1 00:00:00,920 --> 00:00:06,680 Speaker 1: Years ago, March twenty nine, six, Snart Model stood at 2 00:00:06,720 --> 00:00:10,160 Speaker 1: Baltimore's Inner Harbor and announced the name of the new 3 00:00:10,280 --> 00:00:14,080 Speaker 1: NFL team, the Ravens. We'll talk about how the Ravens 4 00:00:14,160 --> 00:00:18,120 Speaker 1: name came about, and we'll reminisce about those chaotic first 5 00:00:18,160 --> 00:00:23,160 Speaker 1: few months in the Baltimore Ravens. They weren't the only 6 00:00:23,200 --> 00:00:26,119 Speaker 1: ones that were shocked. Players were worried whether they're going 7 00:00:26,160 --> 00:00:29,760 Speaker 1: to get housingest moving expenses, where are we gonna live, etcetera, 8 00:00:29,760 --> 00:00:32,640 Speaker 1: where's training in camp? And we're the meat machine for 9 00:00:32,960 --> 00:00:37,720 Speaker 1: the longest yard. We had white Dolmins in black Jersey. 10 00:00:38,040 --> 00:00:44,200 Speaker 1: No name for Reynolds was out there. Now we're trying 11 00:00:44,240 --> 00:00:47,239 Speaker 1: to get guys, you know, college guys. Okay, you does 12 00:00:47,280 --> 00:00:51,880 Speaker 1: Baltimore have a team? And dry too. We had him 13 00:00:53,000 --> 00:00:55,760 Speaker 1: mistake on our part, but he goes and we're setting 14 00:00:55,800 --> 00:00:58,600 Speaker 1: there with Pick and I said, okay, we're taking ray 15 00:00:58,680 --> 00:01:02,080 Speaker 1: Lewis and I I'm a calling Ran. He go, who 16 00:01:13,080 --> 00:01:16,600 Speaker 1: welcome into the lounge. We've got a unique episode of 17 00:01:16,640 --> 00:01:19,119 Speaker 1: the Lounge today. This is something that you know, some 18 00:01:19,160 --> 00:01:20,720 Speaker 1: fans may have been wanting for a long time, which 19 00:01:20,720 --> 00:01:22,040 Speaker 1: is the two of us to take a back seat 20 00:01:23,400 --> 00:01:30,840 Speaker 1: we're gonna shut up in this episode. You're welcome. So today, 21 00:01:30,880 --> 00:01:32,880 Speaker 1: if fans didn't know this, today is March twenty nine, 22 00:01:33,040 --> 00:01:35,200 Speaker 1: is when this episode is going live. This is the 23 00:01:35,240 --> 00:01:38,280 Speaker 1: twenty five birthday of the Ravens becoming the Ravens. On 24 00:01:38,319 --> 00:01:41,000 Speaker 1: this day years ago, was when Art Modell held up 25 00:01:41,080 --> 00:01:43,360 Speaker 1: that card and the Inner Harbor saying that the Ravens 26 00:01:43,360 --> 00:01:45,800 Speaker 1: were going to become the Ravens. And if some of 27 00:01:45,800 --> 00:01:48,800 Speaker 1: our younger fans don't know this, it was actually a pole. 28 00:01:49,080 --> 00:01:51,440 Speaker 1: It was a pole in the Baltimore Sun to select 29 00:01:51,480 --> 00:01:54,480 Speaker 1: what the team name would be, and Ravens won an 30 00:01:54,560 --> 00:01:58,360 Speaker 1: overwhelming majority uh to become the team name. This is 31 00:01:58,480 --> 00:02:01,120 Speaker 1: after the it was announced the Browns were moving from 32 00:02:01,120 --> 00:02:04,360 Speaker 1: Cleveland to Baltimore. But you're in this little weird territory 33 00:02:04,400 --> 00:02:06,960 Speaker 1: where it's it's the offseason. You're kind of you're not 34 00:02:07,000 --> 00:02:09,400 Speaker 1: fully in your new home yet, you're kind of moving 35 00:02:09,400 --> 00:02:10,880 Speaker 1: stuff out, and so it was just kind of this 36 00:02:10,919 --> 00:02:13,200 Speaker 1: weird territory and that's when the Ravens became the Ravens. 37 00:02:13,400 --> 00:02:15,760 Speaker 1: Do you know what? Yeah, I was just gonna say, 38 00:02:15,840 --> 00:02:18,119 Speaker 1: here's here's trivia time. Do you know what the other 39 00:02:18,160 --> 00:02:20,919 Speaker 1: options were? I do know what the other options were. 40 00:02:21,000 --> 00:02:24,840 Speaker 1: It was the Marauders and the Americans. Well, there's also 41 00:02:24,880 --> 00:02:28,360 Speaker 1: the Baltimore Bombers. Oh well, I think there's three, the 42 00:02:28,520 --> 00:02:33,880 Speaker 1: Baltimore Steamers, the Baltimore Mustangs, the Baltimore Bulldogs, Baltimore Rhinos. 43 00:02:33,919 --> 00:02:36,400 Speaker 1: But the top three, the top three were Ravens and 44 00:02:36,440 --> 00:02:39,280 Speaker 1: then Marauders and Americans. Wait this, some of these can't 45 00:02:39,280 --> 00:02:41,359 Speaker 1: be real. Hold on a second, what are you looking 46 00:02:41,360 --> 00:02:47,800 Speaker 1: at here? There's no way that Baltimore bacteria was No 47 00:02:48,040 --> 00:02:51,040 Speaker 1: where are you getting your information Baltimore. I'm reading the 48 00:02:51,040 --> 00:02:54,880 Speaker 1: Baltimore Sun story. Jonas Shaper Blaton, Jonas, He's got the 49 00:02:54,919 --> 00:03:00,440 Speaker 1: Baltimore bacteria. That can't be real, the Baltimore pickpockets. No, well, 50 00:03:00,520 --> 00:03:02,320 Speaker 1: I guess one thing we know for sure. Just be 51 00:03:02,360 --> 00:03:08,600 Speaker 1: happy that it's Ravens and Baltimore bacteria. So anyway, so, 52 00:03:08,600 --> 00:03:11,480 Speaker 1: so anyway, what we decided to do with this episode 53 00:03:11,520 --> 00:03:13,639 Speaker 1: was to mix it up a little bit, and so 54 00:03:13,840 --> 00:03:16,919 Speaker 1: we've got a really cool conversation. Uh Kevin Byrne, the 55 00:03:16,960 --> 00:03:20,400 Speaker 1: longtime Ravens head of public relations and community relations. He's 56 00:03:20,400 --> 00:03:22,640 Speaker 1: going to hold a conversation with some of the key 57 00:03:22,720 --> 00:03:26,160 Speaker 1: figures of that first Ravens team who were part of 58 00:03:26,160 --> 00:03:30,400 Speaker 1: that transition from Cleveland to Baltimore and establishing this team here. 59 00:03:30,919 --> 00:03:32,639 Speaker 1: So we're gonna go ahead and kick it over to 60 00:03:32,760 --> 00:03:35,600 Speaker 1: Kevin to hold this conversation and get some great stories 61 00:03:35,880 --> 00:03:40,440 Speaker 1: from that group. Ryan Garrett, thank you, Hi everyone, and 62 00:03:40,480 --> 00:03:44,600 Speaker 1: welcome to this podcast. And we're gonna be reflecting and 63 00:03:44,680 --> 00:03:50,400 Speaker 1: celebrating the beginnings of the Baltimore Ravens years ago. March, 64 00:03:53,280 --> 00:03:59,360 Speaker 1: the Ravens became really official when Art Model stood at 65 00:03:59,400 --> 00:04:03,160 Speaker 1: Baltimore is Inner Harbor and announced the name of the 66 00:04:03,280 --> 00:04:08,320 Speaker 1: NFL's new NFL team, the Ravens. We'll talk about how 67 00:04:09,160 --> 00:04:13,520 Speaker 1: the Ravens name came about, and we'll reminisce about those 68 00:04:13,640 --> 00:04:19,920 Speaker 1: chaotic first few months of the franchise. Uh, let's let's 69 00:04:19,920 --> 00:04:24,720 Speaker 1: meet our panel. We're gonna start first with our current 70 00:04:24,800 --> 00:04:28,360 Speaker 1: with the Ravens, current senior vice president of Operations of 71 00:04:28,960 --> 00:04:35,560 Speaker 1: Bob Eller Bob Welcome. The Ravens were smaller then and 72 00:04:35,680 --> 00:04:40,320 Speaker 1: when when Bob in was not only doing operations, he 73 00:04:40,360 --> 00:04:44,040 Speaker 1: was doing public relations and he was the KEYPR executive 74 00:04:44,080 --> 00:04:48,560 Speaker 1: at the time. And uh, and he's a he's a 75 00:04:48,600 --> 00:04:52,400 Speaker 1: Baltimore and he he was from here. Originally he's a 76 00:04:52,440 --> 00:04:57,000 Speaker 1: Towson University graduate and uh, and he came home to 77 00:04:57,040 --> 00:04:59,200 Speaker 1: help start the Ravens. Bob, that had to be an 78 00:04:59,279 --> 00:05:02,400 Speaker 1: unusual time for you. It was very unusual. It's very busy. 79 00:05:02,640 --> 00:05:06,919 Speaker 1: Kevin was very exciting and Uh, as you know and 80 00:05:06,960 --> 00:05:09,240 Speaker 1: everybody on here knows, it was a lot of work 81 00:05:09,320 --> 00:05:12,080 Speaker 1: to get done, a lot to accomplish in a very 82 00:05:12,120 --> 00:05:16,679 Speaker 1: short period of time. But it was interesting, it was fun. 83 00:05:17,200 --> 00:05:19,400 Speaker 1: It was we didn't get much sleep back in those days. 84 00:05:20,680 --> 00:05:23,720 Speaker 1: Bill Tessen Dorff is here. Hi. Bill, you know, if 85 00:05:23,760 --> 00:05:26,800 Speaker 1: there's uh an Ozzie will agree with this. Acent I'm 86 00:05:26,839 --> 00:05:29,760 Speaker 1: sure if there's a Hall of Fame for trainers in 87 00:05:29,800 --> 00:05:31,960 Speaker 1: the NFL, Bill tess and Dorff would be one of 88 00:05:31,960 --> 00:05:34,919 Speaker 1: the first inductees. Test was the head trainer for the 89 00:05:34,920 --> 00:05:38,440 Speaker 1: Cleveland Browns. We were the Cleveland Browns before we became 90 00:05:38,480 --> 00:05:41,560 Speaker 1: the Baltimore Ravens, and he became a team vice president 91 00:05:41,640 --> 00:05:46,040 Speaker 1: later on for the Ravens. He basically tests. I'm telling 92 00:05:46,279 --> 00:05:48,880 Speaker 1: the world, this got our facility in Baltimore up and 93 00:05:48,960 --> 00:05:54,320 Speaker 1: running at a professional level in a very very short time. Test, 94 00:05:54,440 --> 00:06:00,320 Speaker 1: welcome to the podcast. Thank you very much. The the 95 00:06:00,360 --> 00:06:02,359 Speaker 1: next guy really doesn't need much of an introduction. And 96 00:06:02,360 --> 00:06:04,080 Speaker 1: I've done it so many times in my career and 97 00:06:04,080 --> 00:06:08,280 Speaker 1: I and I'm always delighted. I always tell people that 98 00:06:08,480 --> 00:06:11,440 Speaker 1: Ozzie and I are like an old married couple. Are offices, 99 00:06:11,560 --> 00:06:13,719 Speaker 1: were next to each other for twenty five years. We 100 00:06:14,080 --> 00:06:17,440 Speaker 1: sat next to each other on charters, uh, team charters 101 00:06:17,520 --> 00:06:20,080 Speaker 1: for all those years. He's a Hall of Fame player 102 00:06:20,120 --> 00:06:23,800 Speaker 1: after a spectacular Brown's career at tight end, he's still 103 00:06:23,839 --> 00:06:28,880 Speaker 1: the leading receiver in Cleveland Brown history. And my correct Ozzie, Yeah, 104 00:06:29,279 --> 00:06:33,360 Speaker 1: I thought you'd know. He's currently the executive vice president 105 00:06:33,360 --> 00:06:36,360 Speaker 1: of the Ravens. And then that's because Steve Bashati and 106 00:06:36,440 --> 00:06:39,760 Speaker 1: current general manager Eric de Costa won't let Ozzie retire. 