Former Baltimore Ravens long snapper Matt Katula could be returning to the AFC North division. The Pittsburgh Steelers tried out Katula on Wednesday, according to a league source. Katula, 29, played in five games last season for the Minnesota Vikings, filling in when Cullen Loeffler broke a bone in his lower back. A former Wisconsin player, Katula played with the Ravens from 2005 to 2009 and played eight games two years ago for the New England Patriots. For his career, the 6-foot-6, 265-pounder has played in 93 games.  ... The St. Louis Rams weren't the only NFL team interested in offensive tackle Jose Valdez when the Minnesota Vikings placed him on waivers. The New York Jets also put in a waiver claim, according to a league source, but the Rams had the higher ranking on the priority list. So, they were awarded the 6-foot-6, 324-pound former Arkansas lineman.  ... The Oakland Raiders tried out tight end Tory Humphrey and linebacker Ikaika Alama-Francis when they ...

Make no mistake about it – the Steelers are Ben Roethlisberger’s team! He is without a doubt, like it or not, the poster child for all things Black & Gold. Roethlisberger is many things. He’s tough, gritty, determined and relentless. That said, Ben is also a bit unorthodox and he’s not the most technically sound quarterback. He isn’t the cleanest when it comes to his 3, 5 and 7 step drops. He doesn’t have a very quick release. He isn’t consistent when asked to deliver passes into tight windows and despite his size there are several quarterbacks who have bigger arms than Ben. But in the end, it doesn’t matter. What matters is that Roethlisberger is a winner. His winning is in large part tied directly to his ability to make plays when plays seemingly break down. Roethlisberger’s receivers know their quarterback and consequently, they extend plays and their routes fully aware of Ben’s unique escapability. That is what op...

The Baltimore Ravens have announced that they have signed defensive tackle Ryan McBean. McBean has played the last 3 seasons in Denver after serving on their practice squad for a season. According to 24x7's Aaron Wilson the deal is for 1 year. McBean was originally drafted in the fourth round in 2007 by the Pittsburgh Steelers with the 132nd overall pick. The 28 year old McBean has 77 career tackles to go with 4 sacks. Perhaps more importantly for the Ravens, McBean registered 33 of those tackles and all 4 sacks in 2011. However this former Cowboy of Oklahoma State doesn’t arrive without bagged. On October 17, 2011 he was arrested and charged with stalking his ex-girlfriend. He is also facing a six-game suspension for violating the league's performance-enhancing drug policy.

OWINGS MILLS – For the second consecutive year the NFL has had alumni from respective teams announce the picks during the second day of the draft. Here's the full list of alumni announcing the picks: Arizona Cardinals, Roger Wehrli (DB) Atlanta Falcons, Alge Crumpler (TE) Baltimore Ravens, Matt Stover (K) Buffalo Bills, Phil Hansen (DE) Carolina Panthers, Mike Rucker (DE) Chicago Bears, Otis Wilson (LB) Cincinnati Bengals, Isaac Curtis (WR) Cleveland Browns, Gary Collins (WR) Dallas Cowboys , Chad Hennings (DL) Denver Broncos, Terrell Davis (RB) Detroit Lions, Barry Sanders (RB) Green Bay Packers, LeRoy Butler (S) Houston Texans, Danny Clark (LB) Indianapolis Colts, Marvin Harrison (WR) Jacksonville Jaguars, Fred Taylor (RB) Kansas City Chiefs, Will Shields (G) Miami Dolphins, Dwight Stephenson (C) Minnesota Vikings, Anthony Carter (WR) New England Patriots, Troy Brown (WR) New Orleans Saints, Willie Roaf (OL) New York Giants, Michael Strahan (DE) New York ...

OWINGS MILLS -- Midwestern State offensive guard Amini Silatolu visited or had private workouts with the Kansas City Chiefs, Cincinnati Bengals, Dallas Cowboys, St. Louis Rams, Pittsburgh Steelers, Detroit Lions, Cleveland Browns, Indianapolis Colts and the Carolina Panthers. Among the other teams that are logical fits for Silatolu or have displayed interested in him: the Baltimore Ravens, San Francisco 49ers, San Diego Chargers, New England Patriots, New York Giants, Washington Redskins and the Houston Texans. The 6-foot-4, 311-pounder starred at the Division II level at the Wichita Falls, Texas school and was named a consensus All-American as a left tackle. However, he projects to offensive guard in the NFL. Silatolu has drawn comparisons to Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive guard Jahri Evans and former Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman Larry Allen. He's the first player from his school to be invited to the Senior Bowl. However, the mauling blocker injured his hamstring and was s...

