Kyle Hamilton, Eric DeCosta, John Harbaugh, Keyon Martin, Reuben Lowery III, & Jay Higgins IV: Ravens Press Conferences 8/27/25

Safety Kyle Hamilton, General Manager Eric DeCosta, Head Coach John Harbaugh, cornerback Keyon Martin, safety Reuben Lowery, and inside linebacker Jay Higgins IV speak with the media.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:03):
Welcome into the Ravens Press Past podcast. It is Wednesday,
August twenty seventh. It was a busy, busy day for
the Ravens heading into Labor Day weekend. The team announced
this morning that it had reached a contract extension with
safety Kyle Hamilton. The deal will make him the highest
paid safety in the NFL and it's going to keep
him here on Baltimore through the twenty thirty season. This

(00:23):
is a big move for both Hamilton and the Ravens,
and er Tacosta made the move during a press conference
this afternoon. He announced it to the reporters and here's
what he had to say over the course.

Speaker 2 (00:33):
Of that presser. Hello, everyone, thanks for coming out. As
you guys all know, it's extremely busy forty eight hours
or so for us in scouting. You know, I have
a lot ongoing. In fact, probably right now we should
find out our players that are getting claimed. That list

(00:56):
should be coming out. So I'm actually doing you guys
a great sir at the expense of myself being here
at noon. But I also wanted to announce, and this
is going to be fun, that we have reached a
four year contract extension with Kyle Hamilton actually just signed
it about an hour ago, maybe excited about that makes

(01:17):
him the highest paid safety in the NFL. Well deserved,
as you all know. Phenomenal player, phenomenal person, a great leader,
A very very proud of Kyle everything he brings to
the community on and off the field, his family, and
we think that this really recognizes his impact on our

(01:38):
team and in the community, and we're thrilled to get
this done and get this off my plate. I also
want to thank Nick Mattio, who has been working on
this contract for quite some time. Athletes first, Kyle McCarthy,
Brian Murphy, those guys. Phenomenal job by them as well.
So excited about that. Any questions on that the negotiations.

Speaker 3 (02:02):
With Kyle sort of pick up momentum over the last
couple of weeks or was it really sort of a
culmination of a lung process And I guess bigger picture,
I mean, do you see him as maybe joining that
line of very special names who we see his building
blocks of the rails.

Speaker 2 (02:19):
Well, we started really kind of engaging with Kyle and
his in his group just before we broke on vacation.
But I would say that you know, talks started to
heat up about three weeks ago and appreciate, you know,
the dialogue that we had with those guys, and you know,

(02:40):
I think I think the deal really does speak to
how we feel about Kyle. The highest uh, you know,
paid safety in the NFL. UH That's a responsibility that
we don't take lightly. We've had a few players over
the years become the highest paid at their position, and
I think when you are the highest paid, that's that's

(03:01):
that's an important distinction. And I think Kyle has proven
that he's going to carry that very well and we
expect him to continue to be an impact player in
our defense for years to come.

Speaker 4 (03:14):
Eric to get this done before the start of the.

Speaker 2 (03:17):
Season, I'm happy you know this. I think you know,
as a GM my job is really to look at
the short term of the team and build the best
team we can, but also to look out in the
future and look at what the team's going to look
like in twenty twenty six, in twenty twenty eight, in
two thousand and thirty. So anytime you can take one

(03:39):
of your very best players and get them to sign
a long term contract extension, I think is a great thing.
I know, Steve Bashatt he's very happy about it. I
think it's a great day for the Ravens, a great
day for Kyle, and a great day for the fans
here from where the.

Speaker 5 (03:52):
Defense started last season to how you guys finished to.

Speaker 6 (03:55):
Be one of the best secondaries in the NFL. What
role did Kyle play in that?

Speaker 7 (04:00):
And what about that sort of transformation at secondary maybe
tad his insight and take his doggy to this team.

Speaker 2 (04:08):
Well, I think one of the things you love about
Kyle is he's just kind of a unicorn. He can
do many different things. He does them all very well.
You know, he can be used in a lot of
different positions. We've had to move him around quite a bit.
You know, I wouldn't say that really the the improvement
of our defense was strictly tied to Kyle last year,
but he made it easier for us to put players

(04:28):
in different positions, you know. I think our coaches did
a phenomenal job last year making adjustments as well, and
I think Guy stepped up and I think you'll see
that continue as we get going into the regular season
this year as well.

Speaker 8 (04:42):
One of those lines where you at with other extensions conversations,
be it Hinda bomb certainly.

