May 28, 2015; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh speaks after the OTA at the Under Armour Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports
Welcome to the Daily Caw, where we round up all the latest Baltimore Ravens news from around the web. Today a former Patriot ranks the Ravens as having the best roster in the NFL, which is truly a bit of a shock. We also learn that the Ravens aren’t in a hurry to name a punt returner, but they are counting on a repeat performance from Elvis Dumervil.
Tedy Bruschi: Ravens, not Patriots, have NFL’s best roster – Sarah Ellison, BaltimoreRavens.com
"After Pro Football Focus and ESPN combined forces to rank all 32 team rosters and placed the Ravens at No. 3, ESPN analyst and former AFC rival Tedy Bruschi was asked for his reaction.The retired New England Patriot says Baltimore isn’t No. 3 … it’s the best. Oh, and in the process, he gave quarterback Joe Flaccoan awesome new nickname …“In terms of talent, the No. 1 roster, I’m gonna go to Baltimore,” Bruschi says in the video below. “You have a quarterback, I call him ‘Flip Switch’ in Joe Flacco. I mean, he can flip the switch whenever he wants when he gets to the playoffs.”"
Ravens in no rush to decide on punt returner – Clifton Brown, CSN Baltimore
"Even veteran wide receiver Steve Smith has been fielding some punts during OTA’s. But the Ravens would rather not use Smith or Webb in that role, due to their value as starters.“They have both done it and both done it successfully,” said special teams coordinator Jerry Rosburg. “And when you’re trying to win games, you’ll do whatever it takes to win games. Having said that, when you’ve got a starting corner and a starting wide receiver, you’d rather not have those guys do it on an every down basis, because you’ve got to divvy up the work. We need a guy to come through for us so that doesn’t happen. That’s my view.”"
Ravens guard Kelechi Osemele fufills promise to mother – Jeremy Fowler, ESPN
"Baltimore Ravens guard Kelechi Osemele made a game-changing play off the field.Osemele tweeted late Wednesday morning that he purchased a home for his mother, Imelda Osemele.“He promised her one day that he would put her in her own house,” said Osemele’s agent, David Mulugheta. “He’s ecstatic. It meant a lot to him.“He had a goal of what he wanted to be able to buy her. He had a financial plan that he established, and once he got to where he needed to be, he went and bought the house.”"
Ravens counting on encore performance from Elvis Dumervil – Clifton Brown, CSN Baltimore
"Dumervil set a franchise record with 17 sacks, having perhaps his best season at age 30 and making the Pro Bowl at outside linebacker. Now 31, Dumervil will be counted on heavily again. The Ravens lost linebacker Pernell McPhee to the Bears during free agency, after McPhee had a career-high 7 ½ sacks."
5 under the radar Ravens – Ron Benamor, Russell Street Report
"On nearly every team, an unforeseen player surprises everyone and develops into a Pro Bowler. However, for the Ravens, a player ascending from the bench to stardom has become expected. Year-in-year-out, valued free agents are priced out of Ozzie’s budget, allowing for regular Joe’s to step into big roles and become January Joe’s.Last year, it was Justin Forsett, Ricky Wagner, C.J. Mosley, Timmy Jernigan, and Pernell McPhee. So, who will it be this year? Only time will tell…but fortunately for us, the recent OTA’s have given us a glimpse as to who these players may be."
Next: Elvis Dumervil makes the Top 100 Players list
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