By Joe Platania, PressBox Staff
 

Jameel McClain

Earlier this offseason, Ravens undrafted free agent linebacker Jameel McClain said that he had to fight for everything he had in life. Last Saturday, the former Syracuse defensive end whose family was homeless on the mean streets of South Philadelphia for the better part of a year, was named to the Ravens' 53-man active roster.

McClain -- the subject of a PressBox cover story early in training camp -- beat out 13 other undrafted rookies and joined a list of out-of-nowhere Ravens over the years who made the initial roster. That list includes such standouts as linebacker Bart Scott, safety Will Demps, linebacker Edgar Jones and running back Priest Holmes.

Because of the way McClain impressed the coaching staff and the contributions made by players such as Nick Greisen and Brendan Ayanbadejo on special teams, the Ravens took the extraordinary step of keeping nine linebackers on the active roster.

As a result of his hard work -- not to mention the move of Jones to tight end and the release of former second-round pick Dan Cody -- McClain won the job at backup strong-side linebacker behind starter Jarret Johnson.

Despite the larger-than-usual number of linebackers on the roster, it meant the end of the line for special teamers Robert McCune and Gary Stills.

Stills, a longtime Kansas City Chief who registered 44 special teams stops as a Raven two seasons ago -- the second-highest single season total in NFL history -- was likely let go due to salary cap reasons brought on by Ayanbadejo's signing.

The Ravens not only made their final cuts Saturday, but were also informed that cornerback Derrick Martin would be suspended for the season opener due to a violation of the NFL's substance abuse policy. Earlier this offseason, Martin was arrested at the Cleveland airport and found to be in possession of three small bags of marijuana.

Martin is the second Raven cornerback suspended for the home opener against Cincinnati, joining free agent pickup Fabian Washington, who violated of the league's personal conduct policy.

Cornerback David Pittman and running back Cory Ross were placed on the season-ending injured reserve list, bringing the total of players on that list to nine before a regular season game has been played. The Ravens ended 2007 with 11 players on IR.

With safety Ed Reed's shoulder nerve impingement, Pittman's injury woes and Martin and Washington's suspension, it could leave the Ravens thin in the secondary going into Sunday's game against Cincinnati's high-powered offense.

That's because third-year cornerback Ronnie Prude was also cut. Prude, an LSU alum, recorded 10 tackles and two interceptions in 30 games over two seasons with the Ravens, as well as 12 special-teams stops.

Quarterback Casey Bramlet, who provided the Ravens some depth at what seems to be a cursed position, was signed to the practice squad. With not even a single practice under his belt, Bramlet stepped into the breach last week against Atlanta and completed seven of 21 passes for 100 yards in the 10-9 loss.

Kyle Boller's shoulder problem will keep him sidelined indefinitely and the team appears not to want to throw rookie Joe Flacco into action right away, given Boller's problems as a rookie in 2003.  

The cut list included the team's two seventh-round draft picks, running back Allen Patrick (Oklahoma) and wideout Justin Harper (Virginia Tech). Patrick, cited by observers as having a too-high running posture that left him vulnerable to hits, carried the ball 15 times in preseason for 39 yards. Harper caught just one pass over the four-week preseason for 18 yards.

Offensively, key cuts included tight ends Keith Heinrich and Adam Bergen. Bergen caught nine passes for 51 yards and proved to be good insurance in case Todd Heap and Daniel Wilcox again fall victim to injuries.

For now, the Ravens are keeping three tight ends: Heap, Wilcox and converted defensive end/linebacker Edgar Jones.

Along the offensive line, guards Adam Kraus and Adrien Clarke were cut, as were tackles Joe Reitz and Chad Slaughter.

Slaughter, a waiver-wire pickup from the Oakland Raiders, was a fifth-year player, and Reitz was a former college basketball standout who began his Ravens career as a tight end before being moved. Clarke was an unrestricted free agent pickup from the New York Jets.

All told, the Ravens kept nine offensive linemen and six defensive trench men.

Besides the aforementioned cuts, the following players were also released: Defensive linemen Darrell Campbell, Amon Gordon and Lorenzo Williams, running back Alex Haynes, wideouts Patrick Carter, Ernie Wheelwright and Matt Willis.

Issue 3.36: September 4, 2008