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Ummm, Daryl Smith who led the team in tackles, second in interceptions, team record of passes deflected by a linebacker and the quarterback of the defense. I would say that's a little more than absolutely nothing.

We now have Smith, Smith, Smith and Smith. Torrey, Jimmy, Daryl and Steve. If you get a Smith Jersey you can use Velcro numbers and be who you want. And they all will start. Wonder when was the last time a team had four players who start with the same last name. My guess is never.

I am amazed that anyone would think that our 6'5" touchdown leader who was a favorite target of Flacco in the redzone is not what the FO thinks of as a long term viable option. Marlon Brown WAS the only viable option for Flacco in the redzone. Ask the Vikings, who did Flacco go to with seconds left when he absolutely needed a touchdown, I remember Lee Evans dropping a much easier pass than Brown caught. Yeah, why would they want to keep him, he is only a big, good receiver with great hands. Oh, did I mention cheap. In addition they gave Jacoby a four year contract, yeah they can cut him but that's not Ozzie's style.

More dancing. Dragonfly. In other news, in Monroe's press conference Ozzie said he was glad he locked up Monroe so he could move on to work on filling other positions on the offensive line. Sounds to me like Ozzie has in his mind that there will be more signings to improve our line.

Top safeties flying off board like Tackles; TJ Ward, Antoine Bethea, Louis Delmas, Michael Mitchell. Whitner to Browns, Byrd headed to NO. Looks like Calvin Pryor or HaHa Clinton-Dix now becomes a priority in the draft.

Darn, the enemy (Steelers) just signed Michael Mitchell Safety from the Panthers, one of the top safeties in free agency. We will see him at least 2 times a year. Doggone it I wanted to watch him at least 16 times a year.

Everyone talked about the Ravens making a splash in free agency but it seems they are splashing about in their own pool. Locking up Monroe and working on signing Daryl Smith is critical (funny how they are "far apart", I remember hearing that about Monroe). Anyway, for the hopefuls who expected to hear that Byrd or Edelman or Steve Smith would be the center of Ozzie's focus are as disappointed as I am. Darn media for building up my hopes

Aaron Wilson tweeting Owen Daniels cut under "Failed Physical" designation. Convenient or something to worry about when considering for bookend to Pitta?

Where are all those Ozzie is screwing up by letting Monroe test the market, what a stooge for wasting two draft picks we will never get back, Ozzie is losing it folks who made those comments. I kept saying quit crying about the decisions being made Ozzie has the plan and it may be plan B. "In Ozzie we trust" at least some of us. Ozzie has a plan for Daryl Smith as well and it may be plan B.

A Kinkibwala tweeted Monroe and Ravens have reached a deal

Matt Zenith reporting Rolando McLain to return to Ravens this season. http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/blogs/sports/ravens/source-rolando-mcclain-telling-people-that-he-plans-on-playing/article_d7d69996-a875-11e3-a22a-0019bb2963f4.html?mode=jqm. If true and he is all together and stays out of trouble (yeah right) he could truly bolster the ILB position. Lots of hoping and wishing here.

Ian Rappaport @rapsheet is reporting that the Dolphins are setting their sites on Albert, the Cardinals are going for Veldheer and the a Raiders are looking at Saffold. Either Monroe has priced himself out of the market, or no other team is willing to pony up the money and match the Ravens offer for for what is an above average tackle who has never seen a pro bowl or a winning season. Either way, it shows once again why Ozzie does what he does.

Ozzie said he would use all avenues to fill the holes and everyone assumed he meant free agency. Maybe he is thinking of moving up in the draft and grabbing Matthews or Robinson in the hopes of nabbing a franchise left tackle (like Ogden). With a rookie contract he would be far cheaper than Monroe and homegrown talent that has only played in your organization is a little easier to deal with than a guy who just stopped by for a cup of coffee and has no emotional attachment. That would leave a good bit of money to chase Byrd, Mack, and/or a wide receiver. In Oz we trust.

The Ravens must feel comfortable enough they can work out a deal before free agency starts that they didn't feel it was necessary to tag him and maybe put a rift in the talks. Smith is more of a fear to me and I certainly hope we get him signed because for what he made last year, where are we going to find another person with his skill to run a defense.

Schefter reporting Kubiak as OC, Dennison as QB coach. https://twitter.com/adamschefter/status/427879049889734658 Also Ian Rappaport reporting Shanahan in play now for Browns OC position.

Since apparently the decisions to hire the offensive cadre has changed since the decision to keep Castillo was made. The Browns didn't want to hire Kubiak because he wanted that authority according to Ian Rappaport and apparently he took this job because he was given that authority or else it would have ended the way the Cleveland interviews ended for him. That's just my opinion and. I can always hope.

I saw Schefter's tweets earlier but nothing is definite. PFT is reporting that Kubiak is assembling the offensive staff and Dennison has experience as an O Line coach so there is hope that might change but that would be like having your birthday and Christmas on the same day.

No word of Shanahan or Dennison coming as well in the article but John McLain of Houston is reporting that he expects that they were part of the deal. It's not like they have a job anywhere else this year it's whether the Ravens were willing to take them all on. We do need a QB and running backs coach and a plan B if Kubiak moves on next year. Guess we will have to wait til 3:00.

Ian Rappaport reporting that Ravens will announce hire of GARY KUBIAK as OC at 3:00pm. https://twitter.com/rapsheet/status/427867631195262978

Okay, it's time to announce a press conference. We were promised an OC today so let's get on with it. Time to release that puff of white smoke at the castle so we fans know who we can beat up on next year, I mean, loyally support.

If Kubiak comes and brings Dennison as O Line coach and Shanahan comes a qb coach, then Castillo could be gone. Is it Christmas? You got to love. Bisciotti, he is willing to fix a problem when he says so.

I have to eat my words and declare being wrong. Kubiak IS in the running and the front runner. Kubiak, Dennison and Shanahan all together. Wow! When Steve says he is going to fix a problem, he means to fix it. If nothing else, he is hiring all the available candidates and anyone left without an OC is going to be hurting. Go Ravens.

There was an interesting interview yeaterday and I don't remember who it was but they were talking about the comparison of the Billick era to the Harbaugh era. They mentioned after 6 or 7 years the turnover is such among players that the message and the players buying into it starts to weaken. It certainly looked that way this year and from Suggs to Rice there didn't seem to be the same fire. Some people say it was leadership but I believe that coaches and coaching work in a cycle and unless a coach can reinvent himself and continue to maintain the fire in the locker room then they tend to be less successful. I think of Tomlin in Pittsburgh as well and the fact he has not been to the playoffs in years and wonder how much longer he will be there. Definitely a Super Bowl or two buys some time, but how much time did it buy Billick and Bisciotti was part of the ownership group at that time as a minority owner. Before dismissing "spoiled fans" you might want to look around the NFL and the history of the Ravens as what you call "spoiled fans" drive the bus (unless your Jerry Jones or the late Al Davis) IMO.

I don't think going internal with part of the coaching staff that proved to be one of the worst offenses in the NFL and in the last decade of the Ravens will be productive. I personally feel we are due for a breath of fresh air from the offense we have been running since Cameron was here. Nothing short of a complete change of direction and scheme and a hands off approach from Harbaugh is going to turn this thing around. Clearly the same old, same old, isn't working and it is time to move in a completely different direction. Keeping Hostler and having Harbaugh stick his nose in where it is not qualified is not going to help our pathetic, anemic offense. Turner would have been great but Harbaugh couldn't handle that strong a personality in his presence so he was out of the question.