Tag Archives: Baltimore Ravens

Apr 27 2013

Mass. College Football: Baltimore Selects Harvard’s Juszczyk In NFL Draft

By NoontimeSports.com

Earlier this afternoon, the Baltimore Ravens selected Harvard’s Kyle Juszczyk in the fourth round of the 2013 NFL Draft, and courtesy of the athletic department, below is the release about the Crimson fullback/tight end being drafted:

NEW YORK  – Harvard senior tight end Kyle Juszczyk has been selected in the fourth round of the 2013 National Football League Draft by the Baltimore Ravens. Juszczyk was the 130th overall selection in this year’s draft.

During his four years in Cambridge, Juszczyk established new career records for tight end in receptions (125, sixth all-time), receiving yards (1,576, seventh all-time) and touchdown receptions (22, third all-time). He was a two-time All-American at tight end and H-Back for the Crimson and a three-time All-Ivy selection. Following his senior season, during which he led the Crimson in receptions (52), receiving yards (706) and receiving touchdowns (eight), he was invited to the Senior Bowl, where he carried the ball four times for nine yards, primarily being used as a H-back.

“Guys like Kyle Juszczyk do not grow on trees,” Tim Murphy, The Thomas Stephenson Family Head Coach for Harvard Football, said. “He will go down as one of the great players in Harvard and Ivy Football history. His rare combination of versatility, toughness, leadership and playmaking ability was one of the major catalysts for the highest scoring offense since the Ivy League was formed in 1956.”

The Medina, Ohio native showcased all of those traits on a single play that will live on in Harvard lore for years to come. After catching a ball over the middle against Bucknell this past, the senior bulldozed the first defender in his path. He then shed two arm tackles and stiff armed another defender before outrunning the rest of the Bison defense for a 59-yard touchdown in the Crimson’s 35-7 win. The play ended up on ESPN’s Sportscenter the following day as the No. 3 play in its top 10 segment.

Juszczyk becomes the fourth player drafted under Murphy. He joins Matt Birk ’98, who recently retired after winning the Super Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens this past season, Isaiah Kacyvenski ’00 and Ryan Fitzpatrick ’05 as players who have heard their name called at New York’s Radio City Music Hall. Overall, he is the 20th Harvard player to get drafted and first since Fitzpatrick was picked by the St. Louis Rams in the seventh round of the 2005 draft.

Harvard wrapped up its spring football season Saturday with its annual spring game and will now turn its head to the 2013 season opener at San Diego on Sept. 21.

Apr 22 2013

Road To The 2013 NFL Draft: Harvard’s Kyle Juszczyk

Harvard's Kyle Juszczyk hopes to continue his football career in the NFL! (Photo Credit: The Harvard Crimson)

Harvard’s Kyle Juszczyk hopes to extend his football career beyond Cambridge! (Photo Credit: The Harvard Crimson)

By Matt Noonan

Harvard’s Kyle Juszczyk has always wanted to play professional football, and this weekend his dream could come true as he, along with hundred of other college football players from across the country, will wait anxiously to hear their name announced at this year’s NFL Draft.

According to recent reports, the Harvard fullback/tight end has met with a slew of NFL teams, including the Baltimore Ravens, who maybe interested in his services as Vonta Leach is entering his final year of his contract.

Excluding the Ravens, the Ivy League standout has met with the Minnesota Vikings, Jacksonville Jaguars, Cincinnati Bengals, Indianapolis Colts, Detroit Lions, Buffalo Bills, Green Bay Packers, Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins, Seattle Seahawks and the Carolina Panthers.

The Baltimore Sun confirmed in a report last week that Juszczyk was “snubbed” from this year’s NFL scouting combine, but performed quite well at his campus Pro Day workout.

Juszczyk finished last season tied for first in the Ancient Eight with eight touchdown receptions and fifth in yards per game (70.6). His best effort occurred against Princeton as he finished the contest with three touchdown receptions and 15 catches for 192 yards.

The Ohio native, who played four seasons with the Crimson, ended his career with 125 receptions for 1,576 yards and 22 touchdowns.

Harvard’s last player to be drafted was Ryan Fitzpatrick, who is currently a member of the Tennessee Titans.

Apr 17 2012

New England Patriots Kick-Off 2012 On The Road

By NoontimeSports.com 

According to a recent blog post via ESPNBoston.com — the New England Patriots will kick-off their 2012 campaign on the road.

