Rice to Play First Game in the Pros as a Starter Ray Rice is poised to start as running back against the in the Baltimore Ravens? preseason opener on Thursday.

Open Season on Coaches: Ravens Are First to Fire The day after the N.F.L. regular season ended, the Baltimore Ravens decided they would have better success next season without Brian Billick, who was fired Monday after the Ravens finished 5-11.

Dolphins Celebrate Their 1972 Season by Winning First Game A stunning 64-yard touchdown in overtime by receiver Greg Camarillo sealed Miami?s first victory of the season on a day the Dolphins commemorated their 1972 perfect season.

Officials Defended; 4 Ravens Are Fined The National Football League fined four Baltimore Ravens players yesterday for violating rules prohibiting verbal abuse of game officials during the Ravens? loss to the Patriots on Monday night.

Ravens Say Late Calls Favored the Patriots A furor has ignited over the conduct of the officiating crew during the game-winning touchdown drive that saved the Patriots? perfect season.

Browns 33, Ravens 30 O.T. BALTIMORE, Nov. 18 (AP) The Cleveland Browns actually had to come back onto the field Sunday to complete a 33-30 overtime victory against the Baltimore Ravens after it appeared the game ended with a missed field goal by Phil Dawson.

N.F.L. ROUNDUP; For Ravens, Six Turnovers and Five Field Goals Equal One Win It was a rout waiting to happen: the St. Louis Rams, without a win and with a depleted offense, against a Baltimore Ravens defense eager to prove it is still the best in the N.F.L. Bullying the backup quarterback Gus Frerotte into six turnovers yesterday, the Ravens delivered in a 22-3 victory against the visiting Rams.

After Controversy, Jets End Up on Other Side At his news conference Monday, Baltimore Coach Brian Billick said Jets defensive players tried to disrupt the Ravens? offense by barking out signals on snap counts.

A Final Possession Shows Promise but Ends With a Jets Loss The Jets lost the game but may have found, in quarterback Kellen Clemens and receiver Jerricho Cotchery, the next coming of Chad Pennington and Laveranues Coles.

Quarterback Stands Tall on a Dizzying Day From the vantage point of a bed in a small emergency room, I watched the emergence of the Jets? future, and perhaps their salvation: quarterback Kellen Clemens.

Ravens Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)

Halfway through the preseason, the Ravens remain undecided on their starting quarterback.

In the Ravens' 23-15 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, Troy Smith and Kyle Boller continued to struggle, which could push back Baltimore's decision on naming a starting quarterback. The Ravens might wait until after the third preseason game.

In his first start of the preseason, Smith had more yards rushing (35) than passing (25) against the Vikings. Boller didn't fare any better, failing to lead the offense past the Vikings' 38-yard line.

To make matters worse, Smith and Boller threw interceptions on their last passes of the game.

"I think they had some good moments and not-so-good moments," coach John Harbaugh said.

Terrell Suggs begins practice (AP) Baltimore Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs reported to the team Monday and began practicing after signing his $8.47 million, one-year tender. On the advice of his agent, the Ravens' franchise player skipped training camp to protest the franchise tag. He's expected to play about 15 snaps against the St.

Ravens QBs fail to take charge in duel to start (AP) Every time Troy Smith or Kyle Boller gets the opportunity to move ahead in the Baltimore Ravens' quarterback competition, he takes one step back. Neither player has distinguished himself after two games, and things got particularly ugly Saturday night in a 23-15 preseason loss to the Minnesota Vikings.

Jackson hurts knee during Vikings' win over Ravens (AP)

Tarvaris Jackson put up some impressive numbers against the Baltimore Ravens. Far more important was that the Minnesota Vikings quarterback left the stadium with just a bruise on his tender right knee. Jackson was removed in the first quarter of Saturday night's 23-15 win over the Ravens with a knee injury, but a potentially devastating moment for the Vikings turned out to be far less harrowing...

NFL players hooked on 'Madden' video game (AP) The opposition was throwing the ball all over the place when Marshall Faulk watched his son's football game last year. Afterward, the 12-year-old lamented that his team didn't use the cover-2 defense. Faulk, the 2000 NFL MVP, considers such moments the greatest influence of the "Madden NFL Football" video game, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year.

Suggs will report to Ravens on Sunday (PA SportsTicker) Baltimore Ravens linebacker-defensive end Terrell Suggs will end his three-week absence and report to training camp Sunday, according to a published report.

Ravens to show Phelps' race on stadium screens (AP) The Baltimore Ravens are urging fans attending Saturday night's NFL preseason game not to leave early. Baltimore area swimmer Michael Phelps is scheduled to swim his final race at the Beijing Olympics after the game ends, and the Ravens have been granted permission by NBC to show the race live on the stadium SmartVision boards.

Troy Smith gets his turn as Ravens QB vs Vikings (AP)

Troy Smith has his priorities in order. To be starting quarterback of the Baltimore Ravens, he must earn respect in the huddle and protect the football. Throwing a few touchdown passes ranks a distant third on his to-do list. After relieving Kyle Boller in Baltimore's preseason opener last week, Smith gets his turn to start Saturday night against the Minnesota Vikings.

Gonzalez gives Chiefs steady diet of lectures (Yahoo! Sports) Where's the beef? All-Pro Tony Gonzalez proves that a neo-vegan can thrive in the rough and tumble NFL.

Veteran FB Neal fits nicely into Ravens offense (AP) Wearing an unfamiliar number and droopy shorts that nearly covered his calves, Lorenzo Neal made a solid first impression Wednesday during his initial practice with the Baltimore Ravens. Feeling right at home in Cam Cameron's offense, the Pro Bowl fullback bulled up the middle to open holes for an assortment of running backs.