Ravens owner backs Flacco, still eyes Super Bowl

By David Ginsburg

Associated Press

Published: Wednesday, Feb. 1 2012 1:41 p.m. MST

FILE - In this Jan. 22, 2012, file photo, Baltimore Ravens kicker Billy Cundiff (7) walks off the field as New England Patriots outside linebacker Niko Koutouvides (90) celebrates after Cundiff missed a 32-yard field goal in the closing seconds of the AFC Championship NFL football game in Foxborough, Mass. Even though they own every one of the top 25 spots on the NFL career scoring list, kickers get almost no respect. "You don't have to worry about me jumping off a ledge or driving my car off a cliff," said Baltimore's Cundiff, the latest to miss a high-profile kick. "I'm not sure I need to sit down on a couch and talk it out."

Winslow Townson, File, Associated Press

Enlarge photo»

Summary

Baltimore Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti emphatically backs the play of quarterback Joe Flacco and guarantees running back Ray Rice will be on the roster next season.

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Baltimore Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti emphatically backs the play of quarterback Joe Flacco and guarantees running back Ray Rice will be on the roster next season.

Rice is an unrestricted free agent and Flacco's contract expires after the 2012 season. But Bisciotti promised both would be "part of this team" in 2012.

Bisciotti, general manager Ozzie Newsome, club president Dick Cass and coach John Harbaugh met with the media on Wednesday to discuss the 2011 season and look ahead toward 2012.

The foursome would have preferred to be preparing for the Super Bowl, but a 23-20 defeat at New England in the AFC title game ruined those plans.

Bisciotti says, "I don't think any of us are over it."

But he says the window of opportunity for Baltimore remains open.

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