Madden sees Ravens over New York

“I need to talk to John Madden, because for the first [seasons] they didn't put my name on the back of my jersey. I was just [No.] 57 running around out there. So, I want to ask him why I was such a slappy. He finally showed me some love. He made me earn it three years in a row. I think Madden didn't think I was going to make the team the second and third year. So, I'm going to talk to him when we get off the field here.”

Madden’s name carries a lot of cache in the football world, as he might be the sport’s most popular figure in the country right now.

“Madden NFL 08,” the latest in the biggest-selling, sports video game franchise ever, was released Tuesday, causing gamers--including Scott--to converge on video game stores from coast to coast to spend between $50-$60 for the widely popular game.

“I got the game. I bought three of them, actually,” Scott said. “I haven't even picked them up, yet. I had to call in a favor to tell someone to put them aside for me.”

But Madden wasn't in Westminster to promote the video game. He was there to scout Scott's team for NBC, as he will be the color analyst alongside lead announcer Al Michaels for Sunday night's Ravens-New York Giants preseason game at M&T Bank Stadium at 8.

“It's like the first time I had a big ABC Saturday game with Keith Jackson in the booth,” fourth-string quarterback Drew Olson, who played for UCLA in college, said. “Having him your name for the first time is great, but I won't even think about it come Sunday.”

Madden coached the Oakland Raiders from 1969-1978, during which he became the youngest coach to win 100 games, which included a victory in Super Bowl XI, and his all-time winning percentage trailed only legendary coach Vince Lombardi. After he retired from coaching, Madden rose to stardom in the 1980s as the pre-eminent television football analyst, as his out-spoken persona and his quirky sayings created a niche in the market. Soon after, he was starring in commercials, which led to Electronic Arts of Redwood City, Calif., creating the first edition of his signature video game for the Apple II computer in 1984.

But Madden didn’t want to talk about virtual football Friday: He wanted to talk about the real, live version.

“When you talk about top teams who are in the AFC, the New England Patriots look like the best team and you've got Indianapolis and San Diego,” Madden said. “You think, 'Where in the hell is Baltimore?' I think a lot of people are missing that. Whether they're going to be a Super Bowl team or not, that's too far ahead. But, when you start rattling off the top teams, I think you have to look here.”

Madden said he expects Baltimore to beat New York on Sunday.

“The stuff that they [the Ravens] do on defense is awfully tough in the preseason,” Madden said. “Obviously, Philadelphia wasn't ready for it [in last week's, 29-3 loss to the Ravens], and I don't know that Giants will be ready for it.”

GIANTS AT RAVENS
Sunday, 8 p.m.
TV: WBAL-11 - Radio: 1090 AM/97.9 FM, SIRIUS 124

THREE KEYS TO A RAVENS VICTORY

1. Young players must contribute: In preseason games, veterans have a small impact on the game since most play less than a half. The Ravens defeated Eagles last week largely because backup quarterback Drew Olson calmly guided the offense and third and fourth-string players did not make serious mistakes.

2. Contain the Giants' offense. Without RB Tiki Barber, who retired at the end of last season, the Giants offense is not as imposing. Quarterback Eli Manning’s has struggled to be consistent throughout his young career. If he plays in this game, his time will be limited and his patience will be tested by the Ravens.

3. Keep it simple. The Ravens are at their best in the preseason when they complement their run-oriented offense with a short passing game. Getting into a run-and-gun game with the Giants serves no purpose.

KEY MATCHUPS

JEREMY SHOCKEY VS. JARRET JOHNSON

Shockey is the consummate, trash-talking tight end. He's also very good. Shockey routinely is covered by a linebacker and makes he exploits the matchup with his quickness in his pass routes.

Johnson is trying to prove he can fill the void left by Adalius Thomas, who shined in drop-back coverage last season before signing with New England during the offseason.

ELI MANNING VS. ED REED

Expect Manning to throw the ball frequently Sunday. Receiver Plaxico Burress might miss the game because an ankle injury. Still, Manning needs a test--and the Ravens will give him one.

Reed is a gambler and Manning telegraphs many of his passes. Reed is great at anticipating passing routes, which could enable him to force a turnover.

WILL DEMPS VS. TODD HEAP

Demps has quickly fallen out of favor in New York after signing a big contract before last season. But the former Raven will put some importance in playing well in his return to Baltimore.

Heap, the Pro Bowl tight end, will play sparingly. Demps has developed a reputations for targeting tight ends even on his own team, as he did last year on Shockey. Heap just needs to avoid getting injured.

THE EXAMINER PREDICTS…

The Ravens will not look as crisp as they were last week against the Eagles. There has to be a letdown, which is fine for the preseason. Don't panic, Ravens' fans. None of these games are indicative of what will happen during the regular season.

GIANTS 20, RAVENS 16

ROSTERS
BALTIMORE RAVENS (1-0)
Coach: Brian Billick
No. Player Pos. Ht. Wt. Exp.

