NFL Suspends Ravens’ Jimmy Smith
Ravens defensive back Jimmy Smith has been suspended for the first four games of the regular season, the league announced. Smith was originally facing a six-game ban, but the suspension was reduced to four games after Smith met with the NFL, tweets Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic.
Prior to the ban, the NFL was monitoring a child custody case between the player and his child’s mother. Last year, the woman had accused Smith of domestic violence and drug use, allegations that the cornerback denied. Ultimately, an NFL investigation found that the allegations had merit.
“The NFL found evidence of threatening and emotional abusive behaviors by Jimmy [Smith] toward his former girlfriend that showed a pattern of improper conduct. Our player’s behavior was inappropriate and wrong,” the Ravens said in a statement.
The Ravens added that after consulting with relationship and domestic violence experts, as well as non-football members of the organization, they “will allow Jimmy to return…after his suspension. Jimmy has acknowledged his behaviors were wrong and accepts full responsibility for them.”
Smith missed the final quarter of last season with a torn Achilles tendon, meaning that he’ll go roughly eleven months between snaps thanks to this suspension. In his injury-shortened campaign, Smith had 28 tackles, nine passes defended, and three interceptions.
The Ravens are undoubtedly frustrated by the situation, but they have reason to stick with him through the ban. Last year, Smith was operating as one of the Ravens’ best players and was Pro Football Focus’ No. 12 corner coming into the ill-fated game.
The Ravens will be without Smith for the first four games of the season against the Bills, Bengals, Broncos, and Steelers. He’ll be eligible to return in Week 5 against the Browns.
Ravens CB Jimmy Smith Facing Suspension
The Ravens are preparing for cornerback Jimmy Smith to receive a multi-game suspension for violation of the league’s personal conduct policy, sources tell Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic. The 30-year-old is appealing the punishment, and after leaving the team this weekend, he isn’t expected to play during Monday’s game against the Colts. The organization had known about the impending suspension for some time, and Smith was set to meet with league officials today.
Specifics of Smith’s violation aren’t clear, but Zrebiec reports that the league had been monitoring a child custody case between the player and his first child’s mother. Last year, the woman had accused Smith of domestic violence and drug use, allegations that the cornerback denied.
The seven-year veteran has missed plenty of time since entering the league, and his 2017 campaign ended with a torn Achilles’ tendon. The NFL suspended Smith soon after for performance-enhancing drugs. The cornerback was banned for four games, but he was allowed to serve the suspension while he recovered from his injury. The cornerback ultimately finished the campaign having compiled 28 tackles, nine passes defended, and three interceptions.
The Ravens had worked out cornerback Bashaud Breeland back in July, and they could reconsider signing the free agent if Smith is indeed suspended. The Ravens could also roll with their current crop of cornerbacks, a grouping that includes Brandon Carr, former first-rounder Marlon Humphrey, and rookie fourth-rounder Anthony Averett.
Latest On Ravens, Bashaud Breeland
- While the Ravens‘ recent meeting with free agent cornerback Bashaud Breeland “went well,” the ex-Redskins defensive back is apparently looking for a larger contract than Baltimore is comfortable with, per Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic. Breeland, whose three-year, $24MM deal with the Panthers was voided this spring after he failed a physical, has drawn the interest of the Patriots, Jets, Raiders, Chiefs, Browns, and Colts. Clearly, something is preventing clubs from pulling the lever on Breeland, and financial demands or health concerns are both viable options. Baltimore, notably, seemingly has plenty of corner depth with Jimmy Smith, Marlon Humphrey, Brandon Carr, Tavon Young, Anthony Averett, and others in tow.
Ravens TE Darren Waller Reinstated
Ravens tight end Darren Waller has been reinstated after serving a yearlong suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. In order to bring him back on the roster, the Ravens have waived/injured wide receiver Jaelon Acklin. 
Waller, 26 in September, served a four-game substance abuse ban in 2016, so his second violation of the substance abuse policy last year resulted in a one year suspension. The tight end was forced to sit out the entire year and lost out on $615K in salary.
In 2016, Waller had ten catches for 85 yards and two touchdowns. His offensive output was minimal, but he appeared on nearly half of Baltimore’s special teams snaps.
This year, he faced an uphill battle to make the roster. The Ravens drafted two tight ends in Hayden Hurst and Mark Andrews, meaning that Nick Boyle, Maxx Williams, and Vince Mayle are competing for one or maybe two spots. For what it’s worth, it appears that the Ravens will at least give Waller an opportunity to play catchup and make the final cut.
Marshal Yanda Comes Off PUP List
Marshal Yanda‘s dealt with multiple injuries since last playing in a regular-season game, but the All-Pro guard is working his way back to action.