Speaker 2 (04:49):
Themar Yeah, I think those are ongoing, you know. You know,
I like to work kind of in the dark, quietly
and try and get as much done as we can.
We've got a lot of different things going on. We've
got a lot of really good players. You know, it's
a blessing and a curs right, and so we have

(05:10):
we I think we draft a pretty We do a
pretty good job drafting, and so that means we've got
players that deserve to be paid well and we're trying
to keep those guys, knowing that, as I've said a
thousand times, we can't keep everybody, and so unfortunately, you're
going to see some good players probably in the next
couple of years play for other teams. We've seen that

(05:30):
that's going to be something that continues. You know. Back
in twenty nineteen, we really kind of said we were
going to try and keep as much of our talent
as we could. We've tried to do that, but we
are in a salary cap league, and so that's the reality.
We'll try to get as creative as possible. I think
Nick Mattio does a great job helping, you know, being

(05:52):
proactive looking at these deals, staying on top of trends
and things like that, trying to be as aggressive as
possible throughout the year to bring our players back. It
takes to to tango. Certainly, will continue to be aggressive,
but we also understand that at some point we're gonna
see some good players leave.

Speaker 3 (06:08):
Eric specifically, I know there's a lot of tension, especially
with the Lamar situation where.

Speaker 9 (06:13):
His copumber goes, you know, over seventy next year.

Speaker 6 (06:17):
There anything you can tell us about where that stands?

Speaker 2 (06:19):
Wordman, probably not. You know, I appreciate the question, but
I think it's good to keep these kind of things
with the players and you know, these business things as
quiet as possible, and that will continue to be the
way we operate. Generally speaking, I really wouldn't want to
get into any specifics in regards to any of our
players and their contract negotiations right now because I think

(06:41):
it hurts the process. So so yeah, here we are
kind of segue into the roster. Very very tough decisions
this year again, which speaks to I think the amount
of talent we feel like we've got on the roster.
Emotional day yesterday, tough decisions to make you as you

(07:04):
all know, we kept three undrafted guys on defense. Excited
about those three guys, and what I would say is
that those guys clearly seize the opportunity every single day.
They earned it. I didn't go into this training camp
this really time of the year expecting three undrafted guys
to make it. It hasn't happened in a long time.
I think our defense was pretty talented, as you guys

(07:27):
can look across and see we have a lot of talent.
So for three guys to make it speaks to what
those young men did. Very excited about them, very excited
about the team that we have in place. We'll be
in the process of getting our practice squad signed in
the next two hours. I would expect that we're going
to lose some guys, just based on the amount of

(07:48):
phone calls that we've received over the last two or
three days about the roster, about our players. We investigated
some trades, nothing came to fruition. Unfortunately. We feel really
strong about the roster. We're balanced twenty five on offense,
twenty five on defense along with the three specialists, and
we're relatively healthy, which also make it's a great situation,

(08:12):
but it also makes it tough for sometimes with the
roster because you don't have the ability to just put
a guy on injured reserve and then keep somebody else
and then stash that guy essentially until he becomes healthy.
We didn't. We weren't faced with that situation this year,
which is good, but it also meant that we were
going to have to cut some talent to young players. Questions,
how would you guys have.

Speaker 4 (08:33):
Kind of become the postal organization for having undrafted guys
make the team? Which how does that keep happening?

Speaker 2 (08:42):
Well, I think we've got a great process that you know,
when you've been together thirty years, over twenty five years
or twenty years, you have a chance to really kind
of build on something. And I go back to my
first and second year. Guys like Priest Holmes made it.
Donald Dalton was another guy I can think of. We've

(09:02):
had so many guys, you know, Mike Flynn. I mean,
there's been so many guys back in the early days,
and we really just refined the process. I think Marc Assevedo,
Andrew Raphael, Joey Cleary, those guys are scouts, you know.
I want to I want to shout out to the
area scouts all those guys Q and Chaz and Patrick

(09:26):
and Beans and really you know, Terrell, you know all
those guys that are part of that process. When the
draft ends, those guys go to work and they do
just a great job. The organization, the communication with the coaches.
We spend hours on those guys as evaluating those players
and talking about their backgrounds and their mentalities, and you know,

(09:51):
really just hoping to hit on one guy every year,
you know, and this year we hit on three guys.
Really more than three guys, because we had some other
guys I could have made it as well. Really, honestly,
probably had five guys legitimately that we thought had a
chance to be on this team that were undrafted. This year,
only three guys had a chance to make it, but
there were a couple other guys that played well enough
to make the team as well. So it was a

(10:13):
great year. You know. I didn't think we did a
good job last year. I made that abundantly clear. But
I think our guys really kind of rallied this year,
and like I said, the scouts and coaches did a
phenomenal job.

