Matt Stover is a legend in Baltimore. In my 16 years as a Ravens fan, he is still the only guy that I really felt comfortable watching trot out there for a game winning field goal.
Despite being run out of town by the current coaching regime, Stover never turned his back on the Ravens. He was inducted into the Ring of Honor last season and will announce the team’s second and third-round draft picks during the NFL Draft on Friday.
“I’m very, very grateful to do it,” Stover told Ryan Mink at BaltimoreRavens.com. “It’s such a neat opportunity to represent my team and my city.”
The Ravens should feel very fortunate that Stover holds no harsh feelings towards the franchise. A lesser man probably could have turned their back on a team that gave up on one of its most consistent players. John Harbaugh and the Ravens parted ways with the then 18-year veteran after the 2008 season and brought in Steve Hauschka and Graham Gano to compete for Stover’s position. There was never an option for the veteran to prove he still had enough in the tank to keep his job.
We all know how the story ends, Hauschka wins the job over Gano, Hauschka gets released months later after converting under 70 percent of his field goal attempts and Stover signed on with the Indianapolis Colts.
Thankfully Stover never held any hostility towards Baltimore and I’m happy to hear that he’ll be representing the Ravens at Radio City Music Hall. Though I can’t promise I’ll watch because I hate the NFL Draft.
Zach Wilt is the Founding Editor of BaltimoreSportsReport.com. You can follow him on Twitter @zamwi or send him an email: zach@baltimoresportsreport.com.
Great post Zach. Stover was the kicker we could count on inside 40 yards. Now Cuntdiff is another story. Do I forgive him for missing that kick, HELL NO. That’s his only job, hit FG’s and he blew it. So the hell with him. We set the table and missed it. Put him in the same category as Scott Norwood.
Agree,,,,,,,,,,,
Spy! You’re back. Where have you been? You agree with me, WTF?
Oh shut the hell up before I shut you up for good.
Pretty sure that death threats over the Internet are now Federal offenses. While I’m sure your name is not “Terry” it’s very easy to trace your whereabouts through URL addresses. Might want to think about your “anonymous” posts before you hit the send button.
Terri, damn. what is your problem? I am a woman’s pet and the men’s regret, I demand an apology.
Just like any player on the roster, you never cut or release your guy unless you know there’s a viable replacement. The case with Stover was, yes, his time may ( or may not have) been done – he had just kicked a clutch game winning field goal a few weeks before his release to beat the Titans in the playoffs- but you don’t cut one of your most valuable players until you’re pretty darned sure you have his replacement. Haushka was brought in the year before for the sole purpose of kicking off. The guy couldn’t even fairly consistently kick touchbacks yet now he’s going to run a HOF kicker out of town? Or Graham Gano? This proved to be a huge mistake as Hauschka cost the Ravens a few games that year that would have solidified home field in the playoffs.
You don’t cut YOUR guy until you’re pretty damned sure another guy in your camp could be better.
That’s harbaugh for ya,,,,,,,,,,and some people want to know why the Ravens have not made a super bowl with him as head coach,,,,,,,,,,,ozzie is only part of the problem……….
Which part of the problem, the front end or the back end?
Agree MGW, its like where 9Incher worked… They let 9Incher go for nothing because they had Bolarski in to replace him… Has it worked out? You tell me…