Baltimore Ravens: Minicamp Day One News and Notes

Jun 19, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh (rear center) talks to the media after minicamp at the Under Armour Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports

The Baltimore Ravens finished day one of their mandatory minicamp. Head coach John Harbaugh and a few other players answered questions from the media afterwards.

The head coach reported Dennis Pitta did not practice. Despite being on the field during OTAs, the doctors did not clear for him minicamp. For the time being, he will be sidelined, which hampers his return at this point.

The chances he will return during minicamp is low, since it is only three days and only two days remain. He can use this time to be healthy enough to be cleared for training camp.

More from Baltimore Ravens

• Baltimore Ravens: Will this be Breshad Perriman’s last game as a Raven?
• Baltimore Ravens: Why RG3 Will Not Make the Ravens’ 53-Man Roster
• Baltimore Ravens have to make a decision on resting key offensive players
• Baltimore Ravens Cornerback Situation With Jimmy Smith Likely Suspended
• Top 5 Baltimore Ravens to Get on Your Fantasy Football Team

Marshal Yanda and the starting offensive line attended the first day of minicamp. He sounded confident when talking about how it feels to have the entire line back from last season.

“We should have a great year,” Yanda said. “It provides stability. [We will] build on what we did last year.”

He is in the last year of his contract, and at this point, no attempt has been made to give him an extension. Just as any veteran is expected to say, he isn’t focused on it.

“I’m focused on the mandatory minicamp,” he said. “I’m not worried about it. We’ll get it done when we get it done.”

Yanda is an excellent public speaker, or at least with the media. He was calm and in control, which I find interesting he specifically said “mandatory” during the press conference.

He may not be focusing on it, but I cannot help but think it’s on his mind as he has meant a lot to the team. If the minicamp was not mandatory, and he was not loyal to the Ravens, he may not have attended.

More from The Baltimore Wire

• What other Baltimore Orioles Offseason Storylines will you be interested in seeing?
• Baltimore Orioles to Face Numerous Playoff Contenders Down the Stretch
• Baltimore Orioles Showing Encouraging Signs During Recent Wins
• The Baltimore Orioles and the Expanded September Roster
• Maryland Football: Terps honor Jordan McNair, beat Longhorns 34-29

The veterans were in attendance, which meant Terrell Suggs was back with the team. He was all jokes as the reporters asked their questions.

However, as he made his first appearance at minicamp, something was different from in the past. He traditionally works out on his own during the offseason and keeps in great shape when he makes his first appearance at the first mandatory minicamp. This year, he returned to the team different.

“I’m not out of shape,” Suggs said. “[But] I’m not at my fighting weight.”

He admitted to treating this offseason differently because he is in his 13th season. He is only 32 years old.

“I’m definitely on the back nine,” he said about where he is in his career. “When you get into the teens, you take it year-by-year.”

Suggs works out on his own during the offseason, but this year, he admitted to taking it easier on himself as he enters his 13th season in the NFL.

The questions were not all about his age and offseason preparation. Suggs has had choice words for New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady in the past, and the topic of deflategate came up.

He called out the bait question and answered simply that it would not tarnish Brady’s reputation.

“There’s always something [to write about],” Suggs said, comparing deflategate to Ray Lewis’s experience with the deer antler spray during the Ravens’ Super Bowl season in 2012.

Rookie wide receiver Breshad Perriman took reps with the first, second and third string offenses. Throughout practice, he had several drops after none during OTAs.

He called the dropped passes “mental” and nothing more. He recognized the practices have been much faster than what had experienced at college.

Perriman has a good chance to start next to Steve Smith Sr. His time is being split across the field, so others are being given the chance at the position.

"“I try not to think about the starting job,” Perriman said."

He proved to be impressive during OTAs, so if he can transition that into the rest of minicamp and training camp, the starting job is as good as his.

The good thing Harbaugh did not report was more injuries. The Ravens have been able to say healthy so far, which is important, because the majority of the veterans are returning from working out on their own. The minicamp is a test to see how well they conditioned themselves while away from the team.