Baltimore Beatdown
In 1996, the Baltimore Ravens signed Seattle Seahawks pass rusher Michael McCrary after a 13.5-sack season. The signing paid dividends as McCrary became a fulcrum of the defense filled with star talent which won Super Bowl 35. But before hoisting the trophy, McCrary became the Ravens’ single-season sack leader in 1998, with 14.5 sacks. Now, the cleats have long been hung up for over 20 years, but McCrary’s wisdom was at training camp as he stopped by and gave some words of wisdom to rookie EDGE Mike Green.
While this could be viewed as a basic interaction between a long-time veteran and a rookie, I believe there’s more to this. The Ravens drafted Green after he plummeted from the first round due to off-the-field issues. The Ravens insisted they did their ‘due diligence’ regarding his two sexual assault allegations. And since the selection of Green, all efforts from the Ravens look to ensure he is of right mind and focusing on football.
McCrary is a Ravens Ring of Honor member. He visited the team on Aug. 13 just a day after the Ravens spent the day with Olympic legend and Baltimore native Michael Phelps. Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Lewis joined the team, too, and gave a speech post-practice. And while those visits weren’t specifically for Green, it’s about showing to the rookies and team as a whole what is important. Working toward their goals and keeping them focused on their career pursuits.
McCrary likely worked with Green of his own volition. But I believe the Ravens would have or did ask McCrary to just speak to him off to the side if he didn’t do so, as the optics are good and McCrary is a well-respected Raven and he can keep the rookie on the right path.
The Ravens want Green to succeed for the benefit of football. But, they also have demonstrated a care for their players regarding their life after football. The team celebrates their own. The mantra of “once a Raven, always a Raven,” rings true.
Maybe it’s reading into something that isn’t. But knowing this organization, they’re a team that will do anything and everything to uplift their own and find any bleeding edge they can to gain an advantage. And that even comes in the form of a Ring of Honor member spending a handful of minutes working with a rookie.
