Ravens Release G Edwin Mulitalo
Edwin Mulitalo, one of the key players in the Ravens’ Super Bowl XXXV championship and an 8-year starter for the team, had his contract terminated this afternoon. The powerful Mulitalo helped the Ravens establish a running game through the years that earned victories and controlled the game clock. A quality all-around offensive lineman, he was an important cog in the running game that produced RB Jamal Lewis’ 2,066-yard rushing season in 2003.
Along with his football prowess, Mulitalo became one of the most popular Ravens. His respect of and availability to the media, in good times and bad, were at the highest professional level. His work in the community is extraordinary, especially for his Big Ed’s Band Foundation, which provides musical instruments to schools in need.
Ravens general manager and executive vice president Ozzie Newsome said: “Brian (Billick) said something a few years ago about releasing players. He said: ‘When it doesn’t hurt, you get out of this business.’ Well, it hurts to let a good person like Ed go. He helped us win the Super Bowl and many other games in the last 8 years. He’s a good football player and a better person. People know what he has done in the community. And, he’s been a mentor to young teammates the last 3 and 4 years.â€
Head coach Brian Billick said: “When you release a player like Edwin, it gives you pause. This is the cold side of the business. All he did was everything we asked him to do and more. He gave us stability at left guard. He was always an example to his teammates as to how a professional should conduct himself. My hope is that he stays in this area for the long haul. We’re a better community because of him. He cares, and his actions off the field speak for themselves.â€
Following is a comprehensive Mulitalo Career Bio:
Edwin Mulitalo
Guard
Years in NFL: 8
Ht: 6-3 Wt: 350
College: Arizona
HS: Jefferson (Daly City, CA)
Born: 9/1/74, Daly City, CA
Joined Ravens: Draft 4b (129th), 1999
Games Played/Started: (1999, 10/8); (2000, 16/16); (2001, 14/14); (2002, 16/15); (2003, 15/15); (2004, 15/15); (2005, 16/15); (2006, 4/4) Total 106/102
Playoffs (2000, 4/4); (2001, 2/2); (2003, 1/1) Total 7/7
Transactions: Edwin Mulitalo signed a re-negotiated contract with the Ravens on 2/25/03…Was picked by the Ravens in the 4th round (129th overall) of the 1999 NFL Draft.
Pro: Started 4 games in 2006, all Ravens wins, before being placed on Injured Reserve (triceps) on 10/3/06…Mulitalo injured his triceps in the 4th quarter of the victory over SD (10/1/06)…Played in all 16 games, starting 15 at LG in 2005…Played in his 100th-career game…Helped protect Ravens QBs, allowing them to complete 59.6% of their passes, which is a Ravens’ franchise record…The Ravens 335 completions were just 3 shy of another franchise mark…Also helped pave the way for the Ravens to rush for 1,605 yards, averaging 3.6 yards per carry…Started 15 games (missed the season finale with a triceps injury), and helped pave the way for Jamal Lewis to rush for 1,006 yards and the Ravens as a team to rush for 2,063 in 2004…Started all 15 regular season games in which he played, plus the Ravens’ postseason contest in 2003…Helped Jamal Lewis set a franchise-record with 2,066 rushing yards, the 2nd-most in NFL history (Eric Dickerson – 2,105 in 1984)…The likeable lineman has proved a great value as a 4th-round pick in the 1999 draft…Helped the Ravens to average 113 rushing yards per game in 2002, including averaging 136 yards per outing in the last 5 games of the season when the team was making a playoff push…Ravens finished 5th in the NFL in rushing, averaging a then-team-record 137 rushing yards per game in 2000…Started the final 8 games at LG in his rookie season in 1999 (record: 5-3)…Over the final 9 games in ‘99, the Ravens averaged 25.4 points and 322.6 yards per game…Picks up blitzes and stunts well…Made switch to G from his collegiate T position his rookie season.
2006: Started 4 games, all Ravens wins, before being placed on Injured Reserve (triceps) on 10/3/06…2006 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: Started at LG and helped protect QB Steve McNair, before suffering a season-ending triceps injury in the 4th quarter in the 16-13 win in game 4 vs. SD (10/1)…Started and helped protect QB Steve McNair, allowing him time to throw for 264 yards, 1 TD and no INTs in the 15-14 victory in game 3 at Cle. (9/24)…Started at LG (his 100th-career start) and helped pave the way for the Ravens to average 4.5 yards per rush (31 for 138 yards) and a TD in the 28-6 win in game 2 vs. Oak. (9/17)…Started at LG and helped open holes for the Ravens to rush for 103 yards (and 1 TD) on the ground, and allowed QB Steve McNair time to complete 63% of his passes (17-of-27) for 181 yard and 1 TD in the 27-0 victory in the season opener at TB (9/10)…The OL did not allow a sack and helped the Ravens to scoring drives of 80, 7, 13 and 61 yards against the Bucs.