107 00:06:40,440 --> 00:06:43,920 Speaker 1: Uh Oz, We're gonna go back to the move from Cleveland. 108 00:06:44,160 --> 00:06:48,599 Speaker 1: We'll reminisce a little bit about that. But first, uh 109 00:06:48,600 --> 00:06:51,360 Speaker 1: and I've never asked you this question. Then, owner Art 110 00:06:51,400 --> 00:06:58,039 Speaker 1: Model ninth January or februaryily February came to you and 111 00:06:58,120 --> 00:07:01,880 Speaker 1: basically put the franchise in year laugh and said, here 112 00:07:02,279 --> 00:07:05,839 Speaker 1: assemble an NFL team, get us ready to be the 113 00:07:05,839 --> 00:07:10,880 Speaker 1: new Baltimore franchise. What was your reaction at that time, 114 00:07:11,080 --> 00:07:15,560 Speaker 1: and UM, were you surprised and and what were your 115 00:07:15,600 --> 00:07:18,960 Speaker 1: thoughts about having to do that? Well, Kevin, it all begun, 116 00:07:19,160 --> 00:07:23,680 Speaker 1: UH began when I was at the Combine. We were 117 00:07:23,720 --> 00:07:27,280 Speaker 1: preparing for the combine, Michael Lombardi, Bill Belichick and nine 118 00:07:28,040 --> 00:07:31,440 Speaker 1: and I got a call from Jim Bailey UH telling 119 00:07:31,480 --> 00:07:36,480 Speaker 1: me to get my clothes, go back to Cleveland, and 120 00:07:36,520 --> 00:07:39,520 Speaker 1: then come to Baltimore and not tell anybody what I 121 00:07:39,600 --> 00:07:43,280 Speaker 1: was doing. And I followed those directions and I ended 122 00:07:43,360 --> 00:07:48,400 Speaker 1: up in Baltimore, and when I got here, UH in discussions. 123 00:07:49,320 --> 00:07:52,880 Speaker 1: First of all, I just some people don't know, fans 124 00:07:52,880 --> 00:07:55,320 Speaker 1: don't know Bill BELLI check was her head coach, So 125 00:07:55,440 --> 00:07:59,200 Speaker 1: you were reporting to Bill Belichick exactly right. Bill was 126 00:07:59,240 --> 00:08:03,000 Speaker 1: the head coach. UH. We had went to the playoffs 127 00:08:03,000 --> 00:08:06,480 Speaker 1: and I think we were four and two and nine 128 00:08:07,040 --> 00:08:09,960 Speaker 1: when the move was announced, and it was just tough 129 00:08:10,120 --> 00:08:12,880 Speaker 1: just being able to get the players to play at 130 00:08:12,880 --> 00:08:16,160 Speaker 1: a high level. But again, you know, I ended up 131 00:08:16,200 --> 00:08:19,560 Speaker 1: coming to UH, to Baltimore to meet with UH, with 132 00:08:19,680 --> 00:08:23,400 Speaker 1: Jim and R and David, and in that conversation they 133 00:08:23,440 --> 00:08:25,840 Speaker 1: asked me, we'd like for you to move to Baltimore 134 00:08:25,880 --> 00:08:30,480 Speaker 1: with us, And I said okay, and uh they said, uh, 135 00:08:30,720 --> 00:08:32,960 Speaker 1: do you want to be involved in coaching or personnel? 136 00:08:33,000 --> 00:08:35,800 Speaker 1: And I said personnel and they said great, because that's 137 00:08:35,800 --> 00:08:38,240 Speaker 1: what we want to make you The uh guess was 138 00:08:38,400 --> 00:08:43,000 Speaker 1: director player personnel. Uh. So that happened, and that night 139 00:08:43,160 --> 00:08:46,120 Speaker 1: I had a long conversation with Bill Belichick, uh to 140 00:08:46,240 --> 00:08:49,880 Speaker 1: let him know that he had heard that he wasn't coming. 141 00:08:50,559 --> 00:08:54,000 Speaker 1: And from that point on, Kevin it was a blur, 142 00:08:54,760 --> 00:08:59,080 Speaker 1: you know, going back to to Cleveland, having to deal 143 00:08:59,120 --> 00:09:02,640 Speaker 1: with that, gett't over here, trying to get myself prepared 144 00:09:02,720 --> 00:09:05,440 Speaker 1: for draft, trying to sign the free agent that we 145 00:09:05,440 --> 00:09:07,960 Speaker 1: were going to sign. It out only it was a blur. 146 00:09:08,360 --> 00:09:12,280 Speaker 1: It was a real blur, as was I think all 147 00:09:12,360 --> 00:09:16,680 Speaker 1: of us are former Cleveland Browns. The last couple of 148 00:09:16,720 --> 00:09:19,200 Speaker 1: months were blurs for us in Cleveland. It was such 149 00:09:19,240 --> 00:09:25,040 Speaker 1: a bizarre time. It was the fall of and tests. 150 00:09:25,520 --> 00:09:28,000 Speaker 1: You were in the training room, uh, and and the 151 00:09:28,360 --> 00:09:32,200 Speaker 1: and the for fans, the trainers like the gossip. Hal 152 00:09:32,840 --> 00:09:36,680 Speaker 1: you know that that's where we hear everything because players 153 00:09:36,760 --> 00:09:40,240 Speaker 1: can let their hair down. Test. What do you recall? 154 00:09:40,440 --> 00:09:43,680 Speaker 1: What were the were the players shocked by this announcement 155 00:09:43,720 --> 00:09:47,520 Speaker 1: of a move or how how are they coping with it? 156 00:09:47,600 --> 00:09:50,920 Speaker 1: Back then, they weren't the only ones that were shocked. 157 00:09:52,120 --> 00:09:55,080 Speaker 1: I get heard from Doug Deacon and I said, oh, 158 00:09:55,320 --> 00:10:00,240 Speaker 1: you're full of bs, Doug. But it was nobody and 159 00:10:00,320 --> 00:10:03,640 Speaker 1: everybody was kind of jost link for position. We'd only 160 00:10:03,679 --> 00:10:05,839 Speaker 1: been to Baltimore to play the Colts every once in 161 00:10:05,880 --> 00:10:10,840 Speaker 1: a while, and uh, so there was no history with 162 00:10:10,920 --> 00:10:14,560 Speaker 1: the franchise of moving, and so I think everybody was 163 00:10:14,720 --> 00:10:16,319 Speaker 1: up in the air to figure out what it was 164 00:10:16,360 --> 00:10:19,439 Speaker 1: going on. Players were worried whether they're going to get 165 00:10:19,640 --> 00:10:23,800 Speaker 1: housing depenses, moving expenses, where are we gonna live, etcetera. 166 00:10:23,840 --> 00:10:27,200 Speaker 1: Where his training camp and that. So there was a 167 00:10:27,240 --> 00:10:30,720 Speaker 1: lot of decisions that Bob and others, uh, Bob Eller 168 00:10:30,800 --> 00:10:33,880 Speaker 1: and others in the organization had to make and basically 169 00:10:34,160 --> 00:10:38,240 Speaker 1: getting ready to go training camp and uh three months 170 00:10:38,440 --> 00:10:44,080 Speaker 1: or four months Aussie, it's it's uh. As we've talked 171 00:10:44,160 --> 00:10:47,400 Speaker 1: through the years, it's hard to win a game a 172 00:10:47,559 --> 00:10:52,520 Speaker 1: game in the NFL. Everybody's good. Um, your former player, 173 00:10:52,600 --> 00:10:54,440 Speaker 1: you were close to players. You were both coaching and 174 00:10:54,440 --> 00:10:57,079 Speaker 1: doing scouting at the time, so you're with the players 175 00:10:57,120 --> 00:11:01,800 Speaker 1: a lot um. How did you judge their focus and 176 00:11:01,800 --> 00:11:05,040 Speaker 1: and was it an impossible task for the coaches at 177 00:11:05,040 --> 00:11:08,960 Speaker 1: the time. Well, I think we had good leadership. Uh. 178 00:11:09,120 --> 00:11:12,360 Speaker 1: Like I said, that team had went to the playoffs 179 00:11:12,760 --> 00:11:15,800 Speaker 1: two years before, so there was some leadership with with 180 00:11:15,880 --> 00:11:23,400 Speaker 1: guys like Robert Nett, uh, Eric Turner, Vinny Ernest Binden. 181 00:11:23,480 --> 00:11:26,920 Speaker 1: So we had went real good leadership. And Uh, those 182 00:11:26,960 --> 00:11:31,040 Speaker 1: guys basically said, Okay, you know what a football field 183 00:11:31,080 --> 00:11:33,360 Speaker 1: is A hundred yards long and fifty three and the 184 00:11:33,400 --> 00:11:36,800 Speaker 1: third wide. Hey, football is football. So they came over 185 00:11:36,840 --> 00:11:40,240 Speaker 1: here reluctantly and said, you know, if our jobs is 186 00:11:40,280 --> 00:11:43,120 Speaker 1: in Baltimore and we're going to have to play football, 187 00:11:43,160 --> 00:11:46,200 Speaker 1: we're gonna play football in Baltimore. I think that's how 188 00:11:46,240 --> 00:11:50,680 Speaker 1: they approached the whole thing, and that really helped that transition. 