With starting defensive tackle Haloti Ngata probably playing just a couple series in the preseason opener Thursday, Brandon McKinney will be one of the first players in line to spell the Pro Bowl lineman. Even though this is a preseason game, McKinney, who played with the first team defense Monday when Ngata left practice with back spasms, said his approach to the evening won’t change. “If I’m starting or if I’m filling in for somebody, it’s all the same,” he said. “I have to keep up that level that’s already been set. Stand to the bar that’s already been set.” After suffering a herniated disk in his back last season, McKinney says he “feels good” and is having “no problems at all.” It will be the first time testing his back in under game day conditions, but playing against someone other than his teammates is something the former Michigan State Spartan is looking forward to. He’s “excited about the preseason, to hit somebody else finally,” McKinne...

John Beck was throwing passes to Davon Drew and Mark Clayton after practice when general manager Ozzie Newsome grabbed him by his shoulder. He had been traded to the Washington Redskins. "This is a great team, so it’s tough not be a part of it," Beck said minutes after the Ravens officially announced the trade. "But at the same time, I’m very excited for the opportunity to go down there." Beck will have a better shot at making the Redskins than the Ravens, who have Joe Flacco and Marc Bulger atop the depth chart. "When you get traded, another team is saying we want you," Beck said. Beck was the No. 3 quarterback for all 16 games last season for the Ravens. He never threw a pass in a regular-season game. "I’m happy because I made of the most of this opportunity here," Beck said.

Chris Carr did not practice for the first time Monday morning because of a lower back problem that has been plaguing him for the past two years. But the cornerback said the injury is not serious. “Yeah, I’m fine,” he said. “I had a little minor issue the past two training camps – one in Tennessee and here – with something in my back. I kind of tweak it and I really can’t do anything for a little while, but then I’m fine. So I think it just need to get it re-aligned and once the inflammation goes down, I’ll be fine.” Carr said he began to notice the pain Sunday morning during practice and gritted his way through it for the afternoon session. “I came out this morning and it was the same thing,” he said. “Since there was no improvement, it was, like, I don’t want to do anything where I’m going to make it something serious. So it’s just a precautionary measure, but I’m sure I’ll be fine.” Carr said the injury is not nearly as crippling as it was l...

Marc Bulger probably could have chosen any team for which to play the upcoming 2010 season, and the 10-year quarterback said Saturday that he was content to wait until training camps around the league had begun before making a decision. But when the Ravens contacted him in the late spring, Bulger said his decision process became a lot easier.   “I wanted the right situation,” he said. “It was a tough situation the last three years in St. Louis. I’ve got a lot of great friends there. I love the organization, but we just hadn’t been winning. It takes a lot of the fun out of it, and I wanted to win somewhere. Not that I couldn’t win other places, but I think that this team, after talking with Coach [John] Harbaugh … and his philosophy really intrigued me, and now that I’m here, I got to meet the ownership and Ray [Lewis] and the rest of the guys. I see why they’re so proud about the organization.”   Bulger also to...

The Ravens haven’t confirmed that they are looking to add another body to their secondary. But with starting cornerback Domonique Foxworth out for the entire 2010 season, it would seem that Baltimore could dip into the free agent pool once again. As of now, here are some top options.

Of the many Ravens players who use their Twitter accounts frequently, some of the more colorful musings come from cornerback Fabian Washington (FABEWASH31).   One of Washington’s favorite sayings is “going HAM.” Here’s his explanation:   “Hard as a mutha,” he said with a laugh. “It’s a South thing. A lot of people in the South say, ‘Going hard as a mutha.’ I just put it in an acronym.”   Washington, who passed his physical Thursday and was activated off of the team’s physically-unable-to-perform list after undergoing surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, has also been known to write about being in “Ric Flair mode.”   “That’s my new AKA this year,” he said. “If you ever watch wrestling, Ric Flair is always wired. He’s wired, and I’m talking about from the moment he gets in there until the moment that he co...

Fresh from a 2009 season capped by his first Pro Bowl appearance, Haloti Ngata continues to get bouquets thrown his way. Last week, the 6-foot-4, 350-pound defensive tackle was cited by the NFL Network’s Brian Baldinger, who compiled his list of the five best players in the NFL. “My fifth-best player in the league is Haloti Ngata, the immovable object that anchors the Baltimore Ravens’ defensive line,” Baldinger said. “He’s allowed [linebacker] Ray Lewis to still play at a very high level. You talk to centers around the league, they don’t want any part of Haloti Ngata.” Ngata, who spoke on Tuesday, downplayed the recognition. “It’s definitely great, but I’m trying to get myself better year after year,” he said. “Right now, I feel a little bit behind because of my surgery, but hopefully, I’ll get my strength back up, and I hope I can prove him right.” Ngata underwent surgery to repair a torn left pectoral muscle suffered in the Pro Bowl in February. �...

Rookie wide receiver Dez Bryant’s decision to refuse to carry fellow wideout Roy Williams’ shoulder pads after a recent practice at Dallas Cowboys training camp made headlines throughout the NFL. It also brought out some amused looks and smiles among Ravens players when they were asked for their thoughts on Bryant’s move.   Cornerback Lardarius Webb, who started four games last season – his rookie campaign – before tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, said carrying a teammate’s shoulder pads and helmet is not a dealbreaker.   “If somebody asked me to take a helmet, I’ll take a helmet,” Webb said. “Not a big deal. I don’t feel disrespected. It’s just some things they do. I don’t care. That’s just him. No disrespect to the guy. He’s a great guy, a great player. He just doesn’t want to hold anybody’s helmet. That’s just him.”   Line...

Ravens Insider: Flacco takes a lot of ribbing for his humdrum interviews. He often uses cliches and goes out of his way not to stir up controversy – until his comments on Bulger over the weekend.

Joe Flacco is unsure how the addition of new backup Marc Bulger will affect the chemistry of the quarterback group. Flacco said it’s been an enjoyable experience working with quarterbacks Troy Smith and John Beck. But the recent signing of Bulger likely means Smith or Beck will get cut at the end of the preseason. There’s a chance that both won’t make it past the final cutdown. While Flacco believes Bulger will be “a great backup,” he is wondering whether there will be some uneasiness amongst the quarterbacks.   “Hopefully, we just all get along well,” Flacco said over the weekend. “When you have a little bit of tension in the room, it doesn’t lend to playing well. Yeah, he might bring a thing here or there that helps me out. We’ll see. It’s all about going out there, preparing during the week and having a good time doing that. Hopefully, we can do that.”   Flacco stressed that he is concerned only ...