2005: Played in all 16 games, starting 15 at LG in 2005, and helped protect Ravens QBs, allowing them to complete 59.6% of their passes, which is a Ravens’ franchise record…The Ravens 335 completions were just 3 shy of another franchise mark…Also helped pave the way for the Ravens to rush for 1,605 yards, averaging 3.6 yards per carry…2005 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: Started at LG and helped protect Kyle Boller, allowing him to throw for a season-high 289 yards and 3 TDs; Boller became the 1st QB to post 110+ point QB ratings (113.5 vs. Min. and 136.8 vs. GB) in back-to-back games in franchise history in game 15 vs. Min. (12/25)…Started at LG (playing in his 100th career game) and helped protect Boller, who was not sacked, and posted a 70.4 completion percentage with 253 yards, 3 TDs and no INTs in the 48-3 victory in game 14 vs. GB (12/19)…Also helped pave the way for the Ravens to rush for a season-high 182 yards, including 105 yards and a TD by Jamal Lewis against the Packers…Helped pave the way for Jamal Lewis to rush for 113 yards (4.9 avg.) and allowed QB Kyle Boller to throw for 3 TDs in game 11 at Cin. (11/27)…Started at LG and helped protect QB Anthony Wright, allowing him to throw for a season-high 252 yards, 1 TD and pick up 20 1st downs, including 12 through the air, in game 7 at Pit. (10/31)…Helped the offense to 351 total yards (213 through the air) with 16 1st downs in the 16-3 victory in game 5 vs. Cle. (10/16)…Started at LG and helped protect Ravens QBs, allowing them to throw for 355 yards and a TD while completing 62.9% of their passes in game 1 vs. Ind. (9/11).
2004: Had 15 starts at LG…Mulitalo and Jonathan Ogden created a huge wall on the left side of the OL to protect QB Kyle Boller…Helped pave the way for 2,063 team rushing yards…Along with the rest of the OL, helped Jamal Lewis (who missed 4 games) break the 1,000-yard mark…Started every game at LG except for the finale vs. Mia. (1/2/05), when he was inactive (triceps)…2004 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: Started at LG and helped hold the Steelers without a sack before leaving the game in the 2nd quarter with a triceps injury in game 15 at Pit. (12/26)…Started at LG and helped open holes, allowing the Ravens to rush for 169 yards in game 13 vs. NYG (12/12)…Also helped protect Boller, allowing him to throw for 219 yards and a career-high 4 TDs against the Giants…Started at LG and helped open holes, allowing the Ravens to run for 192 yards, averaging 6.2 yards per rush in game 12 vs. Cin. (12/5)…Started at LG and helped protect Boller, allowing him to complete a career-high 67.6% of his passes for 232 yards, 2 TDs and 0 INTs in the 30-10 win in game 10 vs. Dal. (11/21)…Started at LG and helped protect Boller, allowing him to complete 63.2% of his passes (24-of-38) for 223 yards (his best total since he threw for 302 yards at Cin. on 10/19/02) in game 7 at Phi. (10/31)…Also helped open holes, allowing the Ravens to rush for 113 yards against the Eagles…Started at LG and helped pave the way for the Ravens to rush for 254 yards and 2 rushing TDs, including a franchise-record 10.3 yards per carry by Jamal Lewis in game 3 at Cin. (9/26).
2003: Started all 15 regular season games in which he played (missing game 3 at SD, 9/21, with a knee injury) and the Ravens’ postseason contest in 2003…Helped Jamal Lewis set a franchise-record with 2,066 rushing yards, the 2nd-most rushing yards in NFL history (Eric Dickerson – 2,105 in 1984)…2003 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: Started at LG and helped to open holes, allowing the Ravens to rush for 276 yards, including 205 by Jamal Lewis in the 35-0 victory in game 15 at Cle. (12/21)…Started at LG and helped protect Anthony Wright, allowing him to complete 56% of his passes (14-of-25) and throw 2 TDs in game 12 vs. SF (11/30)…Line allowed just 1 sack against the 49ers…Started at LG and helped protect Anthony Wright, allowing him to throw for a career-high 319 yards and 4 TDs in a spectacular 44-41 OT come-from-behind victory in game 11 vs. Sea. (11/23)…Started at LG and helped open holes, allowing Jamal Lewis to rush for an NFL record 295 yards and 2 TDs in game 2 vs. Cle. (9/14)…Cleared the way for Lewis to average 9.8 yards per carry, and allowed the Ravens to rush for 343 yards as a team before he left the game in the 2nd half with a knee injury.
