NOTEBOOK: Musa to Start

After five long, injury-riddled years of sporadic time on the field, Ravens running back Musa Smith will finally get his first chance to start Sunday.

Smith takes the ball from Willis McGahee, who fractured his ribs last weekend against the Seattle Seahawks. Originally, Mike Anderson was slated to move up to the first team, but a thigh injury will limit Anderson to spot duty, according to head coach Brian Billick.

Smith also has seven special teams tackles.

The stoic and soft-spoken Smith couldn't help but crack a smile when asked about his promotion.

"I'm not going to be all overexcited," said the five-year veteran. "I've been going out there all year. It's not like I'm just coming off the practice squad.

"I'm excited about this week and am just trying to end the season on a good note."

At 6-feet and 232 pounds, the former third-round draft pick out of Georgia gives the Ravens a powerful presence inside the tackles with the speed to get around the corner if needed.

"Musa is a good, strong, outside-slashing-and-cut [player]," Billick stated. "It will be fun to see Musa carry the load."

There have been glimpses of that ability in the little action he's seen over his career, but various injuries have kept the curtain largely closed. Smith missed five games his rookie season because of a knee injury suffered in training camp, then broke his leg in 2004. That break didn't completely heal until after the 2005 campaign.

A strained neck kept him out of four contests last season.

Smith has been a strong contributor on third down this year, earning a career-high 181 yards on 53 carries and catching 24 passes for 184 yards. He even scored a 6-yard touchdown run in the season opener in Cincinnati.

With increased expectations this Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Smith thinks that more touches will turn into more production.

"That's what I'm really excited about. Definitely getting the touches, getting the rhythm, getting the feel of the defense and doing some great things," he said.

Anderson, who was limited in practice Wednesday, and Cory Ross will provide depth at the running back position.

Mason in No Hurry to Retire

Amid all the talk surrounding Jonathan Ogden's potential for retirement this year, Ravens wideout Derrick Mason is doing a solid job to deflect the question on and off the field.

Like Ogden, Mason has over 10 years of experience in the league. But unlike the future Hall of Fame lineman, Mason isn't at the point in his 11-year career where he's seriously considering hanging up his cleats every season - even if the thought sometimes enters his mind.

"Even I have thought, ‘Hey, is it time to leave?' Then, you go out there to practice, and you have fun with the guys, and then you say, ‘You know what? I can stay another two or three years'" he said. "Everybody contemplates it. Whether you're playing at a high level or you're not, you're contemplating retirement, regardless."

It's hard to argue with Mason, who put up Pro Bowl-caliber numbers in 2007 at the age of 33.

A former fourth-round draft pick out of Michigan State, Mason set a career high with 97 receptions (good for third in the NFL) and topped 1,000 yards for the sixth time in his career.

Whether it is his fiery attitude or burning desire to be the best, Mason shows no signs of wearing down.

"The way my body feels, I could do another three or four years," said the receiver, who recently earned the Media Good Guy award for his cooperation with reporters that regularly cover the team. "Right now, I feel good, [my] body feels good."

The fact that the Ravens haven't had the season many hoped after a promising training camp puts somewhat of a tarnish on Mason's accomplishments, however.

"It's kind of like that bittersweet thing: You're doing well but the team's not doing as well as you had hoped," he explained. "The potential was there for you to do well at the beginning of the season, both individually and team-wise, and one of them just never materialized. In a perfect world, you want to have a great season, the team's doing great, and you win the Super Bowl.

"But sometimes it just doesn't go that way. It kind of overshadows what individual players do."

Notable

Billick was complimentary of second-year cornerback Derrick Martin, who logged his second career interception and nearly got another one last weekend against the Seattle Seahawks. "Derrick has always been a competitor," Billick stated. "Like I've said, he's got a good, short memory. Sometimes it's too short, but he's always going to battle and forget what happened and move on to the next play."…Mason's 1,015 receiving yards and McGahee's 1,207 yards on the ground mark the first time in team history the Ravens have had a 1,000-yard receiver and rusher in the same season…McGahee was chosen as the team Most Valuable Player by Baltimore media members…The Ravens have won five of their last seven season finales, including last year's 19-7 win over Buffalo.