Fassel put in driver's seat
They won a championship in 2001 with one of the greatest defenses in NFL history, and with Trent Dilfer at quarterback, but since that euphoria, it's become as clear as a Chesapeake sunset that there has to be an upgrade on offense for the Baltimore Ravens to reign supreme in the AFC again.
It never made sense that a head coach, Brian Billick, who earned his stripes as one of the best offensive minds in the league with the Minnesota Vikings, ran a team so unproductive on offense.
It's hard to say they haven't managed the salary cap well, and saying they were blind to their problem is probably too strong. After all, what would you do with all that defensive talent? So they paid up, feeling, as most teams do, that you win with a strong defense. But that left the offensive side somewhat bare.
This offseason, after the Ravens finished 9-7 and out of the playoffs with an offense ranked 31st, general manager Ozzie Newsome and Billick made drastic changes. They replaced offensive coordinator Matt Cavanaugh with former Giants head coach Jim Fassel, who was a consultant last season. They let pass rusher Peter Boulware and safety Gary Baxter go.
The reason Billick went to Fassel is clear: He has made every offense he's coached appreciably better, whether it was the Giants, the Broncos, the Cardinals, or the Raiders. He's also made the quarterbacks better: John Elway in Denver, Boomer Esiason with the Cardinals, Kerry Collins with the Giants, Jeff Hostetler with the Raiders.
New receivers -- first-round pick Mark Clayton and veteran free agent Derrick Mason -- should help the revamped offense. And it is evident that Fassel will throw the caution that Cavanaugh displayed out the window.
Fassel feels Kyle Boller is ready to spread his wings and become one of the best quarterbacks in the league. Fassel is going to give him the offense to do that.
''It's simple," said Fassel. ''We need to make big plays. We need to improve our yardage after the catch. We have to improve our third-down efficiency [35.1 percent last season]. We have to be more efficient and stop making little mistakes that grow into big problems. We have to be more disciplined on offense. Some of it is talent, but some of it is just changing the way we do things in terms of tempo and confidence. Those are the things I'm trying to preach."
As a consultant last season, Fassel said, he'd spend two days a week with the offense, but he was never able to follow through with what he tried to teach Boller. Now he has the team's full attention -- and a very good teaching quarterback coach in former University of Washington head coach Rick Neuheisel.
''Kyle has handled things so well," said Fassel. ''This guy is going to be an outstanding NFL quarterback. He makes a nice throw. He has good mechanics and he can move in the pocket and throw. He's very smart and coachable, and I just think with his maturity and the people we're putting around him, he should step to the next level."
Fassel wants to take advantage of Mason's proven ability (he was second in the NFL with 96 catches last season) and Clayton's tremendous potential as a game-breaker, so you'll see Boller throw it down the field more.
With Jamal Lewis expected to be back healthy, with injured tight end Todd Heap expected back midway through training camp, and with a line anchored by Jonathan Ogden, the Ravens appear to have the talent, the system, and the coaches in place on offense.
Asked about the pressure of bringing the Ravens' offense back, Fassel said, ''I've had that pressure everywhere I've been. We're coaches, and our job is to get the most out of our players by putting them in situations where they can succeed."
Will a Boston-to-Miami trip work out?
Nick Saban must be a brave soul. The new coach of the Miami Dolphins has decided to take on the problematic David Boston, who missed all of last season after having patella tendon surgery and who tested positive for banned substances. Boston is about 233 pounds, down from the 260 he was carrying around in Arizona.
Boston is a very talented receiver and a former Pro Bowler, but this could be his last chance to resurrect a career that was heading to stardom before he bulked up a little too much for a receiver and started breaking down.
Saban also has had dialogue with Ricky Williams about returning to the game. Williams, who owes the Dolphins $8.6 million in bonus money if he doesn't come back, would have to sit out a four-game suspension levied last year for a positive marijuana test. If Williams returns, though, it could delay the development of Auburn running back Ronnie Brown, who was taken in the first round by Miami.
