MKRob Sports

Lardarius Webb once ran a 4.3 40-yard dash. Yamon Figurs ran a 4.3 as well. Jayson Foster put together a 4.4 in the 40.

But none of those guys stands taller than a generously-listed 5-foot-11, and none weighs more than 185 pounds.
Tavares Gooden says he checks in at 6-foot-2 1/2 and 240 pounds.

Ask him where his speed ranks among those in the Purple and Black, and without a hint of sarcasm, the second-year linebacker will toss himself right in the mix with Webb, Figurs, Foster and any other speed demon currently in Westminster.

“You could say in the top-five,” Gooden says with a swagger. “You could put me in the top-five.”

If you watch Gooden play in person, that speed jumps out at you. He’s spent the last three weeks racing from sideline to sideline at Ravens camp, making plays and showing coaches he’s ready to take over the spot the Bart Scott vacated when he left for the Jets this offseason.

But if you watch Gooden on the newly-released Madden 2010 video game, he’ll move just as quickly as a standard linebacker.

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