Speaker 5 (10:24):
How surprising is it to have three undrafted guys, and
especially when you consider how much comes back from last
year and how many draftings do you guys have.

Speaker 2 (10:32):
Yeah, we didn't expect it, for sure. I think these
guys just when you think about the games, I mean
you look at those guys and look at what they
did and the production and the big plays and just
the consistency. How could they not be on the team. Right?
And then you know, honestly, teams call ask about these guys, right,

(10:52):
and ask them if i'd trade these players like we
could have traded these three guys. Teams were calling and
left and right, and that's kind of validation for what
you think he might see on tape. And uh, it
just became abundantly clear that these were talented players that
you know, for whatever reason, were overlooked by the entire league,
including us, and deserve to be on teams. It can

(11:18):
help us, can help us be our best.

Speaker 10 (11:21):
Undrafted this year, when he was un drafted last year
or before, Corey Bullet, did you expect him coming into
camp to make a play for the roster?

Speaker 2 (11:29):
Did he surprise you? Well, he's worked very hard over
the last couple of years. He had a great offseason.
I think he's a really coachable player. He's worked so
hard in the off season program, getting his body, you know,
stronger and just quicker and everything else. He's a sponge
and I think he's worked extremely hard and he put

(11:49):
himself in this position, and you know, I think I
think it speaks to the development that these guys receive
in the off season program. Being here with our strength coaches.
I think Scott Elliott and all of his staff they
do a remarkable job with our guys, really put these
guys in the best possible shape to be their very best.
And I think he's a great example of that.

Speaker 11 (12:08):
As he talked to us here at this point last year,
he expected to pick us with the offensive line, and
obviously it probably over delivers what you expectations for wins.

Speaker 6 (12:19):
Wine die for that group.

Speaker 2 (12:20):
Hopefully they can continue to get better and better, and
I think I think you will. I think they will.
I think, uh, you know, just you know, thinking about
Roger just his second year, now he's gonna be a
better player. It's just the natural kind of progression. I think.
I think vorhees he sees the job. He did a

(12:41):
great job. Very proud of him coming off that knee
injury that he suffered, and how he's responded, I think
Daniel will play better and better and better and continue
to improve. Of course, we've got you know, Ronnie and
and Uh and Tyler, those are kind of the lynch pins.
But look at that group as a whole, and we

(13:01):
think the best is yet to come. And then looking
at even you know, some of the younger guys. We've
seen a lot of growth and maturation throughout training camp.
Some of these younger players. We feel really strong about
those guys. And that's without Emory, who at some point,
probably in the near future, is going to come out
and we invested the third round pick on him. We're

(13:24):
excited about him and what he binks to the table,
and I think he's gonna be a fun player to watch.

Speaker 6 (13:28):
You said, you know what we've heard for years.

Speaker 12 (13:31):
You can't have too many corners.

Speaker 2 (13:32):
You can never have too many corners. You can never
have too many corners. Jalen armber Davis was.

Speaker 6 (13:36):
A guy you let go what had What went you
to that decision?

Speaker 2 (13:40):
That was a tough one, you know, because Jalen's had
a great camp. I think in the end, it's just
kind of a nuanced, tough decision. Right, you have these
younger players that you probably have more control love long
term roster wise, contract wise, and you have Jalen in
the last year of his deal. But there's really a
lot to go into it. It was a really tough

(14:01):
tough roster this year to make, and the reality of
it is looking at it, you know, I think you
know Keon and and uh, you know Lowry, those guys
played well enough to be on the team. So you know,
it's just a tough thing. We agonized about it. You're

(14:21):
trying to you know, you look at all the different
position groups and is it is it better to keep
seven corners and for safeties eleven dbs versus say, you know,
for d linemen or four inside linebackers or five receivers
or whatever it might be. And so you just have
to try and figure it out and balance it out
and make decisions. And you have a crystal ball and

(14:42):
you're look and you try to see what it might
look like next year in the year after. But you know,
there's really no right or wrong answer. I mean, it's
a puzzle, and uh, you know, we may feel really
good about it today, I mean we may feel really
bad about it next week. And also we might you know,
we might say next week, thank we kept this guy
at that position because we got injuries, and so until

(15:03):
we really play the games, you're not really gonna know.
I think for me, just the one thing was you're
talking about, you know, a corner in the last year
of his contract versus a corner that you have on
your team who's going to be with you for a
few more years.

