Notes
Rookies perform well in debuts
LB Carter returns after hit; fans, players watch Phelps
The first preseason game for the Ravens on Thursday night was supposed to be a chance to look at some of the team's rookies.
Asked whether it was a matter of getting a chance or just growing as a player, Carter said: “I think it's a little bit of both, opportunity and progression. Growing every year. You get around seasoned vets like
The scare came after the opening kickoff, when Carter took a hit and had to be taken to the locker room to go through a concussion protocol.
“I was hoping they would let me back in,” Carter said with a laugh. “In the NFL, they want to make sure we don't have any concussions. Honestly I couldn't be mad at anybody. I went out there, a play came up and I wasn't going to turn the other cheek. It's a man's game and that's what we do. Fortunately we both walked away healthy and get out there and keep playing.”
Judon, who was a Division II All-American at Grand Valley State, seemed to be focused right from the start.
“I really didn't think about anything, you can't think out there,” said Judon, a fifth-round draft pick who had a sack Thursday night. “I go out there and rely on your training and know that the coaches put you in the right situation. ... You just want to come out here and play as hard as you can and show what you can do.”
Dixon got off to a strong start himself, rushing for 19 yards on his first carry from scrimmage.
Ravens coach
“It is so important, to see those guys play in games. I don't think you ever really know,” Harbaugh said. “The last couple of days, I was waiting for this game to get here. ‘How are they going to play? How are they going to look against another team?' You just don't know until you see something happen. These young guys, we drafted them for a reason and they showed up tonight.”
Eventually, the game was stopped momentarily for a television timeout as players from both teams, including those on the field, watched one of the big boards. A huge roar went up and the crowd went into an impromptu chant of the “Seven Nation Army” theme song. Several Ravens players pumped their fist as they watched Phelps win.
A Ravens spokesman said the replay was scheduled at the first television timeout in the fourth quarter. When it wasn't called, the spokesman said, “we couldn't stop in the middle of the game.”
Players from both teams, some of whom were on the field during a timeout, stood and watched the screen behind the end zone. Several Ravens who were not on the field pumped their fists and turned sheets of paper into makeshift confetti after Phelps won.
Harbaugh started his postgame news conference with words of congratulation, though he had lost count of Phelps' gold-medal total.
“Congratulations to Michael Phelps — 21?” Harbaugh said.
Told that it was gold medal No. 22, Harbaugh asked: “Is there any more? He's got one later. We're still counting.”
Fans at M&T Bank Stadium didn't seem to mind that the race wasn't shown live.
“That's just awesome, what can you say, the guy's just amazing,” said
“I knew he was going to win. It's Michael Phelps,” Laroches said.
Williams and his fiancee,
Unfortunately for linebacker
It came in the middle of what appeared to be a long interception return for a touchdown by Klein off Ravens quarterback
It didn't matter, as backup