HEADLINES

Nick DiMarco

Ravens’ Roster Now At 75 Following Moves

August 25th, 2014 at 12:31pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Ravens’ roster count now sits at 75 in advance of tomorrow’s 3pm cutdown deadline. Baltimore has waived the following players, per a press release:

Additionally, the Ravens have placed DE Kapron Lewis-Moore, G Will Rackley, and DE Brent Urban on injured reserve, ending their respective seasons.

Ravens Notes: Extensions, Ross, Franks, Rice

June 23rd, 2014 at 8:59am CST by Luke Adams

When the Ravens signed five players to their roster at the end of last week’s minicamp, most of the new additions were veterans, or at least players who have spent some time with an NFL club for a season or two. That’s not the case for Nick DiMarco, an undrafted rookie who was cut by the Jets shortly after being signed by the team in May. The William Penn product has joined the Ravens in search of a regular-season roster spot, and while it may be an uphill battle, he tells Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun that he intends to do everything he can to impress his coaches.

Here’s more on the Ravens, from Wilson’s Sun colleague, Jeff Zrebiec:

  • While there’s not much going on around the NFL for the next month, it would be a good time for the Ravens to address potential contract extensions for wideout Torrey Smith and defensive lineman Haloti Ngata, says Zrebiec. Smith is entering the final season of his rookie deal, while Ngata has two years left on his pact.
  • After signing veterans Chris Canty and Marcus Spears and using a third-round pick on Brandon Williams in 2013, the Ravens didn’t see much improvement on their defensive line last season, so the team was forced to address the position again this year. However, Zrebiec thinks it could be a much-improved group in 2014, given the promise already being shown by draftees Timmy Jernigan and Brent Urban.
  • Zrebiec views recent signees Aaron Ross and Dominique Franks as insurance policies for Baltimore, and expects the team to give Chykie Brown and Asa Jackson every opportunity to earn the No. 3 cornerback job. Ross and Franks may ultimately end up competing for a single roster spot.
  • Although there’s no timetable for the NFL to make its announcement on a Ray Rice suspension, commissioner Roger Goodell likely won’t want to prolong it, assuming he has all the information he needs. As such, we could get the news on Rice very soon.

Ravens Finalize Series Of Roster Moves

June 20th, 2014 at 10:57am CST by Luke Adams

The Ravens have officially finalized a series of roster moves that includes five signings and three cuts, according to multiple reports from the Baltimore Sun. According to Aaron Wilson, the team has parted ways with undrafted rookies Dexter Moody (S), Xavius Boyd (LB) and Avery Patterson (CB). With the newly-created openings, plus the two other open roster spots, the club has confirmed the signings of cornerbacks Aaron Ross and Dominique Franks, linebackers Nick DiMarco and Austin Spitler and wideout Mike Willie, per Jeff Zrebiec (via Twitter).

Of those five signings, four had been reported yesterday, so only the addition of Willie is new. The Arizona State alum, who went undrafted in 2012, has spent time with the Chargers in past years, though he has yet to appear in a regular-season NFL game.

As for the trio of players who were cut, all three were part of Baltimore’s undrafted free agent class back in May. Patterson received a signing bonus of $3K from the team, while Boyd received $1.5K to sign, but neither bonus was enough for the club to keep them on the roster into training camp.

The Ravens now have a full 90-man roster.

Ravens To Sign Austin Spitler

June 19th, 2014 at 4:29pm CST by Luke Adams

4:29pm: The Ravens will also sign edge defender Nick DiMarco, who was among the players to try out for the club this week, tweets Wilson.

4:01pm: On the heels of a successful audition at their minicamp, the Ravens will sign free agent linebacker Austin Spitler to a contract, reports Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. The signing hasn’t been officially announced yet, and details of the agreement aren’t yet known, but it will likely be a one-year pact for the former Dolphin.

Spitler, who will turn 28 this fall, played nearly exclusively on special teams during his four years in Miami, playing only 15 total defensive snaps during his stint with the Dolphins, according to Pro Football Focus’ data. In kick and punt coverage, the former seventh-round pick out of Ohio State logged eight tackles in 2013.

Spitler was one of several players the Ravens tried out this week at their minicamp, and as Wilson notes, the team is expected to add at least one or two more of those non-roster players. Veteran cornerbacks Aaron Ross and Dominique Franks are considered “likely additions,” says Wilson. Besides those players, the Ravens also took a look at defensive tackle Daniel Muir, cornerbacks Drayton Florence, Marquice Cole, Kevin Thomas, and Bobby Felder, and wideouts Mike Willie and Dezmon Briscoe.