Ricky Williams, who will turn 35 before the 2012 season, says he will return to the Ravens for his 12th professional season. "My body feels good and I know I'm going to train hard and so I'm excited about next year," Williams said. "I've grown a lot, kind of falling into a new role and a new city and a new organization, and I've gotten better. And like everyone else, I feel like I have something to build on for next year." Williams had career lows in carries (108) and rushing yards (444) after joining the Ravens last summer on a two-year contract. He served a critical backup role to Ray Rice, who often said Williams was "the best thing that ever happened to me."

The Ravens have hired Jim Caldwell as their quarterbacks coach. "After spending considerable time with Jim over the last week, we think he will be an excellent fit with our team, coaching the quarterbacks and helping with our offense," Baltimore coach John Harbaugh said in a statement. "We believe he enhances our staff. Jim has a tremendous history coaching at the college and pro level, especially working with quarterbacks and providing help with offenses. The timing is right to add a quarterbacks coach after (offensive coordinator) Cam (Cameron) and Joe (Flacco) worked so closely and well together this year. It's the right step for us now."

Cam Cameron's four-year contract with the Ravens was set to expire next month and following the AFC title game, he told some co-workers he didn't expect to be brought back. However, Baltimore opted to keep Cameron for 2012 under a contract of undisclosed length. A league source said that one stipulation of Cameron's return was that the team hired a quarterbacks coach. He served in both roles during the 2011 season.

It was announced on Friday that Cam Cameron will return as the offensive coordinator of the Ravens next season. Cameron has orchestrated Baltimore's offense for the past four seasons and was set to become a free agent this offseason. The Ravens had the 15th-rated offense in 2011. "It was a foregone conclusion to me (to bring Cameron back), head coach Jon Harbaugh said. "I was excited about it. It was a good year. We turned a lot of things over on offense."

Matt Birk hasn't decided whether or not he will retire this offseason or return for a 15th NFL season as a member of the Ravens. His contract is up in Baltimore, so they'll have to express interest in signing him again. Birk has started every game in his three seasons on the team's offensive line.

The Ravens promoted linebackers coach Dean Pees to defensive coordinator on Friday. Pees fills the void created when Chuck Pagano departed to become coach of the Colts. "The tradition of this defense will continue, and it will flourish and it will get even better," coach John Harbaugh said.

Billy Cundiff was confused by what down it was when he ran out onto the field to try and kick the game-tying field goal in Sunday's AFC Championship Game between the Ravens and Patriots. According to Baltimore kicking consultant Randy Brown, it wasn't Cundiff's fault that he was confused. "The scoreboard was one down behind, the entire last three plays, from what we understand," Brown said. That caused Billy Cundiff to have to rush on to the field with just seconds left on the play clock to try and make the kick, which he missed. When Brown was asked if he thought the Patriots did it it on purpose to gain an advantage, Brown replied, "I don't think you can rule anything out in New England, can you?"

In an interview with PFT Live on Tuesday, Ray Rice said he fully expects to remain with the Ravens this offseason. Rice said early in the appearance that he was "almost positive" he would be back in Baltimore, then later guaranteed he would return. The Ravens will surely use the franchise tag on Rice if they can't reach a long term deal. "If the franchise tag happens, it happens," Rice said. "Not the worst thing in the world. It's definitely a lot more than I'll ever have."

Bernard Pollard said Tuesday that his reputation for injuring members of the Patriots was "fine and dandy." While playing with the Chiefs, Pollard delivered the 2008 hit on Tom Brady that tore his ACL. When with the Texans, he was the nearest opposing player in the vicinity when Wes Welker tore his ACL a season later. Most recently, the safety injured Rob Gronkowski's ankle in Sunday's AFC Championship game. "It's part of the game," Pollard said in an interview with Houston radio station KILT. "If you don't like it, so what? I am going to go out there and I'm going to play me."

Chuck Pagano, currently the defensive coordinator of the Ravens, will interview for the head coaching vacancy with the Colts on Tuesday, according to a league source. This season was Pagano's first in charge of the vaunted Baltimore defense. Under Pagano, Baltimore allowed the third-fewest points and yards in the league in 2011. Ed Reed, Ray Lewis, Terrell Suggs and Haloti Ngata also made the Pro Bowl under Pagano.