Latest news with #TheLoungePodcast
USA Today
24-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Ravens HC John Harbaugh offers a sharp rebuttal to criticism about recent playoff exits
John Harbaugh pushes back on criticism about early playoff exits The unpredictable nature of competitive sports is what draws us back for more excitement. There are certain aspects we can rely on: the Baltimore Ravens continue to be one of the better-run franchises in the NFL. In contrast, the Cleveland Browns... well, they don't have the same reputation, and it seems they may never achieve it. NFL training camps are in full swing, and Baltimore is trying to put the finishing touches on a Super Bowl win. Meanwhile, members of Cleveland's social media team are falling off rafts during helmet reveals. That says just about everything one needs to know about both franchises. Forget the Browns. Baltimore has its own business to attend to. Two seasons ago, they lost a home AFC Championship Game vs. the eventual Super Bowl champions. Last February, they took a step backward and lost in the Divisional Round. No one knows what this season may bring. Just don't bore John Harbaugh with the tired narratives. John Harbaugh pushes back against tired Ravens discussions It's Super Bowl or bust for the mighty Ravens, but Coach Harbaugh isn't going to state that. He recently appeared on The Lounge Podcast and flipped the script on a narrative we've been hearing all season. 'The expectations are a good thing, and you hold yourself to a really high standard. You have a chance to fulfill your purpose. Super Bowl or bust, all this kind of stuff, it's just so phony…It's about the process, it's about who you become.' Those were his thoughts shared with hosts Ryan Mink and Garrett Downing. Don't let the smooth taste fool you, though. This is a Super Bowl or bust season for the flock. This team didn't make the acquisitions it made to lose in the Divisional Round again. Discussions about early playoff exits have followed this organization for much of Harbaugh and Lamar Jackson's tenure together. It's a fact that hasn't been lost on the head coach or his team. 'We haven't won a championship yet. Is that going to be in our future? Who knows? But, we are given to take care of the day and today, the moment, be in the moment. (We also) take care of one another, have each other's back, share a vision, share an understanding, (and) fight as hard as you can.' That's a theory we can certainly ride with. Baltimore enters the upcoming season with high expectations and a great deal of confidence. Their leader enters his 18th season at the helm. Get ready, everyone. This one could truly be a memorable affair.
USA Today
25-06-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Ravens star dismisses the noise once and for all with one clear message
A rumored exit gets silenced once and for all by Rashod Bateman. There are stepping-stone jobs and destination jobs. Coaching Duke football can be seen as a former role. Leading the Alabama Crimson Tide is the latter. Football is one of our great country's national sports. One never knows whether their current dwelling is their 'forever home' or another leg of the journey. Coaches, players, and their children feel it worse than anyone else, the spectre of possibly needing to adjust to a new city and environment. Take Rashod Bateman, for instance. He has been a Baltimore Ravens star since entering the league, but uncertainty about his future plagued most of his spring. Then, it happened. He agreed to terms on an extension on June 5th. It was a nice close to a few months that were filled with uncertainty. That didn't stop the rumors that followed. Though many of them were quiet, they began almost immediately. There were whispers that the Dallas Cowboys were interested. Then came conversations about the Green Bay Packers. Ultimately, the Ravens shut everything down before anything gained any traction. Then, there was the response by Mr. Bateman. Baltimore is where he wanted to be all along. "'I knew I wanted to be back in Baltimore, but I've seen the business, and obviously, you just never know. That's the first thing I told (Eric) DeCosta in a mature way when we first got on the phone, 'With all due respect, I want to be here,' that was the first thing I said. And I think that helped us get to this point where we're at today.' Those were Rashod's words while speaking on an episode of The Lounge Podcast with Ryan Mink and Garrett Downing. Bateman has developed a reputation. He's one of the 'silent assassins'. He doesn't talk much, but when he does, the words hit with intent and succinctness. Contract discussions are in the rearview mirror. Now, he can focus on being part of what can be a potent Ravens offense for years to come. The Ravens' business model in roster building includes signing veteran wide receivers. Ozzie Newsome and Eric DeCosta have long stocked the cupboard with the likes of Derrick Mason, Mike Wallace, Anquan Boldin, Steven Smith Sr, Odell Beckham Jr, and DeAndre Hopkins. There's also a youth movement transpiring. Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman are leading the charge. Look for another phenomenal season by Lamar Jackson through the air after throwing for 4,172 yards and 41 touchdowns last season.
