When the Ravens head to Minnesota for Friday?s preseason game, it will be the first time head coach Brian Billick has coached on the sidelines of the Metrodome since leaving the Vikings in 1999. Billick was the offensive coordinator when the Vikings were an offensive juggernaut, particularly in 1998, when the team broke the NFL record for points with 556.
“I haven?t really had a chance to dwell on it very much, but I?ve never been on the other side of that noise, which will be interesting,” Billick said.
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The two teams faced each other during the regular season in December at M&T Bank Stadium, with the Ravens winning, 30-23.
Billick said he is a big fan of former protege Brad Johnson. The Vikings? 37-year-old field general has remained an afterthought in discussions on the league?s best quarterbacks over the years, despite guiding Tampa Bay to a victory in Super Bowl XXXVII.
“His whole career has been under-appreciated,” Billick said. “All he?s got, I think, is the record for consecutive 60 percent-plus completion years in a row and a Super Bowl ring. He really knows how to manage a team and manage a game.”
Winning still important in the preseason: Billick was asked Tuesday if he was trying to win games during the preseason or survey individual or collective performances.
“You?re always trying to win ? always,” Billick said. “But those next two things are a real priority, obviously, in the preseason. Winning is huge. It?s paramount. It?s what you go to play for. But two seconds after the game is over, those other two things are what your focus mainly goes to, both individually and collectively.”
Team releases three players: The Ravens released running back B.J. Dean, receiver Tres Moses and offensive lineman Robin Meadow on Tuesday. The team has to cut down to 65 players by next Tuesday. It currently has 84 players on the roster.
Ravens will not wear alternate black jersey: The team, which has worn an alternate black jersey sporadically the last two seasons, will not wear one this season. The team debuted the jersey in a night game during the 2004 season and has been selling replicas of the jersey bearing the name of quarterback Steve McNair, who was acquired in the offseason.
