Damien Berry Will Get Opportunities in Camp

When Ricky Williams surprisingly announced his retirement six weeks ago, the Ravens said they planned to give Anthony Allen – their 2011 seventh-round draft pick – every chance to win the job as Ray Rice’s backup.

Meanwhile, suggestions of “name” veterans who could fill the role consistently circulated, with Le’Ron McClain and Peyton Hillis among those mentioned. Both had the power running style the Ravens want.

But two days into free agency, the market for such established, straight-ahead ball-carriers is dwindling, seemingly increasing the chances of Allen taking over the job.

The Ravens also have Damien Berry, who spent 2011 on their practice squad as an undrafted free agent from Miami.

“We have Anthony Allen, a young kid that we drafted out of Georgia Tech, and we’re going to give him every opportunity to be that guy,” Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome said last month. “Now that you’ve had a guy on campus for a full year, it’s almost like having those two young tight ends (Ed Dickson and Dennis Pitta) last year and having a good feeling that those guys can play for us. We’ve got Anthony and we’ll give him every opportunity. Damien Berry, he’ll get some opportunities. We’ll go into August like we did last year and try to (figure) that out.”


(csnwashington.com)