189 00:11:50,679 --> 00:11:54,040 Speaker 1: I knew it. Her Bill and Bob, help yourself, Kevin, 190 00:11:54,080 --> 00:11:56,040 Speaker 1: when you had to deal with the media, that we 191 00:11:56,120 --> 00:11:58,880 Speaker 1: had those guys that were leaders and they just accept 192 00:11:58,960 --> 00:12:02,440 Speaker 1: the responsibility that were football players, you know, I said, 193 00:12:02,480 --> 00:12:06,440 Speaker 1: And Bob, you were already drinking from the fire holes 194 00:12:06,480 --> 00:12:09,360 Speaker 1: with your job in Cleveland. Now you had to start 195 00:12:09,960 --> 00:12:14,120 Speaker 1: juggling about moving to Baltimore and helping move a franchise 196 00:12:14,120 --> 00:12:17,400 Speaker 1: and worried about that. Uh what were your first steps 197 00:12:17,400 --> 00:12:20,400 Speaker 1: involved with that? Oh, she's Kevin. It was a world 198 00:12:20,520 --> 00:12:23,640 Speaker 1: when well, first of all, we had to uh we 199 00:12:23,640 --> 00:12:27,640 Speaker 1: we met as an organization and Pat Mariarty and I 200 00:12:27,880 --> 00:12:32,360 Speaker 1: um under the direction of of Jim Bailey UM and 201 00:12:32,800 --> 00:12:37,839 Speaker 1: helped organize uh some relocation packages and things like that 202 00:12:37,960 --> 00:12:41,800 Speaker 1: for for not only the staff, but also for for players. 203 00:12:42,440 --> 00:12:46,360 Speaker 1: And so the first order of business was to get 204 00:12:46,400 --> 00:12:51,400 Speaker 1: people to Baltimore and to get them comfortably set up 205 00:12:52,000 --> 00:12:57,800 Speaker 1: under the circumstances. And so we had um, we had 206 00:12:57,920 --> 00:13:01,679 Speaker 1: some some some corporate relocation packages for people who have 207 00:13:02,000 --> 00:13:05,240 Speaker 1: owned homes, and then we also had some short term 208 00:13:05,280 --> 00:13:09,880 Speaker 1: apartments that I think many of us used, uh initially 209 00:13:09,960 --> 00:13:13,679 Speaker 1: until we found a home. UM. I remember the night 210 00:13:14,080 --> 00:13:17,040 Speaker 1: very well when we're standing down the street Owings Mills 211 00:13:17,040 --> 00:13:20,319 Speaker 1: in a temporary place and uh fire alarm went off 212 00:13:20,360 --> 00:13:22,560 Speaker 1: and I remember seeing Ozzie standing out there in the 213 00:13:22,559 --> 00:13:28,160 Speaker 1: parking lot. That so we uh yeah, we we we 214 00:13:28,200 --> 00:13:30,320 Speaker 1: had to get that set up. But then, of course 215 00:13:30,360 --> 00:13:33,120 Speaker 1: there were so many other things that need to happen. 216 00:13:34,000 --> 00:13:36,560 Speaker 1: Uh we uh you know, we needed to find a 217 00:13:36,559 --> 00:13:40,400 Speaker 1: training camp home. Uh and uh that was a rush, 218 00:13:40,520 --> 00:13:44,720 Speaker 1: and we needed to um you know, just find basically 219 00:13:44,840 --> 00:13:48,559 Speaker 1: combinations that an NFL team needs such as you know, um, 220 00:13:48,559 --> 00:13:50,800 Speaker 1: hotels at home and on the road and all the 221 00:13:50,840 --> 00:13:54,480 Speaker 1: other things had come with it. Um. And so yeah, 222 00:13:54,559 --> 00:13:56,800 Speaker 1: there was there was. There was quite a bit to do, 223 00:13:57,520 --> 00:14:01,560 Speaker 1: um in relation to getting ready of the season. Uh. 224 00:14:01,760 --> 00:14:03,440 Speaker 1: And it was it was a little tricky when you 225 00:14:03,480 --> 00:14:06,240 Speaker 1: didn't have a name, to be honest with you, uh, 226 00:14:06,280 --> 00:14:10,480 Speaker 1: and you didn't have colors. So um, you know, yeah 227 00:14:10,520 --> 00:14:13,480 Speaker 1: this is uh you know, um, this is Bob with 228 00:14:13,559 --> 00:14:17,160 Speaker 1: the with the Baltimore football team. Uh. So you know, 229 00:14:17,320 --> 00:14:19,760 Speaker 1: we um, we did the best we could and and 230 00:14:19,760 --> 00:14:21,720 Speaker 1: and got things set up. We we ended up going 231 00:14:21,760 --> 00:14:25,680 Speaker 1: to Western Maryland College at the time it was called 232 00:14:25,720 --> 00:14:30,160 Speaker 1: Western Maryland is now called McDaniel College, which housed the 233 00:14:30,200 --> 00:14:33,560 Speaker 1: Baltimore Colts for years. Um. Of course, because it was 234 00:14:33,600 --> 00:14:38,000 Speaker 1: so late to get started that first year, we were 235 00:14:38,040 --> 00:14:41,360 Speaker 1: spread all over the campus. We had classrooms and four 236 00:14:41,440 --> 00:14:45,440 Speaker 1: different buildings, people staying all over the campus. It was 237 00:14:45,640 --> 00:14:49,720 Speaker 1: it was chaos. Eventually ended up taking over that little 238 00:14:49,720 --> 00:14:52,840 Speaker 1: hotel up there, but uh um, but yeah, so it 239 00:14:52,920 --> 00:14:56,680 Speaker 1: was there was there was quite a quite a whirlwind, um, 240 00:14:56,720 --> 00:14:59,440 Speaker 1: that's for sure. And uh, you know, I can't say 241 00:14:59,560 --> 00:15:03,640 Speaker 1: enough for the work the tested Bill tessen Dorf. And 242 00:15:03,640 --> 00:15:06,040 Speaker 1: and of course you know as you hit the home 243 00:15:06,120 --> 00:15:10,160 Speaker 1: run right off the bat with that draft right well, 244 00:15:10,240 --> 00:15:13,840 Speaker 1: and also we had to finish the season. We were 245 00:15:13,840 --> 00:15:17,960 Speaker 1: in Cleveland, and we had an obligation, uh, to those 246 00:15:18,000 --> 00:15:20,640 Speaker 1: fans and to the NFL to be the best we 247 00:15:20,680 --> 00:15:24,320 Speaker 1: could there. So while we're looking over here to Baltimore, 248 00:15:24,400 --> 00:15:27,080 Speaker 1: we we had to finish the season. You know, I 249 00:15:27,720 --> 00:15:30,480 Speaker 1: remember at the time, and this is not offensive to 250 00:15:30,520 --> 00:15:33,400 Speaker 1: Bill Belichick. He was not a popular head coach in Cleveland, 251 00:15:33,760 --> 00:15:37,720 Speaker 1: you know that, uh and uh and so people hadn't 252 00:15:37,840 --> 00:15:41,239 Speaker 1: really embraced him for for a lot of different reasons. 253 00:15:41,680 --> 00:15:45,840 Speaker 1: But uh Art was gone and Jim Bailey had gone, 254 00:15:46,280 --> 00:15:49,360 Speaker 1: and I'm in the phone book as I've always been, 255 00:15:49,560 --> 00:15:52,280 Speaker 1: and so and I was the public voice announcing to 256 00:15:52,360 --> 00:15:54,880 Speaker 1: the world everything that was going on, trying to do 257 00:15:54,920 --> 00:15:57,640 Speaker 1: our football business, but at the same time answering questions 258 00:15:57,640 --> 00:16:00,400 Speaker 1: from Baltimore media, who now had come over there to 259 00:16:00,520 --> 00:16:03,680 Speaker 1: become a regular part of our press conferences. And so 260 00:16:04,160 --> 00:16:07,520 Speaker 1: after it leaks out that that we're moving, and it 261 00:16:07,600 --> 00:16:12,840 Speaker 1: was leaked out, Uh, there was a police car in 262 00:16:12,880 --> 00:16:15,160 Speaker 1: front of my house and at first I wasn't paying 263 00:16:15,200 --> 00:16:17,800 Speaker 1: attention to it, and then Sally, my wife, noticed it, 264 00:16:18,240 --> 00:16:20,520 Speaker 1: and then it was there all night, and so the 265 00:16:20,600 --> 00:16:26,040 Speaker 1: next night it's there again, and I'm thinking, well, this 266 00:16:26,120 --> 00:16:30,680 Speaker 1: might be about me, because I'm the voice saying that 267 00:16:30,760 --> 00:16:34,560 Speaker 1: the franchise, the Great Cleveland Browns, are leaving. And it 268 00:16:34,680 --> 00:16:37,720 Speaker 1: really made Sally and the and our kids nervous. So 269 00:16:37,760 --> 00:16:41,680 Speaker 1: I went to Chuck Cusick, who you worked with, Bob 270 00:16:41,920 --> 00:16:46,520 Speaker 1: and uh and and asked him, uh, I said, do 271 00:16:46,560 --> 00:16:49,080 Speaker 1: you have a police car at my house? He goes, yeah, 272 00:16:49,400 --> 00:16:51,560 Speaker 1: you're the only one they know where you. You're in 273 00:16:51,600 --> 00:16:53,560 Speaker 1: the phone book. I told you not to put your 274 00:16:53,600 --> 00:16:55,840 Speaker 1: dame in the phone book. And I said, you gotta 275 00:16:55,880 --> 00:16:57,960 Speaker 1: get it out of there. It's by my wife and 276 00:16:58,040 --> 00:17:02,520 Speaker 1: kids are nervous. So that's the atmosphere we were working. 