The Ravens removed Yanda from their PUP list on Saturday, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). The Ravens’ focus will be to have Yanda ready in time for Week 1, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com tweets.
John Harbaugh doesn’t expect Yanda to play in Baltimore’s preseason opener next week. But the top Ravens lineman’s return to practice, with more than a month to spare before the regular season begins, is a good sign for the team.
Yanda suffered a season-ending ankle injury early in the Ravens’ 2017 slate, playing in just two games, but a shoulder problem induced the PUP stay to start this training camp. This will be the 33-year-old interior blocker’s 12th season with the Ravens.
Lamar Jackson Not Planning To Bulk Up
- Lamar Jackson‘s slender frame emerged as a pre-draft topic, but the Ravens rookie not planning a significant weight-gain project as he readies for the NFL. Jackson said (via Terez Paylor of Yahoo.com) he’s at 216 pounds and doesn’t want to be above 220, in order to maintain his elite speed.
Ravens' O-Line Far From Settled
- Only Ronnie Stanley and Marshal Yanda are locks to be Ravens offensive line starters, with Jeff Zreibec of The Athletic noting (subscription required) the team used numerous O-line combinations Saturday. Expected to vie for Baltimore’s right tackle job, James Hurst is working primarily at right guard while Alex Lewis — whom Zreibec projects as the left guard starter — has worked plenty at center. The Ravens’ right guard starter, Yanda remains on the PUP list. Zreibec still contends Hurst will settle at right tackle, with rookie Orlando Brown in the mix at that spot as well.
CB Bashaud Breeland Visiting Ravens
It sounds like the Ravens have gotten their desired meeting with free agent Bashaud Breeland. Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic reports (via Twitter) that the defensive back is at the Ravens’ facility to take a physical and meet with team officials.
While this could eventually lead to a contract, Zrebiec admits that he is “not sure where the negotiations stand.” We heard yesterday that the Ravens were “getting more aggressive” in their pursuit of Breeland.
As the writer notes in a follow-up tweet, cornerback appears to be one of the Ravens’ strongest positions at the moment, and it’s uncertain if the talented Breeland would be interested in a presumable backup role. The team is currently rostering Jimmy Smith, Brandon Carr, Marlon Humphrey, Tavon Young, Maurice Canady, fourth-rounder Anthony Averett, Stanley Jean-Baptiste, Jaylen Hill, and Bennett Jackson, a grouping that could be considered one of the best in the NFL. Zrebiec also observes that Smith, Young, and Canady are all coming off injures/surgeries, perhaps indicating that team has some concerns about their recoveries.
The 26-year-old is one of the top defenders still on the market, and he’s garnered previous interest from the Jets, Raiders, Chiefs, Browns and Colts. Breeland had spent his entire four-year career with the Redskins, missing only four regular season games during his tenure. The former fourth-rounder had another productive season in 2017, finishing with 50 tackles, 19 passes defended, and one pick-six.
Ravens, Jets Pursuing Bashaud Breeland
The Ravens are “getting more aggressive” with their interest in free agent cornerback Bashaud Breeland, Josina Anderson of ESPN.com hears (on Twitter). Breeland is visiting the Browns on Friday afternoon, but the Ravens are pushing to meet with him on Friday night.
Meanwhile, the Jets have also entered the fray, Anderson hears. There’s no visit currently scheduled with Gang Green, but the Jets have expressed interest throughout the week.
Breeland is among the best defenders left on the free agent market at this juncture. He was originally set to join the Panthers on a three-year deal in March, but a failed physical voided the contract. Now that he’s finally healthy, Breeland has picked up interest from a number of teams, including the Raiders, Chiefs, Browns and Colts. Breeland’s visit with the Chiefs was particularly lengthy, but he left KC without a contract.
The Ravens project to start Brandon Carr and Jimmy Smith at cornerback with support from 2017 first-round pick Marlon Humphrey and fourth-round rookie Anthony Averett. The Jets, meanwhile, have Trumaine Johnson, Morris Claiborne, and Buster Skrine as their top three corners. Neither team is necessarily desperate for cornerback help, but any club in the league would welcome a talent like Breeland at the right price.
Why Haven't Ravens, Mosley Agreed To New Deal?
- The Ravens and linebacker C.J. Mosley have yet to make progress on an extension. Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic isn’t exactly sure what the holdup is, but he posits a few theories. It’s possible that the Ravens are hesitant to sign a defensive standout to a long-term deal after injuries hampered players like Jimmy Smith and Lardarius Webb after their extensions. It’s also possible that the Ravens do not value inside linebackers as much as other clubs because of their history of finding UDFA gems at the position. Or, perhaps GM-to-be Eric DeCosta does not want to tie up the club’s future cap space. Still, with a number of players on expiring deals and others with minimal guarantees, the team should have enough flexibility to sign Mosley.