NFL Network's Jason La Canfora reported that the Ravens made a modest, one-year offer to C/G Jason Brown. If Brown -- who has other options to weigh -- accepts the offer, it could be an ideal reunion for both sides. Brown is coming off a disappointing stint with St. Louis. With a one-year deal, he would have a chance to redeem himself for a better contact in 2013. Moreover, coming back to Baltimore would be a prime opportunity in a familiar setting. For the Ravens, Browns presents a viable replacement for Ben Grubbs. Granted, Brown would need to play better than he did with the Rams. But given the options on the market, having Brown for a palatable contract would be solid bounce back from losing Grubbs and also Evan Mathis. Brown has the versatility to also play center in a pinch if Matt Birk were to go down. The Ravens haven't had much luck in free agency. Getting Brown would be a step in the right direction to fortifying the offensive line, and lessening the pressure on second-y...

One of the biggest casualties during the NFL lockout was the popular HBO series Hard Knocks. Having such an uncertainty about the potential labor situation staring teams in the face, no franchise would commit to the filming of the series. Now that no labor unrest is possible until 2020, HBO is planning on bringing the series back in a big way. According to FoxSports.com’s Adam Schein, one of the potential targets of the network is the Baltimore Ravens. Per Schein, HBO has extended an offer to the New York Jets to continue where they left off in the 2010 version of series, which featured Rex Ryan’s foul mouth and the things he puts into it (let’s go have a snack!) Surprisingly, Ryan is reportedly at odds with Jets owner Woody Johnson about inviting the cameras into their Florham Park facilities for another season. While Johnson is all for it, Ryan has said he wanted to avoid adding to the media frenzy that has surrounded his team (much of which he tak...

The past few weeks haven’t been kind to former NFL star and current NFL Network analyst Warren Sapp. First, the potential Hall of Fame defensive tackle came under fire for baselessly accusing former Saint Jeremy Shockey for “ being the rat” in the New Orleans bounty scandal. Now Sapp is under fire for a different reason – he’s broke and owes people money. According to CNNSI, Sapp has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in Florida.  A player who was once among the top paid defensive players in the game has to sell his Super Bowl Ring and NCAA championship ring to help pay off creditors and his mountainous child support and alimony. Sapp follows the footsteps of so many other remarkably rich athletes that couldn’t steer clear of financial traps. He should call AI (Allen Iverson) for some advice on “how to make it in America after you lose millions.” Sapp’s pitfalls should be a shining example to young athletes on how not to co...

Cam Newton, Sam Bradford, Matthew Stafford, JaMarcus Russell, Alex Smith, Eli Manning, Carson Palmer, David Carr, Michael Vick, Tim Couch, Peyton Manning.  Only the Manning brothers have won Super Bowls of the people on that list.  Add in Cam Newton’s very good rookie season if you’d like, but only time will tell.  Vick has been a good quarterback, but I wouldn’t say the Falcons got quite what they had hoped out of that draft pick.  Now that we’ve removed those four guys, let’s revisit that list.  Bradford, Stafford, Russell, Smith, Palmer, Carr, Couch.  Stafford had a solid season last year, Bradford’s still very young, but let’s just keep those names in mind when people talk about what a sure thing and worthy replacement to Peyton Manning that Andrew Luck is.  How many quarterbacks in NFL history could do what Manning did with the Colts?  Luck may be everything he’s cracked up to be. But wh...

Rex Ryan came onto the scene in New York like a new sheriff ready to clean up someone else’s mess. And early on he did exactly that. He put the fun back in football for New York Jets fans, bringing laughter, cheer and wins. Wigs, snacks, a foul mouth, bird flipping and foot fetishes aside Ryan brought bravado and hope to Gang Green. Now hope borders on despair. Looking back on his days with the Baltimore Ravens as the beloved defensive coordinator serving under Brian Billick and later John Harbaugh, Ryan had a knack for getting the most out of his players and placing them in position to be successful. Many of the Ravens’ defenders wanted Rex to succeed Billick has the head coach. A team known for its defense, carried for years by Ray Lewis & Co. seemed like the most logical launching pad for Ryan’s head coaching career. Ed Reed and Bart Scott pleaded Rex’ case. Rex thought he was in the driver’s seat literally and figuratively. During the intervie...