As reported throughout the local sports world, Baltimore Ravens offensive tackle Jonathon Ogden will announce his retirement from the NFL after 12 seasons. He will be holding a press conferrence Thursday at the Ravens training camp in Owings Mills, Maryland.

Ogden has been a fixture on the left side of the offensive line since he became the Baltimore Ravens very first draft choice after they moved to Baltimore from Cleveland in 1996. He was drafted 5th overall, and the Ravens also selected future All-World MLB Ray Lewis with the 26th pick that same year.

Everyone has pretty much expected this announcement for some time now, and his public statement today only makes it offical. The injury to his big toe towards the end of the 2006 season has never totally healed and after 12 years, Ogden's decided not to lace them up again.

Personally, I was hoping he would return for one more season under new head coach, John Harbaugh. I thought the change in head coach, as well as the addition of new offensive coordinator, would persuade Jon to give it one more chance at a Super Bowl run. However, after giving it all he's got, he deserves to finally take it eay on Sundays, and now all he has to do is wait until his name is called to enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.

Thanks for a great career, JO!