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
7 things to watch during the Baltimore Ravens' Minicamp
Baltimore is at the Under Armour Performance Center for two days of mandatory minicamp, and it's the last time this Super Bowl hopeful will be together until mid-July. John Harbaugh's team had a revolving door of starters sporadically attend the nine voluntary OTA sessions, providing ample opportunities for reps and scheme implementation for select rookies and veterans looking to lock down a roster spot or earn their way off the bubble. Advertisement With the team set to hit the field for Day 1, we're looking at seven things to watch. Lamar Jackson is back in the building After missing the bulk of the OTAs, Jackson is back in Baltimore and took part in media day and a hype video on Monday. Year 3 under Todd Monken Piggybacking off the return of Jackson, the two days officially start year three under offensive coordinator Todd Monken in Baltimore. Monken believes the best is yet to come for his All-Pro quarterback. While a guest on the Ravens-produced "The Lounge Podcast," Monken said Jackson was "just scratching the surface" of his enormous potential. "The year that he had, I think he's still just scratching the surface of where he's headed," Monken said on "The Lounge Podcast." "It may not statistically show up that way, but I know he's only the scratching the surface." "Lamar is an unbelievably humble superstar," Monken said. "That doesn't mean he's not competitive, doesn't want to be great. Lamar just wants to win. But he also knows that him playing well … your chances of winning go up exponentially if you have a great quarterback." Advertisement Last season, the 28-year-old Jackson set career highs in touchdown passes (41), passing yards (4,172), and quarterback rating (119.6) while throwing just four interceptions. Monken is entering his third season coaching Jackson and expects the quarterback's growth to continue and reach another level as he enters the prime of his career. Jun 11, 2025; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens linebacker Trenton Simpson (23) looks on during an NFL OTA at Under Armour Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images Roster battles The Ravens won't have too many starting spots up for grabs, with left guard, linebacker, and safety being spots that'll see potential roster battles. Andrew Vorhees lost his starting job to Patrick Mekari last year, but he's back and will battle again, and is the favorite to start at left guard. They re-signed veteran Ben Cleveland and drafted Emery Jones and Garrett Dellinger. Trenton Simpson will battle Teddye Buchanan and Jacob Hummel. At safety, Malaki Starks has the inside track as a rookie, but the Ravens like to employ three safeties, and Beau Brade could battle Sanoussi Kane for the spot vacated by Ar'Darius Washington. Ravens contract discussions The two days of practice can provide a backdrop for contract negotiations between Jackson -- who represents himself, aligned with his mother -- and the Ravens, who could use the cap relief. Staying away until the practices and games count is a viable tactic for a player with a $43.5 million cap hit that rises $30 million over the next two years. All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton is another player Baltimore would like to sign to a long-term deal, along with Tyler Linderbaum. Rise of a new kicker Justin Tucker is out, and for the first time since 2012, the Ravens will have a whole competition at the kicker position. Sixth-round pick Tyler Loop will battle undrafted free agent John Hoyland from Wyoming. It's a premium position, and one of the few question marks on a team with Super Bowl aspirations. Rookie impact Malaki Starks and Mike Green are the headliners, and with Ar'Darius Washington's Achilles injury, the first-round pick from Georgia will be the main attraction. Starks is a Swiss army knife that should hit the ground running, allowing for Kyle Hamilton to be even more versatile. Fourth-round inside linebacker Teddye Buchanan will battle Trenton Simpson for the starting weakside linebacker job. Sixth-round cornerbacks Bilhal Kone and Robert Longerbeam and sixth-round defensive lineman Aeneas Peebles will look to prove they deserve a role in Zach Orr's defensive rotation. Ravens