Second chances exist in life and sports.

Teams desperate for stability at kicker will at least consider signing the greatest kicker in league history. Soon enough, Tucker may emerge in a new uniform, but his nearing return to football still feels incomplete.

Tucker, who turns 36 on Nov. 26, served his suspension under the NFL’s personal conduct policy after more than a dozen female massage therapists accused him of inappropriate sexual behavior. When the allegations were first revealed and the league later issued its discipline, Tucker repeatedly denied all wrongdoing.

To this date, Tucker’s only semblance of an apology was his statement to Outkick in February: “It devastates me to know that anyone I have worked with would not have felt respected … to anyone who has felt otherwise, I am sorry. I maintain I did not act inappropriately at any point before, during, or after a professional bodywork treatment session, nor have I ever been told I am unwelcome at any massage therapy provider.”

Yet he never appealed his suspension, which the league allowed him to serve as a free agent.

Hmmm.

If Tucker truly felt like nothing inappropriate occurred, why not automatically challenge the suspension, which was issued after the NFL conducted an investigation, through the appeals process? To deny the behavior but accept the punishment without contesting it created a contradiction that has never been addressed.

Now, as Tucker becomes eligible to return, the most significant moment of his return won’t be his next contract signing or field goal attempt. It will be the first time he speaks publicly.

That could come at a podium, in a team locker room or perhaps on a Zoom screen. But it’s coming — for Tucker and whichever team decides to employ him — and what he says in that moment will determine whether he actually moves forward.

Issuing a brief, direct apology acknowledging his actions would not erase what allegedly happened a decade ago. But a real apology would finally acknowledge the pain inflicted on those affected. It would also address the confusion many Ravens fans still feel about how to view one of the franchise’s greats.

Baltimore, meanwhile, has already moved forward.

The Ravens released Tucker in May following 13 memorable seasons, labeling his release ‘a football decision.’ His performance dipped drastically as Tucker suffered from a career-worst 73.3 field goal percentage in 2024.

When the Ravens tabbed Tyler Loop as the first kicker drafted in franchise history, it signaled a new era. Loop has lived up to his draft status, making 16 of 18 field goals and 23 of 24 extra-point attempts. Following Tucker’s shadow always was a hefty task for whoever inherited the role, but Loop has looked unfazed during his rookie season.

Even Tucker’s place in NFL record books has shifted. Just last week, Jaguars kicker Cam Little’s 68-yard field goal broke Tucker’s previous NFL record of 66 yards for the longest kick in league history.

The NFL does not stop to wait for a player to reclaim what they once were. Tucker’s representation is aware. Last month, NFL Network publicized a video on social media, pushed by his camp, of Tucker recreating his most iconic kicks during a workout at his alma mater, the University of Texas. NFL Network also reported Tucker already was garnering interest from multiple teams.

Tucker wants back in.

There are too many teams dealing with missed kicks and extra-point attempts. One of them will likely reemploy one of the NFL’s greatest kickers. Whenever Tucker returns to an NFL roster, a coach and/or general manager will talk about second chances.

For Tucker, it’s about recognition and accountability.

His path back to respect, not just a roster spot, runs through his level of accountability. While he served his 10-game suspension, his actions and lack of a meaningful apology indicate he believed he never deserved the league-issued discipline.

Accountability doesn’t require a speech. In Tucker’s case, it may take only a sentence or two.

“I acknowledge the harm caused and want to put everything behind me. I am sorry.” 

His suspension is over and teams will evaluate their options.

But Tucker’s real return begins when he speaks publicly to the people who have waited far longer than 10 weeks for him to do so.

Have a news tip? Contact Josh Tolentino at jtolentino@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200, x.com/JCTSports and instagram.com/JCTSports. 

“We really believe in, obviously, we have Lamar Jackson,” veteran cornerback Marlon Humphrey said in the aftermath of a 27-19 victory over the Vikings. “But our defense, we’re trying to get it to where we can win games on defense and we don’t even need the offense to put up any points. … Let’s give him a ‘smoke break,’ let’s give him an ‘off day.’

“He’s bailed us out so many times. How about we do it?”

For the second straight week, the defense carried the Ravens through another uneven offensive start. Baltimore won its third consecutive game not because of its high-powered offensive playmakers, but thanks to a defensive unit that finally seems to be rediscovering its edge.

“[Defense] played great,” Jackson said. “They played the Ravens standard [of] football. I feel like we should’ve helped them more, but they got it done.”

It’s a stark contrast to the first month of the season.

Baltimore gave up an NFL-worst 177 points in its first five games, but has held its past four opponents to under 20. Coming out of the bye, the Ravens have won three in a row to improve their record to 4-5.

“We always knew we could play like this,” cornerback Nate Wiggins said. “It was just a matter of getting confident in the defense, running around and hitting people.”

The Ravens on Sunday limited the Vikings to a pedestrian 3-for-14 on third down and 2-for-5 on fourth-down attempts.

Second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy threw more incompletions (22) than completions (20) and was intercepted twice, while four-time All-Pro wideout Justin Jefferson finished with just four catches on 12 targets for 37 yards.

Game-changing interceptions by Humphrey and rookie safety Malaki Starks shifted momentum toward the visitors’ bench. Starks now has picks in back-to-back weeks, a sign of a young player accelerating into the role this defense envisioned for him when the Ravens selected him with their top pick in this year’s draft.

Meanwhile, undrafted rookie Keondre Jackson punched the ball loose on special teams and recovered his first career forced fumble, turning what would have been routine field position into an immediate scoring opportunity for Lamar and company.

“Anybody that gets turnovers, it helps their defense,” veteran outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy said. “You look at the top defenses in the league over the course of this season, the turnovers have been huge for them. That’s something we’ve been harping on and we’re going to continue to harp on it, continue to capitalize.

“We’re not satisfied with just getting one or two; we need to get multiple. We need to get as many turnovers as we can get.”

Jackson, often throughout his storied career, has been asked to carry the Ravens on his back. Baltimore’s victory over Minnesota improved Jackson’s record against NFC teams to a jaw-dropping 25-3.