Speaker 10 (15:21):
Eric.

Speaker 13 (15:21):
Yeah, along those lines.

Speaker 9 (15:23):
When you look at this roster, which is highly regarded
around the league, what is the biggest question or two
in your mind that's maybe not a concern, but just
kind of an unknown for you when you look at
the roster going into week one, you know, first month
of the season.

Speaker 2 (15:41):
You know, I really kind of have questions about everything,
just the nature of what I do. You know, I'm
super excited, you know, to see our special teams. But
we have some young guys right and pretty important positions.
I'm excited to see Loop, excited to see Wester, you know,
important spots. Those guys are in, right, So you have

(16:03):
a rookie punt returner, you got a rookie kicker. Both
guys showed in the preseason that they're up to the task.
We're very excited about both guys. In most cases, they
performed great throughout, but they're still young players, and so
you know that first game is a big deal, right,
But I firmly believe that the right guys to kind

(16:23):
of handle those jobs like that.

Speaker 5 (16:26):
And you made a decision to have Tyler be the
only kicker on the roster about halfway through camp.

Speaker 2 (16:32):
What at that.

Speaker 5 (16:33):
Time made you feel like you guys were good moving
forward with Tyler as the kicker? And what has he
shown you since then?

Speaker 2 (16:43):
It's a good question. I would say I listened to
the coaches, right, I'm not a kicking guru by any stretch, right.
I gu it's got a lot of other positions better
than I can scout kickers, And so you know, Chris
Horton and Randy Brown and Coach Harbor, those guys felt
that Tyler was ready. So that resonated with me and
allowed us to bring in a player at a different

(17:05):
a different position. I forget you a second part of
your questions.

Speaker 5 (17:10):
You were kind of saying it to the further question,
but what has he shown you?

Speaker 2 (17:14):
Oh? Yeah, yeah, i'd be well, he's he's uh, you know,
he's resilient, He seems to come back from a miss.
He's got a really really strong leg. He works very hard.
Just a good young prospect, you know, kind of what
we're looking for. I think at every position, having a
growth mindset, coming to work every day with the intention
of getting better and being talented.

Speaker 8 (17:37):
Emery Jones that he had an injury issue or is
this surprise.

Speaker 2 (17:41):
To you, No, we knew he had an injury issue. Yeah. Yeah,
he actually had surgery maybe the week after the combine.

Speaker 7 (17:50):
Just on Emory, you.

Speaker 5 (17:51):
Mentioned the excitement level rhythmim. Is there a possibility that
you can you can see him contributing.

Speaker 6 (17:57):
At a high level on purs this year.

Speaker 2 (17:59):
I hope so. I mean, at some point he's gonna
get a chance to play this year, be back this year,
and he'll practice. He's gonna be a physical guy. The
one thing, the one thing I can tell you about
Emory is he's a physical, combative player. We saw that
at the Senior Bowl. We saw it on tape. Scott
loves to play. He kind of fits our mentality. I

(18:20):
can't wait to get him out there and practice just
to see what he looks like.

Speaker 3 (18:23):
There's a lot of.

Speaker 1 (18:23):
Talent in the secondary. I'm excited for you to get
Jaire Alexander, and what's your.

Speaker 2 (18:28):
Expectation for that union? Excited man, I mean Jaira. I
think you guys saw him when he was out there,
what he can bring to the table. We're being careful
with him, for sure, but he's a talent. I think
that group in general, just if you look across the board,
you see those guys what they can do. Excited. I mean, honestly,

(18:49):
we were super excited about Cone and longer Beam too
before those guys got hurt. And if you put them
into the equation, we'd add some real, really hard decisions
to make. And so I feel really good about where
those guys are going to be next year coming back.
But I think just across the board, if you look
at the secondary, I mean, I think Chuck might have

(19:10):
said it is a talented group, saying that we have
very very high expectations for that as well, and we
want to hit the ground running and we want to
play fast and we want to come out of the
gates and we want to live up to that reputation.

Speaker 6 (19:24):
This season.

Speaker 5 (19:25):
Active, what can you say about where he's at with
this rehab? And you have an idea when you can
expect them.

Speaker 6 (19:30):
To be back.