Mike Reiss mentioned in his blog post that it’s likely the Pats will face one of the following teams in week one — Baltimore, Buffalo, New York, Miami, Seattle, Tennessee or Jacksonville.

Of the seven teams listed above, which team would you want to see in the first week? Post your comments below or send us a tweet @NoontimeSports.

Feb 5 2012

Noonan: Super Bowl XLVI Prediction – New England vs. New York

Can Tom Brady earn his fourth Super Bowl ring on Sunday? (Photo Credit: Zimbio.com)

By Matt Noonan 

Well, it’s time for me, (Matt Noonan) to deem a NFL champion for Noontime Sports.

It’s been a LONG season, and 32 teams have dwindled down to just two, New England and New York, and once the clock strikes zero in the fourth quarter, we’ll officially have a winner, right?

OK… there might be overtime or a second or third, but you get my drift.

Although, how bizarre is it that pigskin lovers get to watch a rematch of Super Bowl XLII?

Doesn’t it seem like yesterday that New Englanders were crossing their fingers for Tom Brady to recover from his awful performance against the San Diego Chargers in the 2007 AFC title match?

Well, he didn’t do that well against the Baltimore Ravens two weeks ago, so should we expect déjà vu all over again? Who knows!

The Giants are a mediocre squad. Seriously, they’re 9-7, which means they’re OK, but not great, and as someone who is a true Dallas Cowboys supporter, it pains me to see Eli Manning leading his troops in the “big game” instead of Tony Romo. However, Manning certainly has taken a step forward toward the upper echelon of “elite quarterbacks” in the NFL, but now the question remains … can he beat Brady and the Patriots on Sunday, again?

I certainly think it’s possible, especially since New York has a variety of offensive weapons that can stretch the field, and attack Bill Belichick’s questionable and fragile secondary.

Also, I believe the Giants front seven will attempt to mimic their actions from four years ago when they recorded five sacks in Arizona. However, they never forced Brady to throw an interception, but this past November when the two teams met in Foxborough, the G-Men tallied two sacks and two interceptions, as well as a win, too.

New England hasn’t defeated New York since that epic clash in December of 2007, which was when the Patriots registered their 16th victory, and ended the regular season with a perfect record. Yet, ever since that night in New Jersey, the Giants have had their number in the championship and regular season matches, which probably means they’re better, right?

Hard to answer that particular question, but overall, I think these two teams are even. And yes, I know I labeled the Giants as “mediocre,” but all in all, I think we’re going to be watching a true heavyweight bout.

Super Bowl XLVI Prediction: The Giants rallied to beat the Patriots earlier this season, and it’s certainly possible that Manning could lead a last minute drive and hook up with Jake Ballard or Victor Cruz for the game-winning touchdown.

However, I believe in the motto, “In Bill, We Trust.” New England’s defense has ratcheted up their intensity over the past few weeks, and certainly defied the odds against Baltimore and Denver in the playoffs.

Although, shouldn’t every defense be able to stop Tim Tebow and the Broncos offense? I think so!

If New England can establish the run and maintain the time of possession, then I’m expecting the Patriots to win. Although, if Manning and his offense to can beat up the Patriots front seven and tear apart the secondary, then the Giants should win.

Overall, it’s a tough decision, but I going to stick with my gut and say… New England 20, New York 17

Jan 24 2012

Patriots-Ravens: Do We Blame Gillette Stadium For Cundiff’s Botched Field Goal?

 

By NoontimeSports.com 

Sunday’s AFC Championship game hasn’t been fully digested. Many are still talking about Baltimore’s final drive, as well as Billy Cundiff‘s missed field goal, too.

Here are some more headlines and news pertaining toward his missed 32-yard field goal.

* WEEI’s Mut & Merloni midday show dissected the kick, as well as the theory that he was thrown off by a scoreboard malfunction at Gillette Stadium.

* In case you missed it, here is Terrell Suggs discussing his team’s frustrating conference championship loss with Skip Bayless on ESPN’s First Take – CLICK HERE for the video.

* NBC 10 Philadelphia provided an interesting read pertaining toward Cundiff’s missed kick, and where it ranks among other botched playoff kicks.

* ESPN and ESPNBoston.com provide an intriguing blog on Cundiff, who claimed the scoreboard rushed his kick in the fourth quarter.

