The Ravens finalized their roster for Sunday?s season opener with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers over the weekend by releasing a number of veterans and first-year players. The team did not have comment on a series of cuts that included veteran linebacker Roderick Green and kickers Aaron Elling and Leo Araguz.
Green made headlines in the weeks leading into training camp when he was stabbed in the stomach at a bowling alley near the team?s Owings Mills facility. In an interview last month with the Examiner, Green said he was trying to make a name for himself outside of the stabbing incident.
“The coaches haven?t taken it easy on me, and I don?t want them to,” Green said. “I don?t want to be coached like a guy with an injury.”
Araguz was signed by the team in the early spring to be the team?s punter, but he quickly got competition when the Ravens drafted Sam Koch. Almost from the start of training camp, Koch displayed a stronger leg and also the ability to kick off. That made Elling expendable. Elling joined the team last year as a kickoff specialist, while veteran Matt Stover handles field goals.
Koch expressed guard optimism following his standout performance in the preseason finale win over the Redskins.
“It?s a very nerve-wracking process, but I?ll be optimistic and hopefully something good comes out of it,” Koch said.
The Ravens have two active quarterbacks on the roster ? starter Steve McNair and Kyle Boller ? after releasing backup Brian St. Pierre. Rookie Drew Olson waswaived and then placed on the practice squad. The team had hoped they had signed an overlooked gem in Olson, who had a stellar career for UCLA but was not selected by anyone in April?s draft.
Offensive guard Brian Rimpf, sidelined for much of the season with a hamstring injury, was placed on the injured reserve.
Mount St. Joseph and Maryland graduate Rob Abiamiri was released and then put on the practice squad. The tight end had spent a stretch of last season on the team?s practice squad and had hoped to stay on with the team again.
In April, Abiamiri told the Examiner that he was willing to carve out his niche on special teams. The highlight of his preseason came when he scored a touchdown during a scrimmage with the Redskins last month.
Joining Abiamiri on the practice squad are quarterback Drew Olson, linebacker Dennis Haley, offensive tackle Michael Kracalik, defensive back Jamaine Winborne and receiver Romby Bryant.
The Ravens also traded seventh-round selection Ryan LaCasse, a linebacker, to the Colts.
Final cuts
» Leo Araguz, punter
» Aaron Elling, kicker,
» Roderick Green, linebacker
» Tim Johnson, linebacker
» Brian St. Pierre, quarterback
» Thatcher Szalay, guard
» Remi Ayoldele, defensive tackle
» Bobby Blizzard, tight end
» Robb Butler, defensive back
» Jim Cottrell, linebacker
» Rob Droege, offensive lineman
» Rob Droege, offensive tackle
» Travis LaTendresse, wideout
» Nick Leaders, defensive tackle
» Duvol Thompson., cornerback
