When Shannon Sharpe went to the Baltimore Ravens

When Shannon Sharpe went to the Baltimore Ravens

    As this is the NFL’s 100th year, there are no doubt going to be several articles, shows or whatever talking about various moments in NFL History. They’ll talk about why this moment was significant and why that moment was significant. Obviously, some moments are more significant than others and this leads to some moments in NFL history are being overlooked.

    One such moment is when Shannon Sharpe signed with the Baltimore Ravens.

    Because the likes of Rob Gronkowski and Tony Gonzalez have come along and obliterated receiving records for Tight Ends, it’s easy to forget that Shannon Sharpe was at one point considered the best Tight End in NFL History. He was a nice option for an aging John Elway and was a major contributor to Denver’s Super Bowl wins as the 90s closed out.

    The thing about Shannon Sharpe was that while he didn’t exactly have Anthony Munoz’s ability to block, he revolutionized the position by being the first Tight End to play the position more like a Wide Receiver would. Had Sterling stayed healthy, the two brothers would’ve been a two-headed nightmare for opposing coordinators had they play alongside each other.

    Linebackers and safeties had a great deal of difficulty covering Shannon Sharpe and then found it even tougher to bring him down. When John Elway retired in 1999, the future for Shannon Sharpe in Denver wasn’t as crystal clear as it once appeared. He appeared in just five games and the Broncos now seemed a far cry from their 14-2 1998 season.

    Enter the Ravens.

    At the time Sharpe migrated from Denver to Baltimore, the Ravens were wondering whether or not their star-player would be available that season or ever again. They had a so-so season the year prior but got a gift from the Atlanta Falcons in the form of the 5th overall pick. With the foundation shaping, not to mention a great defense, Shannon Sharpe stunned the league by signing with the Ravens.

    As we all know, the 2000 Ravens possessed perhaps the greatest defense in the history of the league. Never before or since has a defense carried a team to a title quite like the 2000 Ravens did. The 85 Bears, 2002 Bucs, and 2013 Seattle Seahawks all had weaponry on both sides of the ball. The Ravens had just one weapon, Shannon Sharpe.

    I know for a fact that the Ravens would not have won the Super Bowl had Shannon Sharpe not been on the team. He was their leading receiver, their leading receiver! This was a team that went five straight games without a touchdown and they were a run first team. I’d hate to think of how many games the Ravens would’ve gone without a TD had Shannon Sharpe not been there. They entered that year’s playoff having won seven straight games. Shannon Sharpe would amp up his game in the playoffs.

    When it comes to playing defensive football, momentum swings are everything. A defense can hold a team in the game for only so long. Just this past season, the Bills had the second-ranked defense in the league but we couldn’t do anything with that defense because our offense had no playmakers. Shannon Sharpe in the playoffs was the playmaker for the Ravens.

    Would Ray Lewis and the defense have been able to play with the confidence they have had Shannon Sharpe not worked his magic? The reason being is that while he didn’t score in either the game against the Titans or Super Bowl XXXV, his touchdowns against both his former Broncos and the Raiders were absolute deflators.

    His touchdown against his former team was a complete fluke but was not a fluke was the talent and presence of mind to take that deflected pass and run all the way for the touchdown. His touchdown against the Raiders was even more deflating, a 96-yard touchdown on a third and 18. I’m reminded of a slugger or a clutch shooter who puts the nails in the coffin at the right time. They may not be the final nails, but they’re the fatal ones.

    One can always ask what becomes of the 2000 Ravens if Shannon Sharpe isn’t there. Do they win 12 games? Do they have as dominant a defense? Do they go on and win the Super Bowl? Thankfully, the answer to all of those questions is yes. Shannon Sharpe is every bit as much a reason for that Super Bowl as both Ray Lewis and Trent Dilfer are. The Ravens wouldn’t have won without Shannon Sharpe and Shannon Sharpe would be without that third ring had he not made the move to Baltimore.

Without question, an underrated but great moment in NFL History.

-By: Thomas P. Braun Jr.