The Ravens surely will need him in future contests, but the Zach Orr-led defense aspires to provide the two-time NFL Most Valuable Player margin for slight error.

The Ravens know exactly who they have at quarterback. The defense just doesn’t want to rely on him every week.

“We got punched in the mouth early in the season, but now, I think we’re responding well,” safety Kyle Hamilton said. “We’ll just have that scar tissue going forward when we just start stacking wins.”

Carrying that scar tissue will be key as the Ravens push forward.

The defense’s new-look pass rush, joined by recent acquisition Dre’Mont Jones, left sacks on the field and allowed McCarthy to escape on multiple occasions in just his fourth career game. To its credit, Baltimore recorded a season-high 12 quarterback hits against McCarthy.

A more seasoned quarterback, though, will make the Ravens pay.

Sure, winning off turnovers is electric, but it is also partially volatile. Takeaways come in streaks — or “in bunches,” as many Baltimore defenders referred to in recent days; the Ravens have six takeaways over their past two games.

Pressure, meanwhile, is a critical factor that can be replicated more frequently, but too often has been missing from Baltimore’s defense despite its recent surge. To contend into January, the Ravens must convert their uptick in quarterback hits to more impactful sacks and pressures.

If the Ravens sustain this turnover surge and clean up their rush as Jones continues to adjust to his new surroundings, the defense will really turn a corner. Baltimore’s next three games — Sunday at Cleveland, Nov. 23 vs. Jets and Nov. 27 vs. Bengals — offer a realistic path to a 7-5 record ahead of the team’s Week 14 showdown against the first-place Pittsburgh Steelers on Dec. 7 at M&T Bank Stadium.

“A [grind-out win], extremely important, especially [because] in our division, we play these types of [close] games a lot,” Jackson said. “Hopefully we’re not in these types of games, but we have to get used to it, get accustomed to it.”

Humphrey’s “smoke break” comment was a joke, as the defensive back chuckled right after, but his intent was palpable.

“It’s rewarding to play OK and win, that’s great,” Humphrey said. “But the key going forward is getting all three phases playing elite.”

On Jackson’s 100th start Sunday, he didn’t have to be at his best, the one pulling the Ravens out of the fire.

The defense finally returned the favor.

Have a news tip? Contact Josh Tolentino at jtolentino@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200, x.com/JCTSports and instagram.com/JCTSports.

Kneeland, a second-year player who scored his first NFL touchdown this past weekend, died early Thursday morning from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound after crashing his vehicle following a police chase, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety. He was 24.

The Cowboys, NFL and Kneeland’s family issued statements confirming his death.

Ravens cornerback Amani Oruwariye, a member of the Cowboys in 2024, said that he first learned of the news via group text messages with former teammates. He spent much of Thursday reaching out to teammates and former coaches.

“We crossed paths a lot, obviously being on defense. Marshawn always brought good energy,” Oruwariye recalled. “He loved to laugh, he always was a guy that loved to laugh, loved to just live life, always cracking jokes at the facility. It came as a shock to me. But it just goes to show you never know what somebody is going through even if they have a smile on their face, you never know what they’re dealing with deep inside.

“I just want to reach out and check in on guys and tell them I love them.”

Kneeland was selected by the Cowboys in the second round of the 2024 draft out of Western Michigan, where he was college teammates with Ravens rookie cornerback Bilhal Kone.

Kone, a 2025 sixth-round pick by Baltimore who is out for the season with a torn ligament in his knee, published on X: “Rip brother you was a big figure to me more then a teammate more then a brother you was hope! helped my dreams come to true seeing you make it. Can’t wait to make you proud to play through your energy”

Ravens quarterback Cooper Rush spent seven the past seven seasons in Dallas before he joined Baltimore in free agency this past offseason. Rush remembered Kneeland as a rookie who quickly earned the respect of veterans. Kneeland logged one tackle of Ravens running back Rasheen Ali during an Aug. 15 exhibition involving the Ravens and Cowboys.

“Marshawn always came off as a very mature, hard worker,” Rush said. “He was solid in the way he played with how hard he played. He was a really good guy with a good head on his shoulders. That’s why it’s just so sad because you never know what someone is going through, that’s the tragic part about all of it.”

Rush also noted the importance of Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer and how the organization will now navigate the days ahead as teammates and coaches process Kneeland’s death.

Said Rush: “With coach Schottie, there’s probably not another better guy for that horrible situation in that organization. He can handle that in terms of how he talks to his players and cares for them because of the people-person he is. It’s unfortunate but he is the right guy for that particular job.”

The NFLPA on Thursday issued a statement: “The NFL Players Association is deeply saddened by the passing of Marshawn Kneeland. His impact on those around him was immeasurable, and his loss is felt profoundly across our community. We’re working to ensure that players have the support they need, and our condolences are with Marshawn’s family and loved ones.

“To our player members, please remember navigating grief can be difficult. Lean on one another and take care of your well-being. We encourage you to reach out to use for wellness support or use the NFL Life Line.”

Ravens outside linebacker Carl Lawson, who shared a meeting room with Kneeland last season in Dallas, struggled to describe the pain of losing someone he saw regularly.

“He was always full of life,” Lawson said. “It’s a shame. He was very happy when I was with him.”

Added Oruwariye: “Mental health is very important. You just never know what somebody is going through. Obviously this is a sport we’re blessed to play and we get compensated pretty well, but at the same time, sometimes fans don’t realize it’s just a game and there’s much more life to live outside of this game. I would encourage fans to use this tragedy or whatever situation they want to use as a reminder that we’re humans as well, regardless of the outcome of the games. So just check on your family. Check on your people.”

Ravens coach John Harbaugh on Friday expressed his condolences toward Kneeland’s family and loved ones.

“We interviewed him at the combine, scouts spent a lot of time with him,” Harbaugh said. “He was a guy we really really liked, we thought highly of. Condolences to the Kneeland family, his girlfriend, to everybody involved. Just a tragic circumstance.