Speaker 2 (19:31):
Yeah, you know, I don't like to talk about injuries much,
but you know the fact that we didn't put them
on IR I think speaks to when we expect them back.
We think he'll be back at some point in the
early part of the season. I think his attitude is great.
I see him, spend time with him. Yeah, I think
he'll be a It's gonna be a really, really big
part of our team this year for sure.

Speaker 6 (19:51):
Eric come back to the secondary.

Speaker 8 (19:53):
To the point, you guys have four running backs, five
inside backers, so that that obviously squeezes the roster or
elsewhere a little bit potentially. Is that kind of speak
to the belief I guess in what you guys have
at some of these other positions, particularly the secondary.

Speaker 2 (20:12):
Yeah, you know, I think when you're looking at your roster,
generally speaking, most teams will keep somewhere between nine and
eleven defensive backs. Certainly, you know, we have some talented
players and offense too, and we're trying to create a
balanced roster. You know, I've seen rosters where you may have,

(20:35):
you know, potentially twenty seven players on one side of
the ball and twenty three on another. Side of the ball.
I don't think that's exactly what you want. You'd really
like to try and be as balanced as possible. So
you certainly had some tough, tough choices to make you know,
the fact that we kept fo running backs. You know,

(20:56):
I feel like those guys have all you know, they're
proven what they did. What we seen from those guys,
I think specifically with with Keaton and Rashen, we saw
what they could do this preseason. We certainly know justice
in Derek, and I think last year, as you guys remember,
early in the season especially, we had a hard time
final three running banks to play and the way that

(21:20):
we run the football. We made a decision I think
to keep those four backs because we're a physical, running
running team and it made sense to do that at
this time. And when you do something like that, when
you keep you know, three tight ends and you have
a full back, then it forces you to probably go
a little bit later to other positions. So it's it's
challenging and in the end, I think, you know, one

(21:43):
of the things I've learned from Ozzie and one of
a million things is really just keep the best players.
That's what I try to do, try not to get
too caught up in you've got to have this many
players at this position and this many players at that position,
all things being equal, you'd like to do that to
be balanced. But in the end, I think you want
to just keep the best players, and if that means

(22:03):
you're a little bit unbalanced, that's okay, because at some
point it's probably gonna take care of itself because guys
are gonna get hurt and you're gonna be glad you
kept certain guys all season.

Speaker 10 (22:15):
Bill Brad was undrafted free agent that you decided to
give an opportunity to. What did you see from him
in this camp.

Speaker 2 (22:20):
And what went into the decision. I thought Bo did
a great job. Again. I think it just speaks to
the talent that we have back there. Love Bo, love
everything he does, love what he brings. Hopefully we can
keep him on the practice squad again. Really really tough,
kind of nuanced decisions, really challenging to make because I

(22:42):
really admired Bo in many ways. Physically, just a tough guy,
a great mentality, all football local kid. Hold him in
very high regards. Like I said, we'd love to have
him on the practice squad. That's one of our goals
coming out of today, and we'll see what happens. It
seems like when you look at the old season, I mean,
now Hamilton get the extension, Derrick Henry Bateman, I mean,

(23:05):
does just go.

Speaker 14 (23:06):
Back to when you kind of were talking about trying
to be proactive to keep these guys not waiting until
they hit eat you get close to free agency.

Speaker 2 (23:14):
I think so, you know, I sort of equate it
to that old game we used to play. Maybe some
of us play. I don't think they've played anymore but
musical chairs, right, And you know, we got a lot
of really good players, and we're just trying to get
as many guys signed as we can until we can't.
It's really what it amounts to. I guess it's a
good problem to have. I think the roster speaks for itself,

(23:37):
but it's it's it is a challenge, and it does,
you know, keep me awake at night. I feel really
really good about this team, but I want to feel
as good about the twenty twenty seven team in the
twenty and thirty team as I feel about this team.

Speaker 3 (23:51):
You look at your top two draft picks, do you
feel like those guys have both sort of demanded to
be on the field right away or with the way
they've performed, I.

Speaker 2 (23:57):
Would say, you know, I think they both had I
think you got probably agree they both had good camps.
But again, you know, until they play, it's hard to say,
right they got to play in real games. But yeah,
they're both excited, super excited about both players. The mentalities
have been outstanding, the maturity where they carry themselves every day.
They don't to me, they don't feel like rookies. They

(24:18):
feel like guys that have been here and uh and
that really speaks well. I think of what we should
expect for those guys this year, and I think they're
ready to play. It's just a matter of going out
there and doing it.

Speaker 6 (24:30):
For thanks with how they can deal for Lamar, with
the woulden.

