Despite still being a no-show at the Baltimore Ravens recent OTA's this week, the word is that the contract talks between RB Ray Rice and the team are progressing but still a ways from being finished. A story on the National Football Post details the negotiations continue to find a common ground on which to ink Rice to a long term deal.

If a deal is not reached, Rice will have to "settle" for the one-year Franchise Tag price of $7.7 million in 2012. Reportedly, Rice is looking for a contract similar to the ones that both Minnesota Vikings RB Adrian Peterson and Tennessee Titans RB Chris Johnson signed, guaranteeing them in the neighborhood of $30 million each.

However, the rumor is that the team is more interested in signing Rice to a deal more in line with the one signed by Seattle Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch, with about half the guaranteed money that the other two deals brought. Either way, if and when this is settled and even if it isn't and Rice must play the season under the Franchise Tag, then do not expect to see the Ravens feature back in camp until the time that Training camp officially begins in late-July.

After spending the 2012 off season concentrating mostly on special teams, the Baltimore Ravens are hoping for immediate returns once the season starts.

Baltimore was generally quiet in free agency besides bringing in several Pro Bowl caliber special teams players. On March 23, 2012 They Agreed to terms with LB Brendon Ayanbadejo on a three-year contract, CB Corey Graham on a two-year contract and S Sean Considine on a one-year contract.

All three of these players are standout special teams studs. All three are also more than capable on the defensive side of the ball as well. Cosidine will battle for one of the back up safety positions and could see regular playing time. Graham will join a loaded defensive backfield in which he will have an uphill battle for playing time and Ayanbadejo will most likely see the field on defense in pass coverage situations due to his speed and coverage skills. Finding linebackers that can cover is becoming huge in today's pass happy NFL.

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A headline like above is never one that a fan really wants to see written about their favorite team. Like it or not, it's a common occurrence and does not necessarily mean anything bad is going on. Unfortunately, bad things do happen occasionally when NFL players are out partying in public. As more than one has said about these stories, nothing good happens after 2 a.m. in the life of a professional athlete.

According to a story online by the Las Vegas Sun, Baltimore Ravens players Ed Reed, Lardarius Webb and Jimmy Smith were in Sin City recently. They were partying at the Chateau Nightclub. The story, written by Robin Leach, who has been giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the three were there celebrating the new $50 million contract that Webb signed recently.

Both Webb and Smith were at the team's mini-camp this week, so there obviously wasn't any problems with their free time choice of partying location. At the same time, when Ed Reed said a few days ago that he wasn't completely focused on football, perhaps we now have a clearer idea of what he meant.

SB Nation was honored with virtually exclusive access to the NFLPA's Rookie Premier recently in Los Angeles, California. The crew, led by Amy Nelson and Dan Rubenstein, interviewed the NFL's top rookies and then gave them the microphones to interview each other.

See rookies such as Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III, Alshon Jeffery, Jarius Wright, Dwayne Allen and Brock Osweiler comment on their draft day experience as well as well as their first mini-camps and the NFLPA Rookie Premier.

You'll love the videos, the quality and the obvious comfort these new pros have both in front of the microphone as well as behind it. See a couple more videos after the 'Jump and the word is that there are more videos from the Rookie Premier coming shortly.'

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Yesterday we reported on the Baltimore Ravens OTA, mentioning that many of the bigger names on the team were not in attendance, but no one appeared worried that this was an issue. A story in USA Today seems to imply otherwise. The story starts off with the line, "The absentees overshadowed the attendees..."

Those big names missing from the team's first OTA included Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, Haloti Ngata and Ray Rice. Terrell Suggs is recovering from Achilles Tendon surgery.

At the same time, neither head coach John Harbaugh nor QB Joe Flacco seemed the least bit worried about the lack of these All-Pro's at this point of the season, or more correctly, the off-season. Harbaugh assured the media that his veterans were working hard and would come into camp at some point in great shape and ready to play.

Flacco reminded everyone that there was virtually no off-season last year and the Ravens made it to the AFC Championship Game. The media may have focused on the missing stars, but the players certainly didn't mind the additional reps that their absence provided them.

NFL owners met in Atlanta this week and approved a few new rules that will be going into effect as early as this coming season. The trading deadline, previously was at week six of the regular season, has now been voted to be extended until week eight.

When you watch NFL games, notice how some players have the noticeable wrinkle on their thighs which shows the outlines of their thigh pads. Other players have that smoother look, obviously due to no thigh pads. Now, they will all have the same uniform look, as every player must begin wearing thigh (and knee) padding in the 2013 season. (You may be surprised to learn that virtually zero players in the NFL wear a protective cup under their uniforms).

SB Nation posted a story with the full list of rule changes, including a significant one related to players placed on Injured Reserve. Those players were normally lost for the season when designated as such but now will have the chance of returning to practice after week six and games after week eight.

In what appears to be a huge change from past attitudes, it appears that the climate in the NFL pertaining to accepting gay teammates is making radical changes. Most players now seem to be willing to accept a gay teammate in the locker room, compared to the polar opposite attitude in years past.

A story in SB Nation's network from Outsports, includes comments and quotes from former and current NFL players, who said their focus is on working together as a team towards the same goal of winning and that sexual preference is not part of the equation. SB Nation has a related story with the video above on the same topic.

The list of players quoted in the story is impressive, as are their comments as well, proving that perhaps the most manly sport of all has made huge strides in the area of gay rights, one that either would never be accepted or at least shoved under the rug rather than openly discuss it.