"Preliminaries behind them and last-minute roster surgery ahead, the Ravens settled in for the long haul Friday, content they had made the most of this strange preseason.

"I feel like we have gotten as much done as we could," coach John Harbaugh said less than 24 hours after bringing down the curtain on a 3-1 preseason in Atlanta. "I feel like we are as far along as we could have possibly been."

In the span of 22 days in August, the Ravens picked up a Pro Bowl fullback (Vonta Leach), a bone-jarring safety (Bernard Pollard), a speed receiver (Lee Evans) and a dominant left tackle (Bryant McKinnie). They may not be done. The free agent market will be flooded with new players when teams cut their rosters to 53 today.

Among the jobs still to be claimed is the backup quarterback behind Joe Flacco. While rookie (and sixth-round pick) Tyrod Taylor has played magnificently during the preseason, he now has a left shoulder injury, and if he would have to play against the Pittsburgh Steelers in nine days, he would be fresh meat.

The Ravens may believe they can protect Flacco well enough that Taylor won't have to play. History — and this summer's ragged performance by an ever-changing offensive line — suggest otherwise."