2002: Played in all 16 games, starting 15 games at LG (12) and RT (3)…Missed only start of the season vs. Ten. (11/24) as he protected for an extra point before the offense stepped on the field, but missed the rest of the game due to a back injury suffered on that play…2002 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: Started at LG in season finale at Pit. (12/29)…Helped provide great pass protection, allowing QB Jeff Blake to complete 19 of 26 passes (73%) for 336 yards and 2 TDs for a season-high 108.7 passer rating…Also helped to open holes, allowing the Ravens to rush for 114 yards against the Steelers…Started at LG in game 13 vs. NO (12/8) and helped provide great pass protection, allowing QB Jeff Blake to complete 19 of 38 attempts for 316 yards and 2 TDs…Blake’s 300-yard outing marked his 1st as a Raven, and the 1st by a Baltimore QB since Elvis Grbac threw for 326 yards at Cin. (9/23/01)…Helped pave the way for the Ravens’ offense to rack up 201 rushing yards, including a then-career-high-tying 187 yards for RB Jamal Lewis…Delivered a punishing block to spring Lewis on his then-franchise-record 75-yard run.
2001: Started all 14 regular season games and 2 postseason contests in which he played…2001 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: Started at LG in 20-3 Wild Card win at Mia. (1/13/02), as the OL paved the way for 226 rushing yards…Started at LG in game 8 vs. Ten. (10/7), when the Ravens ran for 207 rushing yards…Started at LG in game 7 at Den. (9/30), as the OL did not allow a sack in the 20-13 victory over the Broncos…Started in season opener at LG vs. Chi. (9/9), as the OL did not allow a sack in the 17-6 win over the Bears.
2000: Started every regular season game and contributed to Baltimore’s 5th-ranked rushing attack and started all 4 postseason games at LG…2000 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: Started at LG in Baltimore’s 44-7 win in game 13 vs. Cle. (11/26), as the Ravens rushed for 247 yards and did not allow a sack…Started in 27-0 win in game 12 over Dal. (11/19), as the Ravens had a season-high 479 yards…Started at LG in the Ravens’ come-from-behind 39-36 win in game 2 vs. Jax. (9/10), as the offense piled up 331 yards, 237 in the 2nd half, and scored a then-team-record 32 2nd-half points to complete the 2nd-biggest comeback in team history.
1999: The valuable rookie stepped into the starting LG role in Week 9 after the season-ending foot fracture suffered by RT Harry Swayne…Saw action in 10 games, starting 8…Earned a spot on College & Pro Football Newsweekly’s 1999 All-Rookie Team…1999 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: Started at LG in the Ravens’ 22-0 shutout victory in game 15 vs. Cin. (12/26), as the line permitted just 1 sack…Started at LG in the 31-8 win in game 14 vs. NO (12/19), in the 31-24 win in game 13 at Pit. (12/12) and in the 41-14 win vs. Ten., as the offense rolled to a season-high 447 yards and tied a franchise record with 41 points…Made 3rd straight start at LG in game 11 vs. Jax. (11/28)…Made 2nd pro start at LG in the 34-31 win in game 10 at Cin. (11/21)…Made 1st career start in game 9 at Jax. (11/14) at LG…Usual starter Everett Lindsay switched to RT after the loss of Harry Swayne (foot) for the season…Played on special teams in game 8 at Cle. (11/7)…Saw 1st NFL action at LG in game 6 vs. KC (10/21)…Entered game after starting RT James Atkins was forced to leave with a groin injury, and Lindsay switched over to the RT spot.