277 00:17:02,560 --> 00:17:04,639 Speaker 1: And and just one more thing before we get to 278 00:17:04,760 --> 00:17:08,040 Speaker 1: more about coming over to Baltimore. Ozzie, you're a hero 279 00:17:08,920 --> 00:17:12,720 Speaker 1: in in Cleveland. I mean, there are a few athletes 280 00:17:12,760 --> 00:17:15,560 Speaker 1: in the history of the Cleveland Browns who are embraced 281 00:17:15,560 --> 00:17:19,880 Speaker 1: more than Ozzy newsom um. And and now you're being 282 00:17:19,920 --> 00:17:23,159 Speaker 1: involved with this in your mind at that time, I 283 00:17:23,160 --> 00:17:26,679 Speaker 1: know You've got invited in in in February, but in 284 00:17:26,680 --> 00:17:30,880 Speaker 1: in in November December of nine. Are you thinking what's 285 00:17:30,880 --> 00:17:33,560 Speaker 1: gonna happen to my career or what's going on? And 286 00:17:33,600 --> 00:17:36,560 Speaker 1: what are my neighbors think of me? Well? I was 287 00:17:36,560 --> 00:17:38,840 Speaker 1: working for Belichick, so you didn't have much time to 288 00:17:38,880 --> 00:17:44,119 Speaker 1: think about much other than but you know, I was, uh, 289 00:17:44,440 --> 00:17:48,560 Speaker 1: you know, and I was just trusting Art and Jim Bailey, 290 00:17:48,640 --> 00:17:51,840 Speaker 1: uh during that time. And uh, you know, it was 291 00:17:52,119 --> 00:17:55,679 Speaker 1: a big struggle. You know. I remember probably two or 292 00:17:55,720 --> 00:17:59,679 Speaker 1: three weeks after the move was announced. Uh, I was 293 00:17:59,720 --> 00:18:03,000 Speaker 1: in a conversation with with Belichick and he said, can 294 00:18:03,040 --> 00:18:07,560 Speaker 1: you remember at any time whereas a team moved during 295 00:18:07,560 --> 00:18:10,520 Speaker 1: the season. He said, we need to research that so 296 00:18:10,640 --> 00:18:12,600 Speaker 1: we can reach out to people so that we can 297 00:18:12,640 --> 00:18:15,359 Speaker 1: figure out how to handle this with our football team. 298 00:18:15,480 --> 00:18:19,120 Speaker 1: And that was not one And that's how difficult it 299 00:18:19,359 --> 00:18:25,360 Speaker 1: was for us to be able to maintain that football team. Uh, 300 00:18:25,400 --> 00:18:27,960 Speaker 1: in the midst of knowing that this team was moving 301 00:18:28,320 --> 00:18:31,080 Speaker 1: in a city like Cleveland, in a city like Cleveland 302 00:18:31,240 --> 00:18:35,280 Speaker 1: that was passionate about his football. So, uh, it was difficult. 303 00:18:35,280 --> 00:18:37,480 Speaker 1: But you know, when you work for Bill, you just 304 00:18:37,600 --> 00:18:40,280 Speaker 1: you know, you keep yourself focused on what's important, and 305 00:18:40,280 --> 00:18:42,720 Speaker 1: what was important was trying to win the game that 306 00:18:42,960 --> 00:18:46,440 Speaker 1: very next week under tough circumstances if you were caused 307 00:18:46,520 --> 00:18:51,240 Speaker 1: being Kevin and tests. Uh. After that announcement in Cleveland, 308 00:18:51,760 --> 00:18:53,760 Speaker 1: as we would prepare for games, we would get out 309 00:18:53,800 --> 00:18:57,600 Speaker 1: of town to prepare for games. So we had extended 310 00:18:57,840 --> 00:19:00,800 Speaker 1: stays for the rest of the season pretty much because 311 00:19:00,800 --> 00:19:03,520 Speaker 1: we were just getting out of Dodge to avoid all 312 00:19:03,560 --> 00:19:08,240 Speaker 1: of the hubbub. It was bizarre. There were all the 313 00:19:08,359 --> 00:19:12,399 Speaker 1: signs had come down web, you know. You I was 314 00:19:12,440 --> 00:19:15,680 Speaker 1: trying to think why I was. I was in Jacksonville, 315 00:19:16,119 --> 00:19:17,959 Speaker 1: and I think that was the reason why, because I 316 00:19:18,000 --> 00:19:20,119 Speaker 1: was talking to the gym from the jack Bars and 317 00:19:20,119 --> 00:19:23,119 Speaker 1: he was talking about the TPC there and I go, 318 00:19:23,240 --> 00:19:26,360 Speaker 1: I've been there. I think I went that's because that's 319 00:19:26,359 --> 00:19:29,439 Speaker 1: one of the places that we moved to, you know, 320 00:19:29,600 --> 00:19:34,520 Speaker 1: to practice before we played the game. Yeah, Jacksonville Beach. 321 00:19:35,040 --> 00:19:38,440 Speaker 1: I went there and uh, it was a Friday practice 322 00:19:39,080 --> 00:19:42,639 Speaker 1: and uh, Bill came up to me and said, go 323 00:19:42,840 --> 00:19:45,160 Speaker 1: find the guy who can get these lights turned on 324 00:19:45,800 --> 00:19:54,840 Speaker 1: and kept practicing and practicing practice. Yeah gold at Jacksonville, 325 00:19:55,240 --> 00:19:57,400 Speaker 1: you know, you know, and the then we have our 326 00:19:57,400 --> 00:20:01,520 Speaker 1: final game in Cleveland at Cleveland Stadium against the Bengals. 327 00:20:01,920 --> 00:20:05,959 Speaker 1: We win the game. There there are people literally tearing 328 00:20:05,960 --> 00:20:13,520 Speaker 1: the stadium down during the game, and uh, as I know, um, 329 00:20:13,560 --> 00:20:18,320 Speaker 1: it had to be an unusual moment for you, uh 330 00:20:18,720 --> 00:20:21,520 Speaker 1: that day and at the end of the game, a 331 00:20:21,720 --> 00:20:25,880 Speaker 1: very emotional Uh. At that point, I was pretty much 332 00:20:25,880 --> 00:20:28,520 Speaker 1: in charge of the offense. So you know, during the game, 333 00:20:28,560 --> 00:20:31,880 Speaker 1: even though you know, between series and stuff, you would 334 00:20:31,880 --> 00:20:34,199 Speaker 1: see all of the activities that were going on in 335 00:20:34,200 --> 00:20:37,280 Speaker 1: there in the stadium. But you know, I tried to 336 00:20:37,320 --> 00:20:40,840 Speaker 1: stay focused. But once the game came to an end, 337 00:20:41,560 --> 00:20:43,359 Speaker 1: and then we're standing out there on the field and 338 00:20:43,359 --> 00:20:47,679 Speaker 1: you remember this, Kevin, and we're standing there and you know, 339 00:20:47,920 --> 00:20:53,359 Speaker 1: just emotions are just overcoming myself and I looked to 340 00:20:53,480 --> 00:20:57,080 Speaker 1: my left and there you are standing, and I think 341 00:20:57,160 --> 00:20:59,760 Speaker 1: on the other side of me was Dino Lukerelli, you know, 342 00:21:00,600 --> 00:21:03,840 Speaker 1: and uh to two people that have been, you know, 343 00:21:04,240 --> 00:21:07,919 Speaker 1: a lot responsible for my success in Cleveland off the field, 344 00:21:08,359 --> 00:21:12,280 Speaker 1: and we just sat there and and we all embraced 345 00:21:12,280 --> 00:21:15,840 Speaker 1: we embraced that moment together. Kevin, you and Idea, you know, 346 00:21:16,560 --> 00:21:18,879 Speaker 1: because I mean, yeah, you grew up in Cleveland also 347 00:21:20,320 --> 00:21:23,800 Speaker 1: and to be a part of that. And it was 348 00:21:23,880 --> 00:21:26,280 Speaker 1: I mean and again that that was one of the 349 00:21:26,640 --> 00:21:30,840 Speaker 1: um longest drives that I had from Cleveland Stadium back 350 00:21:30,880 --> 00:21:34,040 Speaker 1: to Orange while I was living at during that time, Uh, 351 00:21:34,440 --> 00:21:40,160 Speaker 1: thinking and reminiscing about my career in in Cleveland and 352 00:21:40,160 --> 00:21:44,159 Speaker 1: and just passing by, you know, different sights and so forth. Uh. 353 00:21:44,600 --> 00:21:46,280 Speaker 1: It seemed like it took an hour and a half, 354 00:21:46,280 --> 00:21:49,320 Speaker 1: but it was only thirty minutes. And then guys just 355 00:21:49,400 --> 00:21:53,040 Speaker 1: like that the next day or Baldom were gotta go 356 00:21:53,080 --> 00:21:55,760 Speaker 1: to Baltimore. We get to get things done. And Bob, 357 00:21:55,960 --> 00:22:01,760 Speaker 1: you're from Baltimore. Um Uh, how what were your feelings 358 00:22:01,760 --> 00:22:05,280 Speaker 1: at the time. Did you think that Baltimore frans would 359 00:22:05,280 --> 00:22:10,120 Speaker 1: embrace us, especially after Bob Ersey had moved the team 360 00:22:10,160 --> 00:22:13,679 Speaker 1: to Indianapolis when you were back in with the Colts 361 00:22:14,119 --> 00:22:17,000 Speaker 1: in early in your career, and and what did you 362 00:22:17,040 --> 00:22:19,440 Speaker 1: expect from the fans and were you were there any 363 00:22:19,440 --> 00:22:24,119 Speaker 1: surprises along the way? Kevin, I, I'll be honest with you, 364 00:22:24,280 --> 00:22:26,680 Speaker 1: I was very optimistic. I I knew that this was 365 00:22:26,720 --> 00:22:29,600 Speaker 1: a great football town, and I knew that it was 366 00:22:29,640 --> 00:22:33,680 Speaker 1: the right call, uh for for so many reasons. Um, 367 00:22:33,720 --> 00:22:38,040 Speaker 1: at the time, uh and um, the circumstances dictated that 368 00:22:38,160 --> 00:22:42,440 Speaker 1: whole situation. But I knew Baltimore was a great football town. Um, 369 00:22:43,119 --> 00:22:47,600 Speaker 1: I had no doubt about that. I grew up here 370 00:22:47,640 --> 00:22:50,960 Speaker 1: and I witnessed I witnessed it my my young life. 371 00:22:51,200 --> 00:22:53,760 Speaker 1: And uh and then you know, the franchise kind of 372 00:22:53,800 --> 00:22:56,520 Speaker 1: fell on hard times with for a lot of reasons, 373 00:22:56,840 --> 00:23:00,879 Speaker 1: uh and personalities. Um. You know, there was a towards 374 00:23:00,880 --> 00:23:05,320 Speaker 1: the end of not so much, but but during the heyday, uh, 375 00:23:05,359 --> 00:23:08,240 Speaker 1: there was nothing like it. And UM, so I knew, 376 00:23:08,480 --> 00:23:11,479 Speaker 1: I knew we were coming to a great place. And uh, 377 00:23:11,560 --> 00:23:13,720 Speaker 1: you know, I've got to give credit to to to 378 00:23:13,960 --> 00:23:20,000 Speaker 1: to you and to to your vision of instantly having 379 00:23:20,000 --> 00:23:25,160 Speaker 1: a mission of integrating the players into the community. Uh. 380 00:23:25,200 --> 00:23:27,840 Speaker 1: And that was priority and started at the top with 381 00:23:28,000 --> 00:23:31,400 Speaker 1: Art And I think you you just did a fantastic 382 00:23:31,480 --> 00:23:35,359 Speaker 1: job of game planning to make sure that, uh, we 383 00:23:35,359 --> 00:23:37,840 Speaker 1: were doing the right things in the right places for 384 00:23:37,920 --> 00:23:40,919 Speaker 1: the for the people who needed it in the community. 