BALTIMORE – Joanne McShalley couldn’t believe her eyes when Baltimore Ravens star running back Ray Rice knocked on her door Tuesday morning.
It was a total surprise when Rice greeted McShalley and her family at their Carney home prior to her heading to Hawaii this week for the Pro Bowl with her husband, Frank, and two children after being named an Ultimate P&G Super Parent though the NFL Play 60 program.
“Are you kidding me?” McShalley said. “It’s like Publisher’s Clearinghouse showing up at your door. Who needs a million dollars? We got it right here. This is great. I’m ridiculously excited. I’m pinching myself. It’s a dream come true.”
McShalley was selected because of her commitment to raising active children and involvement in the community.
And they’ll be treated to a VIP experience at the Pro Bowl, including running the game ball onto the field prior to kickoff.
Rice gave the family jerseys, and he played a quick John Madden video game with McShalley’s son.
“Win, lose or draw, she’s always going to be a winner for what she’s done in the community,” Rice said. “That means the world to me. We play a game, but there’s people hurting a lot worse than I am after a loss.
“This is a time when I reflect on how blessed I am to play the game of football and to be able to get into the community and help out. It’s very special.”
NOTES: Ravens defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano completed his interview for the Indianapolis Colts’ head coaching vacancy Tuesday. The Colts are scheduled to interview San Francisco 49ers special teams coach Brad Seely today. If Pagano gets the job, the top internal candidates to replace him are linebackers coach Dean Pees and defensive line coach Clarence Brooks. …
Ravens defensive tackle Haloti Ngata was replaced on the AFC Pro Bowl squad by Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Paul Soliai.
Ngata told 24×7 on Sunday that he battled a thigh injury for the majority of the season.
Ngata finished the season with a career-high 65 tackles with five sacks, five pass deflections, three fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles.
Rice and outside linebacker Terrell Suggs have also pulled out of the Pro Bowl.
Fullback Vonta Leach, free safety Ed Reed and middle linebacker Ray Lewis are still listed by the NFL as remaining in the game.