College, Personal: Started all 12 games at LT in 1998, including the Holiday Bowl in San Diego…Transferred to Arizona in 1997 and started all 11 games at LT…A mid-year junior college transfer who enrolled in January 1997 and by the end of April was the starter on the left side…Earned Samoan All-Offense honors by Pacific Islander…Played OT in 1995-96 at Ricks College (Rexburg, ID) and 1 year as a weight specialist on Ricks track team…Earned 1st-team All-Region and 2nd-team All-America honors…No. 23 among top junior college prospects by Prepstar…Majored in special education…Attended Jefferson (Daly City, CA) HS…Track and Field star and football standout, as well as a wrestler…All-League and All-County and Bay Area 1st-team honors in addition to Division 3A All-State in football and All-State in track as a shot put and discus thrower…Student of the Year in 1991-92 and student body president and chairman of the Student Board of Trustees…Father is a retired blacksmith…A frequent contributor to charitable causes, Mulitalo plays Santa Claus (in possibly the largest Santa suit made) at the children’s holiday party at St. Vincent’s Center in Timonium, MD…Mulitalo established Big Ed’s Band Foundation to provide instruments to city children and schools…The foundation is dedicated to supporting the growth and development of instrumental music by providing instruments, repair, and other musical support for Baltimore schools….He has made both monetary and instrument donations to Frederick Douglass HS…Ed and Ravens teammates, along with representatives from the United Way of Central Maryland, M&T Bank, Civic Works and Governor Robert Ehrlich’s office, helped paint, frame and rebuild homes in Baltimore’s Sandtown community in October 2003 as part of the 5th annual NFL and United Way Hometown Huddle…Ed was a United Way spokesperson in 2004 and filmed a national PSA encouraging others to get involved in the community…Mulitalo hosts several instrument drives throughout the year, collecting new and used instruments and financial donations…Hosted his 2nd annual luau in July 2004, with funds benefiting the foundation…Mulitalo visited the kindergarten class at McDonogh School in September 2004 and read to students…Also visited Frederick Douglass HS in October for the school’s homecoming pep rally…Stayed after the rally to interview with journalism students for the school’s newspaper…Mulitalo has a special relationship with the school, as his foundation has adopted the band and donates instruments and funds to sustain the program…For 2 years (‘02 and ‘03), he co-hosted the Goodwill Gridiron Halloween Party with Todd Heap, helping to raise over $100,000 for Goodwill’s training and employment programs…Also with Todd Heap, Ed Hartwell and others, Ed participated in the Quarterback Club of Baltimore’s Distinguished Speaker Series…With fellow lineman Bennie Anderson, he participated in Operation Blessing (June 2004) and Autumn Harvest 2004 (November 2004), distributing food and supplies to over 2,000 families in Baltimore’s Park Heights neighborhood…Helped rebuild homes with Sandtown Habitat for Humanity and presented the keys to new homeowner Robin Edwards at the NFL/United Way Hometown Huddle in November 2004…Ed performed on the ukulele at the Dunbar HS Christmas Concert for students and faculty in December 2004…Dunbar was selected as another adopted band program for Big Ed’s Band Foundation in 2004…For his efforts in the Baltimore city music programs, Mulitalo received an award from the Baltimore City Public School System in December 2004…Also participated in the Ravens All Community Team (ACT) Auction Party, helping to raise over $200,000 in the silent and live auctions…He hosted “Mulitalopalooza†on 6/11/05, where he performed with the Kelly Bell Band; all proceeds benefitted his foundation…In June 2005, met with fans and signed autographs at the M&T Bank booth for the Columbia Festival of the Arts…In Oct. 2005, also hosted his 3rd annual luau, with proceeds benefiting his charitable arm, Big Ed’s Band Foundation…Joined with Adalius Thomas in refurbishing a home with Sandtown Habitat for Humanity…In Oct. 2005, joined over 350 community leaders at M&T Bank Stadium for an all-access event and spoke to the group about the importance of volunteerism, in addition to conducting locker room and field tours…Participated in the Ravens ACT Auction party that benefits the Ravens All Community Team Foundation and all of the player foundations in Dec. 2005…Participated in the Special Olympics Maryland Polar Bear Plunge in Jan. 2006 and Jan. 2007 with teammate Haloti Ngata and defensive coordinator Rex Ryan…Through his foundation, he provided grants to 26 Baltimore area schools music departments in 2006…He also hosted his 4th-annual Big Ed’s Band Luau in Oct. 2006, raising fund for the charitable arm…Edwin and his wife, Laura, are the parents of 2 girls and a boy, To’alima, (3/10/00), Faaletupu Eva, (2/7/03) and Milo (10/17/05)…Full name: Edwin Moliki Mulitalo.