385 00:23:41,000 --> 00:23:45,240 Speaker 1: And um, and a love affair grew and and and 386 00:23:45,240 --> 00:23:49,680 Speaker 1: and I think the players trepidations slowly evaporated as well 387 00:23:50,560 --> 00:23:53,359 Speaker 1: about about the whole move and ended up loving the 388 00:23:53,400 --> 00:23:57,560 Speaker 1: city of Baltimore. Yeah, but when we first walked over 389 00:23:57,640 --> 00:24:03,199 Speaker 1: here our new facility, Bill Tessen door was the Baltimore 390 00:24:03,280 --> 00:24:10,680 Speaker 1: Police Academy in Owen's Mills. When nowadays, when you when 391 00:24:10,720 --> 00:24:18,480 Speaker 1: you first saw the facility, your reaction, uh wasn't looking 392 00:24:18,520 --> 00:24:20,760 Speaker 1: for arm guards or anything like that. But you know, 393 00:24:20,880 --> 00:24:23,399 Speaker 1: the Colts had built the facility, hadn't been used a 394 00:24:23,400 --> 00:24:27,240 Speaker 1: whole lot, but it had been taken over by the police. 395 00:24:27,520 --> 00:24:32,520 Speaker 1: The fields overgrown training room was we didn't know what 396 00:24:32,640 --> 00:24:34,119 Speaker 1: it was. Part of it was the locker room and 397 00:24:34,160 --> 00:24:37,040 Speaker 1: other things. So but what had mounted too is there 398 00:24:37,119 --> 00:24:39,800 Speaker 1: was a lot of teamwork that had to be done 399 00:24:39,840 --> 00:24:45,199 Speaker 1: to get the facility up in operation. But Bill, uh, 400 00:24:45,240 --> 00:24:47,639 Speaker 1: you know, well the three of us will a test 401 00:24:47,880 --> 00:24:50,640 Speaker 1: or the four of us you're the king. I mean 402 00:24:51,440 --> 00:24:54,160 Speaker 1: Bills not only the trainer, but as I said at 403 00:24:54,160 --> 00:24:57,399 Speaker 1: the beginning, he was like a construction manager. So you 404 00:24:57,480 --> 00:25:00,920 Speaker 1: were running electricity. The various play says you were knocking 405 00:25:00,960 --> 00:25:03,600 Speaker 1: down walls, but you weren't hiring people to do it. 406 00:25:03,680 --> 00:25:06,840 Speaker 1: You were doing it. No, we we had we hired people. 407 00:25:07,040 --> 00:25:09,560 Speaker 1: We hired to people split it like this. They The 408 00:25:09,640 --> 00:25:14,359 Speaker 1: interesting thing is Mike Preston came in to the facility 409 00:25:14,359 --> 00:25:16,399 Speaker 1: to check it out, and he come to introduced me 410 00:25:16,440 --> 00:25:18,240 Speaker 1: and I had a tool belt on and he looked 411 00:25:18,240 --> 00:25:25,080 Speaker 1: at me like, you're what the trainer, as my dad 412 00:25:25,160 --> 00:25:28,800 Speaker 1: used to say, the more you can do. But again 413 00:25:28,880 --> 00:25:31,600 Speaker 1: it was not I mean, we had Billy Jankowski, We 414 00:25:31,640 --> 00:25:36,040 Speaker 1: had J. J. Miller who handled the uh, the equipment department. 415 00:25:36,040 --> 00:25:40,080 Speaker 1: Because we were a split football team. There was a 416 00:25:40,119 --> 00:25:42,600 Speaker 1: lot of people still left in Cleveland that had to 417 00:25:42,880 --> 00:25:45,080 Speaker 1: pack things up and get it out and get it 418 00:25:45,119 --> 00:25:47,320 Speaker 1: over shipped over here, and we had to move and 419 00:25:47,480 --> 00:25:52,600 Speaker 1: operate the facility. Yeah, there is. It was chaotic, you know. 420 00:25:52,640 --> 00:25:56,840 Speaker 1: And Bob you mentioned about getting the players involved, aren't 421 00:25:56,880 --> 00:25:58,639 Speaker 1: model the owner? We I think we put them on 422 00:25:58,680 --> 00:26:01,760 Speaker 1: every radio station and TV station and had him in 423 00:26:01,800 --> 00:26:05,439 Speaker 1: every newspaper office within a hundred miles of the Inner Harbor. 424 00:26:05,840 --> 00:26:09,600 Speaker 1: We did it with players Rob Burnett, Vinny Testavernie, Tony Jones, 425 00:26:10,160 --> 00:26:13,000 Speaker 1: Ernest Binder. They were making regular trips here and they 426 00:26:13,000 --> 00:26:15,080 Speaker 1: were like our ambassadors, and we put them in every 427 00:26:15,119 --> 00:26:18,840 Speaker 1: corner of the community. We went up to York, Pennsylvania. 428 00:26:19,200 --> 00:26:21,560 Speaker 1: I went up to Harrisburg, we went down to Annapolis. 429 00:26:21,640 --> 00:26:25,000 Speaker 1: We did everything we could to say, hey, we're just 430 00:26:25,080 --> 00:26:29,520 Speaker 1: regular folks. We're work hard and hopefully we'll work smart 431 00:26:29,520 --> 00:26:32,280 Speaker 1: and and and that's why we want you to buy us. 432 00:26:32,480 --> 00:26:34,920 Speaker 1: And at the same time, Ozzie, while we're all doing this, 433 00:26:35,359 --> 00:26:39,840 Speaker 1: the mantra internally was lead football along. Football has enough 434 00:26:39,960 --> 00:26:43,240 Speaker 1: chaos right now just to you know, so we couldn't 435 00:26:43,320 --> 00:26:45,680 Speaker 1: use you guys to sell the team. But you guys 436 00:26:45,680 --> 00:26:48,120 Speaker 1: had to assemble a teams that was gonna play soon. 437 00:26:48,200 --> 00:26:50,840 Speaker 1: This was all being done in weeks and just a 438 00:26:50,840 --> 00:26:53,560 Speaker 1: few months, and it was it was kind of nuts. 439 00:26:53,880 --> 00:26:57,440 Speaker 1: And and Ozzy, you had to assemble your staff, prepare 440 00:26:57,520 --> 00:27:00,280 Speaker 1: for the draft, then you had to recruit and sign 441 00:27:00,480 --> 00:27:06,800 Speaker 1: free agent. Um, what were those early days like for you? Uh? 442 00:27:06,920 --> 00:27:09,320 Speaker 1: Like I said earlier, it was a blur. But you know, 443 00:27:09,720 --> 00:27:12,400 Speaker 1: I think Art made a great high and Ted Marcher brother, 444 00:27:13,080 --> 00:27:18,119 Speaker 1: uh because uh our relationship I work in. Relationship was great. 445 00:27:18,760 --> 00:27:22,719 Speaker 1: You know, he wanted to coach the football team. You know, 446 00:27:22,880 --> 00:27:25,480 Speaker 1: he wanted uh me to be involved in helping him 447 00:27:25,480 --> 00:27:28,000 Speaker 1: put the staff together. And I think it was four 448 00:27:28,080 --> 00:27:30,280 Speaker 1: or five guys that were off off of the staff 449 00:27:30,280 --> 00:27:35,800 Speaker 1: in Cleveland that came over Kirk Ference, Pat Hill, Mike Shephard, um, 450 00:27:35,840 --> 00:27:38,160 Speaker 1: you know a lot of other guys, we all came 451 00:27:38,600 --> 00:27:43,320 Speaker 1: came over under ted and uh, but you know, we 452 00:27:43,359 --> 00:27:47,080 Speaker 1: didn't have a lot of resources, you know, at that time, 453 00:27:47,720 --> 00:27:50,480 Speaker 1: and but we do that we did have those two 454 00:27:50,560 --> 00:27:54,320 Speaker 1: draft picks in the first round. But you know, with 455 00:27:54,560 --> 00:27:57,320 Speaker 1: the staff that I had were all guys that I 456 00:27:57,400 --> 00:28:01,239 Speaker 1: had worked side by side with and uh, you know, 457 00:28:01,320 --> 00:28:05,240 Speaker 1: and they respected that I had been promoted to that 458 00:28:05,359 --> 00:28:08,679 Speaker 1: position and they gave me this respect that I needed, 459 00:28:08,760 --> 00:28:11,160 Speaker 1: but also gave those guys the respect that they needed 460 00:28:11,200 --> 00:28:14,280 Speaker 1: because I knew how good they were in doing their jobs. 461 00:28:14,880 --> 00:28:18,200 Speaker 1: And so I remember we had to come over and 462 00:28:18,320 --> 00:28:20,720 Speaker 1: uh to do a pressor with the with the Baltimore 463 00:28:20,840 --> 00:28:23,880 Speaker 1: Son and I had just enough time to drive out 464 00:28:23,880 --> 00:28:27,000 Speaker 1: the orange meals and pick out offices for people. Okay, 465 00:28:27,040 --> 00:28:29,040 Speaker 1: this one is mine, and that's gonna be Fieled, and 466 00:28:29,080 --> 00:28:31,400 Speaker 1: that's gonna be Scott, and then we'll have one other 467 00:28:31,440 --> 00:28:34,440 Speaker 1: one you know for Ellis, you know, and all I 468 00:28:34,440 --> 00:28:37,800 Speaker 1: had time to do, you know, to relay that to Bill, 469 00:28:38,120 --> 00:28:41,280 Speaker 1: you know that that one is going to be mine, 470 00:28:41,840 --> 00:28:43,960 Speaker 1: and so you know that happened. But you know, Kevin, 471 00:28:43,960 --> 00:28:46,440 Speaker 1: that first year, we didn't have a practice quad we 472 00:28:46,480 --> 00:28:48,640 Speaker 1: didn't have the salary cap and the money to have 473 00:28:48,680 --> 00:28:52,040 Speaker 1: a practice call. And I was I was going to 474 00:28:52,120 --> 00:28:56,360 Speaker 1: players asking them to take a reduction in their salaries 475 00:28:56,400 --> 00:28:58,880 Speaker 1: and I would build the backside so they could make 476 00:28:58,920 --> 00:29:01,280 Speaker 1: it back up. So those were the things that we 477 00:29:01,360 --> 00:29:06,400 Speaker 1: had to. Uh, we were confronted with under that situation. 