No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Birthdate Exp. College Hometown
38 Anderson, Mike RB 6-0 230 9/21/73 8 Utah
80 Ballantyne, Kendrick TE 6-4 243 7/7/83 R
94 Bannan, Justin DT 6-3 310 4/18/79 6
50 Barnes, Antwan OLB 6-1 240 10/19/84 R
41 Blackshire, Bobby S 6-1 196 6/30/84 R
7 Boller, Kyle QB 6-3 220 6/17/81 5
60 Brown, Jason G/C 6-3 320 5/5/83 3
72 Bryant, Anthony DT 6-3 337 11/6/81 3
14 Bryant, Romby WR 6-1 181 12/21/79 1
54 Burgess, Prescott OLB 6-3 240 3/6/84 R
2 Carney, Brendan P 6-4 203 12/23/82 R S
65 Chester, Chris G/C 6-3 305 1/12/83 2
89 Clayton, Mark WR 5-10 195 7/2/82 3
30 Daniels, P.J. RB 5-10 214 12/21/82 2
81 Darling, Devard WR 6-1 215 4/16/82 4
93 Edwards, Dwan DT 6-3 315 5/16/81 4
77 Edwards, Steve G/T 6-5 333 2/20/79 4
98 Ellison, Atiyyah DT 6-3 318 9/29/81 3
48 Enzor, Jamar ILB 6-1 238 12/28/81 1
16 Figurs, Yamon WR/RS 5-11 175 1/10/82 R
62 Flynn, Mike C 6-3 305 6/15/74 10
82 Freeman, Marcus TE 6-2 246 10/24/83 R
71 Gaither, Jared T 6-9 350 3/18/86 R
44 Gaston, Willie CB 5-10 187 12/15/82 R
33 Green, Justin FB 5-11 251 4/30/82 3
97 Gregg, Kelly DT 6-0 310 11/1/76 8
66 Grubbs, Ben G 6-3 315 3/10/84 R
58 Haley, Dennis ILB 6-1 247 2/18/82 2
86 Heap, Todd TE 6-5 252 3/16/80 7
35 Ivy, Corey CB 5-9 188 3/29/77 7
95 Johnson, Jarret DE 6-3 270 8/14/81
64 Jones, Edgar OLB 6-3 263 12/1/84 R
70 Katula, Matt LS 6-6 272 8/22/82 3
4 Koch, Sam P 6-1 230 8/13/82 2
74 Kracalik, Mike T 6-8 337 9/9/82 1
26 Landry, Dawan S 6-0 220 12/30/82 2
61 Leeson, Nick LS 6-1 255 10/29/82 R
52 Lewis, Ray ILB 6-1 250 5/15/75 12
18 Linson, Damien WR 5-10 186 1/23/85 R
91 Marshall, Keyonta DT 6-1 330 8/13/81 2
29 Martin, Derrick CB 5-10 202 5/16/85 2
59 Martin, Joe ILB 6-1 229 10/25/83 R
85 Mason, Derrick WR 5-10 192 1/17/74 11
45 Maze, Terrell CB 5-10 171 3/13/84 R
21 McAlister, Chris CB 6-1 206 6/14/77 9
37 McClain, Le'Ron FB 6-0 260 12/27/84 R
23 McGahee, Willis RB 6-0 232 10/21/81 5
9 McNair, Steve QB 6-2 230 2/14/73 13
84 Moore, Clarence WR 6-6 220 9/24/82 4
63 Ndukwe, Ikechuku G 6-4 338 7/17/82 2
92 Ngata, Haloti NT 6-4 340 1/21/84 2
25 Oglesby, Evan CB 5-10 185 12/18/81 2
10 Olson, Drew QB 6-2 222 6/6/83 1
76 Pino, Chris G 6-5 315 8/18/82 1
24 Pittman, David CB 5-11 182 10/14/83 2
27 Prude, Ronnie CB 5-11 178 6/4/82 2
39 Pruitt, Jr., Greg RB 5-9 210 12/14/83 R
90 Pryce, Trevor DT 6-5 286 8/3/75 11
20 Reed, Ed S 5-11 200 9/11/78 6
43 Riddle, Ryan LB 6-2 260 7/5/81 3
69 Rimpf, Brian G 6-5 319 2/11/81 4
22 Rolle, Samari CB 6-0 175 8/10/76 10
34 Ross, Cory RB 5-6 201 9/22/82 2
36 Sams, B.J. DB/RS 5-10 185 10/29/80 4
42 Sapp, Gerome S 6-1 216 2/8/81 5
32 Smith, Musa RB 6-0 232 5/31/82 5
11 Smith, Troy QB 6-0 225 7/20/84 R
56 Stills, Gary OLB 6-2 250 7/11/74 9
3 Stover, Matt K 5-11 178 1/27/68 18
55 Suggs, Terrell OLB 6-3 260 10/11/82 5
67 Swancutt, Bill DE 6-4 270 9/4/82 2
88 Sypniewski, Quinn TE 6-6 270 4/14/82 2
78 Terry, Adam T 6-8 330 9/1/82 3,
68 Vincent, Keydrick G 6-5 325 4/13/78
83 Wilcox, Daniel TE 6-1 245 3/23/77 5
87 Williams, Demetrius WR 6-2 197 3/28/83 2
17 Willis, Matt WR 5-11 185 4/13/84 R
28 Winborne, Jamaine DB 5-10 202 12/26/80 3
73 Yanda, Marshal G/T 6-3 310 9/15/84 R