Speaker 11 (24:36):
Impasse there, for giving you guys being able to luck
down big money extensions for other guys, or are you
able to kind of forecast without that in place?

Speaker 2 (24:44):
You know, I don't, I don't. I don't think so
Johan and I Jonas. I think like it's basically just
comes down to, you know, who are those guys going
to be?

Speaker 6 (24:55):
Right?

Speaker 2 (24:55):
It's we have opportunities to sign more players and we'll
try and do that. It's just a matter of who
can we get a deal done with, and at some
point we're probably going to have to kind of recalibrate,
and let's say we got to know these draft picks
and we need these younger players to really be good
because we can't sign every single guy back. And we're

(25:18):
okay with that, you know. I mean, it's it's not
I'm not okay with it, but I understand it, you know.
It's it's kind of like when I was just hired
and we lost those four guys on defense, right, And
I've talked about that, but losing you know, Sizzle and
and Weddel and Zadarius and c J. That was really tough,

(25:45):
really tough. But that's the nature of this business and
what we do. So we'll keep trying to sign as
many guys as we can. I think Nick does a
great job with me of explaining what our cap situation
is going to look like this year, potentially next year,
trying to forecast out so that we have a sense
for what we can do, what we can do with
the goal of really never having a true window that's open,

(26:07):
door closed. I hate that idea of just a closed window.
Being a GM on a closed window team gives me anxiety,
and I don't want to be that GM you talked about. Well,
guy starts at Mike Green.

Speaker 1 (26:19):
But just your overall impressions of this rookie class, even
including the undrafted guys that you all kept.

Speaker 15 (26:24):
Just you know, I know it's early.

Speaker 16 (26:26):
What's your impression of the group?

Speaker 2 (26:29):
I mean, so for so good, Ryan, I mean, I'm optimistic,
but I'm also cautious again because they haven't done it yet.
So I think generally speaking, these guys have shown in
glimpses and practice what they can do and what they
may become. I think we'll have contributors this year. So
one of my goals is always to find at least

(26:49):
two or three guys I can contribute right away. You know,
I know everybody wants all of the guys to contribute
right away, but certain guys just develop at different paces,
And again it's one of the byproducts having a strong team.
Some guys really don't get the chance to contribute as
soon as other guys might. So but from what I've
seen with these guys, I think our scouts did a

(27:11):
great job and our coaches did a great job of
lining guys up. I think we'll have some guys that
contribute quickly and make plays right away in different ways,
and there'll be other guys that, you know what, they
may not do a lot this year, but then next
year you'll see him and go, Wow, that guy looks
pretty good. And you can all think about guys like
that in the in the past who kind of fit
that definition. And that's that's just what we do, right

(27:35):
So it's a little different from baseball. We don't have
a minor league system right but we expect our guys
to contribute right away because that's what our sport is.
But in a way, some of our guys are in
the minor leagues right now. It might take him a
couple of years before they make it to the big leagues.
Thanks guys.

Speaker 1 (27:55):
We also had a chance to talk with Kyle after
he signed his contract, so her safety Kyle and fresh
off signing that big extension.

Speaker 15 (28:05):
Thank y'all for being here.

Speaker 6 (28:10):
In the NFL.

Speaker 15 (28:12):
It's crazy, it's a it's a dream come true. And
just first, I just want to thank a lot of people,
want to thank God first and foremost, and h so
many situations and things that happened in my life that's
got into this position. And I think back to draft night,
and so many people have made or some people said
some things about where I was drafted, this and that
and where I could be drafted, And at the time,

(28:34):
I think I was the least mad at anybody. I
knew that I came to the right place. And I
think that's how God just works sometimes, you know, you
got to see the bigger picture and has bigger plans
for us. So thank you the man above, and also
to my family, my parents, my brother, fiance, all my friends,
everybody just had a part in this. And this is
a it takes a village and I truly mean that,

(28:55):
and I truly feel that way. And to mister Bashati,
to EDC, to coach Hars and everybody who's got me
to this point and developed me. And I really, I
really feel like I've been kind of molded into the
player I am today by them, and goes to show
how why this organization is the way it is and
why it's such a great organization and they do a

(29:15):
great job and it's going to be rewarded.

Speaker 5 (29:17):
Did you feel a lot of pressure to get this
extension done before going for this season.

Speaker 6 (29:23):
How important to you in general?