WR trio DeAndre Hopkins was a full Participant in the OTA sessions. Still, the two-day minicamp provides the first opportunity for the future Hall of Famer to be in an intense scenario with Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry, Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, Mark Andrews, and Isaiah Likely. The NFL's most explosive offense got even more lethal over the offseason. Revamped secondary We've examined a potential Jaire Alexander addition, but Baltimore truly will sort out any questions at cornerback. The Ravens are working to determine who will line up opposite Nate Wiggins after Marlon Humphrey earned All-Pro honors in the slot. Veteran cornerback Chidobe Awuzie is dealing with a minor ankle injury, and a potential absence could provide an opportunity for T.J. Tampa, Jalyn Armour-Davis, and Baltimore's 2025 sixth-round rookies, Bilhal Kone and Robert Longerbeam. This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: 7 things to watch during Baltimore Ravens' minicamp
USA Today
17-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
7 things to watch during the Baltimore Ravens' Minicamp
7 things to watch during the Baltimore Ravens' Minicamp Baltimore is at the Under Armour Performance Center for minicamp and we're looking at 7 Ravens related storylines to watch Baltimore is at the Under Armour Performance Center for two days of mandatory minicamp, and it's the last time this Super Bowl hopeful will be together until mid-July. John Harbaugh's team had a revolving door of starters sporadically attend the nine voluntary OTA sessions, providing ample opportunities for reps and scheme implementation for select rookies and veterans looking to lock down a roster spot or earn their way off the bubble. With the team set to hit the field for Day 1, we're looking at seven things to watch. Lamar Jackson is back in the building After missing the bulk of the OTAs, Jackson is back in Baltimore and took part in media day and a hype video on Monday. Year 3 under Todd Monken Piggybacking off the return of Jackson, the two days officially start year three under offensive coordinator Todd Monken in Baltimore. Monken believes the best is yet to come for his All-Pro quarterback. While a guest on the Ravens-produced "The Lounge Podcast," Monken said Jackson was "just scratching the surface" of his enormous potential. "The year that he had, I think he's still just scratching the surface of where he's headed," Monken said on "The Lounge Podcast." "It may not statistically show up that way, but I know he's only the scratching the surface." "Lamar is an unbelievably humble superstar," Monken said. "That doesn't mean he's not competitive, doesn't want to be great. Lamar just wants to win. But he also knows that him playing well … your chances of winning go up exponentially if you have a great quarterback." Last season, the 28-year-old Jackson set career highs in touchdown passes (41), passing yards (4,172), and quarterback rating (119.6) while throwing just four interceptions. Monken is entering his third season coaching Jackson and expects the quarterback's growth to continue and reach another level as he enters the prime of his career. Roster battles The Ravens won't have too many starting spots up for grabs, with left guard, linebacker, and safety being spots that'll see potential roster battles. Andrew Vorhees lost his starting job to Patrick Mekari last year, but he's back and will battle again, and is the favorite to start at left guard. They re-signed veteran Ben Cleveland and drafted Emery Jones and Garrett Dellinger. Trenton Simpson will battle Teddye Buchanan and Jacob Hummel. At safety, Malaki Starks has the inside track as a rookie, but the Ravens like to employ three safeties, and Beau Brade could battle Sanoussi Kane for the spot vacated by Ar'Darius Washington. Ravens contract discussions The two days of practice can provide a backdrop for contract negotiations between Jackson -- who represents himself, aligned with his mother -- and the Ravens, who could use the cap relief. Staying away until the practices and games count is a viable tactic for a player with a $43.5 million cap hit that rises $30 million over the next two years. All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton is another player Baltimore would like to