Considering the cast of characters you have in Baltimore, one might have expected the preseason to be a little more exciting. Not too long after the end of last season, Ray Lewis took his dispute with the Baltimore front office public, something that was good for at least one Sunday Conversation on SportsCenter. Jamal Lewis was wounded because he felt disrespected by the team after a less than stellar performance last season. With Steve McNair arriving in Baltimore, there was always a risk that the recently demoted Kyle Boller might kick up some dust in camp. Of course, there's Brian Billick, who up until this season was always one quote away from another public skirmish with a reporter.
Instead, things have been awfully quiet. Lewis is back from an injury, and while he isn't the same player he was even three years ago, he's still an elite linebacker. Lewis was mollified early on with a new contraction that he didn't expect to get, and didn't complain when the Ravens brought in former 1,000 yard rusher Mike Anderson to back him up. As for Boller, he's stayed quiet, though he had little choice in the matter. Apparently, he had little support on either the coaching staff or in the locker room, and making a stink while playing behind McNair would probably be a big mistake. Something tells me if Boller ever did cause any trouble, McNair would take care of it right away, and in a manner that would be as final as it was private. And just yesterday we told you all about the "new Billick". And when it came to competition on the field, the only battle was for the slot for the third wide receiver, a spirited fight between Devard Darling, Demetrius Williams and Clarence Moore that ended with all three making the team.
Instead, the Ravens have worries that plague a number of teams: Questions on both the offensive and defensive line. Excuse me while I stifle a yawn.
