You all know I love the NFL and I try to write about all 32 teams whenever I can. But in the midst of doing that, I tend to neglect my favorite team. My boys in purple and black. As you all know, I'm a HUGE Ravens fan (so what I just repeated my bio!). So I need to show my hometown team some love more often. Starting with... today.

The Ravens haven't been around that long (they are going into their 14th NFL season), but boy do they have a lot of history behind them. A Super Bowl title, 3 Defensive MVPs, one of the greatest Defenses of all time (statistically), and record breaking INTs, just to name a few. In their short time, the Ravens have truly made a name for themselves. I wanted to dedicate today's blog to my Top 5 players in Ravens history. I'm sure for all of my fellow Ravens fans, you will have a different list, adding and/or subtracting others. But they're all favorites to me... okay, sorry for the corny moment. But you get my point. Here we go:

#5- RB Jamal Lewis



One stat that has Jamal on my Top 5 list- 2,066 yards. That was the amount of yards Jamal rushed for during the 2003 season, adding him to an elite class of the 2,000 yds club. Of those yds, 500 of them alone came against the Cleveland Browns (Lewis set a single game rushing record of 295 yards, which has since been broken by Adrian Peterson). Without J Lew, the Ravens don't get into the playoffs that season. Kyle Boller was hurt and Anthony Wright came in to fill the QB spot, which meant that Jamal had to carry the load and he did just that. Jamal would have been higher on my list, but when he signed with the Browns in 2007 he became a real jerk and talked bad about the Ravens and their offensive line- the same line that helped him get those 2,066 yards. After that, it wasn't hard seeing him go at all. But he still makes my list.



#4- TE Shannon Sharpe




Okay, I know what you are going to say... Sharpe only played 2 seasons with the Ravens, why is he on this list?? Well, because I truly believe we do not get to the Super Bowl in 2000 if it weren't for him. Look, we all know the Ravens defense was a monster back then. No one could run or throw against us, we were that good. But how many have forgotten about how poor the offense was? Who remembers the 5 game drounght without a TD?


That was a rough time to be a Ravens fan. When the playoffs came around, Shannon was on his A game. In the Wild Card game, he turned a possible INT into a TD to beat his former team, the Broncos. In the Titans game he had a key catch that led the Ravens inside the Titans' 10. In the AFC Championship game he had a 96 yard TD against the Raiders. If Sharpe isn't on this team, the Ravens don't win the Super Bowl, point blank. Not to mention, he gave the best sound bytes while he was here (remember him calling Plaxico Burress "Plexiglass" LOL). I don't care if he was cut after the 2001 season, that's my dawg and I'm sticking to it.



#3 T Jonathon Ogden




This seems really unfair to put him at #3. He's the Ravens first ever draft pick (thank goodness Ozzie didn't listen to Modell and choose Lawrence Phillips). A cornerstone on the offensive line for 12 seasons. Future Hall Of Famer. He's done so much to help the Ravens during his tenure. Affectionately known as JO, he's been one of the most consistent players this team has ever had. And passionate. Whenever JO had a problem with the offensive scheme, play calling and protection, he had no problems telling his coaches what was on his mind. When Ogden had toe issues and missed playing time, he still came in the game and dominated while making it to the Pro Bowl. That's the kind of player he was. JO retired after the 2007 season, but no fan will ever forget him. Ogden will go down as one of the greatest offensive tackles in the NFL. He'll most certainly be our very first Ravens inducted in Canton, and I can't wait!




#2 S Ed Reed




I guess by now you see I have some kind of football love affair with Reed. He was #1 on my Fave Five list and now he's #2 on this list. But how can he NOT be on this list?! Coming out of Miami (the U) in 2002, Reed was a monster on special teams, especially blocking punts. But when he came into his own at the safety position..... he elevated his game to a new level. Reed is highly regarded around the league and Ravens fans adore him. A nice guy and a great player, Reed gives his all on the field week in and week out. Folks wait for him to make plays just so they can call his name, "REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEDDDDD" at M&T Bank Stadium. People who can't stand the Ravens usually to make an exception to the rule with Reed. How do you dislike the guy and keep a straight face saying it?




#1 LB Ray Lewis



Do I really have to explain why he's #1 on this list??? *sigh* okay.
13 years in the league, 10 Pro Bowls, 8 All Pros, 2 Defensive MVPs, 1 Super Bowl MVP, and a partridge in a pear tree. Case closed.