Hey, when your public relations are at a near all-time low, why not take some chances?
With a roster spot open due to Aaron Ross (Achilles) heading to injured reserve, the Ravens have signed former Giants safety Will Hill to the 90-man roster.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ravens?src=hash">#Ravens</a> sign talented and suspended safety Will Hill. He’ll sit out the first 6 games. But seems like he found a good landing spot</p>— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapSheet/statuses/492678579273367552">July 25, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Ravens have signed safety Will Hill.</p>— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiecsun) <a href="https://twitter.com/jeffzrebiecsun/statuses/492675537543127042">July 25, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Ozzie Newsome on Will Hill: 'If we need it, Will will provide depth in the middle of the season.'</p>— Aaron Wilson (@RavensInsider) <a href="https://twitter.com/RavensInsider/statuses/492679027237593088">July 25, 2014</a></blockquote>
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Hill is reportedly wearing jersey No. 48 and is practicing Friday.
Hill will be suspended for the first six games of the season for violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy. In the past, he's failed the NFL's performance-enhancing drugs policy too.
Thing is, Hill is crazy talented when he's focused on the game. He had 77 total tackles and two interceptions in 12 games (10 starts) for the Giants a year ago. But it's the off-field issues that have kept him from becoming a premier safety. It's also one of the reasons he went undrafted in 2011.
And of course, there was the very public display he gave on an old Twitter account back when he was a star in college at Florida. While I encourage you to click on the link, I must warn you that these old tweets are NSFW.
So there you have it. Will Hill is a Raven. People can change and deserve second (and sometimes third and fourth) chances. So for those scratching their heads (like myself), just think about that as you wonder why the Ravens would want to further pour gasoline on their collective image.