The Baltimore Ravens reduced their roster to the required 53 players today. The team decided to keep two quarterbacks (Joe Flacco and Marc Bulger) on the roster, and Billy Cundiff won the highly-competitive battle for the team's placekicking job. OLB Antwan Barnes, a fourth-year player who was selected by the Ravens in the fourth round of the 2007 NFL Draft, was traded to Philadelphia for an undisclosed 2011 draft choice.
In announcing the roster, general manager and executive vice president Ozzie Newsome explained the decision to go with two quarterbacks: "The competition to make our team was very heated, and we decided to keep a position player rather than a third quarterback. We have a number of young guys who made our team who have tremendous upside, plus they can help us win this year. We've gone with two quarterbacks before (last time was 2006)," Newsome said.
Head coach John Harbaugh talked about the decision to keep Cundiff over Shayne Graham: "First, congratulations to Billy. He won a great competition, and he earned this spot. We've talked about this the entire preseason: Both Billy and Shayne rose to the occasion and performed at high levels. We know Shayne will kick in the league, but we feel very good about the decision to go with Billy."
Pro Bowl safety Ed Reed was moved from the Physically Unable to Perform Active List to Reserve PUP. He will be eligible to return to the active roster after the first six weeks of the season.
The Ravens placed four players on Injured Reserve: G/C David Hale (back), rookie (sixth-round) T Ramon Harewood (knees), G/T Stefan Rodgers (ankle) and NT Kelly Talavou (knee).
The following players were waived: TE Davon Drew, CB Travis Fisher, DB K.J. Gerard, K Shayne Graham, WR Justin Harper, CB Chris Hawkins, DB Brad Jones, C/G Bryan Mattison, OLB Albert McClellan, T/G Joe Reitz, WR Eron Riley, QB Troy Smith, RB Curtis Steele, T Devin Tyler and WR Demetrius Williams.
CB Cary Williams, who has been suspended by the NFL for the first two games of the season, does not count on the 53-player roster.
The following player was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles:
Barnes, Antwan
OLB
6-1
251
4
Florida International
The following player was placed on Reserve PUP:
Reed, Ed
S
5-11
200
9
Miami
The following players were placed on Injured Reserve:
Hale, David (back)
G/C
6-6
315
3
Weber State
Harewood, Ramon (knees)
T
6-6
340
R
Morehouse
Rodgers, Stefan (ankle)
G/T
6-5
327
3
Lambuth
Talavou, Kelly (knee)
DT
6-2
350
3
Utah
The following players were waived:
Drew, Davon
TE
6-4
255
1
East Carolina
Fisher, Travis
CB
5-10
194
9
Central Florida
Gerard, K.J.
DB
6-1
192
2
Northern Arizona
Graham, Shayne
K
6-0
214
10
Virginia Tech
Harper, Justin
WR
6-3
226
3
Virginia Tech
Hawkins, Chris
CB
6-1
184
R
LSU
Jones, Brad
DB
6-1
202
R
Cincinnati
Mattison, Bryan
G
6-3
313
2
Iowa
McClellan, Albert
OLB
6-2
255
R
Marshall
Reitz, Joe
T
6-7
320
2
Western Michigan
Riley, Eron
WR
6-3
210
1
Duke
Smith, Troy
QB
6-0
217
4
Ohio State
Steele, Curtis
RB
6-0
200
R
Memphis
Tyler, Devin
T
6-7
305
R
Temple
Williams, Demetrius
WR
6-2
202
5
Oregon
