Ravens head coach Brian Billick said he is preparing his players for a hot climate in Tampa Bay for Sunday?s season opener.
“You?ve got to account for the heat, and it?s more than 10 degrees with the humidity, so there?s a lot they?ve got to do,” Billick said. “They?ve got to carb up, because that?s where you get it at the cellular level. They?ve got to get a lot of electrolytes, a lot of rest.”
Billick said supporting players would get their shot, as well.
“The whole 45-man roster is going to play on a game like that, because you can?t go 65 plays in heat like that and it not affect you,” Billick said. “So you back up guys, that?s the thing we?re stressing. You?d better be ready to play.”
Thunderstorms are expected in the area Sunday, as well.
Reed ready to roll: Safety Ed Reed has been champing at the bit to get regular season game action. Reed has proven to be one of the most disruptive defensive players in the NFL recently.
Reed said he hopes to rattle Tampa Bay quarterback Chris Simms.
“He is young, but at the same time, he is a good quarterback,” Reed said. “If you look at him on tape, there are some good things that he is doing. Of course, there is some bad stuff, but we all have something that we don?t like. He is a good quarterback, and he does enough for [Bucs head coach Jon] Gruden and the offense to work.”
Mason?s thoughts on the opener: Derrick Mason, the team?s leading receiver last season, is itching to hit the field.
“I am pretty much like everybody on this team ? just excited, anxious, ready to go out there and start playing some real football,” he said. “The preseason gets monotonous. You do the same old thing over and over again for four weeks.”
Mason said he no longer gets butterflies heading into the first game that counts.
“I have been in this game too long,” he said. “Probably the younger guys [will get them]. You don?t get any butterflies.”
