The Ravens gave everyone a reason to celebrate on Tuesday after announcing that former tight end Todd Heap would be enshrined in the team’s Ring of Honor later this fall.
It’s a very well deserved recognition for Heap, who spent 10 of his 12 seasons in Baltimore and was a fan favorite. Without Heap’s contributions throughout his career, the Ravens would’ve had zero passing game, rather than just the sliver of one they lived with for all those years.
Heap epitomized what it meant to “Play Like A Raven” with his attitude, passion and energy for the game.
I feel a little bad for Heap that he wasn’t around to experience one of the Ravens’ two Super Bowl titles. He was drafted a year after the team’s first Lombardi and left to play with his hometown Arizona Cardinals two years before the Ravens’ most recent title.
Heap will join quite the crew of former players in the Ring of Honor, but it’s a non-player that’s not included that has me scratching my head.
I’m still puzzled as to why former head coach Brian Billick has failed to be recognized for his contributions. Billick took over the reins and led the team to its first Super Bowl. He helped put Baltimore football back on the map and along with Ozzie Newsome, has turned the Ravens into one of the premier franchises not just in the NFL, but in all of sports.
There were some rough times with Billick at the helm, but I’m not so sure the franchise would be where it is today if it weren’t for some of his decisions and leadership.
Billick will always be associated with drafting Kyle Boller, a move that many view as something that set the team back by years. I still see him as a coach who took the Ravens to the playoffs in four out of his nine seasons. That may not be up to the high standards John Harbaugh has set since Billick’s departure, but it’s still a pretty good percentage in this day and age.
It’s amazing to take a look at Billick’s coaching tree and realize how many of his assistants went on to become head coaches in the league. Jack Del Rio, Marvin Lewis, Mike Nolan, Mike Smith, Rex Ryan, Mike Singletary and new Browns head coach Mike Pettine all coached under Billick.
Ray Lewis, Peter Boulware, Jonathan Ogden, Matt Stover, Jamal Lewis and Michael McCrary have all gone into the Ring of Honor with no issue. Heap will be the same story later this year.
But what about the man who led all of those players for the majority of their careers?
Billick is getting pushed out here, and there’s got to be something I’m missing.
The Ravens as a whole have done a pretty good job of tapping into the history, even having inducted eight former Baltimore Colts into the ring as well as late team owner Art Modell. They are missing the boat when it comes to Billick. At the rate things are going, you are more likely to see Harbaugh head into the ring before Billick.
And therefore it’s difficult to care that much about an honor that isn’t being directed in the right way.
I completely get why Heap is going to be honored later this year. He is more than deserving. There’s no player in Ravens history who has hauled in more touchdown passes and sent M&T Bank Stadium into a frenzy.
If the Ravens want to make this right though, perhaps they could realize that they DO have Earnest Byner in their Ring of Honor, and realize that it’s time to get Brian Billick a spot as well.
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