“We encouraged our guys yesterday to keep an eye on one another, look out for one another, ask questions, see how people are doing, take care of yourself, try to be connected. … If we could try to do the best we can to connect with people, say hello, make sure everybody is doing OK — that’s what we encouraged our team to do.”

Have a news tip? Contact Josh Tolentino at jtolentino@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200, x.com/JCTSports and instagram.com/JCTSports. 

Seated a few feet from Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias as the team introduced new manager Craig Albernaz, the club’s owner again said Baltimore has “no particular financial constraints,” as MLB free agency begins this week.

Rubenstein boastfully added that Baltimore’s ownership is compiled of “an investor group that’s pretty deep-pocketed.”

“We are relying on what Mike and his team can do to find good players that want to be here and that can complement what we already have,” he said.

Take note how he said good players, not the best players.

Reading between the lines, his word choice of complement also tells us where this winter is headed.

Rubenstein continues to say that the Orioles are capable of operating like a big-market club, but his framing suggests another offseason aimed at targeted additions rather than top-tier spending and the type of acquisitions that alter a competitive window.

Sorry to break it to you, Birdland. But perhaps it’s best you lower your expectations as free agency opens Thursday.

Rubenstein, unsolicited, pointed to the Toronto Blue Jays as direct evidence that turnarounds can happen quickly. Toronto went from last place in the AL East in 2024 to clinching an AL pennant, and stretching their intense World Series appearance against Los Angeles to seven games.

“You can come back from the bottom and we expect to do that,” Rubenstein said.

Notably, the Blue Jays also ranked among the top five payrolls in MLB this season.

Is Rubenstein, who according to Forbes is worth $4.4 billion, and his peers willing to fork up that type of money?

For the first time in his tenure, Elias had real spending power last winter, when the Orioles signed seven free agents for a combined $105.25 million: outfielders Tyler O’Neill and Ramon Laureano, pitchers Charlie Morton, Tomoyuki Sugano and Kyle Gibson, reliever Andrew Kittredge and catcher Gary Sanchez.

Elias finally had the ability to run to the grocery store and shop in a different aisle, but the collective return from his free agency cart was awful.

There won’t be any returns for his regrettable purchases, either.

It was a no-brainer for O’Neill, who signed the largest and longest deal of any Orioles free agent since Elias took over in 2018, to recently opt into the final two years ($33 million) of his contract after he hit .199 over just 54 games in 2025. O’Neill was one of many Orioles affected by injuries, and Rubenstein is banking on the injury bug staying far away from the Orioles next season.

When Rubenstein referenced the Blue Jays, he also mentioned the Dodgers and how competitive the World Series matchup was and noted that Game 7 drew record-breaking viewership.

Well, Toronto jumped to the top-tier of payroll spending this season, while Los Angeles has boasted a top-three payroll in baseball two years in a row — and has back-to-back World Series trophies to show for it. Both clubs also have multiple superstars.

Let’s make it clear: Baltimore does not need to replicate those types of payrolls.

But ownership cannot point to those clubs as models and also tout yourself as a big spender without matching the action. Rubenstein, ultimately, has shown he wants to live somewhere in between; Baltimore ranked 15th in MLB in payroll this season.

Just look at the club’s new managerial choice.

Albernaz is rooted from two organizations, Tampa Bay and Cleveland, who’ve routinely done more with less, operating within a budget that looks more like Baltimore’s and less like Los Angeles’ and Toronto’s.

The Orioles, of course, boast a talented core, headlined by Adley Rutschman, Gunnar Henderson, Jackson Holliday, Jordan Westburg, Samuel Basallo and others. And to his credit, Albernaz appears to already understand the assignment.

“Whatever Mike wants to cook up,” Albernaz replied when asked what he’d like to see Elias add in the offseason. “That’s what Mike does best around the offseason is cook. … I trust Mike. I trust in the group.

“I’m not going to talk about who [Elias] should get. That’s not my job. That’s Mike’s job. … My job is the players in the clubhouse, so whoever’s in there, we’re going to pour into them, get the most out of them.”

Albernaz’s No. 1 goal is to maximize what already exists in Baltimore and revive a team that entered this past season with late-October aspirations. The roster, though, still needs help, and the Rubenstein-Elias duo needs to decide how lucrative and bold that assistance will be.

It’s shaping up to be one of the most important offseasons in franchise history and certainly in the Elias era.

The Orioles, though, do not — and likely will not — need to chase the biggest, most expensive names on the board. Stop dreaming about the likes of Pete Alonso, Alex Bregman and Kyle Tucker slipping on a shiny new Orioles jersey.

Said Rubenstein: “We don’t feel we need to break records by setting payroll records.”

Rubenstein acknowledged that Elias already has been hard at work scouring through “good players.” That group should include a handful of smart additions who raise the team’s ceiling and, as Albernaz alluded to, help add meaningful ingredients to the team’s current recipe, widely consisting of homegrown talent.

Rubenstein and the Orioles say they boast deep pockets and can operate like a contender. Thus far, they haven’t properly spent nor flexed like one.

Elias’ decisions in the coming weeks and months will tell us exactly how they intend to compete.

Have a news tip? Contact Josh Tolentino at jtolentino@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200, x.com/JCTSports and instagram.com/JCTSports. 

Craig Albernaz spoke like a man who’s spent a lifetime preparing for this seat.

Yes, it’s extremely early.

But his initial answers came across as authentic and genuine, while his tone and distinct northeastern accent carried plenty of weight.

Albernaz laughed when his 2-year-old daughter Gigi playfully interrupted several times, a subtle but early indicator that he’s not fazed in the spotlight.

On a more serious note, Albernaz routinely steered most questions he received during his 45-minute introductory news conference back to the players and clubhouse that he recently inherited as Baltimore’s 21st manager in franchise history.

He might be new to managing at this level, but Albernaz has coached and learned inside some of the smartest organizations in baseball, building and earning his reputation as a communicator who connects with both the clubhouse and front office. That blend of conviction and relatability is why Elias and company tabbed Albernaz as the man to guide the Orioles out of their last-place finish in 2025, and why he deserves early trust from a fan base that’s grown disgruntled from the team’s finishes in recent seasons.