Speaker 15 (29:25):
Yeah, I wanted to get it done because I feel
like it would have been a distraction, and you know,
it's just human nature to kind of think about those things,
even though I try not to. And but no, I think.
I think the Ravens and credit to them and everybody upstairs.
They did a great job just engaging in conversation and
my agents as well, Comm McCarthy, Brian Murphy, everybody, athletes
first had a wonderful job. And Charlie Charlie is that's

(29:50):
like the third time he's butt into a meeting. But
but no, I mean I was. I was included and
everything going on and really professionally on both sides, and
they wrote some really good emails too, and it was
it was really cool to see the ins and out
to a contract negotiation. So to answer your question, yeah,
I wanted to get it done. But if it hadn't

(30:11):
got done, it wouldn't be a huge deal. But I'm
glad it did.

Speaker 5 (30:15):
Reaction CONTROLLI there and send out a tweet two I
said for a dollar just kind of what the reaction
from the guys been in the locker room.

Speaker 6 (30:21):
Just how happier they for for you.

Speaker 16 (30:23):
Yeah, it's it's pretty cool.

Speaker 6 (30:24):
You know.

Speaker 15 (30:24):
I love every one of those guys in there, and
it's it's it's kind of funny like on a day
like today where or yes, they're guys are getting cut
and you guys getting signed back to practice squad. Like
seeing guys who get signed Peace Squad coming to walk
through and congratulate me and knowing that everybody's in a
different situation. It shows how much love there is in
that locker room. So again, I've been saying it a lot,
but I really would not be in the position I

(30:45):
am I'm in right now without everyone in locker room
sacrificing for each other and makes it easy to go
out there and make plays. When your three technique is
taking two guys up in the block, you'll get a
TfL and it all boils down and stuff like that.
And it starts in camp, starts at dinners off field,
and it's just it's a brother in there. So I'm
happy to be a part of it.

Speaker 3 (31:03):
When you sign a deal like this, I mean, people
fans start to think about things with kind of a
big pictures sense. I mean, are you driven by the
idea of being one of those names that people talk about,
and remember when it comes to the overall story of
the Ravens, you know that that kind of breadaway was
reading the lineup succession.

Speaker 15 (31:20):
Yeah, I mean a little bit, but mostly no, I
think I'm trying to carve my own path, and obviously
those guys, I don't think it can be replicated what
they did. You know, they set the bar for not
only the Ravens but NFL what it means to play
the position that they played. And you know, I'm lucky
to even be in the same breath as them. Not
saying that me personally, I don't think I'm even close

(31:40):
to there yet, but you know, it would be cool
one day, looking back on kids and grandkids to kind
of show them my body of work and be proud
of it. But as of right now it sounds cliche.
But I'm worried about the bank or worried about the
bills and trying to get onto that and get our
season started. So that's so far down the line. I'm
not It's not even in the front of my mind
at all.

Speaker 8 (32:02):
When you hear people talk about the game.

Speaker 13 (32:04):
So maybe kind of year people say.

Speaker 6 (32:06):
It's not the safety is more than.

Speaker 5 (32:08):
That, What does that mean for you in terms.

Speaker 6 (32:09):
Of everything this team does ask.

Speaker 7 (32:12):
You to do and you're playing close, You're on scream
at second level deep safety, a whole lot down the
stretch last year, I mean, to be able to do
all that, what does that mean for you as far
as the value you can bring your team?

Speaker 6 (32:21):
Yeah?

Speaker 15 (32:22):
I mean, first off, it's just the amount of trust
they've been trusted me with in that stuff and helping
help them run the defense with row and just playing
my part whatever that may be on a snap to
snap game to game basis. And you know, I feel
like I'm talented enough in different areas to do what
they asked me to do. But they also have to
feel like that too, and then I have you go
out there and produced. So it's a group effort. But

(32:44):
I'm if I'm willing to play wherever whenever they need
me to, whatever job responsibility I have during the play,
I'm all for it. And credit to Notre Dame. I
kind of got dealt with that a little bit in college.
So I got to the league and I feel like
my rookie kind of trying to find a spout where
I fit in at and then figure that out at
Nickel and then I was always able to play safety,

(33:05):
so con just came naturally.

Speaker 5 (33:08):
This roster is regarded as one of the best in
the NML. We just talked to Eric about an hour
or so ago. He said, I want to make sure
that the championship window never poses. You know what about
the long term outlook for this for this franchise, makes
you feel good about the signing extension for.

Speaker 15 (33:25):
The next four years, Yeah, I mean eight helps out
a lot.

Speaker 16 (33:29):
We got eight, We got a.

