The Ravens have signed Curtis Painter to a one-year contract. Painter worked out for the Ravens on Thursday along with former Baltimore starter Kyle Boller and former Pittsburgh backup Dennis Dixon. He will compete with Tyrod Taylor to backup Baltimore starter Joe Flacco.

Ravens head coach John Harbaugh has been texting potential undrafted free agents, according to league sources. His message explains that the player has come up in draft meetings, how Baltimore would like to find a way to bring him in and tells the players to feel free to call him with any questions or feedback. The Eagles began sending letters to borderline draftable players about a year ago, laying the foundation for signing them after the draft.

Joe Flacco hasn't received a contract extension from the Ravens, but the quarterback has reported to their voluntary workouts. Flacco is in the midst of negotiating a contract extension "The contract is not really an issue," he said. "It's going to be taken care of by the guys upstairs and my agent. I really don't have anything to worry about on that front. Either it's going to get done or it's not. I won't be happy if it doesn’t get done, but I'm not going to make a big deal of it."

Ray Rice, Matt Forte and Drew Brees are not expected to report to the start of their team's voluntary workouts Monday, according to sources. All three players received their team's franchise tag this offseason and are still looking for long-term contracts. All players under contract are expected, although not required, to participate in the voluntary workouts. Brees, Forte and Rice have refused to sign their franchise tenders and play under one-year contracts.

The Ravens haven't negotiated with Joe Flacco about a potential contract extension since the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. Flacco, a first-round pick in 2008, has one year left on his rookie deal.

The Ravens continue to discuss a potential contract extension with Joe Flacco, but nothing is close. Baltimore is also in talks with Ray Rice, Lardarius Webb and Cary Williams on new deals.

Ed Reed plans to play in 2012, but how the Ravens handle his contract situation will ultimately make the decision. "I got some unfinished business," Reed said on 105.7 The Fan's Glenn Younes Show. "I got a lot on my mind I've been thinking about. The truth of the matter is, it's about respect. It's about getting respect and it's a business." Reed confirmed that he tried to renegotiate his contract with the Ravens last year, but "took the back seat" in those negotiations when they didn't go down the way he expected. "My plan when I went to negotiate was always, it's always to help the team. I was not trying to break the bank. Do I deserve a good substantial amount? I mean you look at Peyton [Manning, Broncos quarterback]. Peyton got five [years] for $96 [million]? I know I'm not a quarterback, but at the end of the day ... "They pay certain positions certain ways. I'm different, man." Entering the final year of his reported six-year, $44.4 million contract, Reed is scheduled to make $7.2 million next season. "Honestly, I got to take a look at myself from the outside in," Reed said. "For what I offer on the football field, for what I give on the football field and for what they know they're going to get, it's much more than these young guys out here today and what they're getting. And I'm talking about at any defensive back position right now."

The Ravens reached a six-year agreement with cornerback Lardarius Webb, the team announced Thursday. "Lardarius is an important player for the Ravens, and we're happy he will be with us for a long time," GM Ozzie Newsome said a statement.

Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco and his agent believe he's right there with the elite class of NFL quarterbacks. Flacco's agent, Joe Linta, created a stir in February when he said Flacco should be considered a top-five quarterback based on wins and losses. Flacco took it one step further Tuesday, telling WNST 1570 in Baltimore on Tuesday that he believes he's the "best" quarterback in the NFL.

Liverpool will play Tottenham in a preseason exhibition on July 28 at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. Earlier in the week, Liverpool announced a July 25 game against Roma at Boston's Fenway Park. Liverpool is owned by Fenway Sports Group, parent company of the Red Sox, and one of Fenway's limited partners is an owner of Roma.