Rookie nose guard Terrence "Mount" Cody wasn’t able to conquer the Baltimore Ravens’ conditioning test, flunking a series of timed running tests.
Consequently, the second-round draft pick was placed on the physically unable to perform list Tuesday and was restricted from practicing on the first day of training camp.
"He didn’t pass the conditioning test," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. "Part of our process is everybody has to pass the conditioning test to be sure that they’re ready to compete. Our practices are fast. We’ve got to be sure guys are physically ready to practice. So, when he passes the conditioning test, he’ll practice."
Listed at 6-foot-4, 349 pounds, the former Alabama standout didn’t seem much heavier than he was at minicamp. He’s in much better condition now than the 370 pounds he tipped the scales at during the Senior Bowl last winter.
Cody struggled with his weight throughout his college career at Alabama. He’s also one of the slowest defensive linemen to be drafted into the NFL in several years with a 5.71 time in the 40-yard dash at the NFL scouting combine.
"I’m not surprised," Harbaugh said. "Every year, certain guys struggle with that. There’s a certain level of expectation of conditioning that goes with being an NFL player, especially for this team.
"He’s going to have to get himself into the kind of shape he needs to be in. We expect all our guys to be in world-class shape. So, he’ll be in world-class shape soon enough."
Cody signed a four-year, $3.585 million contract Monday that includes a $1.12 million signing bonus and base salaries of $320,000, $405,000, $490,000 and $575,000, according to NFL Players Association records.
The consensus All-American ran extra sprints after practice.
Running might not be his forte, but Cody has proven he can clog up the middle and has displayed good short-area quickness.
Cody wasn’t alone in not passing the running test. Veteran cornerback Walt Harris didn’t pass, either.
Harris was sidelined last season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament, but not passing the test wasn’t attributed to the knee injury.
"Walt’s still got to pass the test, too," Harbaugh said. "I don’t think it’ll be very long before he’ll be able to do that."
Harris expressed confidence.
"It’s just a particular test you just have to pass," Harris said. "It’s my first time running it. Once I pass it, I’ll be out there on the field. You have to run it enough to get prepared for it. I think I’ll get it on the second or third time."
