For the Baltimore Ravens, the hits just keep on coming. But the kind of hits they have taken as a team during the past five months don't affect anyone's thinking cap.
In rapid succession, the Ravens have lost linebacker Zach Orr, tight end Dennis Pitta and running back Kenneth Dixon all for the entire 2017 season (and beyond for Orr and Pitta). The Ravens also began training camp without quarterback Joe Flacco, who will be out at least a week as he recovers from a back injury.
But perhaps the most surprising news came during the first day of camp, when offensive lineman John Urschel announced his sudden retirement from the NFL after three seasons. Unlike most of his football-playing brethren, Urschel has a world of opportunity off the field. In February, he began pursuing a PhD in applied mathematics at MIT.