NEW YORK GIANTS (0-1)
Coach: Tom Coughlin
No. Player Pos. Ht. Wt. Exp
93 Adams, Titus DT 6-4 305 1
73 Alford, Jay DT 6-3 304 R
95 Awasom, Adrian DE 6-5 280 3
77 Bake, Dek DT 6-5 272 R
99 Bell, Marcus DT 6-2 325 7
30 Birmingham, Decori RB 5-10 210 1
57 Blackburn, Chase LB 6-3 247 3
89 Boss, Kevin TE 6-6 253 R
44 Bradshaw, Ahmad RB 5-9 198 R
46 Burgess, Rodney TE 6-4 230 R
17 Burress, Plaxico WR 6-5 232 8
37 Butler, James S 6-3 215 3
96 Cofield, Barry DT 6-4 306 2
39 Dahl, Craig CB 6-1 207 R
49 Davis, Charles TE 6-6 260 1
52 Davis, James LB 6-1 240 4
74 Davis, Tommy DE 6-2 257 1
47 Demps, Will S 6-0 208 6
51 DeOssie, Zak LB 6-4 250 R
66 Diehl, David G 6-5 319 5
35 Dockery, Kevin CB 5-8 188 2
24 Douglas, Robert RB 6-1 230 1
22 Droughns, Reuben RB 5-11 220 8
71 Dunn, Jonathan T 6-7 324 2
18 Feagles, Jeff P 6-1 215 20
39 Grant, Ryan RB 6-1 218 1
78 Gunn, Marquise DE 6-4 264 R
8 Hasselbeck, Tim QB 6-1 214 6
5 Huston, Josh K 6-1 200 1
27 Jacobs, Brandon RB 6-4 2643
15 Jennings, Michael WR 5-11 181 2
43 Johnson, Michael S 6-2 211 R
24 Johnson, Travonti CB 6-2 190 R
77 Jones, Justin T 6-6 305 R
94 Joseph, William DT 6-5 308 5
63 Keenan, Ryan G 6-5 295 R
97 Kiwanuka, Mathias LB 6-5 265 2
61 Koets, Adam T 6-5 300 R
90 Kuehl, Ryan LS 6-5 276 11
64 Lentz, Matt G 6-6 320 2
82 London, Brandon WR 6-4 210 R
62 Londot, Todd G/T 6-5 301 1
13 Lorenzen, Jared QB 6-4 285 3
29 Madison, Sam CB 5-11 180 11
10 Manning, Eli QB 6-4 225 4
88 Matthews, Michael TE 6-4 270 R
67 McKenzie, Kareem T 6-6 327 7
87 McMahan, Kevin WR 6-2 200 1
38 McPhearson, Gerrick CB 5-10 197 1
25 McQuarters, R.W. CB 5-10 194 10
55 Mitchell, Kawika LB 6-1 253 5
19 Mix, Anthony WR 6-5 235 1
83 Moss, Sinorice WR 5-8 185 2
60 O'Hara, Shaun C 6-3 303 8
6 Ohnesorge, Cory P 6-4 208 1
58 Pierce, Antonio LB 6-1 238 7
63 Piller, Zach G 6-5 315 9
98 Robbins, Fred DT 6-4 317 8
54 Robertson, Barry LB 6-1 245 1
31 Ross, Aaron CB 6-0 193 R
65 Ruegamer, Grey G 6-4 299 9
75 Seawright, Jonas DT 6-6 335 2
69 Seubert, Rich G 6-3 310 7
80 Shockey, Jeremy TE 6-5 251 6
12 Smith, Steve WR 5-11 197 R
48 Smith, Tyson LB 6-2 240 2
76 Snee, Chris G 6-3 317 4
26 Stone, Michael CB 6-0 207 7
92 Strahan, Michael DE 6-5 255 15
70 Taylor, Charrod DE 6-2 286 R
9 Thomas, Marco WR 6-1 175 R
81 Toomer, Amani WR 6-3 203 12
53 Torbor, Reggie LB 6-2 250 4
91 Tuck, Justin DE 6-5 274 3
9 Tynes, Lawrence K 6-1 202 4
85 Tyree, David WR 6-0 206 5
72 Umenyiora, Osi DE 6-3 261 5
41 Underwood, E.J. CB 6-1 185 2
34 Ward, Derrick RB 5-11 228 4
23 Webster, Corey CB 6-0 202 3
79 Whimper, Guy T 6-5 302 2
59 Wilkinson, Gerris LB 6-3 231 2
28 Wilson, Gibril S 6-0 209 4
2 Wright, Anthony QB 6-1 211 9

State of the Teams

The Ravens are confident and Saturday's conclusion of training camp was anti-climactic. This is a co-hesive group anxious to play regular games, now.

The Giants appear to be on the verge of collapsing. But in each of the two years, they’ve managed to make the playoffs. Coughlin has been accused of failing to communicate with his players, which could be a sign of a disappointing season on the horizon.