Training Camp Tales From the Crypt

We are firmly entrenched in summer. The heat, humidity and afternoon thunderstorms all rally together to form an annual rite of passage for those of us who call The Land of Pleasant Living “home”. At this time each year, the thoughts of many local sports fans drift from the struggling (again) Orioles to the boys of the gridiron – the Baltimore Ravens. Training camp awaits.

For the next two plus weeks, all things Ravens will be at their quietest. The sound of silence envelopes the entire organization and to some extent those covering it. The players are all off in their respective corners of the world preparing themselves mentally and physically for the grind of training camp. The coaching staff attempts to decompress knowing that once training camp commences, many late evenings with the midnight oil lie in wait. That’s just the way it is.

For the media, it’s a grind as well. Clearly not as physically demanding as it is for the players, but a grind, nonetheless. Three hours standing in the sweltering heat, waiting for something meaningful to happen on the practice fields that might be worthy of mention in camp notes. As an observer of training camp for 23 seasons, I generally focus upon key positional battles, how the team has addressed areas of weakness and most importantly, hoping that the players can avoid injury – a risk associated with every single practice rep.

Training camp can also be a mirage of sorts – a hallucination. Players on the bubble compete with elevated conviction. They have no choice. Their careers are on the line. They are playing for their financial futures. Meanwhile, veterans with long-term deals look to get in their work all the while mindful of avoiding injury. Their intensity isn’t quite the same as that of the bubble crew and consequently, the results on the field can be misleading. An unproven UDFA with so much at stake might outperform an established veteran who is just trying to get into “football shape”. These are contrasting agendas that can produce deceiving results.

These days, I’m collecting my thoughts on things to look for during this training camp that will be of interest to our audience. I’ve also spent a little time reminiscing about training camps from the past. While doing so, I thought I’d share the first five memories that came to mind as we await July 29, the first day of training camp during the Jesse Minter era.

THE INJURY

The Ravens won Super Bowl XXXV and during the following summer, the team began their quest to defend the title. A new signal caller had arrived via Kansas City (Elvis Grbac) while a very capable running back (Priest Holmes) left for KC as a free agent. Jamal Lewis would be called upon to be the club’s quintessential bell cow to support Grbac’s play action passing game. Only Grbac and Lewis never took the field together. Not even for a single play.

In 2001 I attended camp as a fan. Along with several friends we played golf at a nearby Westminster course before practice and then ventured over to what was then Western Maryland College (now McDaniel College). We were excited to see what our champions had in store for the coming season. It didn’t take long for all our individual and collective optimism to hit the wall.

The very first snap in live scrimmaging was a wide handoff to Lewis. Kelly Gregg, a practice squad player during the team’s championship season, shot the gap to take down Lewis. Jamal’s left leg got tangled up and the result was a season-ending ACL tear.

Without Holmes to fall back on, the Ravens were desperate to fill the massive void. They never could and without the complementary running game, Grbac was a failure and for all intents and purposes, so too was the 2001 season. The Ravens went all in on free agents to defend their crown, jeopardizing their 2002 season which would carry the weight of a massive dead money on the salary cap.

THE RECALL

During one of the last training camps at McDaniel College, I met ESPN’s Sal Paolantonio. He was extremely engaging and we discussed many different NFL-related topics over the course of a 45-min chat while watching the Ravens practice. Eventually practice had come to an end and we parted ways. I didn’t see Sal for the balance of that 2010 training camp.

The following summer which would have been the last at McDaniel, the Ravens moved their practice inside at Owings Mills due to heavy rain. Paolantonio was in attendance again. I walked over towards him. I assumed that he would not remember me. The man travels around the NFL and talks to a ton of different reporters and my conversation with him the previous summer was the only contact I’d ever had with Sal. But I was wrong. He did remember me.

“Tony, good to see you again. How’s everything?”

I was shocked that he remembered my name. So much so that I looked down to see if my press credential had my name on it. It did not. People who have that kind of recall possess a gift – one that I unfortunately do not. There was no significant camp event to report on that day, but it was an afternoon at camp that I’ll never forget. Every time I see Sal on ESPN, it triggers thoughts of that day at The Castle.

