There is a house in my development that is tiny.  It would be tiny if it were a single family home, but it’s a duplex, and from what I can tell there are a large number of people living in both sides of the house.  I’m pretty convinced that this house has to have multiple basements so it can accommodate all the people that live there, with each one offering something different to the house… a kitchen, a living room, bedrooms, bathrooms, ect.  It’s a well kept house though and it blends in.  If you asked most people where the tiny duplex at the end of the road was, they wouldn’t be able to tell you.  However, if you asked where the house with the orange car that is always being worked on is, most people in the neighborhood, and even those that don’t live here would be able to tell you exactly where it is. 

Ok, I know it seems to take a while to get to my point… but here it is.  The NFL sure is overlooking the Ravens and some of the awesome talent that this team has.  Sure, if you asked anyone what team Ray Lewis or Ed Reed plays for, it would take about 2 seconds for them to tell you.  But ask someone from Detroit who Tom Zbikowski, Matt Katula, Sam Koch, or Domonique Foxworth are odds are they won’t be able to tell you.  These guys are just some of the outstanding guys that don’t get all the attention that some of the “bigger names” get.  Would you be able to live in a house without a kitchen or a bathroom?  I think it would be just as hard for a team to function without a Safety who can take you down in one shot, one of the best Long Snappers in the league, a Punter who can pretty consistently drop the ball at the 3 yard line, or a hometown Cornerback who can play both corners great.

These guys and the rest of the Ravens offer layers to the team that are often over looked by the NFL and other teams because they seem to just blend in.  Sure, they won all 4 preseason games, but those are just that- preseason games, they don’t count.  Who cares that we went 11-5 in the regular season last year with a  rookie head coach and quarter back, and lost in the AFC championship game to the team that went on to win the Super bowl… it was just a fluke. 

If you ask me, I say keep overlooking us.  It’ll be that much more of a surprise to the rest of the world come February.  Here in Baltimore, we’ll be waiting.     

I love football.  I respect the players.  I go to training camp, watch the practice, and try to push my way to the fence in hopes of getting my football signed by some of the players.  This year was a little more difficult to get over to camp though with a little one in tow.  Yes, I work in Westminster and live not too far away, but nap times are from 10-12 and 3:30-4:30 and unless I want to be up all night, I better not break that schedule.

On one of the nicer days though, my husband and I packed up our little princess (and the rest of the house that seems to be necessary when we travel with her) and headed over to McDaniel in hopes of meeting some of the players.  After waiting during the two hour practice, and trying to keep my mouth shut while listening to some people that I would have a hard time even admitting I am from the same state as, we hear the horn at the end of practice.  Finally.  Then we realize, just our luck, none of the players are heading our way.  They are all going straight to the building for meetings.

Ok, what is my point? Not ALL of the Ravens headed right to the gym.  There were five players that came out to sign autographs.  No one would have noticed if they just went up with the rest of the team, but they didn’t.  There was one player in particular, Derrick Mason, who stood out to me.  Maybe it is because I am now a mother and my priorities and ways I look at people has changed, but he seemed so incredibly genuine that it almost shocked me.  He stopped at every single fan that was standing at the fence, and didn’t just sign whatever they were holding and move on.  He interacted and talked with the fans.  When he got to us (we were about at the halfway point) you could tell he was tired, but he still had the biggest smile on his face like he was just happy to be there and happy to be out there with the fans.  He stopped and asked how old my baby was, said how pretty she is (which goes without saying, but he still did), thanked us for coming out and bringing her, and took a picture with us.

I know that just because you play football doesn’t mean you have to be nice.  I can’t even imagine people calling my name where ever I go because I am “the greatest hot tub salesperson ever” and I am not sure I would want to have to deal with that.  But these guys do and they seem to appreciate all the support that we the fans give to them.  I think I have come to respect the players more for how they treat their fans, the people who watch and cheer for them week after week no matter how cold it is or when nap time happens to be, then how well they play the game.