including a career-high and Kansas City franchise-record 34 in 2002.

A six-year veteran, Ivy has played in 64 games, starting seven with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2001-04) and St. Louis Rams (2005). He has 81 tackles, including 66 solo, nine passes defended, three interceptions, two sacks and two forced fumbles to his credit. Ivy also has 73 career special teams tackles. With the Rams in 2005, Ivy recorded a career-high 57 tackles from scrimmage, seven passes defended, two sacks, one interception and 17 special teams tackles.  

Stills’ three year deal is worth $2.6 million and Ivy’s $2.2 million – not much more than the NFL minimum for veterans. 

A NEW DAY, A NEW WAY, AND NEW EYES TO SEE THE DAWN ~ Lot of talk about Vince Young these days here in Baltimore.  After the 2006 Rose Bowl, most thought that Young would undoubtedly be drafted within the top 3 selections and some even surmised that the Texans just might pull the trigger at No. 1 for the hometown kid.

Now (as we have been suggesting for a couple of weeks: See Blackbird Singing March 8) others are entertaining the possibility that Young could slip to the Ravens at No. 13.  While that is still unlikely to happen it is certainly much more likely than it was the day after the Longhorns won the national title.

NFL teams who select high profile and expensive draft choices are concerned about length to impact (“LTI”).  In other words, how long before a team’s investment translates to an impact on the playing field?  Concerns about Young’s ability to read defenses under center (since most of his collegiate snaps were taken from the shotgun) and his poor Wonderlic scores have NFL GM’s scratching their heads a bit and worrying about LTI.

That being said, Young did have a very fine workout in Texas yesterday although his 40 time was a bit slower than expected (4.58).

"He did a great job," Texans coach Gary Kubiak said. "I was real impressed. He showed a very strong arm, and he was accurate on the move. He looked like he could have thrown all day. He made every throw. He did everything you could ask a guy to do in this situation."

The Titans who hold the third pick in the draft, will work Young out again today and there are plans for the Texas gunslinger to make a visit here in the Land of Pleasant Living as well. 

WELL I WAS STANDIN’ ON THE CORNER IN WINSLOW ARIZONA…SUCH A FINE SIGHT TO SEE ~ Word is there might be some competition for the services of Kerry Collins, assuming of course the Ravens are interested.  Rod Graves the Cardinals Pro Personnel Director said that his team has spoken with Collins' agent and they will gauge their interest in Collins against QB alternatives available in the draft.  If Collins’ agent is worthy of the title, he should be conjuring up interest even if said interest is only a figment of his client’s imagination to try and create a little negotiating leverage.  Apparently he has none, otherwise Ozzie would be blinking a bit.

MADE UP MY MIND TO MAKE A NEW START…GOING TO CALIFORNIA WITH AN ACHING IN MY "WALLET?" ~ The Oakland Raiders have agreed to terms with free agent QB Aaron Brooks.  The 30 year old former Saint signed a two year deal for $8 million including a little over $1.5 million as a guaranteed bonus.  Scratch another QB off the list for the Ravens and another team off the list for Kerry Collins.

I HEAR THE TRAIN A COMIN’, IT’S ROLLIN’ ROUND THE BEND…AND I AIN’T SEEN THE SUNSHINE SINCE I DON’T KNOW WHEN ~ Tank Carter, the brother of Steelers safety Tyrone Carter chose to go with his brother to Detroit to watch Super Bowl XL.  Nothing unusual about that right?

But Tank was suppose to spend 6 months in the pokey for various infractions and he failed to begin his sentence in the manner mandated by the courts opting instead to travel with his brother.  (You see his sentence conflicted with his jonesing to go to Super Bowl XL).  Now Tank has an XL headache.

As a result of his negligence, the sentence was increased to five years.  Four and a half more years apart from his children just to go to the Super Bowl?  I suppose everyone measures and values opportunity costs differently but this one takes the cake for stupidity and selfishness.  By the way, don’t they have TV’s in the clink?

HURT SO GOOD…C’MON BABY MAKE IT HURT SO GOOD ~ Carson Palmer is a solid guy and he isn’t far removed from being labeled the best quarterback in football.  But his return to the field is a topic for debate and Palmer himself can’t really offer much to curb the concerns of the Bengals’ faithful.

"I wish I knew when I was coming back," Palmer said Wednesday. "The last thing I need to do is push anything too early and push back the date that I can really step on the field 100 percent."

Palmer went on to say that mini-camp is out of the question, training camp is doubtful and preseason questionable.  Will the start of the season be probable?  That is Palmer’s expectation but even the most optimistic Bengals fan would have to question Palmer’s effectiveness with little work under his belt heading into the season. 

Who might get the call if Palmer isn’t ready?  Good question.  Does Marvin Lewis have an answer?  ''We're having a tough time getting people to come here and play because they know they're sitting behind Carson.”  Did someone say Anthony Wright?

CAUSE IT’S MURDER BY NUMBERS…ONE, TWO, THREE…IT’S AS EASY TO LEARN AS YOUR ABC’S ~ While the Ravens have signed exactly zero quarterbacks this offseason, the Lions have been busy signing three: Shaun King, Jon Kitna and Josh McCown.  So where does that leave Joey Harrington?  He’s out!

However, Harrington remains on the Lions’ roster as the team holds out hope of trying to salvage something for the third pick in the 2002 draft.  Harrington, another of the Jeff Telford protégés, might be worth a gamble right?

Well maybe not.

Harrington apparently wants out of Detroit in the worst way and to clearly demonstrate his disdain according to ESPN’s Len Pasquarelli, the 18-37 starting QB appeared uninterested in classroom sessions with new offensive coordinator Mike Martz and showed up unprepared.  He even abruptly exited one session leaving Martz nearly in tears.

HEY HO, T.O….HEY HO, T.O. ~ How quickly Cowboy fans soon forget what was essentially a well chronicled public urination on the Cowboys Star compliments of the controversial Terrell Owens.  Now that Owens is a Cowboy, fans are clamoring for T.O. gear.  Last weekend the team set a franchise online sales record selling 1,500 T.O. jerseys in 48 hours.

Earlier this week in The Grapevine..., we reported that T.O. is releasing a book in July that is supposed to be the “real story” – the true account of what went down with the Eagles last year.  But get this!  The book is being written by Jason Rosenhaus, the brother of T.O.’s agent Drew.

Next question…