Blackmon To Visit Ravens

Robert Blackmon, a free-agent strong safety who played for the Seattle Seahawks last season, is expected to visit the Baltimore Ravens’ complex today, said Ozzie Newsome, the team’s vice president of player personnel.

Blackmon and Dallas Cowboys free safety Brock Marion were two of the highest-rated safeties in the free-agent market. Blackmon, 29, had a career-high 102 tackles in 16 games last season, third-best on the team. He also had three interceptions.

Wide receiver Andre Rison, who scored the first touchdown of the Super Bowl on a pass from Brett Favre, had his contract terminated by the Green Bay Packers.

Green Bay general manager Ron Wolf, announcing the decision, said the team’s receiver corps doesn’t have room for Rison as a starter.

Darrell Russell of Southern California, perhaps the top-rated defensive tackle in college, ran his injury-delayed 40-yard dash in Los Angeles, showing the athleticism National Football League scouts crave.

Dick Haley, who runs the Jets’ draft, timed the 6-foot-5-inch, 312-pounder in 4.85 seconds. The Trojans’ strength coach, James Strom, said that the only USC lineman to run faster than Russell was Willie McGinest, now a Patriot.

The Philadelphia Eagles re-signed linebacker Sylvester Wright, defensive back Deral Boykin and wide receiver Freddie Solomon.

The team also signed former New York Giants draft pick Stacy Dillard, a defensive tackle, and eight other players to free agent contracts.

The Cincinnati Bengals signed free-agent cornerback Jocelyn Borgella to a two-year contract.