Sports in Stilettos

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I tend to put a helmet on and bang my head against the wall – not ridiculous crazy hard – to see how it works. I’ve felt fine.

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Ravens linebacker Sergio Kindle (via Ravens Insider), who missed all of last season with a fractured skull after falling down the stairs.

He’s supposed to get further testing soon to see if he can finally resume contact drills seven months after breaking his head, but I don’t know, maybe if he stopped hitting his head against the wall it would heal faster. Just saying.

With the 26th pick in the NFL Draft, the Baltimore Ravens select….

Well, we’ll find out soon enough.

I hope it’s not Jimmy Smith (and I reserve the right to retract that statement if they do pick him and he turns out as good as they think he might).

Everyone’s talking about his problems with drugs and alcohol - two charges of underage possession of alcohol and three failed drug tests. There’s been less attention paid to his arrest for aggravated assault and the pair of abortions obtained by two women he impregnated. And he’s not even in the NFL yet.

I wouldn’t be concerned by the underage drinking - he’s in college, it’s really not a shock - but the assault, positive drug tests and lack of basic knowledge of contraception are big red flags for me. I’m just not okay with any of it.

I also hope the Ravens don’t pick Texas’ Aaron Williams. Partly because he’s from Texas, and I don’t like Texas, end of discussion. Partly because they went the Longhorns’ route with Sergio Kindle and that didn’t work so well. Sure, those are really stereotypical and not entirely justified reasons, but whatever, that’s how I roll (I would, however, much prefer Williams over Smith).

So who would I like them to pick?

Oregon’s Casey Matthews would work for me.

Yeah, I know he’s from Oregon which isn’t super cool, but I love his brother and if we can’t have Clay, I’ll take Casey. The Matthews clan is becoming a pretty trusted brand in the NFL, and I’d feel comfortable that the younger, less-blonde one wouldn’t disappoint.

I’d be happy with Maryland’s Torrey Smith, too. I think he’s undervalued - he had a great season in 2010 but I think it might’ve just been the beginning for him. I think he’ll continue to improve, and I don’t see him going the disappointing Darrius Heyward-Bey route (partly because he won’t go as surprisingly high as DHB).

Matthews and Torrey Smith probably won’t go in the first round, so there’s a good chance the Ravens could take one or both of them.

But who’ll be #26?

Make your pick in the comments!

Oh hellllloooooooo.

I know I ragged on Joe Flacco when he forgot to shave towards the end of last season, because it was just not a good look, but I think my dude just officially overtook Aaron Rodgers as hottest scruffy QB.

Nice work, #5. Keep it up.

Also, this lockout SERIOUSLY needs to end so I can see this face on a regular basis.

(via 26 Ravens Players Attend Workout « Baltimore Ravens Blogs)

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Joe Flacco’s marriage to high school sweetheart Dana Grady has been all the rage in the Baltimore market.

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Flacco Wedding Pics Revealed - BaltimoreRavens.com

Dear Ryan Mink & Baltimore Ravens.com:

Um, no it hasn’t. (Er, has it? Anyone else in Baltimore want to weigh in?)

This is literally the second post I’ve seen about it. The first time, I had to do some serious Google searching to find any additional info.

It’s not “the Ravens’ version of the royal wedding” until people would rather hear more about the lockout than the lovebirds. Since I’ve heard nothing, I’d hardly compare Joe and Dana to Will and Kate, so stop trying. Flacco was much more culturally relevant imitating The Situation than the Duke of Cambridge.

If you want the photos, the wedding photog has conveniently posted them online.

(Note: Website is not responding - guess someone wasn’t prepared for the spike in traffic when The Baltimore Sun, BaltimoreRavens.com and Facebook all linked to the photos! ….Maybe it is all the rage in Baltimore?)

I’ve written almost nothing about the lockout on Sports in Stilettos because, well, I have more important things to worry about. I didn’t want to get too caught up in the daily rumors, and I didn’t want to get my hopes up just in case the NFL season was delayed or cancelled.

Now that the NFL lockout saga is nearing a close, I will admit that I am very excited the season is (almost) back on and I can start getting hyped up for Ravens football in 2011!

(Photo via Google Image Search)

My mama is NOT happy the Ravens cut Todd Heap. NOT happy at all.

I understand why they did it - he’s nearing the end of his career and while he’s one of the most recognizable Ravens, the team needed to spend the $4.9 million he’d be making elsewhere.

He’s also struggled to stay healthy for much of his career, and even though anyone could get hurt at any time playing football, it’s a riskier business move to spend that money on him than on someone without a long history of injuries.

To be perfectly honest, after some of the hits he’s taken the last few seasons, it’s probably better for his long-term health if he doesn’t play at all anymore.

I was more disappointed to hear Derrick Mason would be cut. Sure, he’s 37, but he’s also been a key part of the Ravens’ success behind Joe Flacco, and I really hope the Ravens are able to re-sign him later in this process.

Man. Nothing says “Woooo hooooo the lockout’s finally over” like cutting the top two receivers in team history.

I sure will miss hearing my mom yelling “HHHEEEEEEAAAAPPPPP” whenever he makes a great catch.

(Photo via EveryJoe)

heavyinthegameblog:

Ravens Reach 5yr $32 Million Deal with G/T Marshal Yanda

Keeping this line is crucial for this team who likes to be physical and run the football and play good defense. also this will keep Joe Flacco upright. Yanda is a very good lineman.

Why did I not think Marshal Yanda looked like this?

#learnsomethingneweveryday

(via heavyinthegameblog-deactivated2)

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I have heard good things about Baltimore. I heard it’s a great city, a fun city with a lot of good food, and that’s great for an offensive lineman.

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Oh yeah, brand new Baltimore Ravens right tackle Mark LeVoir has his priorities in order already.

(via The Baltimore Sun — Mike Preston: New right tackle Mark LeVoir could be a mauler for Ravens)

Ravens rookie WR (and former Maryland Terrapin) Torrey Smith was interrupted mid-interview by yesterday’s earthquake.

Notice he doesn’t waste any time getting the heck out of there.

Errrrrrrbody go here and vote for Torrey Smith for NFL Rookie of the Week!!

1st rookie ever to have 3 TD catches in the 1st quarter of a game - and they were his first NFL catches!

You can vote more than once, so go do it!!!

In other news, it’s apparently Torrey Smith Appreciation Week on Sports in Stilettos. Apologies to non-Terps/Ravens/T.Smith fans (I’m not really sorry at all. Dude earned it.)

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