The Baltimore Ravens began play in 1996 after Art Modell had left Cleveland with his Browns team to find a new home. Due to a settlement reached with the National Football League and the city of Cleveland, the Browns team history, colors, logos, and stats were all left behind. Though the 1996 Baltimore Ravens consisted largely of players that were members of the 1995 Cleveland Browns, as far as the NFL was concerned they were a brand new team. This new team was immediately successful and even won their first Super Bowl in the year 2000.
The Baltimore Ravens had only been playing five seasons when they established their Ring of Honor to give credit to some of the best players from the team and city's past. The first induction came in 2001 and they have been held nearly yearly ever since. Here is a look at men inducted into the Baltimore Ravens' Ring of Honor.
2001 - Running back Earnest Byner is inducted. Byner played in both Cleveland and Baltimore for Browns and Ravens owner Art Modell.
2002 - After the death of Baltimore Colts legend and Pro Football Hall of Fame member Johnny Unitas, the Ravens inducted both him and the Baltimore Colts team as a whole into their Ring of Honor. Some of the names specifically honored include those of Unitas, Lenny Moore, Art Donovan, Jim Parker, Raymond Berry, Ted Hendricks, John Mackey, and Gino Marchetti.
2003 - The original owner of the franchise, and the man responsible for getting a football franchise back in Baltimore, Art Modell is inducted into the Ravens Ring of Honor.
2004 - Michael McCrary is inducted. McCrary, a defensive lineman, was one of the first big stars associated with the Ravens team.
2006 - Another of the early defensive stars on the team, linebacker Peter Boulware is inducted into the Ring of Honor.
2008 - The first player ever drafted by the Baltimore Ravens, offensive lineman Jonathan Ogden is inducted. Ogden played in 11 Pro Bowls during his time with the team.
A great deal of interesting info can be learned from checking out Baltimore Ravens trivia wherever it can be found. True fans of the team crave learning everything there is to know about both the franchise itself and the great players that have played for them.
By Mark Peters
Source : EzineArticles.com/5115827
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