The Steelers are keeping their fingers crossed they can retain Mike Wallace, but it remains a distinct possibility a team can swoop and steal the wideout away.

The Baltimore Ravens tendered offers to restricted free-agent cornerbacks Lardarius Webb and Cary Williams.

The Ravens released CB Chris Carr on Thursday, according to league sources.

Ravens center Matt Birk isn’t retiring, according to his agent, Joe Linta. Birk wants to return to Baltimore, and Linta began contract talks with the team Saturday at the NFL Scouting Combine.

Joe Linta, the agent for Ravens QB Joe Flacco, met with team officials at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis on Saturday afternoon and said initial contract talks went well.

With Mario Manningham expected to hit free agency, the Giants could consider a number of options for what has become a rather productive No. 3 receiver position.

A couple of short, but sweet leftovers from Thursday’s Pro Bowl practice at Hickam Air Force Base.

After 16 seasons in the NFL, Ray Lewis is at peace with his status — as what many consider the best ever at linebacker, and as a regular visitor to Honolulu as a runner-up.

Call it sour grapes, but Baltimore Ravens linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo might not be among the hundreds of millions of people watching two Sundays from now when the New England Patriots take on the New York Giants in the Super Bowl.

When you look at the tape, the Patriots and Giants walked away conference champions for reasons that spanned the length of the game. And the Ravens and 49ers exited stage right for just as many reasons.

“Playbook” analysts Solomon Wilcots, Brian Baldinger, Joe Theismann and Brian Billick make their picks for the conference championship games.

Ball So Hard University has produced its first crop of graduates. Matt Richey, Kenny Silkworth and Robert “McFreshington” Norton have put their heads together to pump out “Ravens Nation,” a song dedicated to Naltimore’s 12-4 jaunt through the regular season that continues Sunday with a home playoff game against the Texans.

Joe Flacco deserves some credit in at least one area. The guy is getting pretty good at brushing off criticism.

Four divisional playoff games this weekend to break down. Let’s get right to it.

The No. 3 seeds (Houston and San Francisco) are feeling pretty good about themselves after big wins in the Wild Card round. What kind of obstacles will they face this week?