If there was one player you could bring back from the past....

[downside52]

Ogden, and if I could have two I think I would want two Ogdens.

[Justlovemybirds]

Odgen is my vote also.

[Dirt1]

Peter Boulware. That dude was a beast. Having Boulware and Suggs getting after the QB would be sick.

[AirFlacco]

Definitely JO. His new commercial with the mayor is really cool and looks like he can still put on
a uniform. Looks better than when he played. The o-line definitely needs him.

I'll add one other - Sam Adams. The d-line hasn't been the same since he left.

[Real Fan Dan]

Who would it be? Obviously at their prime.

Since you didn't exactly say "former" player , and you did stipilate "at their prime" ....

I'll have to say Ray Lewis in his 2000 pre shoulder injury prime.

There is no single Raven player, not even J.O., who would virtually guarantee the current squad a Super Bowl if he came back to the active team roster in his full-on prime other than Mr. Ray Lewis.

The next player that might compliment the current Ravens roster enough to get them to the Big Dance is probably Chris McAllister, who would shut down alot of excellent WR's but would also provide a tremendous amount of run support. When he tackled somebody the dude went down. Probably just slightly behind CMAC in "put-the-Ravens- over-the-SB-edge" potential would be Mike McCrary, who would not only add a bunch of sacks to the equation, but would free up Terrell Suggs to set the edge as well as reak havoc in the enemy backfield.

J.O. would solidify the OL and provide Flacco with a little more time, but our current recievers would still have to get open and would still have to hang onto the football. J.O's contributions would greatly help the Ravens, but it wouldn't add to the SB campaign as much as a Ray, Chris or Michael in their prime at their respective positions, playing with teamates on the current roster.

[Ravenswintitle]

nobody said Jamal Lewis...

[Ravens44]

nobody said Jamal Lewis...

Only because I think they all recognize that no former Raven would do better than Ray Rice behind this Oline.
But I would add, put Jamal Lewis to the Chiefs instead of Priest Holmes and Jamal would have broken every freaking running record that no one could touch. No one wanted to tackle Jamal running free, right at them.

[bmoreraventerp]

Although pass rush and corner are big needs for this team, got to go with JO. If we had him at LT and Oher back at RT, the edges would be pretty well sealed and allow Flacco to sit back there and have plenty of time to tear defenses apart. That should also help Rice's running as well. Having one of the best LTs to play will also help the offense on the road. Just not having to worry much about his blindside will also give Flacco more confidence to not rush things. The offense would be even better and be able to make up for the defensive shortcomings.

#2 choice I would go with McCrary or Boulware because IMHO a potent pass rush will mask a weakness at corner better than a shutdown corner would when the pass rush is weak.

[Terpsfan82]

CMac? I'd prefer someone who was named the DPOY in 1993 and was moved to safety as a Raven.
But going back to prime and the only qualification is having been a Raven, I take Rod Woodson over CMac with 71 interceptions (CMac 26), 12 INT TDs (CMac 5)... Yes CMac was good but.....

As a corner, C Mac was better than Woodson, IMO. Woodson had a longer run, but the McCallister from 2000-2003 was dominant.

[rharris1986]

Bert Jones and I'd put him in a Ravens uniform! The Ravens would be unstoppable!

[bmoreravengirl]

If it was just 1 guy it would be Peter Boulware. Boulware + Suggs = the most dominant pass rush in the NFL.

This.

And Goose or Sam Adams paired with Ngata, scary good D-line.

Whoever that was who said Kyle Boller, you almost owed me a new laptop.

[JustaslowZ06]

Yeah I'm going with Ray in his prime. That would instantly make us a top 10 defense, to go along with the #1 red zone D and change ball games dramatically. The middle of the field would no longer be open for TE's and RB's wouldn't be able to get outside on us.

Next up would be CMac. Completely being able to shut down one side of the field, no matter WHO the reciever was, would be huge. Sorry but even as good as Webb is QB's still will look his way. In CMac's hayday they wouldn't even bother except as a last resort even more so than Revis now or Aso. The current pass rush could get there when their not even looking at one half of the field and the othe half is covered by Reed and your tempting fate throwing it.

People have said JO, but there are plenty of star LT's in this league and they don't impact their teams as much, ahem joe thomas anyone?

Than their's the McCrary votes, and yes opposite Ngata and Suggs and taking Redding's spot, or now Jones/McPhee would be a huge shot in the arm for that pathetic 3 and 4 man rush we have, but QB's still only have to chuck it CWill's way and you're either getting a completion, or a PI call with the odd chance at a pick but still the odd's are severly in your favor.

[Kevlar]

I'd like a 27 year old Ray Lewis back.

[Tspot-D-Ravenator]

HANDS DOWN..... J.O.

Flacco wouldn't have to worry about his back like he does today! I do believe that is our issue on offense on the road. JMHO

[Ravens75]

As my screen name is an ode to 75, it would be an in his prime JO. He would single handily raise the line to the best in football by moving Blind side to RT and KO to LG where he would school him to be the best LG in football and maybe his eventual successor.

Joe would have almost all day to make plays and Ray Rice running behind a guy that is over a foot taller than him would be a nightmare for all.

As very close second would be Shannon Sharpe because with today's rules he would catch over 100 balls easily and be the Ravens most dominant receiver and offensive leader.

[D-RavedUp5-27-52-20]

Ill say a young Ray Lewis. A young Jamal Lewis. J.O., Wally Williams, Flynn, Zeus, young Heap and Quadray Ismail. Matt Stover, Boulware, C Mac Hartwell, Goose, Adams, young Ed Reed

[bacchys]

JO- he's the best player the Ravens ever had. Yes, I know Lewis is a Defensive Player of the Year and Super Bowl MVP, but even hi didn't dominant at his position quite the way Ogden did. The first Raven is still the best.

After JO, I'd go with Bouleware. Not only does he fit current team needs, he's still the best OLB this team has had. Suggs is awesome, but he's not Bouleware. I'd give Suggs a slight edge rushing the passer and against the run, but Bouleware was far better in coverage. His, alas, was a career cut too short by injury. I still think he, Lewis, and Sharper are the best linebacking corps we ever had. I know Ozzie misses Bouleware- he keeps trying to find his clone in the draft. He was the first of the 'tweeners- athletic guys who played DE in college projected as OLB's in the pros. Suggs is the closest he's come.

[bacchys]

Oh- one more for consideration: Adalius Thomas. Anyone who can play every position on the defense has to be worth something, but I don't know if Pees could use him right...

[Ravens75]

People have said JO, but there are plenty of star LT's in this league and they don't impact their teams as much, ahem joe thomas anyone?

There's no LT in the league today that are as good as JO and its not even close. At nearly 6' 10" and 350lbs he was the strongest player on the field and arguably the most athletic. In his prime the only player I ever remember giving him problems was the 6'6" Jason Taylor who was freakishly athletic as JO.

Players like JO come along once in a generation.

As for the players like CMac, Pete and a few others, I wonder how their style today would translate. CMac's mauling style was fine in the early aughts but now I think he would struggle with PI's and illegal contact. Boulware would've been a great all around player but I don't know if he would've been as dominant as JO.

[Kevlar]

There's no LT in the league today that are as good as JO and its not even close. At nearly 6' 10" and 350lbs he was the strongest player on the field and arguably the most athletic. In his prime the only player I ever remember giving him problems was the 6'6" Jason Taylor who was freakishly athletic as JO.

Players like JO come along once in a generation.

Oh come on, Willie Roaf? Anthony Munoz? Heck even Walter Jones and Orlando Pace were pretty close to Ogden. He was a dominant LT, but hardly the best in a generation.