sign to a long-term deal, along with Tyler Linderbaum. Rise of a new kicker Justin Tucker is out, and for the first time since 2012, the Ravens will have a whole competition at the kicker position. Sixth-round pick Tyler Loop will battle undrafted free agent John Hoyland from Wyoming. It's a premium position, and one of the few question marks on a team with Super Bowl aspirations. Rookie impact Malaki Starks and Mike Green are the headliners, and with Ar'Darius Washington's Achilles injury, the first-round pick from Georgia will be the main attraction. Starks is a Swiss army knife that should hit the ground running, allowing for Kyle Hamilton to be even more versatile. Fourth-round inside linebacker Teddye Buchanan will battle Trenton Simpson for the starting weakside linebacker job. Sixth-round cornerbacks Bilhal Kone and Robert Longerbeam and sixth-round defensive lineman Aeneas Peebles will look to prove they deserve a role in Zach Orr's defensive rotation. Ravens WR trio DeAndre Hopkins was a full Participant in the OTA sessions. Still, the two-day minicamp provides the first opportunity for the future Hall of Famer to be in an intense scenario with Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry, Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, Mark Andrews, and Isaiah Likely. The NFL's most explosive offense got even more lethal over the offseason. Revamped secondary We've examined a potential Jaire Alexander addition, but Baltimore truly will sort out any questions at cornerback. The Ravens are working to determine who will line up opposite Nate Wiggins after Marlon Humphrey earned All-Pro honors in the slot. Veteran cornerback Chidobe Awuzie is dealing with a minor ankle injury, and a potential absence could provide an opportunity for T.J. Tampa, Jalyn Armour-Davis, and Baltimore's 2025 sixth-round rookies, Bilhal Kone and Robert Longerbeam.
USA Today
14-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
2025 NFL draft: Mel Kiper breaks down which key position can get Ravens over the hump
2025 NFL draft: Mel Kiper breaks down which key position can get Ravens over the hump Legendary ESPN draft expert breaks down why he loves Georgia safety Malaki Starks, and why an edge rusher can get the Ravens over the hump in AFC After months of waiting, we're just ten days away from Round 1 of the 2025 NFL draft, where Tennessee is expected to land Miami quarterback Cam Ward with the No. 1 overall pick. Baltimore will pick at No. 27 overall, and the assumption is that the Ravens will add another defender to the roster. The question becomes, does Eric DeCosta draft another cornerback in the first round, or should he pivot and add an edge rusher, or dynamic safety. Legendary ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper was a guest on 'The Lounge Podcast' and joined team insiders Ryan Mink and Garrett Downing to break down why he loves Georgia safety Malaki Starks, and why a top pass rusher like Shemar Stewart suits Baltimore best. Stewart would bring athleticism and physicality to a position that will see Van Noy one year older and Ojabo likely as the odd man out. Baltimore was third in the NFL with 34.5 sacks, but the team needs an edge rusher to complement Kyle Van Noy and Odafe Oweh. David Ojabo has underperformed, while Tavius Robinson and Adisa Isaac have yet to produce on a week-to-week basis. Stewart joined Texas A&M as one of the top recruits in the 2022 class, appearing in 37 games for the Aggies over the last three seasons and amassing 65 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 12 tackles for loss, four passes defensed, a forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries in those games. The production from a sack and pressure standpoint was lacking at times. Still, Stewart cemented his status at the NFL Scouting Combine, weighing 267 pounds and recording an unofficial Relative Athletic Score of 10.00, surpassing former A&M star Myles Garrett. If it's safety, Malaki Starks could make Kyle Hamilton even more dangerous thanks to both players' versatility. Starks played three seasons for the Bulldogs, recording 197 total tackles, 17 pass deflections, and six interceptions in his collegiate career. In the 2024 season, he had 77 total tackles, four for loss, and one interception. He was an All-American in 2023.