At the podium, Albernaz, who sported a crisp white dress shirt with custom bright orange buttons and a pair of matching Air Jordan “Shattered Backboard” 1s, sat between the two people who will shape his fate — president of baseball operations Mike Elias to his left and owner David Rubenstein to his right.

Albernaz looked comfortably like himself, and more importantly, sounded like someone who understands how to reach today’s generation of players.

At 43, Albernaz is old enough to have perspective of the game and young enough to still speak the language that resonates. His mention that he’s already reached out to “six” or “seven” players — and the way he joked about their wives and fiancés sharing double first names — were the type of small, relatable details that help humanize a clubhouse, and show he’s in touch with ever-growing social trends.

Some might argue none of that will matter on the diamond, but the Orioles surely could use the emotional lift.

Thus far, it seems to be coming from a genuine place.

“Players just want to know that you have their right interests in mind, to get them better. There’s no ulterior motives,” Albernaz said. “Players see through when you’re being fake. You have to be a truth-teller, you have to be authentic to yourself. That’s something that I pride myself on since I first started coaching.

“And that’s never going to change.”

Rubenstein and Mike Elias both hinted that Albernaz was their top choice in their managerial search after the club fired former manager Brandon Hyde in May. Rubenstein noted several times how industry voices kept steering the conversation back to Albernaz.

By all accounts, Albernaz was the candidate the Rubensten-Elias duo wanted all along.

Albernaz himself joked that Elias probably wished that he’d shown “more pep” in the interview process and, ultimately, when the Orioles offered him the job.

“We’re really excited to have him here,” Rubenstein said of Albernaz. “He’s been a leader everywhere he’s ever been. People always say he’s a take-charge person that’s made every organization he’s been at better because he was there.”

Since transitioning to coaching in 2015, Albernaz has served as a coach or manager for seven different teams, including the Princeton Rays (2015), Hudson Valley Renegades (2016, 2017), Durham Bulls (2017), Perth Heat (2017), Bowling Green Hot Rods (2018), San Francisco Giants (2020-2023) and Cleveland Guardians (2024-2025). Over that span, those teams posted a combined record of 714-602.

During Albernaz’s lone season as the Rays’ minor league field coordinator in 2019, Tampa Bay’s nine rookie and minor league clubs posted a combined record of 501-387, with seven of its affiliates posting a record of .500 or better that season.

Guardians manager Stephen Vogt, who flew in from the west coast to attend Tuesday’s news conference, called Albernaz the “hardest worker he’s ever been around,” and a “born leader who’ll absolutely crush it.”

Based on that quick background check, Rubenstein is correct.

Albernaz has frequently won throughout his career, and the Orioles are betting he brings that winning culture tradition to a franchise that hasn’t experienced a postseason victory under Elias’ leadership.

In Baltimore, Albernaz represents the third manager to work for Elias, and he inherits a roster that wildly underperformed in 2025, an inconsistent group that was affected by injuries to key pieces. Rubenstein is hoping that the injury bug doesn’t strike again in 2026, but if he and Elias truly want Albernaz to succeed, they’ll need to supply him with key offseason additions. Think top-tier starters, high-end relievers and a veteran right-handed bat.

Elias had several swings-and-misses last winter; it remains to be seen how those disappointing results will affect Rubenstein’s willingness to grant him more spending power.

As it pertains to the new manager, Albernaz cannot operate under the assumption that those additions will come.

Albernaz’s main challenge will center on maximizing a long list of talented homegrown players with hopes that they collectively can reach their ceilings without banking on external help. The former catcher praised Adley Rutschman and Samuel Basallo as cornerstones and even vowed to lean on them to “hold the coaches accountable.”

“My job is the players in the clubhouse,” he said. “So whoever’s in there, we’re going to pour into them.”

Finally, Albernaz briefly outlined his baseball philosophy. He noted how defense will be at the forefront, while the Orioles’ offense must be diverse. He even brought up the recent World Series between the Dodgers and Blue Jays, pointing out his team must take pride in defense and making the right decisions.

Perhaps most telling, he simplified his process and everything pointed back to having fun.

“Guys play at their best when they’re having fun and just playing a kid’s game,” Albernaz said.

Added Vogt: “It’s baseball. It’s a game. Winning and losing is very important, but you have to have fun. If you’re not having fun, you’re not going to play relaxed. … [Albernaz] is definitely going to keep everyone relaxed. You’re going to get a lot of personality, and you got to give it back to him.”

Albernaz on Tuesday provided the Orioles and their fan base with a glimpse at his personality with a voice that sounded confident, steady, modern and honest.

Opening day is more than four months away, but Baltimore’s new skipper earned himself some credibility and trust on Day 1.

For now, that’s a fine place to start.

Have a news tip? Contact Josh Tolentino at jtolentino@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200, x.com/JCTSports and instagram.com/JCTSports. 

He didn’t need much. Just a pen, a handshake and a chance to prove he belonged. 

“Alby,” an undersized catcher from Fall River, Massachusetts, had a cannon for an arm and a mind for the game to match, but he never reached the majors as a player in the Tampa Bay Rays organization. Instead, he built a life in baseball through persistence and empathy that has led him to the manager’s seat in Baltimore. 

At 43, the former Division-II hustler now inherits a team rich in talent and expectation. Albernaz was hired last week as the 21st manager in Orioles history, taking over a club anxious to rebound from its last-place finish in 2025. 

The Baltimore Sun spoke with more than a dozen people who know Albernaz best — from college mentors and longtime teammates to players he’s coached across the minors and majors — to understand the man now tasked with leading one of MLB’s most promising yet unproven rosters. Through these conversations, a portrait emerged of a leader defined by his quick wit, authentic personality and drive to outwork everybody around him.

Undrafted and undersized

Josh Beauregard found out what kind of competitor his Eckerd College teammate was only a few days into Albernaz’s college career. 

