Marshal Yanda Misses Practice, Ray Rice Fallout Roundup

Dec 16, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker (9) celebrates with guard Marshal Yanda (73) after kicking a 61 yard field goal during the fourth quarter against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Baltimore Ravens defeated the Detroit Lions 18-16. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

Welcome to Lunchtime Links, where we round up all the latest Ravens news from around the web for your convenient consumption.  On today’s links, we round up all the fallout from yesterday’s release of Ray Rice, discover that there is actually a football game on Thursday to talk about, find out that Marshal Yanda missed practice on Monday, and look into a roster move that took place yesterday.

Ray Rice Release Fallout

The news cycle was dominated on Monday by the early morning video leak that showed the world what actually happened inside the elevator the night Ray Rice committed a horrendous act of domestic violence.  As you can imagine, the fallout is massive and widespread.  Quite a few conspiracy theories have been floated around, including some that suggest that the NFL and the Ravens saw the video prior to Monday, which they claim they did not.

The NFL claims that they requested the video but never saw it, though some believe that the NFL never requested to see the video.  John Harbaugh spoke with the media Monday night, also claiming that the video was something the Ravens never had access to.  Harbaugh said that after the team saw the video, they had a meeting and it didn’t take long to determine that releasing Rice was the right move.

Many have expressed doubt that neither saw the video before Monday, and disbelief that they wouldn’t request to see it before determining what an appropriate punishment for Rice would be.  Regardless of where the truth actually lies, this is a bad look for both the Ravens and the NFL.

The league has already revised it’s domestic violence policies, but it also needs to take a look at how it investigates them.  They made a terrible error in judgement, whether they are lying or they simply failed to look at all the evidence that was available to them.

Marshal Yanda Misses Practice Monday

Believe it or not, there was actually a practice on Monday.  And after enjoying perfect attendance in last week’s practices, the Ravens had one player miss the Monday session – Marshal Yanda.  Though he was officially listed on the injury report with a foot injury, John Harbaugh told reporters that Yanda was not injured and was essentially getting a day of rest.

“We held Marshal back,” coach John Harbaugh said after Monday’s practice. “No injury there. But we just held Marshal out.”

Cornerback Lardarius Webb got in another full day of practice after missing Sunday’s opener.  But he practiced in full every day leading up to Sunday’s game as well, yet didn’t play.  His status for Thursday is admittedly very murky.

Ravens Cut Fitzgerald Toussaint, Sign Christo Bilukidi

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When the Ravens cut Ray Rice on Monday, the initial assumption from around social media was that the Ravens would roll with Fitzgerald Toussaint behind Bernard Pierce, Justin Forsett, and Lorenzo Taliaferro.  The team had just called Toussaint up from the practice squad prior to Sunday’s game, but inactivated him.

And everyone was wrong, as the Ravens cut Toussaint on Monday and signed defensive tackle Christo Bilukidi, who himself was waived by the Bengals.  Bilukidi is a former sixth round pick of the Oakland Raiders.  The move give the Ravens six defensive linemen on the active roster, but only three running backs.  It was a bit of a puzzling move, but we get the feeling that the Ravens will be looking at running backs in the coming days.