Ravens linebacker Dannell Ellerbe has been in head coach John Harbaugh’s infamous doghouse after riding the bench for four weeks. Ellerbe returned on Sunday against the New Orleans Saints and proved he belongs on the field rather than on the inactive list.

Harbaugh, who continues to work to clean up the Ravens image, likely benched Ellerbe for attitude issues. Ellerbe had been screamed at by Harbaugh after taunting St. Louis during a pick-six in the Ravens September 2nd preseason game against the Rams. Since then, Harbaugh has put Ellerbe in just eight of the Ravens 14 games and benched him for the last four straight weeks, until Sunday.

Clearly, the Ravens linebacker was looking to prove that he deserved to be on the field. He recorded five tackles and a sack on Drew Brees and was crucial for the Ravens in the middle of the field.

Baltimore Sun’s Mike Preston has called for Ellerbe to be on the field since November 22nd, saying that he “is a good tackler and has a nose for the ball.” Hopefully the Ravens will continue to see Ellerbe on the field moving forward.