Albernaz showed up to his first spring practices at the small Florida-based school with a thick Boston accent and blue-collar attitude. Listed at 5 feet, 8 inches, he wasn’t an imposing figure by his stature. Yet his presence was hard to miss. Albernaz approached Beauregard, who would go on to set the Eckerd College record for stolen bases, and told the sophomore outfielder not to try running on him.

“I was like, ‘Oh, yeah, we’ll see.’ And then I saw him throw, and I was like, ‘Dear god, this boy can chuck it pretty good.’ He’s not a big man, but he could throw the crap out of it,” Beauregard, now the head of Eckerd’s baseball program, said in a phone interview.

Their coach, Bill “Skip” Mathews, agreed, describing Albernaz as “blessed with the best arm of anyone I’ve ever seen or coached in my 40 years of coaching baseball.” He quickly earned the trust of his coaches with his pitch-calling and the affinity of his pitchers for his framing.

“He was never satisfied with the amount of time we spent on the field,” Mathews said. “We had restrictions in the NCAA, and he always wanted more and more and more. It was crazy. He was relentless in his pursuit of making not only himself, but others around him good. … It was a way of life for him. 

“If I could have cloned him, I would have won a thousand games.” 

Albernaz’s leadership was the trait that stood out the most. His teammates predicted he would go on to manage well before his playing days were over.

“When we were playing in college, everybody just sort of looked and said, ‘Hey, what does Alby think about this?’ And they looked to him to lead,” said Billy Evers Jr., Albernaz’s former roommate and the current Eckerd College deputy athletic director. “He loved the game and he wanted to elevate his teammates.”

After he went undrafted, Albernaz was ready to try out for an independent league team in February 2006 when Mathews received a call from then-Rays player development coordinator Mitch Lukevics with his $1,000 offer. Mathews drove him to Tropicana Field himself, and Albernaz signed his first contract right then in Lukevics’ office. 

He became every pitcher’s favorite backstop to work with during spring training, even working as former Cy Young Award winner David Price’s personal catcher at one point. Albernaz’s arm was once again on full display — he threw out 44% of would-be base stealers during his minor league career — and he made it to Triple-A despite a lifetime .199/.276/.211 slash line. 

“If modern catching metrics were around back then, he’s probably a guy with a 10-year big league career,” said his longtime trainer Eric Cressey, now the director of player health and performance for the New York Yankees.

Setting a precedent

When Albernaz transitioned from player to coach and began managing in the Rays’ system, his impact was immediate. 

During just his second season as a minor-league manager in 2018, he quickly transformed the High-A Bowling Green Hot Rods into one of the best teams in the minors. The club set a franchise record for wins and steamrolled its way to a Midwest League Championship, powered by a loose clubhouse culture that reflected its manager’s personality.

Several of Albernaz’s players had spent the previous year in Advanced-Rookie Princeton, where they had grown used to an old-school manager in Danny Sheaffer, who banned cellphones and kept the next day’s schedule hidden following defeats.

But in Bowling Green, Albernaz cultivated a work atmosphere that brought out the best of his players and has transferred throughout his career.

“After our first loss, everybody in the clubhouse is quiet,” recalled former pitcher Tyler Zombro, who went 8-2 with a 2.84 ERA that season. “Alby comes bopping out of his office and in his heavy northeastern accent goes, ‘What’s wrong with you [expletives]? Turn the music on!’ … He held you accountable, but you were always going to be yourself and feel comfortable.”  

Albernaz demanded professionalism, but it never came at the expense of joy, according to several of his former players. 

For all the wins that the 2018 Bowling Green squad experienced, players say the real change was in how everyone was treated. Under Albernaz, fast-rising prospects and late-round relievers shared the same expectations.

Brendan McKay, the No. 4 pick in the 2017 draft by the Rays, remembers a manager who allowed players to enjoy the long grind without losing focus. Given McKay’s unique status and development as a two-way player, Albernaz prioritized his communication with the fast riser.  

“He’s just a fun guy to be around. He would love to joke with you,” McKay recalled. “He definitely had that personal aspect to him; it wasn’t just that player-manager, player-coach aspect. He was truly invested in who you are as a person, too, my family, my personal relationship, he showed that he cared about all of that.”

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He continued: “Alby’d always let you have fun and be yourself, but within reason. Even after losses, he’d say, ‘Stop [expletive] being sad, bump that music!’ Win or loss, he’d remind us, ‘You’re doing what you’ve always dreamt of doing, so enjoy it.’” 

That message resonated with newcomers, too.

Pitcher Tommy Romero joined Bowling Green following a midseason trade from Seattle. He arrived nervous and unsure if he belonged; his worst outing that season came at the hands of Bowling Green. But according to Romero, Albernaz drove up his confidence level on the mound and in the clubhouse, quickly erasing his initial nerves.

The right-hander went on to become a 2018 Midwest League All-Star, one of several players who thrived under Albernaz. 

“Alby just welcomed me with open arms,” Romero said. “He was always transparent with the guys. We won a bunch that year, but even when he lost, he never changed, never panicked. He always believed in us, and that made us believe in ourselves.”

Albernaz was promoted to Rays minor-league field coordinator in 2019, a position that allowed him to oversee multiple levels across the organization and reengage with former prospects he managed. He joins a unique group of former Rays minor leaguers who are current major league managers, including Stephen Vogt (Guardians), Matt Quatraro (Royals), Kevin Cash (Rays) and new Nationals manager Blake Butera.

Two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell, a 2011 first-round draft pick by the Rays, described Albernaz as “one of the dopest coaches in baseball.”

“He’s lit,” Snell said. “Seems like he will be a great fit over there [in Baltimore].” 

A manager in waiting

Wherever Albernaz went, winning followed. 

Following his success with the Rays organization, the San Francisco Giants then plucked him for their big league staff the following year, naming him bullpen coach and catching instructor under manager Gabe Kapler. 

His first year in San Francisco, the Giants went 107-55 and won the National League West behind a renaissance season from catcher Buster Posey. Albernaz also overlapped with defensive stalwart Patrick Bailey, who has starred defensively in an era that better appreciates his framing and game-calling.