478 00:29:07,080 --> 00:29:09,800 Speaker 1: And the only thing I could say the best day 479 00:29:09,840 --> 00:29:12,280 Speaker 1: of that whole time was when we beat the Raiders 480 00:29:12,280 --> 00:29:16,920 Speaker 1: in that first game. It was yeah, but it was 481 00:29:17,280 --> 00:29:20,000 Speaker 1: a bumpy road to get there. And we all know that. 482 00:29:20,400 --> 00:29:22,680 Speaker 1: You know that at one point we get to have 483 00:29:22,760 --> 00:29:26,960 Speaker 1: our first mini cam and and we all were looking 484 00:29:26,960 --> 00:29:30,400 Speaker 1: out the window, Bob and I and Testing and Nazi 485 00:29:30,480 --> 00:29:34,520 Speaker 1: around the field and and we're the mean machine from 486 00:29:34,720 --> 00:29:39,479 Speaker 1: the longest yard. We had white helmets and black jersey, 487 00:29:39,840 --> 00:29:43,400 Speaker 1: no names. I think, Bob, do we have white pants? Yeah? 488 00:29:43,480 --> 00:29:48,680 Speaker 1: We did? Yeah? So and now this is the was 489 00:29:48,680 --> 00:29:57,360 Speaker 1: out there. I think. Yeah, Burt Rows was the quarterback. So, uh, 490 00:29:57,600 --> 00:30:01,080 Speaker 1: when as a football team, AZZI, what do we look 491 00:30:01,120 --> 00:30:05,080 Speaker 1: like in those first sessions? Well, uh, it was still 492 00:30:05,080 --> 00:30:09,120 Speaker 1: it was a veteran team. You know that we had um, 493 00:30:09,320 --> 00:30:12,560 Speaker 1: but we just didn't have numbers, you know, So you know, 494 00:30:12,600 --> 00:30:15,520 Speaker 1: a practice, and we all knew Ted ted in like 495 00:30:15,640 --> 00:30:19,160 Speaker 1: an hour and a half practice Ted like a practice. 496 00:30:19,880 --> 00:30:22,960 Speaker 1: So uh, you know, when you don't have numbers, it's hard. 497 00:30:23,080 --> 00:30:25,520 Speaker 1: And then you know, your veteran players are like, you know, 498 00:30:25,640 --> 00:30:27,600 Speaker 1: how much longer do we have to be out here? 499 00:30:28,080 --> 00:30:30,800 Speaker 1: So uh, we we have to manage that, and we 500 00:30:30,840 --> 00:30:32,960 Speaker 1: have to manage that with our veteran players and that 501 00:30:33,160 --> 00:30:35,320 Speaker 1: you know, this is Ted's way and this is the 502 00:30:35,320 --> 00:30:38,160 Speaker 1: way it was going to be. And uh and it 503 00:30:38,240 --> 00:30:41,160 Speaker 1: had it worked out that way, you know. But I again, 504 00:30:41,240 --> 00:30:43,640 Speaker 1: I'll give credit to to that leadership group that was 505 00:30:43,680 --> 00:30:47,120 Speaker 1: on the team that you know, realized that it was 506 00:30:48,200 --> 00:30:50,520 Speaker 1: a tough situation and they made the best of it. 507 00:30:50,560 --> 00:30:54,360 Speaker 1: But I mean, I mean those uniforms, but they were 508 00:30:54,400 --> 00:30:57,280 Speaker 1: in the National Football League, and with the promise that 509 00:30:57,680 --> 00:30:59,800 Speaker 1: every day was going to get better, it just took 510 00:30:59,880 --> 00:31:03,520 Speaker 1: up up three or four weeks a month before things 511 00:31:03,560 --> 00:31:06,760 Speaker 1: did start to get better. Well, in the meantime, we 512 00:31:06,800 --> 00:31:09,760 Speaker 1: opened that practice to the media. All the media is there. 513 00:31:09,760 --> 00:31:13,160 Speaker 1: It's a big deal. But but at that time we didn't. 514 00:31:13,280 --> 00:31:16,719 Speaker 1: We were just getting a manifest from Memorial Stadium. You know, 515 00:31:17,280 --> 00:31:20,520 Speaker 1: we had to sell tickets, we were selling suits, to 516 00:31:20,560 --> 00:31:23,560 Speaker 1: a stadium that didn't have switets. We were like boxing 517 00:31:23,680 --> 00:31:28,160 Speaker 1: seats together because those those sections would become or those 518 00:31:28,200 --> 00:31:30,680 Speaker 1: groups would become sweets in the new place. And I 519 00:31:30,720 --> 00:31:33,760 Speaker 1: always remember this. We're talking about ticket pricing one night, 520 00:31:33,800 --> 00:31:37,280 Speaker 1: it was like midnight and when David Model addressed it, 521 00:31:37,400 --> 00:31:40,000 Speaker 1: and we're sitting there and okay, let's start at the 522 00:31:40,000 --> 00:31:43,040 Speaker 1: fifty yards like what should the best seats in the house? Uh, 523 00:31:43,360 --> 00:31:46,320 Speaker 1: big costing. And we had a group who hired from 524 00:31:46,320 --> 00:31:49,479 Speaker 1: the Ball Baltimore Orioles and they were terrific, David Cope, 525 00:31:49,560 --> 00:31:52,720 Speaker 1: Roy Summer Hoof and Baker compliment or who are still 526 00:31:52,760 --> 00:31:56,240 Speaker 1: with us in our leaders in this organization. And David Cope, 527 00:31:56,320 --> 00:31:57,960 Speaker 1: you know, I'm sitting there and he goes, well, let's 528 00:31:58,000 --> 00:32:01,440 Speaker 1: make the fifty yard line seats three hundred dollars apiece. 529 00:32:02,120 --> 00:32:05,040 Speaker 1: And I'm sitting there and go, let's see guy wants 530 00:32:05,080 --> 00:32:09,960 Speaker 1: four seats. It's three hundred dollars times four times ten games. 531 00:32:10,040 --> 00:32:13,400 Speaker 1: So you know, I'm doing the math there and I go, well, 532 00:32:13,440 --> 00:32:15,480 Speaker 1: that's a lot of money. You know, I may I 533 00:32:15,520 --> 00:32:18,480 Speaker 1: have a reasonable job. I couldn't before that. Plus we 534 00:32:18,480 --> 00:32:21,200 Speaker 1: were asking to buy a personal seat license you know, 535 00:32:21,280 --> 00:32:23,960 Speaker 1: they'd have to buy a license for the right to 536 00:32:24,040 --> 00:32:28,240 Speaker 1: buy that and uh and I said, well, well, David, 537 00:32:28,320 --> 00:32:30,520 Speaker 1: how many are we gonna sell? Is it gonna be 538 00:32:30,560 --> 00:32:32,760 Speaker 1: like the fifty yard land gonna be ten people will 539 00:32:32,760 --> 00:32:34,880 Speaker 1: buy these tickets and that's it. That'll be our three 540 00:32:34,920 --> 00:32:37,080 Speaker 1: hund dollar tickets. He goes, well, I think there'll be 541 00:32:37,120 --> 00:32:41,360 Speaker 1: more than that. Well, in the end, that section became 542 00:32:41,400 --> 00:32:44,200 Speaker 1: thirty five yard line to thirty five yard life because 543 00:32:44,200 --> 00:32:47,640 Speaker 1: people would call and say, I want the best seats 544 00:32:47,640 --> 00:32:49,560 Speaker 1: in the house. I want to buy the best seats 545 00:32:49,600 --> 00:32:51,840 Speaker 1: in the house, and so we just kept extending the 546 00:32:51,880 --> 00:32:53,680 Speaker 1: three hundred dollars seats. We go, but we have three 547 00:32:53,760 --> 00:32:56,200 Speaker 1: hundred dollars seats. Those are our best. So it started 548 00:32:56,240 --> 00:32:59,920 Speaker 1: like the forty eight to eventually gets to the forty five, 549 00:33:00,320 --> 00:33:03,280 Speaker 1: then it gets to the forty and finally with the 550 00:33:03,360 --> 00:33:05,600 Speaker 1: thirty five to thirty five. What are the guys who 551 00:33:05,600 --> 00:33:07,800 Speaker 1: comes and looks at his seats and sees that they're 552 00:33:07,800 --> 00:33:10,040 Speaker 1: at the thirty five yard line is a guy named 553 00:33:10,080 --> 00:33:13,840 Speaker 1: Steve Mashati and he calls Roy summer Off, in charge 554 00:33:13,840 --> 00:33:16,520 Speaker 1: of tickets. He goes, hey, Pat, you know, I thought 555 00:33:16,560 --> 00:33:18,440 Speaker 1: I was gonna be at the fifty yard line and 556 00:33:18,560 --> 00:33:22,200 Speaker 1: Roy says, I'm sorry, that's where your tickets are. And 557 00:33:22,320 --> 00:33:31,560 Speaker 1: Roy survived the ownership change and it's like Steve comes in, Hey, 558 00:33:31,600 --> 00:33:37,680 Speaker 1: hey Roy remember me? But it was nuts. It was 559 00:33:38,200 --> 00:33:42,880 Speaker 1: so and uh when when you got when Oz, when 560 00:33:42,880 --> 00:33:46,520 Speaker 1: you're talking to ages, what do you say, like, Hi, 561 00:33:46,720 --> 00:33:55,000 Speaker 1: I'm Ozzy from but you know, and you know I 562 00:33:55,280 --> 00:34:00,000 Speaker 1: would just say, hey, uh, you know this is uh, 563 00:34:00,280 --> 00:34:03,480 Speaker 1: I'm representing the Baltimore from Baltimore right now. I wouldn't 564 00:34:03,520 --> 00:34:05,760 Speaker 1: you that it was not a team name. I said, 565 00:34:05,800 --> 00:34:09,000 Speaker 1: we were in Baltimore right now, and you know, we 566 00:34:09,000 --> 00:34:11,680 Speaker 1: would like for your client, you know, to come and 567 00:34:11,760 --> 00:34:14,840 Speaker 1: visit us and