Dennis Pitta 'optimistic' about return

Boy meets girl. Boy likes girl. Boy likes girl enough to ask her to prom. Optimistic boy hopes to ask girl to prom. Boy says the two others standing in line to ask girl out are just as talented as he is. Boy is Dennis Pitta. Girl is Ravens football.

Pitta is back on the practice field. He's back to flirting with the game that he loves; only time will tell if the fireworks illuminate the cool, Sunday sky come September. When asked whether or not the tight end will play this season, Pitta giggled.

"I’m optimistic," he said. "I feel good. But obviously it’s a process. I have an idea in mind of where I’d like to be in a couple months, but at the same time you don’t know. I know what it felt like to do this one time. I’ve never known what it felt like to do it twice."

Whether that's a yes or no, I will support and respect the married man's deliberation. We should always put ourselves in others' shoes, and knowing myself -- if I tried on Pitta's cleats -- I would hang them up. Football is my passion, and I am self-motivated, but if the ring on my left hand tugged back and out of genuine concern told me to stay out of the hospital, that I should run like Shaun Alexander and avoid hits, that two hip surgeries was twice too many -- I would seriously consider retirement.

Maybe Pitta will return. Perhaps Coach Trestman will think outside the box (hmmm), and innovate creative uses for Pitta to run deeper routes, or come in and serve as a check-down. Pitta would certainly capture the secondary's attention, as already he's earned the respect of many playing in the league. While 13 other defenses are hoping that No. 88 will stay home this year, the Pitta's teeter-totter wish-wash is keeping everyone on their toes.

While we're waiting for an official announcement we can plug-and-play the tight end's open-ended response to answer a variety of questions:

What was running through your mind after asking the same girl you were rejected by in high school to a date? "I’m optimistic," he said. "I feel good. But obviously it’s a process. I have an idea in mind of where I’d like to be in a couple months, but at the same time you don’t know. I know what it felt like to do this one time. I’ve never known what it felt like to do it twice."

Dennis, you folded a pair of aces in your hand twice, pre-flop. How do you think you fare in the World Series of Poker? "I’m optimistic," he said. "I feel good. But obviously it’s a process. I have an idea in mind of where I’d like to be in a couple months, but at the same time you don’t know. I know what it felt like to do this one time. I’ve never known what it felt like to do it twice."

You've mentioned how you follow The Bachelor. If offered the job, would you co-host the show with Chris Harrison? "I’m optimistic," he said. "I feel good. But obviously it’s a process. I have an idea in mind of where I’d like to be in a couple months, but at the same time you don’t know."

Pitta, take your time. Please. Play this game on your own terms; leave this game on your own terms. That biting image of you collapsing to the ground in the Week 3 game at Cleveland, untouched, and suffering your second dislocated and fractured hip -- was a reality check for players and fans alike that there is more to life than football.