HAPPY BIRTHDAY, FATSO!; RAVENS SIGN "NEON DEION" & MCNAIR

By Joe Platania

1925 -- Defensive tackle Arthur Donovan, a five-time Pro Bowl honoree, four-time All-Pro and the first Baltimore Colt inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, was born in The Bronx, N.Y.

1966 -- NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle announced that a merger with the upstart American Football League had been agreed upon after a series of secret meetings between the two sides. The two leagues would come together to begin regular-season play in 1970, but would first meet during a championship game in January 1967, and commence a common draft later that year.

1986 -- Backup Ravens linebacker Albert McClellan was born in Lakeland, Fla.

1988 -- Ravens reserve safety Omar Brown was born in Moncks Corner, S.C.

1989 -- Ravens backup offensive lineman Jack Cornell was born in Quincy, Ill.

1996 -- The Ravens' uniforms were modeled in a de facto fashion show at the Galleria at Harborplace.

1997 -- The revamping of the aging Ravens defense continued. One week after lineman Dan Footman was let go, interior tackle Tim Goad was also released. Goad went on to become a jackman on the pit crew of NASCAR driver Elliott Sadler.

1999 -- Former Cleveland Browns starting wideout Webster Slaughter signed a free-agent deal with the Ravens, but never caught a pass for the team.

2001 -- The team completed its revamping of the quarterback position by signing former Philadephia Eagles Pro Bowl quarterback Randall Cunningham as a backup to Elvis Grbac.

2003 -- The Ravens re-signed restricted free agent defensive end/linebacker Adalius Thomas, who went on to enjoy his first season as a full-time starter in the wake of Michael McCrary's retirement.

2005 -- Baltimore signed street free agent, return specialist and cornerback Deion Sanders to play with the Ravens for a second season. Before coming to Charm City, his last NFL action had come with the Washington Redskins in 2001.

2006 -- The Ravens traded their 2007 fourth-round draft pick (128th overall) to the Tennessee Titans for veteran quarterback Steve McNair, who was the Baltimore starter for two years before retiring after the '07 campaign. The same week, the team traded a conditional pick to Indianapolis to re-acquire safety Gerome Sapp.

2009 -- Tight end Davon Drew became the first of that year's Ravens draft class to sign his rookie contract, a three-year deal. He has yet to catch a regular-season pass for Baltimore.

Posted June 4, 2012