The Baltimore Sun reports that the Ravens have had some preliminary discussions with Marty Schottenheimer about the team’s head-coaching vacancy.

“There’s been some discussion but nothing substantive,” said Schottenheimer’s agent, Trace Armstrong.

Marty would make sense for a Ravens team that needs a kick in the pants from a veteran coach who knows how to get results.  The question, however, is whether the players will accept him.  When, for example, Schottenheimer became the head coach of the Redskins in 2001, Deion Sanders opted for retirement over playing Martyball.

And as left tackle Jonathan Ogden said recently, “I would not want to play for Marty personally.  Nothing against the man, I just know his style.  He had Bruce Smith doing the Oklahoma drill when he was with the Redskins.”

The X-factor, obviously, is Ray Lewis.  If he chooses not to accept Schottenheimer, it could end up being a nightmare.

But for how long will the Ravens allow themselves to be held hostage by a player who thinks he runs the team?  Though Lewis can still bring it between the white lines, there’s a certain point where the headaches he creates outweigh the body aches that he can cause.