'Lay Off' Torrey Smith, Bryant McKinnie's Weight and the Ravens' Madden King

Ravens coach John Harbaugh issued a clear warning to the media two days after the Ravens’ win Thursday night: Lay off struggling rookie wide receiver Torrey Smith.

The rookie from the University of Maryland dropped two passes in a 34-31 preseason win over the Washington Redskins, causing some reporters to ask if Smith’s confidence was shaken.

Both Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Cam Cameron came to Smith’s defense, but the former Terrapin clearly has the mistakes he’s made on the field on his mind.

“I have never been in this situation before athletically,” Smith Tweeted. “Gotta get back to playing like myself and stop pressing.”

Smith was the Ravens’ second round draft pick, selected 58^th overall this offseason, and has already had an up-and-down NFL career in which he missed out on mini camps due the lockout, was raised to the No. 2 wide receiver spot after veteran Derrick Mason was released and then was lowered after the team acquired Lee Evans from the Buffalo Bills.

Regardless of whether Smith recovers from his preseason struggles and turns into the player the Ravens hopes he will become, the 22-year-old receiver seems to be trying to keep things in perspective.

“Thankful for another day to live my dreams and become a better person,” he Tweeted Tuesday.

“1st day of practice went well & did some extra cardio wit Reed & Ray afterwards!” –Tweeted by newly signed left tackle Bryant McKinnie (@BryantMcKinnie)

Former Minnesota Vikings left tackle Bryant McKinnie was cut by the team when he arrived to training camp weighing 387 pounds, 32 pounds more than his 355-pound playing weight.

With the Ravens unable to depend on rookie Jah Reid to immediately step in as the team’s right tackle, the team chose to sign McKinnie to play the left side and move last year’s left tackle, Michael Oher, to the right.

Plenty has been written about whether Oher ought to have been moved back to right tackle, where he played during his rookie season.

But the more pressing question is whether McKinnie can get into the kind of shape necessary to protect quarterback Joe Flacco’s blind side. With the ferocious pass rush of the Pittsburgh Steelers looming in the first regular season game Sept. 11 at M&T Bank Stadium, the former Pro Bowler’s fitness will be tested right away.

That’s why Tweets conveying information like the one above are likely important, and encouraging, to the Ravens.

“Just blew @TorreySmithWR out 36-14 lol Before halftime.” – Tweeted by running back Ray Rice (@RayRice27)

I can’t imagine I’d ever work an entire day and then return home to play a video game in which the virtual me makes phones calls and writes stories. 

I’m not certain teachers play video games in which they must write lesson plans to get to the next level, and I doubt many chefs sit on their couch playing a video game in which they traverse a virtual world searching for the perfect spice for a special dish.

But, in essence, that’s exactly what NFL players do when they come off the practice field and play the Madden NFL video game, which released its 2012 version Tuesday. They play a video game that is meant to emulate their job.

If the Tweets are any indication, Ray Rice is a force to be reckoned with in the Ravens’ locker room. But his supremacy may not last long.

“Just got dubbed by @RayRice27 but he has had the game for weeks,” Torrey Smith Tweeted. “Wait till next week haha.”