“Kapler leaned on him quite a bit,” said Curt Casali, who was a backup catcher for the Giants from 2021 to 2022 and played under Albernaz as a Rays prospect. “I think Craig could be summarized as a glue guy, just bringing out the best in everybody, whether it’s the players or the coaching staff.” 

It wasn’t long before teams started expressing interest in Albernaz as a major league manager. The Cleveland Guardians interviewed him ahead of the 2024 season before ultimately deciding on Vogt, Albernaz’s former teammate and one of his closest friends. Vogt took the job and made Albernaz his bench coach, ushering in a new clubhouse culture in Cleveland and emerging as a force in the American League. 

“Alby got a lot of guys out of their shell,” Guardians base running and outfield coach J.T. Maguire said. “Not even just for the young guys, guys like José Ramírez, he’s come out of his shell 1,000% compared to when I first met him. So, it’s not a cliché that we are fun-loving and very out in the open with things like that. But it actually is what it is. It’s authentic.”

After the Guardians won the AL Central and made a run to the AL Championship Series — with Vogt winning Manager of the Year honors along the way — more teams came knocking. The Miami Marlins and Chicago White Sox both interviewed Albernaz for their manager vacancies, but Albernaz ultimately pulled out of the running to return to Cleveland.

The Guardians sweetened the deal with a promotion to “associate manager,” an unconventional title that reflected his influence on the organization. Albernaz wasn’t just Vogt’s right-hand man, talking him through every in-game manager decision. He touched nearly every part of the Guardians’ day-to-day operations. Macguire said players and coaches always went to Albernaz next if Vogt was unavailable, and he communicated with the front office often.

Another successful season in Cleveland and another hiring cycle later, Albernaz finally found a match in Baltimore. The Orioles presented him with the opportunity to manage a team with win-now expectations in a city within driving distance of the Philadelphia area, where his family calls home.

He might not be the proven, experienced MLB manager some Orioles fans clamored for after they went 75-87 and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2022, but Albernaz has shown the characteristics of a big league skipper throughout his baseball career. 

“He’s just a straight shooter,” Beauregard said. “I think the way he talks, the dialect, being from Mass and all that sort of stuff, where there’s always an undertone of sarcasm sometimes, but he’s hitting you right between the eyes with the truth. And you’re like, ‘Dang, you kind of zinged me there, but I love you for it.’ … I think he’s going to do a fantastic job. I’m thrilled to death.” 

Have a news tip? Contact Matt Weyrich at mweyrich@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200, x.com/ByMattWeyrich and instagram.com/bymattweyrich, and Josh Tolentino at jtolentino@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200, x.com/JCTSports and instagram.com/JCTSports.

The Ravens’ general manager flashed a grin toward his wife, Lacie, as the two embraced, clasped hands and slipped out into the South Florida night, the echoes of Baltimore’s 28-6 dismantling of the Dolphins still pulsing behind them.

It was a satisfying walk for the team’s top football executive who hasn’t had many easy strides this year.

The performance he witnessed proved that despite a forgettable start to the season, the Ravens can still fight and compete — and they’re close enough that DeCosta can’t afford to stand still with the NFL trade deadline looming Tuesday afternoon.

Just look at the product on display in Thursday’s blowout victory. Baltimore’s defense is awakening, Lamar Jackson is back, and the Ravens’ season suddenly has life. DeCosta must treat this surge as an invitation for more smart additions with the belief that this Jackson-led roster can still contend deep into January.

DeCosta has whiffed on more than a few personnel swings. Two of his bigger offseason additions — backup quarterback Cooper Rush and cornerback Jaire Alexander — were healthy scratches Thursday, a combined $12 million of salary watching in street clothes.

But the same executive who misfired on those signings also struck gold earlier this month.

Aside from Jackson’s return, no move has transformed Baltimore’s season more than the Oct. 7 trade that sent edge rusher Odafe Oweh to the Chargers in exchange for safety Alohi Gilman. In just three short weeks, Gilman’s presence has helped reshape the identity of Baltimore’s defense.

Gilman’s first-half forced fumble and recovery led to the Ravens’ first touchdown drive and boosted a visitors sideline that has often struggled to sustain energy. Gilman’s takeaway marked one of a season-high three takeaways for the Ravens, who shut out the Dolphins in the second half.

Gilman’s true impact, though, lies within his presence across the secondary, which has freed Mr. Do-It-All safety Kyle Hamilton to once again become one of the league’s most dangerous defensive chess pieces.

Through the season’s first four games, Hamilton aligned in the box on just 17.4% of defensive snaps, according to Next Gen Stats. Since Gilman’s arrival, Hamilton’s frequency in the box has soared to around 60%.

Against the Dolphins, Hamilton was a wrecking ball often lining up near the trenches, disrupting throwing lanes, blowing up screens and clogging holes in the run game.

“Kyle Hamilton is able to move around and be who he is,” rookie safety Malaki Starks said. “He doesn’t have to stay in [the secondary], which I think is special and very important. For him to go out there and play his game, and when we plan around him, it’s awesome.”

Flexibility with Hamilton has changed just about everything for Zach Orr’s defense, which successfully kept Miami out of the end zone in the Week 9 prime-time contest.

“I’m just slowly building the chemistry with the guys here,” Gilman said. “They’ve welcomed me with open arms, I’m grateful to be part of it. This is just the beginning. We have a lot of work to do.”

Are you listening, DeCosta?

Baltimore’s defense finally looks alive, but it’s still incomplete. The run defense and pass rush, in particular, both lack consistency.

The Ravens’ two sacks of Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa were more byproduct of his hesitation and indecision than Baltimore’s push. As veteran outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy told the Prime Video broadcast, the pass rush hasn’t been the same since defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike went down with a season-ending neck injury in mid-September.

Beefing up the trenches should be DeCosta’s top priority over the next five days.

