The Ravens are kicking off their 20th NFL season this year. To commemorate that achievement, we'll take a look at the Ravens' top 10 players of the last 20 years.
#9 - Todd Heap
HEEEAAAAPPPPP! Every Ravens fan knows the cheer and everyone remembers the lumbering tight end for his ability to go over the middle and take monster hits for his team.
Todd Heap, an Arizona State University player was selected by the Ravens in the first round of the 2001 NFL Draft. The Ravens had the 31st pick in the draft due to winning the SuperBowl the previous season and selected Heap in part to take over for an aging Shannon Sharpe.
Sadly, Heap's career wasn't as long and consistent as most would have liked it to be mostly due to pretty constant injury during his time with the Ravens. Though a majority of that could be attributed to playing with bad to mediocre quarterbacks that often hung him out to dry with passes that required Heap to remain vulnerable to big hits. However, most Ravens fans found that admirable in a player that sacrificed his body for the team cause. Another member of the squad that the Ravens front office can point to as a true "Ravens player", Heap gave everything he had at all times both in the city and on the field.
Todd Heap ended his time with the Ravens in 2011 where he went over to the Arizona Cardinals for 2 seasons before retiring. With 2 Pro Bowl nods and an All-Pro designation in 2003, Heap is still the Ravens all-time career leader in receiving touchdowns. Even though he finished his career in Arizona and does call that home, Heap notes that Baltimore will always be considered his "football home".
I have the fondest memories here from those 10 years of my life. There are so many stories. I think one of the coolest things and what everyone asks me about is what it feels like to come out of that tunnel and have everyone yelling your name. That’s an experience that you can’t really forget, and something that I’ll treasure and cherish forever.
The Ravens tight end is the eight player enshrined in the Ravens Ring of Honor at M&T Bank Stadium, including several others from our list.
"It’s pretty surreal," Heap said. "There are a lot of special players in Ravens history. It’s going to be cool to be listed among them. You never know how deserving it is, but I was pumped and I think it’s going to be cool for years to come."
On a personal note, Heap is probably one of the top players that got my mother into watching football. Between Heap and Michael McCrary on our list, the addition of young players that worked hard and gave their all to both the sport and to the city of Baltimore is a good reason why they are beloved members of the Ravens' history.