COURTESY OF BALTIMORE RAVENS MEDIA RELATIONS DEPARTMENT
Opening statement: "OK, good to see you guys. I see everybody flashing up on the screen there. It's good to see you. I assume many of you were at the stadium. We had a really good practice. The buses just pulled in. So, we're back, and the guys will get dinner, and they'll be finished for the rest of the day today. I'm really happy with it. I thought it was fast [and] very physical. We got a lot of good work with the young guys. We got some live work in two different periods, which is really positive for those guys. And [I'm] looking forward to seeing the tape. So, what questions do you have?"
Can you address the release of S Earl Thomas III? (Jamison Hensley) "I think the statement speaks for itself. There's really not much more to add to that, and I'm just planning on leaving it at that at this point."
S DeShon Elliott seems to have a lot of confidence from his teammates, but he has been hampered with injuries over the past two years. Is he a guy you think can finally make an impact in Year Three? (Todd Karpovich) "Yes, I expect him to. He's been practicing really well, he's worked hard all through the offseason, and it's his time. So, here we go."
How did you like the fake crowd noise today? (Ximena Lugo-Latorre) "It was louder than I thought it was going to be. That's the decibel level that we're supposed to have as the background in games, and it was definitely something that you could hear. [It was] probably similar to what you have in the stadium when the crowd is there at a normal level. So, it was definitely something that was part of the atmosphere. We also had music, which ramped it up a little bit. And all of it was really … It was fun. We enjoyed being there."
QB Lamar Jackson hasn't practiced the past two days. What is the reasoning behind that, please? (Jamison Hensley) "Yes, we have a couple guys - I think Marcus Peters is another one, and Justice Hill is another one – who have some soft-tissue things, and we'd just rather be safe with those guys right now and give those things a chance to get better and be right."
With regards to the players, there were reports that the players really talked with you about S Earl Thomas III's situation and how much that may have impacted things. Can you speak to that at all? (Jerry Coleman) "Not really – no reason to. We always talk. We have great communication with our players. As you know, we talk about everything all the time. And that's where we're at with it. We always talk, about everything."
Did they have a role in any of this? (Jerry Coleman) "Like I said, I'm going to leave it at the statement."
How did you feel being back in action at the stadium today? (Ximena Lugo-Latorre)"It was great. We needed it. It was a change of pace. Guys have been here at the facility for a long time. We've only been in pads for five-or-so days, and the guys are feeling that, because they've been really practicing hard. But they've been here through their conditioning and all the non-padded practices for quite a while. So, to get to the stadium – a different environment – they were excited. The rookies were really excited, and I think it showed in the effort they put forth."
I understand you're going to let the statement stand for what it is, but can I ask you what S Earl Thomas III gave you while he was a Raven, and what you'll miss without him? (Mark Viviano) "No, I'm good. We're good. Moving forward. Eyes all ahead. Eyes ahead."
You already talked about S DeShon Elliott, but in terms of other options at free safety … I know you guys have talked about maybe looking at CB Jimmy Smith more at safety. Would he be an option in the conversation as well? (Childs Walker) "He's already practicing there. You've been at practice, so you've seen it. He's been back there in certain packages, in certain coverages, playing safety. But we have good safeties. I like the guys we have. The young guys are practicing. We'll see how they do. And we'll just do what we always do; we'll put the best players we have out there, we'll prepare them and get ready to go play. If other players turn up, then we'll get those guys ready to go play. It's nothing different. This is how it goes whether it's a personnel change or an injury or anything that might come up."
Yesterday, Assistant Head Coach/Pass Coordinator/Wide Receivers David Culley said QB Lamar Jackson had a tired arm. Is the soft-tissue injury in the arm, or can you say anything? (Aaron Kasinitz) "No, I'm not getting into all that. I know you guys are sleuthing it out and all that kind of stuff – playing Dick Tracy – but it's training camp. We're getting close to the season, and we're really not talking about injuries too much."
How do you feel about your players' attention to officiating, penalties and things like that? You had officials at the stadium today, correct? (Aditi Kinkhabwala) "Yes, we've had officials … They're college officials, and we've had them at all of the padded practices. So, we've only had four at each practice, which is a decent number. We usually have five or six in a normal year. We won't have the NFL officials here. They're not going out on the road this year. But it's very helpful. And they put their eyes on it and call it like they see it, and I think it helps our team to prepare for game situations a little bit better."