Someone in the mold of the Jets’ Quinnen Williams could help make up for Madubuike’s absence. Two other intriguing options were visible on the opposite sideline Thursday night in Miami’s Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb, both of whom recorded impressive pancakes against Baltimore’s offensive line and fullback Patrick Ricard. For DeCosta to acquire such pieces, he must be willing to shed some of Baltimore’s precious draft capital.

When glancing at the defensive line’s current makeup, relying on 36-year-old John Jenkins (4,291 career snaps) and 34-year-old Brent Urban (2,565) to anchor the line feels like patch work, and it could be a risky formula once meaningful football arrives in December and January.

Bring on the reinforcements.

The Gilman trade should remind DeCosta and company what a timely, targeted move is capable of creating. Gilman’s arrival reshaped Hamilton’s role and more importantly has drastically changed how opponents both gameplan and attack Orr’s evolving defensive scheme.

Just six days ago, the Ravens were 1-5.

But for the first time all season, the Ravens boast momentum. Looking ahead, Baltimore faces one of the league’s easiest remaining schedules with five of its last eight games coming against division opponents.

Back inside the jubilant visitors locker room, players and coaches embraced one another in celebratory fashion as NBA YoungBoy lyrics blared from a loud speaker.

DeCosta lingered just long enough to soak in the sound before heading toward the corridor where his wife waited. He broke his typical serious face and smiled like one who believed the tide was finally turning.

“I hate that idea of just a closed window,” DeCosta said in late August. “Being a GM on a closed window team gives me anxiety, and I don’t want to be that GM.”

Baltimore’s window appears to be opening again.

Given the extremely positive results from his most recent acquisition, it’d be wise for DeCosta to serve up another act.

Have a news tip? Contact Josh Tolentino at jtolentino@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200, x.com/JCTSports and instagram.com/JCTSports. 

Right-hander Rico García signed a one-year, $900,000 major league contract with the Orioles for the 2026 season, two sources with direct knowledge of the situation told The Baltimore Sun. The club made the deal official Thursday morning but didn’t announce the terms.

García, 31, has appeared for seven teams across five MLB seasons, landing in Baltimore by waiver claim in August and posting a 2.84 ERA with 20 strikeouts and six walks in 19 innings. The Honolulu, Hawaii, native has less than two years’ worth of service time and is not yet eligible for arbitration, but he’s also out of minor league options, putting him in the mix for a bullpen spot next season.

Pre-arbitration players don’t typically sign for much more than the league minimum, which is set at $780,000 for 2026 as part of the league’s collective bargaining agreement with the MLB Players Association.

Baltimore is entering this offseason with several holes to fill in its bullpen. The club traded relievers Seranthony Domínguez, Gregory Soto and Andrew Kittredge at the July 31 trade deadline and lost closer Félix Bautista to a torn labrum and rotator cuff, leaving Keegan Akin and Yennier Cano as the Orioles’ only proven arms to handle the late innings.

That created the opportunity for other relievers to earn their place on the 2026 roster and García was among those who took advantage. He pitched in several high-leverage situations and earned a reputation as a fireman, often entering games with inherited runners on base. His fastball averaged 95.5 mph, and the addition of a gyro slider midseason expanded his arsenal.

García, who also appeared for the New York Mets and Yankees last year, is under team control through the 2030 season. The 30th round pick of the Colorado Rockies in 2016 carries a career 5.27 ERA, 1.54 WHIP and 18.97% strikeout rate in 70 innings.

O’s secure infield depth with Vázquez

The Orioles announced another deal for a pre-arbitration player Thursday evening, agreeing to a one-year contract with infielder Luis Vázquez.

Vázquez, 26, played at all four infield positions and made four emergency relief appearances for the Orioles this season, hitting .160 with a home run and two stolen bases in 32 games. Baltimore acquired the Puerto Rican utility man in a cash trade with the Chicago Cubs in January and he spent nearly the entire second half in the majors.

Injuries and the deadline fire sale made Vázquez a useful depth option, though he never came close to replicating the .271/.343/.413 slash line he posted at Triple-A Norfolk. He will still have minor league options in 2026 and could continue to fill an organizational depth role even if the club acquires a veteran utility man to replace the departed Ramón Urías this winter.

Have a news tip? Contact Josh Tolentino at jtolentino@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200, x.com/JCTSports and instagram.com/JCTSports and Matt Weyrich at mweyrich@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/ByMattWeyrich and instagram.com/bymattweyrich.

Sure, they didn’t erase all of their issues in Sunday’s 30-16 victory over the Bears, but Baltimore cranked out a needed win, highlighted by Tyler Huntley’s heroics and the defense’s second consecutive strong outing. While the Ravens slammed the door against the Bears, they simultaneously cracked the door open for something that hasn’t existed all season.

Momentum.

The once-Super Bowl favorites need every bit of it.

Franchise quarterback and two-time NFL Most Valuable Player Lamar Jackson is expected to return Thursday night in Miami, coach John Harbaugh said Monday.

“I feel very confident,” Harbaugh said. “I would expect Lamar to be out there Thursday night.”

Just like that, Superman is back under center, and the outlook of Baltimore’s season shifts again.

Yep, more momentum.

Jackson’s return comes at a pivotal moment; this week marks the midpoint of the regular season. It’s about time Baltimore (2-5) goes on a roll.

The Ravens have spent the past month mostly sinking while navigating one of the worst starts in franchise history. But Huntley’s impressive fill-in performance Sunday jump-started the Ravens to their first win in six weeks. Now, Jackson’s return from a hamstring injury that he suffered in the team’s Week 4 loss at Kansas City offers a rejuvenated bunch an unlimited sense of hope.

A perfect run of the table is probably unrealistic, but a surge is absolutely up for grabs. The schedule over the next month — starting Thursday in Miami Gardens — is loaded with winnable games. Baltimore’s next five opponents (Dolphins, Vikings, Browns, Jets and Bengals) all own losing records.

Anyone else see a potential 7-5 record heading into a pivotal Week 14 home matchup against Pittsburgh?