* The Los Angles Times breaks down the kick with three different journalists from California, Florida and Illinois.

* Less than 24 hours after the game concluded, Cundiff addressed the Baltimore media to talk about his botched field goal.

* The National Post crafted an interesting piece about how Cundiff has joined a list of other professional or collegiate players that have faltered under the bright lights.

Jan 23 2012

Tom Brady’s AFC Championship Resume

Tom Brady didn't toss a single TD on Sunday, but still managed to lead New England past Baltimore, 23-20! (Photo Credit: SB Nation)

By Matt Noonan 

The New England Patriots escaped Sunday’s dramatic AFC Championship contest with a 23-20 victory against the Baltimore Ravens.

However, quarterback Tom Brady didn’t exactly have his best game in a Patriots uniform, which is why Noontime Sports decided to go back in time, and analyze his past conference championship performances, as well as see if there was any parallels from Sunday’s tilt.

January 27, 2002 – New England at Pittsburgh: Against the Steelers, Brady completed 12 of 18 passes for 115 yards, but didn’t manage to toss a single strike to the end zone. Brady sustained an injury midway through the first half, which allowed former starting quarterback Drew Bledsoe to lead the Patriots to a 24-17 victory.

January 18, 2004 – Indianapolis at New England: The New England Patriots defense flexed their muscles by recording four interceptions and four sacks on quarterback Peyton Manning, who only tossed one touchdown. Brady finished the game 22 of 37 for 237 yards and one touchdown. He also tossed one interception, and rushed for one yard on five carries.

January 23, 2005 – New England at Pittsburgh: Brady registered 207 yards and two touchdowns, which included a 60-yard pass to Deion Branch that sparked New England’s offense and defense to eventually defeat Pittsburgh for the second time in three years, 41-27.

January 21, 2007 – New England at Indianapolis: Despite leading the Colts, 21-6 at halftime, Manning and his teammates staged an epic comeback to capture the AFC crown, which ended the Patriots quest toward a fourth Super Bowl title. Brady tossed one touchdown and one interception, as well as was sacked once, while Manning finished the game with one touchdown, one interception, and 349 yards through the air.

January 20, 2008 – San Diego at New England: Against the Chargers, Brady struggled. The New England gunslinger completed 22 of 33 passes for 209 yards, as well as finished the game with two touchdowns and three interceptions. San Diego also recorded two sacks, but only mustered 12 points, thanks to kicker Nate Kaeding, who was 4-for-4.

January 22, 2012 – Baltimore at New England: Similar to the 2001 AFC Championship game, Brady didn’t record a single touchdown, but managed to cough up the ball twice, as he was picked off by cornerbacksJimmy Smith and Lardarius Webb. However, the Patriots signal caller did finish the game with 239 yards through the air, and 22 completions.

Overall, Brady is 5-1 in conference championships, and 3-1 in the Super Bowl clashes.

Jan 23 2012

Patriots-Ravens Monday Links

By NoontimeSports.com 

Sunday’s tilt between Baltimore and New England was certainly dramatic, as well as an epic clash, too. And while many still have this particular game on their mind, Noontime Sports thought we’d create a list of interesting “day after” headlines.

* The Chicago Sun-Times has an interesting piece pertaining toward Billy Cundiff, who missed the potential game-tying field in the fourth quarter.

* The Washington Post regales about the Ravens final drive, and how they were 14-yards away from punching their ticket to Super Bowl XLVI.

* Wide receiver Lee Evans told the media that this particular loss falls on his shoulders.

* The Eagle Tribune provides a great article on New England’s Sterling Moore, who dislodged the ball from Evans’ grasp in the fourth quarter.

* After Sunday’s game concluded, Baltimore’s Ray Lewis hinted that he’s planning on not retiring.

* According to sources — New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski ankle injury won’t prevent him from suiting up and playing against the New York Giants in two weeks.

* Tom Brady didn’t exactly play his best game on Sunday, and on Monday, he told Boston’s Sports Radio Station, (WEEI/93.7FM) that he didn’t exactly sleep well on Sunday due to a few mistakes.

* Brendon Ayanbadejo admitted through Twitter that despite the Ravens heartbreaking loss, he’s planning on not watching the “unSuper Bowl” in two weeks.