Nest egg for an Eagle
Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson quietly signed an extension through 2010 last week, getting what his agent, Bob Lamonte, described as ''an elite contract." Johnson was already one of the league's highest-paid assistant coaches, earning more than $1 million. While Lamonte wouldn't say whether this was a record-breaking deal, Johnson should go smoothly into retirement with a pretty sizable nest egg.
Get well, Sidwell
We're glad to hear that former Patriots defensive coordinator Steve Sidwell, who now lives on Cape Cod, is rebounding nicely after having a stroke a few months ago.
Chad is not eatin' as much
Former Patriots defensive tackle Chad Eaton, who retired last season in Dallas, says he now weighs 230 pounds and is in the land development business in the Seattle area. Eaton played at 300 pounds.
Baltimore is Carter country
An early candidate for Comeback Player of the Year is Baltimore cornerback Dale Carter, who missed last season when he developed a blood clot in his lung and nearly died. ''It puts everything into perspective," the 35-year-old Carter told the Baltimore Sun. ''I'm happy just to wake up every morning and be alive. When I get on the field, that will be a big plus." Carter, a four-time Pro Bowler, was on blood thinners until January. There will be a spot for him either as a nickel back or a regular in a rotation. The team is still awaiting word as to whether Deion Sanders will return.
Return route for receiver
The feeling in Jets Land is that Wayne Chrebet's game is back and he should excel under new offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger. Chrebet's role was significantly reduced under former coordinator Paul Hackett, who has moved on. Jets guard Pete Kendall said, ''I thought Wayne looked good last year but we just couldn't get him the ball. He's always been a productive player and he's looked terrific in workouts. We've added some other pieces like Laveranues Coles and Doug Jolley that should play a big role, and our new offensive coordinator has some good ideas that should improve our offense and spring some bigger plays."
Cause and effect
The decision by defensive back Donnie Abraham not to retire and to return to the Jets might spell the end of their pursuit of Ty Law. Law's longtime friend Curtis Martin had been very vocal to Jets coaches about acquiring Law, according to a source familiar with Martin's wishes.
One way to catch on
Good for Jim Steiner. The agent for Jerry Rice wrote to all the NFL teams informing them that Rice wanted to play another season. Some considered this peddling of a future Hall of Famer cheesy. But Rice is on the verge of signing a one-year deal with the Broncos. Denver coach Mike Shanahan, who once coached Rice in San Francisco, said the letter made him rethink the idea of having Rice as an extra receiver. In this case, Steiner did what agents are paid to do: Get the player the best deal. It seems to me you can't go wrong with either Rice or Troy Brown on your team.
Moving pieces
Every time a running back is lost, there's an opening for the Bills to deal Travis Henry. Tennessee's Chris Brown has a broken hand (though he should be OK for training camp) and the Vikings may lose Onterrio Smith -- he of ''Whizzinator" fame -- with a year-long suspension for a positive drug test. Of course, given the fragile state of running backs, the Bills might be wise to keep Henry in case Willis McGahee ever went down.
Plan B for Browns
One reason the Browns hired former Patriot Ben Coates as tight ends coach was to groom Kellen Winslow, but Winslow is out for the season with a torn ACL as a result of his motorcycle accident May 1. Now Coates will try to get production out of Aaron Shea, Steve Heiden, and Keith Heinrich.
Homework assignment
It was refreshing to hear the candor of Romeo Crennel when reporters asked him whether the Browns were interested in recently cut Ravens linebacker Peter Boulware: ''We are interested," said Crennel. ''We are doing our homework trying to find out what his situation is. We are trying to find out what his contract desires are and whether he fits our budget." The Browns and Seahawks appear to have a leg up on Boulware, who was scouted and drafted in Baltimore when Browns GM Phil Savage was there as personnel director. The Seahawks have an advantage because Boulware's brother Michael is a starting safety for them.
Addition to the family
Patriots defensive end Richard Seymour became a father for the third time two weeks ago. Agent Eugene Parker has been trying to hammer out a new deal for Seymour, who has two years remaining on his rookie deal.
Material from personal interviews, wire services, other beat writers, and league and team sources was used in this report. 