The AFC North remains wide-open after the Steelers fell to 4-3 with their loss to Green Bay on Sunday night. The Bengals (3-5) also collapsed this weekend in an inexplicable 39-38 loss to the previously winless New York Jets. Meanwhile, the Browns (2-5) have displayed a sturdy defense, but remain one of the league’s go-to laughing stocks given all their quarterback drama this season and in recent years.

The pathway to a division title surely remains alive, and despite their 2-5 record, many major sportsbooks still listed the Ravens as favorites to win the division as of Monday evening.

Baltimore handled Chicago this past Sunday because of Huntley, who effectively saved the season. It’s up to Jackson now to return the favor. In the three games that Jackson has started and finished this season, the Ravens scored a whopping 111 points. Baltimore was off to a historic offensive pace, but everything was derailed by injuries and lingering emotional turmoil that paired poorly with one of the league’s toughest opening schedules.

Jackson’s on-field presence will provide the Ravens with explosiveness, unpredictability and belief that Baltimore has missed dearly over the past month.

Jackson, who is expected to speak to reporters for the first time since Sept. 24 on Tuesday, also is returning to a roster that looks nearly complete. That wasn’t the case over the first stretch, when injuries piled up and key veterans were sidelined. Four of Baltimore’s five losses have come against Super Bowl contenders in Buffalo, Detroit, Kansas City and Los Angeles.

A victory over the Dolphins would mark Baltimore’s first winning streak of the season. It also could motivate general manager Eric DeCosta to get busy and work the phone lines ahead of next Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline. Adding defensive piece(s) could be top of mind for DeCosta if the Ravens board a happy return flight home from South Florida.

Fighting for a top spot in the conference seems unrealistic. That’s a hole too deep to dig out of. But chasing a division crown and an automatic playoff berth remains within reach. The Ravens roster, after all, was touted as one of the best at the start of the season. The team’s depth has been exposed somewhat, but the top-end talent is still present, headlined by Jackson.

Jackson’s return to the huddle doesn’t guarantee a special run. But Jackson provides the Ravens with a fighting chance. At this point in a wild season, that’s all you can ask.

Have a news tip? Contact Josh Tolentino at jtolentino@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200, x.com/JCTSports and instagram.com/JCTSports.

Chicago’s top football executive who moved on from Smith witnessed the opening act. What soon came after belonged to the five-time All-Pro linebacker he dealt to Baltimore. Smith’s fingerprints were all over the Ravens’ first win in more than a month.

Smith, 28, returned from his two-game absence because of a hamstring injury and finished with a game-high 12 tackles in Baltimore’s 30-16 victory, serving as physical and emotional anchors to a defensive performance that finally looked like Ravens football again. In the team’s two wins this season, Smith has piled up 26 tackles.

“It’s like new energy,” Smith said. “I feel like the team got a fresh start and we’re just going to show who we are.”

The start wasn’t necessarily smooth sailing.

Chicago’s second-year quarterback Caleb Williams diced through Baltimore’s defense on its first two possessions. But both drives stalled inside the red zone, each ending with a field goal. A few weeks ago, those drives probably would’ve resulted in touchdowns. But on Sunday, they were survival stands that helped the Ravens find their footing — and dare to say, reclaim their identity — against a surging Bears team that saw their four-game win streak come to an abrupt halt.

In addition to Smith’s presence, fellow defensive leader and safety Kyle Hamilton added eight tackles, while rookie outside linebacker Mike Green registered his first career sack. The defense also forced Williams into committing a pair of intentional grounding penalties.

“Let’s give credit to those guys over there,” Williams said. “They came out and played a hell of a game. It’s a hell of a team over there. I know their record doesn’t necessarily show it, but that’s a team that’s been in multiple championship games and playoff games. That game today was one of those games where they had to come out and try to win the game.”

When the Bears mounted a late-game push, the Ravens responded emphatically.

Cornerback Nate Wiggins jumped an in-breaking route by wide receiver Rome Odunze and picked off quarterback Williams in the fourth quarter, setting Baltimore up inside Chicago’s red zone. Just two plays later, Tyler Huntley hit tight end Charlie Kolar for a decisive 10-yard touchdown reception.

The Bears had one final gasp after the defense gave up a long completion on the ensuing drive to wide receiver DJ Moore. Chicago ran four offensive plays inside Baltimore’s 3-yard line with under two minutes left that resulted in four big-time stops by Baltimore. As part of the sequence, Smith and fellow linebacker Teddye Buchanan crashed the interior to stonewall Williams’ quarterback sneak.

Moments after the Ravens stuffed the Bears one last time, John Harbaugh sought out Smith for a long embrace, the coach-player duo knowing what this moment meant.

Following a month-plus of spiraling through disappointment, Baltimore came out of the bye feeling rejuvenated.

“We embraced each other, knowing the last month has been very tough,” Smith said. “I consider myself an eternal optimist, so it’s always like, we’ve got a shot to do whatever we want.”

As Tyler Huntley sparked life into the offense, the Ravens’ defense slammed the door shut.

Bears running back D’Andre Swift entered the Week 8 matchup with a whopping 232 rushing yards over his past two games (7 yards per carry average), but managed just 45 rushing yards across 11 carries (4.1 average) versus Baltimore. The Ravens also held the Bears to 6 of 13 on third down, 0-for-1 on fourth down, and 1-for-3 in the red zone. Wiggins’ interception marked the defense’s second straight game with a takeaway.

The Ravens (2-5) improved to 15-3 after their bye week under Harbaugh, tied with Pittsburgh for the best overall record after the bye.

Sunday represented a gritty and urgent performance from the Ravens, a team on the brink that needed to claw back into the win column. Over their past two games, the Ravens have held the Rams and Bears to their second-lowest and lowest point totals of the season, respectively.

Baltimore faces a steep climb, but the team’s second victory felt like a reset. For the Ravens to make anything of this season, Smith and company will need to continue setting the tone.

“I know what I bring to the table,” Smith said. “So it’s just more so about me echoing that each and every snap through my play.”

Have a news tip? Contact Josh Tolentino at jtolentino@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200, x.com/JCTSports and instagram.com/JCTSports.