Matt Vensel: The Ravens' defense was the team's best unit in 2011, ranking among the NFL's elite in sacks, scoring defense and yards allowed per game. But you could argue that the defense has the most question marks entering this offseason. The team will need to start planning for life after Ray Lewis and Ed Reed, find a pass rusher to pair with linebacker Terrell Suggs and make sure the defensive swagger doesn't leave with coordinator Chuck Pagano's departure.

The Orioles' signing of a South Korean teenage pitching prospect has prompted Korean baseball officials to consider imposing stricter rules on major league clubs looking to sign the nation's top young talent. Last month, the Orioles signed 17-year-old Kim Seong-min, regarded as South Korea's top left-handed high school pitching prospect, to an international free-agent deal. The move has since drawn outrage from the South Korean baseball community.

Columnist says John Harbaugh's name should be mentioned in the same breath as the likes of Bill Belichick, Tom Coughlin, Mike Tomlin and Mike McCarthy.

The Port of Baltimore?s public terminals handled 8.88 million tons of cargo in 2011, the second-highest amount of any year on record, leaders of the Maryland Port Administration said Thursday. The port?s business was bolstered last year by record numbers of container and automobile cargo. In all, the Port of Baltimore?s state-owned terminals saw container business rise 4 percent to 402,135 units last year. Meanwhile, the total number of cars to come through the port rose 12 percent to 446,403...

There will be souped-up muscle cars at the Motor Trend International Auto Show in Baltimore this weekend. But Peter Kitzmiller, president of the Maryland Automobile Dealers Association, said it is what?s inside the cars that will draw consumers? attention. Customers are looking for cars that come with all the latest technology and get at least 40 miles to the gallon when they descend upon the Baltimore Convention Center this weekend, Kitzmiller said. The Auto Show, which opened Thursday, features some of the latest cars offered by major manufacturers such as Ford, Toyota and Honda, among others...

The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore is gearing up for its busy season and is hiring workers to handle the crowds. The Druid Hill Park attraction is hiring seasonal workers for various jobs, such as ticket sales and visitor services (greeters and ride attendants). There?s also openings for member services and custodial positions. Most of the jobs are part time. If you?re looking for full-time work, however, the zoo is hiring an elephant animal keep and a staff accountant. For more information on all of the jobs visit the Zoo?s hiring website...