Carter won't play with the Ravens' this season.

The Ravens' recently acquired cornerback Dale Carter will miss the 2004 season because of a blood clot in his lung, Coach Brian Billick announced Thursday.
"It's quite serious, very serious to the degree that it was life-threatening," Billick said. "He is on blood thinners and will be for six months. That will preclude him from playing this year."
The veteran player was expected to be Baltimore's nickel back this season. He joined the Ravens as a free agent, following an 11-year NFL career with stints in Kansas City (1992-98), Denver (1999-2000), Minnesota (2001) and New Orleans (2002-03).
Carter, 34, said his illness was discovered during an at-home workout in Houston last month. Pain in his side became so bad he couldn't breathe, so he went to the emergency room where the blood clots were discovered.
"The doctors told me I was the luckiest person in the world right now," Carter said. "I didn't think it was that serious. I thank God I'm here today."
Carter has had an up-and-down career. A four-time Pro Bowl player, he has been suspended twice for violating the league's substance abuse policy.
Without Carter, the Ravens become thinner at the cornerback position behind starters Gary Baxter and Chris McAlister, who did not report to training camp Friday near Westminster.
He is hoping for a long-term contract that could pay as much as an $18 million signing bonus, $2 million more than the team reportedly has offered.
Despite the absences and the looming drug conspiracy trial of running back Jamal Lewis, the team entered training camp with high hopes for the season.
"Super Bowl or bust," outside linebacker Adalius Thomas said. "That's what we're going for with all of us on the same page. Everybody knows what the goal is."
The Ravens won the AFC North Division for the first time in 2003 before being eliminated in the wild-card round by Tennessee. They return with all but one starter (free-agent Marcus Robinson), the league's third-ranked defense, and Super Bowl-level optimism among players and coaches.
"This is a team that's capable of it," offensive consultant Jim Fassel said. "In a league where teams change (personnel) all the time, this team has stayed together."
Sixth-year head coach Brian Billick -- who signed a new contract this week -- is not known for rigorous training camps. This year is no different. Even though there are 29 practices being held over 26 days, the slate includes eight off days and only seven days of full-squad two-a-day workouts.

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