Filed Under » Baltimore Ravens

Indianapolis has done it again. Twenty-six years after the Colts left town, Baltimore is losing the Ravens to Indianapolis, too. Win or lose against the Colts in their divisional round playoff game, the Ravens plan to say in Indiana and never return.

"This was the carrot we dangled to them before the Patriots game," said Ravens head coach John Harbaugh. "Beat New England and you'll never have to live or work in Baltimore again. I think we all saw how motivated the players were to make that dream a reality."

The Ravens say they would have moved to greener pastures immediately after the Patriots game, but they had to return to Baltimore to pack up their belongings.

"I have $24,000 worth of audio and video equipment in my condo that I use to watch TV, primarily episodes of 'The Wire'," said tight end Todd Heap. "I felt it was the best way to appreciate my time in Baltimore."

Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti, a Baltimore native, says he is excited about the move.

"I grew up watching the Colts, and then I saw them leave for bigger opportunities," he said. "That's the dream of every young kid in Baltimore. Have success so you can move out of here. We're ready to take that step."

Bisciotti says he isn't worried about being the second NFL team in Indianapolis —"It's better than being surrounded by the Eagles, Redskins and Steelers markets," he said — and understands many Baltimore residents will be upset by the move.

"This can't be happening," said Tammy Hafer, a Baltimore plumber and member of the Ravens band. "This is twice now we've had our team taken right out from under us. We would never do this to anyone else."

Baltimore city officials are reportedly already close to a deal to bring the Jacksonville Jaguars to Baltimore beginning with the 2011 season.

Baltimore Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs was flagged for emotionally roughing Patriots quarterback Tom Brady yesterday after a hit left the star quarterback feeling upset and unloved.

"I didn't care for that! I didn't care for that one bit!" snapped Brady, stomping his foot as he pulled himself up off the ground. Moments later, official Tom Winter threw a flag, penalizing Suggs and the Ravens for an infraction never before called in organized football.

"The new rules in place make our job very clear as officials," said Winter, explaining his call. "We are to protect the quarterback, especially star quarterbacks, and especially this star quarterback. Brady's injury last year is what prompted all of these rule changes."

Brady says Winter made the right call.

"I don't think people understand how hard it is to be me. I'm coming back from a knee injury, my team is struggling, I have one child out of wedlock, another child on the way, very high-maintenance dogs to take care of, I'm expected to look stylish all the time and I have the stress of physically satisfying a woman millions of men around the world would love a shot at. And then when someone tackles me, well …" he said, tearing up. "It can be very, very hard, okay? It can be very hard on my psyche."

Suggs said he had no intention of emotionally harming Brady, only sacking him and maybe creating a turnover.

"I wasn't trying to emotionally rough the guy," said Suggs. "Physically harming him would have been awesome, but all that touchy-feely emotional crap is what's killing football. I just wanted to maim the guy."

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell says he will examine the emotionally roughing the quarterback call and evaluate how it should be called in the future.

"I know this is a tough judgment call for our officials," said Goodell. "And I don't want to make their job any tougher than it is already. So I think what we'll probably do is have Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Eli Manning all have the power to call this penalty themselves when they feel they have been emotionally harmed. That's the only way to accomplish the true goal and spirit of the new rules we put in place."

It has worked for the Ravens defense.

Now Baltimore offensive coordinator Cam Cameron hopes it will work for the Ravens offense.

Bounties, that is.

"I'm tired of this team being so imbalanced between our great defense and punchless offense," said Cameron. "The Ravens have been in this town for 13 years and their offense has sucked every one of those years. Maybe these guys need some extra impetus to score."

So just as the Ravens defense has posted bounties on the heads of certain opposing offensive players in the past, Cameron is posting bounties of his own this year. On the end zone.

"Get in the end zone, score a touchdown, I will personally give you $2,000," said Cameron. "It's pretty simple. I hope I'm out a lot of money at the end of this year. But with these guys' track record, I'm afraid I won't be. I am more than willing to be surprised, though. It's on them."

Cameron's end zone bounty offer isn't as simple as he makes it sound.

"Yeah, there is some fine print," he said. "Well, basically it's just one thing. These have to be legitimate offensive touchdowns that we create all by ourselves as an offensive unit. Like, an actual drive like you see good teams have. I'm not giving anyone any money if Ed Reed picks off a pass and runs it back 60 yards to the 2-yard line and then we punch it in. That doesn't count. That's pretty much how we score all of our offensive touchdowns. I'm sick of it. It's embarrassing."

Under those narrowed terms, Cameron estimates he would have been out $4,000 last year.

"Two drives. Two real, NFL-quality drives. All season," says Cameron. "That's pathetic. And I think both of them came against the Browns. I don't know if I would pay out for touchdowns against the Browns. Those are cheaper than the ones set up by Ed Reed."