The Ravens, heretofore always fierce contenders to have the most blacks of any team in the NFL, this year have more white starters (6) than any other team in the AFC North, and are tied with Cleveland with the most white players on their roster with 15 in the first year of the post-Brian Billick era. But that's more of an indication of how black Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and Cleveland have trended rather than a sharp demographic course reversal for Baltimore following the overdue departure of the pompous Caste clown Billick.
But the Ravens do have six white players on defense, a plethora for a league that believes only blacks are capable of covering and tackling, with two of them starting.
Kelly Gregg, now in his ninth year out of Oklahoma, labors in obscurity even though he is the best all-around tackle in the NFL. Gregg recorded a phenomenal 111 tackles in 2007 and has more tackles than any other DT going back to 2002. How many Pro Bowls has Gregg been selected to play in? Zero.
Jarrett Johnson, in his sixth season out of Alabama, begins his second year as the starting left outside linebacker.
Justin Bannan is a very solid backup who plays both tackle and end. Well-traveled Nick Greisen backs up at inside linebacker.
Free safety Jim Leonhard did an outstanding job last year for the Bills when he started several games in place of an injured player. He was all over the field making tackles. His reward was to be waived at the end of the season. Leonhard, a record-setting punt returner at Wisconsin, has a chance to play a lot in place of the increasingly gimpy and over-rated Ed Reed.
Rookie strong safety Tom Zbikowski was drafted in the third round. The part-time pugilist is a terrific all-around athlete who made numerous big plays at Notre Dame and will do the same in the NFL if given the opportunity.
With Kyle Boller out for the season and little Troy Smith failing to seize the starting job just about everyone -- his teammates, the media and the drunk white fans -- wanted him to have, Baltimore was forced to go with rookie Joe Flacco at quarterback, who acquitted himself well in the first game of the season. Flacco is big and strong-armed and has very good mobility for his size.
Todd Bouman backs up Flacco.
Starting tight end Todd Heap is a beast when healthy, but misses more than his share of games with a variety of injuries.
Second year man Marshall Yanda out of Iowa is the starting right guard. Adam Terry is the right tackle.
Rookie David Hale out of Weber State, and Mike Kracalik are backup linemen.
NUMBER OF WHITE STARTERS: 6
APPROXIMATE NUMBER OF WHITE PLAYERS ON 53 MAN ROSTER: 15
GRADE: D-