to see what we're doing. And you go, 568 00:34:15,000 --> 00:34:20,719 Speaker 1: well what is your name? And I go Baltimore. You know. So, 569 00:34:21,800 --> 00:34:26,760 Speaker 1: but it was I mean, it was an opportunity where 570 00:34:26,880 --> 00:34:29,439 Speaker 1: you know, everybody saw it as Okay, I can come there, 571 00:34:29,520 --> 00:34:32,960 Speaker 1: I can play and it would help my career. So 572 00:34:33,120 --> 00:34:36,279 Speaker 1: we were able to advertise that this is a place 573 00:34:36,280 --> 00:34:38,160 Speaker 1: where you can come, you can get on the field, 574 00:34:38,520 --> 00:34:40,359 Speaker 1: and you can show how good you are and all 575 00:34:40,400 --> 00:34:43,160 Speaker 1: that's going to do is help your career. So we're 576 00:34:43,160 --> 00:34:47,000 Speaker 1: doing all this work. Guys, and and we're Baltimore or 577 00:34:47,120 --> 00:34:50,960 Speaker 1: not see the league's even going. You gotta come up 578 00:34:50,960 --> 00:34:52,799 Speaker 1: with the name. We gotta put out a schedule here, 579 00:34:53,120 --> 00:34:54,680 Speaker 1: you know. And so you have to have a name. 580 00:34:54,760 --> 00:34:59,440 Speaker 1: And and uh. I remember David Modell telling me, uh, 581 00:34:59,480 --> 00:35:02,560 Speaker 1: because I like I like the Ravens right away when 582 00:35:02,560 --> 00:35:06,120 Speaker 1: we had an internal discussions and and David Warremey said, 583 00:35:06,200 --> 00:35:10,040 Speaker 1: don't kitchen table me, don't don't don't go to Art's house. 584 00:35:10,440 --> 00:35:12,719 Speaker 1: You know, are his father Art? And and get this 585 00:35:12,800 --> 00:35:14,759 Speaker 1: and behind my door, well, you know we've got to 586 00:35:14,800 --> 00:35:18,080 Speaker 1: have this, that this is a process. David who who 587 00:35:18,320 --> 00:35:21,399 Speaker 1: who um? And I give him credit for this. He 588 00:35:21,520 --> 00:35:24,759 Speaker 1: was regularly and all his spare time, any spare time 589 00:35:24,760 --> 00:35:28,200 Speaker 1: he had, was reading the history of Baltimore. And so 590 00:35:28,360 --> 00:35:31,280 Speaker 1: he read that at one time it built the largest 591 00:35:31,360 --> 00:35:35,759 Speaker 1: locomotive uh engine in the United States, and they called 592 00:35:35,800 --> 00:35:38,520 Speaker 1: it the Americans. So he said, the Americans would be 593 00:35:38,560 --> 00:35:41,000 Speaker 1: a great name, and we could have the American flag 594 00:35:41,080 --> 00:35:43,359 Speaker 1: on our helmet, and we would be America's seed because 595 00:35:43,360 --> 00:35:46,200 Speaker 1: of the American flag. Bob, we were looking up you 596 00:35:46,239 --> 00:35:48,560 Speaker 1: know that they had the Baltimore Stallions in the CFL. 597 00:35:48,880 --> 00:35:51,319 Speaker 1: They had the Colts were looking for you know, other 598 00:35:51,440 --> 00:35:55,120 Speaker 1: names that involved horses, and he came up with Marauders, 599 00:35:55,680 --> 00:35:58,080 Speaker 1: and we'd have a guy on a horse, you know, 600 00:35:58,440 --> 00:36:01,479 Speaker 1: and uh so you can in you that legacy that way. 601 00:36:01,800 --> 00:36:05,960 Speaker 1: And so in the end we decided, you know, we 602 00:36:06,040 --> 00:36:09,640 Speaker 1: kept saying we wanted to include the fans and everything 603 00:36:09,680 --> 00:36:15,799 Speaker 1: we did except calling place. Although if Art could, Art 604 00:36:15,880 --> 00:36:17,720 Speaker 1: Modell could, he would have put fans in the huddle. 605 00:36:17,840 --> 00:36:21,480 Speaker 1: He could. He he he loved getting the fans integrated. 606 00:36:21,800 --> 00:36:25,800 Speaker 1: So we decided we were gonna let the fans pick 607 00:36:26,120 --> 00:36:28,920 Speaker 1: the name. So we went to the Baltimore Sun. We 608 00:36:29,000 --> 00:36:32,200 Speaker 1: made a deal with them and we gave him three names. 609 00:36:32,520 --> 00:36:35,600 Speaker 1: We gave him the Ravens, which you had the Edgar 610 00:36:35,640 --> 00:36:41,520 Speaker 1: Allan Cole theme Baltimore. Edgar Allen Poe lived here for 611 00:36:41,560 --> 00:36:44,400 Speaker 1: a while, supposedly wrote the poem the Ravens, and that 612 00:36:44,400 --> 00:36:47,480 Speaker 1: would be so much different than any other team that, 613 00:36:47,560 --> 00:36:49,840 Speaker 1: you know, we'd be named after a poem. Yet Ravens 614 00:36:49,840 --> 00:36:52,640 Speaker 1: at the same time, you know, was a big nasty 615 00:36:52,719 --> 00:36:56,800 Speaker 1: bird and his and supposedly according to what's that movie 616 00:36:56,840 --> 00:37:02,919 Speaker 1: Bob with uh care Jim Carrey in it, uh where 617 00:37:02,920 --> 00:37:07,520 Speaker 1: he said Ravens the smartest of all birds, but petty police, 618 00:37:07,520 --> 00:37:11,400 Speaker 1: what detective? What was it? We're all we can't remember, 619 00:37:11,880 --> 00:37:15,359 Speaker 1: but Dan Marino was in the film. But anyway, they 620 00:37:15,400 --> 00:37:17,680 Speaker 1: had the line in there the Ravens the smartest of 621 00:37:17,680 --> 00:37:22,000 Speaker 1: all birds. So we had the Americans Marauders Ravens. We 622 00:37:22,080 --> 00:37:28,200 Speaker 1: let the fans uh vote and it came back overwhelmingly, 623 00:37:29,280 --> 00:37:35,960 Speaker 1: overwhelmingly for Ravens. About um, bob and back and when 624 00:37:36,000 --> 00:37:39,640 Speaker 1: when you saw the first pole, I know you're really 625 00:37:39,640 --> 00:37:41,799 Speaker 1: busy at that time. Did you have a favorite? Did 626 00:37:41,800 --> 00:37:44,600 Speaker 1: you think Ravens was gonna win? Or or what were 627 00:37:44,640 --> 00:37:46,840 Speaker 1: your thoughts? Kevin? I it was a no brainer in 628 00:37:46,920 --> 00:37:49,400 Speaker 1: my mind. I thought Ravens was a was a was 629 00:37:49,440 --> 00:37:53,960 Speaker 1: a winner. Um, I wasn't real uh keen on some 630 00:37:54,040 --> 00:37:58,040 Speaker 1: of the other suggestions. But but yeah, and now it 631 00:37:58,120 --> 00:38:00,960 Speaker 1: sounds so natural, doesn't it. I mean, does say Ravens 632 00:38:01,000 --> 00:38:05,440 Speaker 1: and everybody everybody knows exactly you know, there's an identity there, 633 00:38:05,560 --> 00:38:08,759 Speaker 1: um and uh. And then plus you know it had 634 00:38:08,760 --> 00:38:12,160 Speaker 1: a kind of a cool making for you know, dark 635 00:38:12,239 --> 00:38:15,799 Speaker 1: and mysterious and menace thing. And so I think I 636 00:38:15,840 --> 00:38:19,000 Speaker 1: think that the people in Baldwinre were smart to pick 637 00:38:19,200 --> 00:38:23,280 Speaker 1: up the right name. Well, and then now the rest 638 00:38:23,400 --> 00:38:27,520 Speaker 1: is history. You know, we're twenty five years old, twenty 639 00:38:27,560 --> 00:38:31,160 Speaker 1: five years ago. Uh, the name was selected and announced 640 00:38:31,200 --> 00:38:34,120 Speaker 1: at the Inner Harbor, and and more than half of 641 00:38:34,160 --> 00:38:37,160 Speaker 1: our seasons Aussie. And this is as much a tribute 642 00:38:37,160 --> 00:38:41,279 Speaker 1: to you as anybody. We've been a playoff team and 643 00:38:41,360 --> 00:38:45,640 Speaker 1: during that time, they're only a handful less than a 644 00:38:45,640 --> 00:38:48,120 Speaker 1: handful of teams that can claim that to be in 645 00:38:48,160 --> 00:38:50,560 Speaker 1: the playoffs, to be in the playoff hunt every year, 646 00:38:50,800 --> 00:38:53,120 Speaker 1: which is great for your fans, great for the franchise. 647 00:38:53,320 --> 00:38:55,319 Speaker 1: But of course, the Patriots have had this great run, 648 00:38:55,760 --> 00:38:58,440 Speaker 1: the Packers have had the run, and of course our 649 00:38:58,480 --> 00:39:01,480 Speaker 1: our arrival in the division, the Steelers, and it's the 650 00:39:01,480 --> 00:39:03,560 Speaker 1: four of us. Really, there's no other team that has 651 00:39:03,600 --> 00:39:08,239 Speaker 1: been consistently winning as much as the Baltimore Ravens, which 652 00:39:08,320 --> 00:39:11,960 Speaker 1: is great. Uh. We had a name. We can now 653 00:39:12,040 --> 00:39:16,719 Speaker 1: design uniforms, we could have colors, we could do all that, 654 00:39:17,320 --> 00:39:20,920 Speaker 1: uh and uh, and the football staff just kept on 655 00:39:20,960 --> 00:39:23,600 Speaker 1: working and finally we had a name. And less than 656 00:39:23,640 --> 00:39:28,520 Speaker 1: a month later, Ozzie Newsom you have your first NFL draft. 657 00:39:29,440 --> 00:39:35,000 Speaker 1: And that first round wasn't too bad, No, it wasn't 658 00:39:35,160 --> 00:39:38,640 Speaker 1: you know, Uh, like I said, I think we had 659 00:39:38,680 --> 00:39:41,840 Speaker 1: our first meetings as a group around the first of April. 