I FOUGHT LIKE A MAN FOR EVERYTHING THAT I HAVE I GOT THE KICK DOWN ~ The Ravens have agreed to terms on a 1-year contract with longtime NFL veteran P Leo Araguz, general manager Ozzie Newsome announced Thursday.

Araguz, who entered the league in 1996 with the Oakland Raiders, played in the opening 4 games of the 2005 campaign with the Seattle Seahawks. Along with Oakland (1996-99) and Seattle, the 5-11, 190-pounder has played for Detroit (2001) and Minnesota (2003).

“Leo has been a very solid punter in the league for a number of years, and I like the experience he can bring to this team,” Ravens special teams coordinator Frank Gansz Jr. said. “In addition to that, he is a steady and consistent holder.”

Araguz’s initial taste of NFL action came as a rookie free agent out of Stephen F. Austin. For his career, he sports a 42.6-yard punting average, having placed 97 kicks inside the 20-yard line with a long boot of 64 yards. His top statistical season came in 1997 when he owned a 45.0-yard average with 28 punts landing inside the 20 and only 6 touchbacks. His gross average that year tied for 3rd in the AFC and 5th in the NFL, while his net (39.1) ranked No. 2 in the entire league.

On his 18 punts last season, he averaged 40.2 yards with a long of 53, as 4 were downed inside the 20.

Araguz signs for the veteran minimum for players with 4-6 years of vested service of $585,000.  Here are the numbers on Araguz:

I hope I’m not alone scratching my head over this one.  This guy has punted on average 7 times over the last 6 years.  Not bad work, eh?  Take your kids out back and make them punt instead of going to school.  585 large for this?  Are you kidding me?

By the way at 5 feet 11, doesn’t Araguz make long snapper Matt Katula’s job that much more difficult?

COME SEE ABOUT ME…SEE ABOUT ME BABY ~ This in from Aaron Wilson of the Carroll County Times and WNST…North Carolina State defensive tackle John McCargo will visit the Ravens’ facility on Monday as will Oregon DT Haloti Ngata.  USC offensive guard Fred Matua brings his Easter Basket to Owings Mills on Sunday. The Ravens recently met with Florida State cornerback Antonio Cromartie (featured on our NFL Draft Page this week) and there are plans to meet with Penn State cornerback Alan Zemaitis and Tennessee defensive back Jason Allen. … The Ravens also met with Hofstra WR Marques Colston (6-foot-5, 225 pounds, 4.48 speed) at the scouting combine.

Wonder if Marques is afraid to go over the middle?

AND I HELD FIRMLY, TO WHAT I FELT WAS RIGHT…LIKE A ROCK ~ Guest to GAMETIME and a Broncos' beat writer Mike Klis, of the Denver Post, reports USC RB LenDale White (hamstring) underwent an MRI on his right hamstring that showed he has a moderate tear near the pelvic region, according to Dr. Randall Eldridge, a Denver chiropractor renowned for his treatment of musculoskeletal injuries. The hamstring tear will sideline White until mid-May, which means White will not have a personal workout prior to the April 29 potential damage to his draft value, however, won't be known until April 29.

White’s value continues to plummet and that has to make Bill Cowher smile, right?  Don’t be surprised if the Steelers end up with one of two players who look like they are plug and play immediately prospects – White or Nick Mangold, C Ohio State.