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The Baltimore Ravens have won four straight games. And “nobody” knows about it because teams like the undefeated Tennessee Titans, defending Super Bowl champion N.Y. Giants and apparently overrated Dallas Cowboys have been grabbing all the headlines this season. Ravens two-time Pro Bowl linebacker Terrell Suggs is ok with that. In fact, he and the rest of his Ravens teammates enjoy flying under the radar — just as long as they touch down in Tampa at Super Bowl XLIII. I spoke with Terrell after his workday yesterday to discuss tomorrow’s should-be heavyweight slugfest with the G-men.

• 0:12 – The potential to be one of the best Ravens defenses ever
• 0:45 – Team has responded to well to McAlister, Landry injuries
• 1:17 – Outstanding play of rookie quarterback Joe Flacco
• 1:46 – Four game winning streak, offense scoring 33 points/game
• 2:20 – Ravens need to “take care of business” each and every Sunday
• 2:35 – No extra motivation playing defending Super Bowl champions
• 3:02 – Giants are not the team to beat, they’re one of the teams to beat
• 3:19 – Giants game matches #1 rushing offense vs. #1 rushing defense
• 3:39 – Not being noticed is motivation for the Ravens
• 4:05 – Terrell wants to be the best all-around linebacker in the NFL
• 4:46 – The face of the Ravens: Will Terrell Suggs follow Ray Lewis?

Links: BaltimoreRavens.com, NFL Players, NFL.com

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Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

EMQB Interview: Terrell Suggs

With Bill Parcells cleaning house in Miami, it was only a matter of time before head coach Cam Cameron was given his walking papers. In a disasterous 1-15 debut, Coach Cameron was fired as leader of the Dolphins today.

I have mixed feelings on this. Understandably, Bill Parcells wants to put his stamp on the team he was hired to assemble. I don’t think anyone can argue that. He wants people he knows and people he’s comfortable with — people he shares the same organizational and structural philosophy with. Cam Cameron did not fit with that plan.

In defense of Coach Cameron, he was, in a sense, brought to Miami to steer a sinking ship. He had to deal with the quarterback controversy between Daunte Culpepper and Trent Green, neither of whom would be available for most of the season (Trent injured and Daunte cut). His star running back (Ronnie Brown) went down with a season-ending injury and his top wide receiver (Chris Chambers) was dealt to San Diego. Then it took him nearly the entire season to get his first victory. And that was the only one he managed. You gotta have some sympathy for the guy.

Nevertheless, 1-15 doesn’t cut it anywhere, much less the National Football League. And with new management in South Beach, this move was inevitable. Coach Cameron is a class act and I hope he finds a great new career, with the odds in his favor this time — perhaps even as the type of successful OC as he was in San Diego prior to taking the Miami job.

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Cam Cameron Fired as Head Coach in Miami, Overhaul of Dolphins Continues

Bill Parcells has been busy cleaning house. Not his South Beach abode, but the Miami Dolphins’ front office. The Dolphins’ new executive vice president of football operations fired general manager Randy Mueller and two other members of the player personnel staff yesterday. He’ll catch his breath and meet with head coach Cam Cameron tomorrow to discuss the team’s future — and maybe Coach Cameron’s job?

While the Dolphins can look forward to a lot of change this offseason, they can also look forward to making the first choice of the 2008 National Football League Draft on April 26-27. The order of the first round of the 2008 Draft was announced yesterday by the NFL:

1. Miami Dolphins
2. St. Louis Rams
3. Atlanta Falcons#
4. Oakland Raiders#
5. Kansas City Chiefs#
6. N.Y. Jets
7. New England Patriots (from San Francisco)
8. Baltimore Ravens
9. Cincinnati Bengals
10. New Orleans Saints
11. Buffalo Bills
12. Denver Broncos
13. Carolina Panthers
14. Chicago Bears
15. Detroit Lions
16. Arizona Cardinals
17. Minnesota Vikings
18. Houston Texans
19. Philadelphia Eagles
20. Tampa Bay Bucs*
21. Washington Redskins*
22. Dallas Cowboys (from Cleveland)
23. Seattle Seahawks*
24. Pittsburgh Steelers*
25. Tennessee Titans*
26. N.Y. Giants*
27. San Diego Chargers*
28. Jacksonville Jaguars*
29. Green Bay Packers*
30. Dallas Cowboys*
31. San Francisco 49ers* (from Indy)

* subject to playoffs
# subject to coin flip

I’m not really sure why the NFL releases the Draft order this early. Eleven positions are yet to be determined by results from the upcoming playoffs. But, there you have it.

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Bill Parcells Cleaning House in Miami, Dolphins Hold First Pick in 2008 NFL Draft

Ricky Williams‘ one-and-a-half year suspension ended today as he was reinstated to play in the National Football League. Now the question is who will want him on their team having only played in 12 games since the start of the 2004 season? He’s the “property” of the Miami Dolphins as he begins a comeback from multiple violations of the league’s drug policy. And at 0-9, I can’t imagine why the Dolphins wouldn’t give him a try. Even with franchise RB Ronnie Brown on the shelf for the rest of the season, the Dolphins have an exceptional back in Jesse Chatman. But I think this is a perfect time for Miami to see what, if anything, Ricky still has left in his tank — how much tread is left on his tires, so-to-speak, running alongside Jesse on a part-time basis. The Dolphins can run the football. They’re currently 11th in the NFL in rushing ypg, so I think this is a good opportunity to do some evaluating. And for Ricky Williams, it’s a chance to prove himself to not only the Dolphins, but the entire NFL. He is scheduled to fly to South Florida tomorrow for a physical and to meet with Dolphins head coach Cam Cameron.

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Ricky Williams Reinstated by NFL

The Miami Dolphins have traded WR Chris Chambers to the San Diego Chargers for a 2nd Round Draft pick in 2008. With the NFL’s trading deadline today, I just confirmed the deal in a phone call with the Dolphins Media Relations Department. Chris is a seven-year veteran who has a history with Chargers Head Coach Norv Turner. In 2002 and 2003, Chris’ second and third seasons in the NFL, Coach Turner was Miami’s offensive coordinator. Chris caught 52 passes for 734 yards and three touchdowns in his first year with Coach T. In 2003, he had a breakout season while working with Coach Turner. That year he caught 64 passes for 963 yards and 11 touchdowns.

I believe Chris will contribute immediately due to his knowledge of the team’s offense. In addition to working with Coach Turner in the past, Chris has spent the last six months working in Cam Cameron’s offense, the same system that Coach T. runs and the same one that is still in place from Coach Cam’s tenure as the Bolts’ OC. Coach Turner had this statement about the addition of C2:

“Chris is an explosive, talented player and I’m thrilled to have an opportunity to work with him again. He’s a very consistent player and he has big-play ability. We think he can add to what we’re doing on offense. The bonus for us is that he’s familiar with the system. It should be a quick and easy adjustment for him. We expect him to come in and be productive right away.”

Check out the Fantasy impact of this and other NFL trade deadline deals at fellow b5er Kori Ellis’ The Fantasy Kickoff.

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Miami Dolphins Trade Chris Chambers