THE THREAT OF CONTACT

Tandon Doss was in his second season with the Ravens and the first training camp that was held exclusively at One Winning Drive. After a forgettable rookie campaign, Doss flashed in practice and it looked like the Ravens had finally landed on a Day 3 wide receiver. After one particularly impressive practice, offensive coordinator Cam Cameron was asked about the positive strides that Doss had made. Cam’s response was unforgettable.

“Let’s see what happens when we introduce the threat of contact.”

For me, those words hung in the air. Cameron wasn’t impressed with Doss because the Ravens up to that point, had only practiced in shorts and jerseys. It was the equivalent of touch football. Doss made just 7 catches during the 2012 season and only another 19 the following season, the last of his career.

I guess the threat of contact was in fact an issue for the former Indiana Hoosier who was handpicked by Joe Flacco but dismissed by Cam Cameron.

THE CATCH

Speaking of Flacco, when he arrived on the scene in 2008, he caught everyone’s attention while standing beside Kyle Boller and Troy Smith. Joe was the first-round pick and as such, it was a foregone conclusion that he would at some point become the team’s franchise quarterback. When Boller hurt his shoulder during a preseason game and Smith fell ill with a severe tonsil infection, Flacco was forced into the starting role, one that he didn’t give up for a decade. Both Boller and Smith had live arms, but neither could spin it like Flacco.

One day during warmups, receivers ran the routes of the route tree while hauling in passes from Joe. I stood a few yards off the sideline at McDaniel, making note of all the nuances of the Ravens new QB. I don’t recall which receiver it was but during those warmups, Flacco fired the ball on a comeback route that slid through the hands of the receiver and onto the turf. The next receiver ran an out route just in front of me.

I’m not sure if the receiver cut his route off too soon or if Joe just sailed it, but when I looked up from my notes the ball was coming right at me. With cellphone in one hand and a notepad and pen in the other, I cradled the ball against my chest while the notepad went flying. It felt like someone had just punched me in my pec, but I did maintain possession. Later, a bruise developed, one that triggered a smile because it was a reminder that the only time in my life that I had an opportunity to catch a pass from an NFL quarterback, I didn’t embarrass myself with a drop, scattered camp notes and a broken cellphone.

THE SHED

No one ever really doubted Kyle Boller’s arm strength. But there was always some level of doubt whether Boller could consistently deliver the ball where it was supposed to be. Just ask Todd Heap who is probably reminded of Boller every day he gets out of bed. Those hits across the middle following poorly placed balls must still linger for the Ring of Honor member.

Anyway, one day during training camp, the Ravens were running one-on-ones with receivers and DBs. Now to give a little perspective, this is a drill heavily slanted towards offensive success. The quarterback isn’t rushed and there are no other players on the field outside of the one-on-one battle. Defensive success during these drills is a steep challenge.

This particular day featuring one-on-ones, Boller dropped back and tried to hit his receiver running a 9-route down the right sideline. Kyle loaded up and fired. The ball was airborne and the receiver had his man beaten. It was a touchdown waiting to happen.

Just beyond the end line and about 10 yards to the right of the right sideline was a metal storage shed. Boller’s pass sailed well beyond the receiver, through the end zone and right into that metal storage shed. It sounded like it was hit with a grenade.

We all have those moments in life when something silly seems uncontrollably funny. This was one of those moments for me. I doubled over laughing at just how inaccurate the pass was. The sonic explosion only served to throw fuel on my laughing fit.

Other reporters standing beside me cautioned that I shouldn’t laugh so hard because the Ravens PR staff might not take too kindly to it. But I couldn’t stop. I could only walk away to avoid any potential blow back from the PR guys.

I was never chastised for my laughter.

And I will never ever forget that moment at training camp.

The post Training Camp Tales From the Crypt appeared first on Russell Street Report.

Source: https://russellstreetreport.com/2026/07/14/lombardis-way/training-camp-awaits/