I’M FREE…I’M FREE…AND FREEDOM TASTES OF REALITY ~ And the reality is that even if the Ravens don’t sure up holes on either side of the ball, they can still do so through free agency.  If by miracle or overspending the team lands Vince Young, forget about Steve McNair.  But they could choose from a list of free agents that is likely to get deeper after post draft cuts. 

Ozzie Newsome also indicated that under the new collective bargaining agreement, teams can release two players per season prior to June 1 without losing the ability to spread the cap hit over two seasons.  That new ruling probably intended to help certain players land with new teams sooner, could affect Steve McNair and consequently the Ravens.

That being said, here’s a list of some currently available free agents at positions of need for the Ravens:

QB: Kerry Collins, Tommy Maddox, Jay Fiedler, Jeff Blake, Tony Banks, Jamie Martin

WR: Johnnie Morton, Kevin Johnson, David Boston, Ricky Proehl, Jerome Pathon, Dez White

OL: Brad Hopkins, Mike Pearson, Ephraim Salaam, Todd Fordham, Joaquin Gonzalez, Jeff Mitchell

DT: Gary Walker, Grady Jackson, Brentson Buckner, Jason Fisk, Kenderick Allen, Josh Williams

S: Lance Schulters, Keion Carpenter, Ifeanyi Ohalete, Antuan Edwards, Reggie Tongue

YOU’VE GOT TO KNOW WHEN TO HOLD ‘EM…KNOW WHEN TO FOLD ‘EM ~ Rumors surfacing in New York this week have suggested that if Haloti Ngata is gone at 13, the Ravens would trade the pick to the Jets for the second of the Jets' two first-round picks (29th overall) and their second-round pick (35th overall). The Jets would then select Cutler, if he's available. Of course, if Cutler is not available there would be no deal.

We discussed such a trade at length on GAMETIME last week and even questioned Eric DeCosta about the possibilities of such a trade.  DeCosta was coy on the idea which in my opinion, gave the hypothetical trade more credibility.  DeCosta is a straight shooter yet he questioned where the Jets were drafting later in Round 1.  You probably won’t see DeCosta on ESPN playing Texas Hold ‘Em anytime soon.  Bad bluff on his part if you ask me.  I think he knows the Jets’ draft position better than he knows his own social security number.

Should the Ravens stay at No. 13, here’s a look back at the players chosen with that pick since the Ravens’ inception:

CUTS LIKE KNIFE…YEAH BUT IT FEELS SO RIGHT ~ Of the USA Today’s six “experts” who served up Round 1 Mock Drafts, three had the Ravens selecting Jay Cutler at No. 13.  The other players selected for the Ravens were Jimmy Williams, DB Virginia Tech, LenDale White, RB USC and Laurence Maroney, RB Minnesota.  Personally I hope Cutler is there for purposes of trading down.  But in my opinion these experts are 0-6.  None of these players will be a Ravens pick at number 13.  Cutler reminds the Ravens too much of Kyle Boller and the others are reaches at 13.  Don’t look for the Ravens to reach the way they did last year with Adam Terry.

“If we have three or four guys that we really like and we have the opportunity to move back, get one of those guys as well as an additional pick, I think that would be the right thing to do from an organizational standpoint.”  That’s Ozzie Newsome who thankfully didn’t use the word "process" in his explanation on why the Ravens will seriously consider trading town.

YOUNG BLOOD…YOUNG BLOOD…I CAN’T GET YOU OUT OF MY MIND ~ The real quarterback guru Bill Walsh was recently asked to share his thoughts on Vince Young.  Walsh responded, “His passing might not be accurate enough for the NFL.  He’s a tremendous running threat, but historically quarterbacks whose chief weapon is running the ball don’t take teams to championships in the NFL.”

YOU’RE SIMPLY THE BEST…BETTER THAN ALL THE REST ~ Rob Rang from NFLDraftScout.com rang up his list of the five best first round picks and the five worst first round picks over the past ten years.  Here’s what he came up with:

The best: 1. Peyton Manning, No. 1, ’98; 2. LaDainian Tomlinson, No. 5, ’01; 3. Ray Lewis, No. 26, ’96; 4. Reggie Wayne, No. 30, ’01; 5. Shaun Alexander, No. 19, ’00.

The worst: 1. Ryan Leaf, No. 2, ’98; Akili Smith, No. 3, ’99; 3. Tim Couch, No. 1, ’99; 4. Jamal Reynolds, No. 10, ’01; 5. Jay Soward, No. 29, ’00.

I’M TORE DOWN, ALMOST LEVEL WITH THE GROUND ~ Seahawks TE Jerramy Stevens had surgery on his knee Tuesday after experiencing some pain and swelling.  The doctors found some cartilage tear during the surgery.  Stevens is expected to be fully recovered in time for training camp.  No truth to the rumor that Mike Holmgren asked that doctors try and soften Stevens’ hands while under anesthesia.  Stevens will be remembered for his Roberto Duran impersonation during Super Bowl XL. 

WE’RE OFF TO SEE THE WIZARDS ~ The Wizards are tied with the Cavaliers as of this writing at one game apiece in a best of seven playoff series.  Now I would never have thought that I’d be interested in watching the NBA but I must admit that I’m more than passively following the team formerly known as the Baltimore Bullets.  One player that I seem to pay a lot of attention to is Caron Butler.  Butler had a very difficult childhood and at the tender age of 11 he was caught up in the ugly world of dealing drugs.  As a teenager, Butler was incarcerated in a maximum security detention center for juveniles along with rapists and murderers.  After being involved in a fight at the center, Butler was sent to solitary confinement for 7 days in a room that was 45 square feet.

During those 7 days, Butler vowed that he would change his life.  Today Butler is proud to stand as a role model for teenagers in places where he himself once stood.  Here’s to Caron Butler – while defending LaBron James and for turning his life around.  Let’s hope his protégés will do the same.

SITTING IN THE STANDS OF A SPORTS ARENA ~ Isn’t it about time that Baltimore steps up and builds a new arena?  Not so much to attract a NHL team or a NBA team, but purely for civic pride.  That hole on Howard Street was obsolete on the day they opened its doors.  I bet if they had an arena in an accessible area, the Blast would draw greater crowds and the city could attract an Arena Football League team.  Perhaps if Ed Hale owned both, they could offer packages that included games to both sports.  Oh and then maybe national recording artists would stop bypassing Baltimore for gigs in the thriving metropolis of Norfolk, Virginia.

YOU CAN DO MAGIC…YOU CAN HAVE ANYTHING THAT YOU DESIRE ~ Well if there still is magic down at the warehouse and they can have anything they desire, could someone please tell the Orioles they need a bullpen?  I’ve seen more of John Halama in the past week than I have my fiancé!

YOU CAN’T HIDE YOUR LYIN’ EYES…AND YOUR SMILE IS THIN DISGUISE ~ Recently Barry Bonds was asked for his thoughts on having an asterisk next to his name in the record books.  Bonds said, “All you guys have lied, should you have an asterisk next to your name?”  Hey, is that a confession?

HELP…I NEED SOMEBODY…HELP…NOT JUST ANYBODY ~ What question is Phil Savage looking to answer in tomorrow’s draft?  “Can the guy help us beat Pittsburgh?  That’s the question that’s basically been posed in terms of every player we’ve evaluated thus far.” 

Hey, didn’t Cincinnati win the division last year?  No respect?  Well no wonder!  If Carson Palmer doesn’t get on a faster track on the road to recovery Anthony Wright may be the opening day starter for the Bengals.