By Joe Platania
CSNbaltimore.comPressBoxOnline.com
GREATEST UPDATE: With the NFL Networks Top 100: NFLs Greatest Players list getting down to the top 30, here are those already named to the list with Baltimore or Maryland ties (The name in parentheses is who served as a presenter):
32. Colts tackle Jim Parker (Raymond Berry)
34. Ravens cornerback Deion Sanders (Michael Irvin)
36. Colts receiver Raymond Berry (Frank Deford)
39. Colts defensive end Gino Marchetti (Ernie Accorsi)
41. Ravens cornerback Rod Woodson (Boomer Esiason)
42. Colts tight end John Mackey (Ernie Accorsi)
46. Navy quarterback Roger Staubach (Chuck Klosterman)
53. Morgan State linebacker Willie Lanier (Floyd Little
57. Ravens assistant coach Mike Singletary (Joe Theismann)
62. Maryland defensive lineman Randy White (Mark May)
72. Ravens tackle Jonathan Ogden (Michael Strahan)
73. Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome (Bob Trumpy)
76. Maryland-Eastern Shore lineman Art Shell (Ron Wolf)
82. Colts linebacker Ted Hendricks (Howie Long)
88. Ravens safety Ed Reed (Hines Ward)
94. Colts receiver Lenny Moore (Bobby Mitchell)
The next three installments will complete the countdown, airing Thursdays at 9 p.m. on the NFL Network.
ALUMNI REPORT: Perhaps the biggest news of this weeks practice cycle is ex-Ravens quarterback Kyle Boller possibly starting for the Oakland Raiders when they play at Denver this week.
Raiders quarterback Jason Campbell posted an anemic passer rating of 10 last week in a loss at previously-winless San Francisco, so its up to Boller, who has started 46 NFL games, 42 of those as a Raven and four with the St. Louis Rams last year.
In other quarterback news, 38-year-old Todd Bouman, the Ravens third-stringer during their run to the 2008 AFC championship game, has again signed with Jacksonville. Bouman has been with the Ravens and Jaguars in his career as well as Minnesota, New Orleans, Green Bay and St. Louis.
Maryland alumnus E.J. Henderson earned a few Comeback Player of the Year votes with his nine-tackle, one-interception performance in Minnesotas win over Dallas. He was nominated for NFC Defensive Player of the Week, but lost out to St. Louis defensive end Chris Long (two sacks).
Also, 2007 third-round pick Yamon Figurs is back in the AFC North Division with the Cleveland Browns. He signed after Josh Cribbs was injured against Pittsburgh. Leaving the Browns roster at the same time was 2003 Ravens fifth-round pick Tony Pashos, placed on injured reserve with an ankle injury.
Defensive tackle Atiyyah Ellison, a backup on the 2006 team that went 13-3 and migrated to Jacksonville, San Francisco and Carolina since leaving Baltimore, signed with Kansas City this week.
Wide receiver Eron Riley tried out for Washington and Cincinnati after getting cut by the Ravens in training camp, but signed with Denvers practice squad this week.
QUOTE OF THE DAY: Helmet-to-helmet hits have been a big topic of conversation this week with the league announcing suspensions will be handed down along with the usual fines.
Safety Ed Reed was rather straightforward with his take on how those hits feel: When you wake up from it? It doesnt feel good, man. Its like you just erased part of your memory or something. Its not a good feeling. Its not something I recommend.
For more Ravens news, check out Joe Platania's Ravens Report at PressBoxOnline.com.