Jan 22 2012

Noonan: AFC/NFC Conference Championship Predictions

Can Ray Rice repeat his 2009 postseason performance against New England's defense on Sunday? (Photo Credit: Zimbio.com)

By Matt Noonan

Last week, I went 3-1. This week, I am expecting to go 2-0, but let’s see what happens!

New England 27, Baltimore 24 – I am super excited for this matchup, especially since these two teams always find a way to end the game with a dramatic sequence. Baltimore defeated New England last time these two teams met in the postseason, 33-14. Running back Ray Rice tallied 159 yards on 22 carries, and two touchdowns, while quarterback Joe Flacco finished the game 4 of 10 for 34 yards. Although, the true matchup to watch on Sunday will be the Ravens defense against the Patriots offense. Tom Brady tossed six touchdowns last weekend against Denver, and certainly is capable of tearing apart Baltimore’s secondary. However, if Baltimore’s front seven can pressure Brady, as well as control the time of possession on offense, then they’ll win the game. Yet, if New England can control the time of possession, and contain Rice, they’ll win.

San Francisco 24, New York 20  - I am not exactly the biggest fan of head coach Jim Harbaugh, but what he’s done in San Francisco has been rather impressive. Harbaugh revamped the 49ers defense to become one of the best in the league, and against Eli Manning, I’m expecting the front seven to not only pressure him, but also record two or three sacks, too. Alex Smith proved he’s a clutch quarterback, as he tossed three strikes to the end zone last weekend against New Orleans, which included the game winning touchdown to Vernon Davis. San Francisco handed New York a loss earlier this season, and once again, I am expecting them to defeat the Giants in the City By The Bay.

Jan 19 2012

Daily Noontime – January 19, 2012

Rajon Rondo was the main reason why Boston snapped their five-game losing streak on Wednesday! (Photo Credit: MassLive.com)

By NoontimeSports.com 

Good Thursday morning to everyone, and welcome into another stupendous edition of the Daily Noontime! Here are some headlines, and news from Boston and New England.

* The Boston Celtics snapped their five-game losing streak on Wednesday, as they defeated the Toronto Raptors, 96-73. Although, Rajon Rondo sustained a minor wrist injury in the third quarter, which he believes won’t keep him sidelined for too long. The Celtics will return to the hardwood on Friday when they welcome the Phoenix Suns to town, which is yet another “must win” game.

* The Boston Bruins will look to even their four-game road record at 2-2 on Thursday when they travel to New Jersey to face the Devils.

* The Black and Gold announced on Wednesday that defensemen Zdeno Chara was named one of the captains for the upcoming NHL All-Star game.

* In college hoops on Wednesday, Duquesne defeated Massachusetts, 80-69, while Northeastern edged Georgia State, 60-57.

* Finally, San Diego Chargers linebacker Takeo Spikes told ESPN on that he’s predicting the New England Patriots to win the AFC Championship game on Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens.

Jan 14 2012

Noonan: NFL Divisional Playoff Predictions

Can Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos keep their playoff magic going on Saturday against New England? (Photo Credit: Zimbio.com)

By Matt Noonan 

Here are my predictions for the NFC Divisional Round.

New Orleans 30, San Francisco 21: The Saints cashed in on five offensive series in the second half against the Detroit Lions last weekend, and are expected to keep their high-flying offensive attack going against the 49ers on Saturday. Drew Brees clearly is on a mission, which is why I believe they’ll defeat San Francisco, and advance to the NFC Championship game for the second time in three seasons.

New England 28 – Denver 16: The story of Tim Tebow has been fascinating, but against the Patriots at Gillette Stadium, I’m expecting him to struggle, and possibly throw two or three interceptions.

Baltimore 28 – Houston 21: Earlier this season, the Ravens defeated the Texans, 29-14. Joe Flacco completed 20-of-33 passes for 305 yards and one touchdown, while Billy Cundiff kicked five field goals. Can Baltimore duplicate their week five performance against Houston on Sunday? My answer… YES!

New York 24 – Green Bay 21: This is a total shot in the dark, but the Giants have gained a great deal of momentum over the past few weeks, and might have what it takes to knock out the defending NFC and Super Bowl champions. I like New York’s front seven on defense, especially since they could provide a great deal of chaos toward quarterback Aaron Rodgers. If the Giants pressure the Packers, and force a few turnovers, then expect Big Blue to walk away winners on Sunday.