660 00:39:42,680 --> 00:39:47,319 Speaker 1: Uh was able to establish the board. Um at that point, 661 00:39:47,400 --> 00:39:51,440 Speaker 1: I think we were able to bring in twenty players 662 00:39:51,480 --> 00:39:54,520 Speaker 1: into the city. Now we're trying to get guys, you know, 663 00:39:54,560 --> 00:39:59,600 Speaker 1: college guys. Okay, you wanta does Baltimore have a team? 664 00:40:00,080 --> 00:40:02,239 Speaker 1: That Baltimore had a team, But we had to you know, 665 00:40:02,239 --> 00:40:04,839 Speaker 1: we were bringing them in to to the interview them, 666 00:40:04,840 --> 00:40:08,040 Speaker 1: to get them physicals and so forth. And Uh, I 667 00:40:08,080 --> 00:40:10,640 Speaker 1: think Brian Adams was a guy that was responsible. He 668 00:40:10,680 --> 00:40:14,320 Speaker 1: was able to get everybody in the last person to 669 00:40:14,480 --> 00:40:17,319 Speaker 1: come in was because he had just he went to 670 00:40:17,400 --> 00:40:20,680 Speaker 1: d C to visit his family with Jonathan Ogden, and 671 00:40:20,920 --> 00:40:22,839 Speaker 1: I think, well, why don't we just bring him over? 672 00:40:22,960 --> 00:40:25,799 Speaker 1: You know, if we're not gonna take him, but at 673 00:40:25,880 --> 00:40:27,880 Speaker 1: least we is is we would say we could smell 674 00:40:27,880 --> 00:40:31,640 Speaker 1: his breath, you know, Jonathan over and I mean, you know, 675 00:40:31,719 --> 00:40:34,320 Speaker 1: and Kirk was like, why are you wasting my time? 676 00:40:34,560 --> 00:40:37,400 Speaker 1: You know, why are you wasting my time with Jonathan Ogden? 677 00:40:37,560 --> 00:40:39,959 Speaker 1: I got to take him out to dinner, I got Kirk, 678 00:40:40,040 --> 00:40:42,400 Speaker 1: I mean, we got to do this. Okay, So we 679 00:40:42,480 --> 00:40:46,080 Speaker 1: did it, and uh, we get into the draft, and 680 00:40:46,239 --> 00:40:51,400 Speaker 1: uh we had brought Lawrence Phillipson and uh him, David 681 00:40:52,000 --> 00:40:54,880 Speaker 1: Ted and Mr Model We had went down to literally 682 00:40:55,520 --> 00:40:59,160 Speaker 1: and had dinner, and uh we came away saying that, 683 00:40:59,280 --> 00:41:03,040 Speaker 1: you know, with our culture, we felt like we could 684 00:41:03,040 --> 00:41:06,960 Speaker 1: handle Lawrence Phillips, you know, Uh, because Ernest was getting 685 00:41:06,960 --> 00:41:08,919 Speaker 1: over and we didn't have a back le Roy hard 686 00:41:09,000 --> 00:41:11,799 Speaker 1: we wasn't sure about and so we were, you know, 687 00:41:11,920 --> 00:41:15,040 Speaker 1: dead set on Okay, we can make this work, and 688 00:41:15,080 --> 00:41:20,080 Speaker 1: we get in the draft. Keshan goes, Kevin Hardy goes, 689 00:41:20,960 --> 00:41:27,040 Speaker 1: and uh then Arizona's on the clock and Mr Bidwell 690 00:41:27,320 --> 00:41:31,440 Speaker 1: had someone write the name down Lawrence Phillips on a 691 00:41:31,560 --> 00:41:34,839 Speaker 1: card and make sure our person that was representing us 692 00:41:35,280 --> 00:41:38,720 Speaker 1: at the crowd throw it, you know, trying to entice 693 00:41:38,800 --> 00:41:42,439 Speaker 1: us to make the trade. And we didn't and they 694 00:41:42,560 --> 00:41:46,760 Speaker 1: ended up taking I forget sime and he took simeon 695 00:41:47,200 --> 00:41:49,920 Speaker 1: and so there we were left with Jonathan Ogden, the 696 00:41:50,000 --> 00:41:53,239 Speaker 1: highs rated guy you know, and aren't looking at me 697 00:41:53,280 --> 00:41:56,920 Speaker 1: and like we're gonna take Lawrence Phillips and I go no, 698 00:41:57,800 --> 00:42:02,319 Speaker 1: Mr Modell, Uh, We've done a lot of work and 699 00:42:02,440 --> 00:42:05,560 Speaker 1: Jonathan is our highest rated player. And he said, well, 700 00:42:05,719 --> 00:42:08,680 Speaker 1: we got Tony Jones, you know, in the offensive line 701 00:42:08,719 --> 00:42:11,600 Speaker 1: was pretty good with Tony and Steve Everett and Wally 702 00:42:12,000 --> 00:42:14,279 Speaker 1: and Zeus. He said, what are you doing? I go, 703 00:42:14,800 --> 00:42:18,239 Speaker 1: we put the work in. You know, we need to 704 00:42:18,320 --> 00:42:21,680 Speaker 1: do it. You know, it sets our foundation and it did. 705 00:42:21,800 --> 00:42:24,120 Speaker 1: I mean, so we turned the card in on Jonathan 706 00:42:24,680 --> 00:42:27,560 Speaker 1: and I did. I go, Kirk, can he play guard? 707 00:42:27,680 --> 00:42:29,799 Speaker 1: And Kirk said he can play anywhere on the offensive line. 708 00:42:29,840 --> 00:42:33,919 Speaker 1: That he So we turned the card in and then 709 00:42:34,000 --> 00:42:36,880 Speaker 1: we were, you know, uh, going further home because we 710 00:42:36,880 --> 00:42:38,840 Speaker 1: would have had that made that trade with the forty 711 00:42:38,920 --> 00:42:41,120 Speaker 1: niners the year before, and we had the twenty six 712 00:42:41,200 --> 00:42:44,959 Speaker 1: pick and we needed some inside backers and the kid 713 00:42:45,080 --> 00:42:50,160 Speaker 1: that Detroit took, we had him ahead. Array mistake on 714 00:42:50,200 --> 00:42:53,400 Speaker 1: our part and uh, but he goes and we're sitting 715 00:42:53,400 --> 00:42:56,960 Speaker 1: there with the pick and and I said, okay, we're 716 00:42:56,960 --> 00:43:01,040 Speaker 1: taking Ray Lewis and uh and the everybody was excited 717 00:43:01,080 --> 00:43:03,959 Speaker 1: about it. And I remember calling Ray and he goes, 718 00:43:04,440 --> 00:43:16,640 Speaker 1: who can you imagine? Just think about that, we draft 719 00:43:16,800 --> 00:43:21,160 Speaker 1: the Hall of Famer Ray Lewis. After drafting the Hall 720 00:43:21,200 --> 00:43:25,000 Speaker 1: of Famer Jonathan Ogden and Ozzy's first draft and uh. 721 00:43:25,080 --> 00:43:27,920 Speaker 1: I remember Jonathan said, I wasn't sure what the name 722 00:43:27,960 --> 00:43:30,600 Speaker 1: of the team was. Ray actually says it to you, Ozzy, 723 00:43:30,719 --> 00:43:34,400 Speaker 1: that he didn't know the team, but indeed we were 724 00:43:34,400 --> 00:43:38,480 Speaker 1: in our the Baltimore Ravens, and as they say, guys, 725 00:43:39,239 --> 00:43:45,360 Speaker 1: the rest is history. Bob Eller, Bill Testerter, thanks so 726 00:43:45,560 --> 00:43:51,640 Speaker 1: much for joining this podcast today, Ozzy, thank you so 727 00:43:51,760 --> 00:43:55,360 Speaker 1: much for your insights. We could tell so many more stories. 728 00:43:55,560 --> 00:43:58,080 Speaker 1: We could make this a series. We're not gonna do that, 729 00:43:58,440 --> 00:44:02,000 Speaker 1: but we overcame a lot of different things in a 730 00:44:02,040 --> 00:44:06,399 Speaker 1: short time become the Baltimore Ravens, one of the room 731 00:44:06,440 --> 00:44:10,120 Speaker 1: winning franchises in all of sports and fans. Thank you 732 00:44:10,200 --> 00:44:13,759 Speaker 1: for listening. Alright, so just really fun stuff. I mean, 733 00:44:13,800 --> 00:44:16,200 Speaker 1: it's fun to hear those stories. I think basically the 734 00:44:16,400 --> 00:44:19,839 Speaker 1: genesis of this whole thing is, and we've experienced this, Ryan, 735 00:44:19,960 --> 00:44:22,480 Speaker 1: is how many times have you had lunch with Kevin 736 00:44:22,480 --> 00:44:25,160 Speaker 1: at the Castle and and you sit there and you say, 737 00:44:25,239 --> 00:44:27,560 Speaker 1: or Bob Eller, who was on there? And you say, Man, 738 00:44:27,560 --> 00:44:29,600 Speaker 1: these guys got great stories from the early days of 739 00:44:29,640 --> 00:44:32,760 Speaker 1: this franchise, and I would love to find a vehicle 740 00:44:32,800 --> 00:44:34,680 Speaker 1: to tell those stories. Today was a chance to tell 741 00:44:34,719 --> 00:44:36,640 Speaker 1: some of those stories, so it was just it was 742 00:44:36,680 --> 00:44:39,200 Speaker 1: just fun to hear this. Kevin. Kevin is one of 743 00:44:39,239 --> 00:44:44,319 Speaker 1: the best storytellers in franchise history. He's the Goat's storytelling 744 00:44:45,120 --> 00:44:48,719 Speaker 1: for sure. For sure, So really enjoy that conversation with them. 745 00:44:48,840 --> 00:44:50,719 Speaker 1: Before we go, we want to remind our fans make 746 00:44:50,760 --> 00:44:53,960 Speaker 1: sure that you enjoy your Crown Royal, but work in 747 00:44:54,000 --> 00:44:56,759 Speaker 1: those water breaks. Crown Royal wants to remind you to 748 00:44:56,800 --> 00:45:00,760 Speaker 1: stay hydrated, stay Royal, drink Crown Royal a Canadian whiskey, 749 00:45:00,800 --> 00:45:03,560 Speaker 1: and always remember to work in those water breaks. If 750 00:45:03,560 --> 00:45:05,760 Speaker 1: you didn't, if you don't take a water break the Ravens, 751 00:45:05,760 --> 00:45:07,279 Speaker 1: if they didn't take a water break back, then the 752 00:45:07,360 --> 00:45:11,240 Speaker 1: Ravens could have ended up is the Baltimore bacteria exactly? 753 00:45:11,280 --> 00:45:13,520 Speaker 1: Maybe that the water break at that time has when 754 00:45:13,520 --> 00:45:15,960 Speaker 1: it ended up getting to be near the Ravens saves. 755 00:45:16,400 --> 00:45:21,960 Speaker 1: Thank God for the water break back in so so anyway, 756 00:45:21,960 --> 00:45:24,920 Speaker 1: Happy birthday to the Ravens twenty five birthday. Really enjoyed 757 00:45:24,920 --> 00:45:27,480 Speaker 1: the conversation and thanks so much for listening.