Speaker 15 (33:30):
Chance, So I mean we could put whoever around him.
I think we go as as he goes, and you know,
I think everybody in the building kind of agrees with me.
As long as he's here, we're we're we're we.

Speaker 6 (33:41):
Have a chance.

Speaker 15 (33:42):
You're lifting that shop at the end of the year.
And that's not hyperbolic at all. I mean he's one
of the best to ever do it, and you know
he's him for a reason. So uh yeah, that kind
of goes as being a raven right now in this era.
You know you're gonna play with Lamar Jackson. You're gonna
play some big games. You're gonna play hopefully for some
champions in the future. So I think that goes for coaches, players, staff,

(34:03):
people in the cafeteria. You know, expectations are high because
of that guy right there, and know it's a lot
of pressure on him, but I don't think he really
feels it.

Speaker 12 (34:12):
You know, Ever since a fifty year option question is
answered back a few months ago, your contract has been
a pretty popular topic. How quickly did all this come
together or has this been going on over the course
of a couple of months.

Speaker 15 (34:24):
Yeah, I think you know, everybody's experiencing situations is different
when it comes to that stuff. Some guys get it
done right after the season. I wasn't in a huge rush.
I knew that it was probably gonna get done before
the season. Talks really ramped up probably a few weeks ago,
and like I said, the Ravens and Nick Matteo, everybody
and EDC done a great job just engaging with us

(34:47):
and having constructive and real conversations and for lack of
a better words, just not be us and each other
on both sides. And I think earlier in the spring
I was more so focused on just get my body right,
getting my mental right for the season, and they had
draft stuff and free agency, all this stuff going on.

(35:08):
So it's like, I'm not really about to bother them
right now, Like I know I'm going to be here,
so we'll get it done at some point. But I
think we both both sides wanted to get it done
for the season that ultimately helps it come to fruition.

Speaker 7 (35:21):
They like this, What does that.

Speaker 6 (35:23):
Do for you mentally going into the year and beyond.

Speaker 15 (35:26):
Yeah, you know, I don't want to sound ungrateful, because
obviously I am. It's a it's a crazy amount of
if you just talking about money, crazy amount of money,
and blessed to be in the position I'm in. But
my mom always told me money just makes you more
of who you already are, So you know, I think
it's a blessing and I'm excited to help my family

(35:47):
help others with it as well, But I don't think
it really changes my outlook or my procession of who
I am as a person, and I pride myself on
that no matter what you're talking about, whether it's money
or experiences or accolades, I try just say the same, Kyle.
So for me personally, I don't want to change a
whole lot about myself. Maybe get a watch or something,

(36:08):
but other than that I'm just gonna put in the
piggy bank and save for any day.

Speaker 5 (36:14):
You know, you sound super involved in this process. A
lot of guys say, oh, that's for my agent, but
it doesn't.

Speaker 6 (36:18):
Sound like your level of involvement.

Speaker 5 (36:20):
What with this process? Did this teach you about how
the league works, how things work in terms of payment
at your position and sorting that being Was it important
for you to.

Speaker 6 (36:30):
Be the highest pace safety?

Speaker 15 (36:33):
I don't think necessarily. I don't think we were going
off highest paid safety. Not to get into it too much,
but it's just whatever my team thought my value was
compared to other people other positions in the league, and
I think the Ravens did a great job of honoring
that as well. And at the same time, I think
to answer your question about just the business side of it,

(36:56):
because I was interested in it and you know, obviously
going through contract negotiations that my team says A and
they say B. And you know, reading those emails like
sometimes they might be like triggering to somebody, but I
honestly respected and that they were very well written emails
and even a little like humor in it. So it
made it enjoyable for both sides and not trying to

(37:19):
divulge too much information, but I think you can grasp
from that. It's just pretty cool to see the business
side of it. If I ever did want to be
a GM one day, which I don't forceive for myself
right now, but you know, it's kind of a cool
little tidbit right now.

Speaker 12 (37:33):
Other than Kolar, what's asking for something from you? What
are what are your plans?

Speaker 2 (37:39):
Anything you mentioned to watch?

Speaker 12 (37:40):
Any immediate plans to celebrate?

Speaker 15 (37:43):
Uh no, maybe a new driver something. I know everybody's
getting a mini driver right now, so I might have
to do that. My boy works for Callaway, so Alex
people give them a shout up.

Speaker 6 (37:54):
Yeh.

Speaker 15 (37:55):
Maybe I'll try to get a little discount a mini driver,
but nothing has in that. I want to do some
philanthropic stuff obviously, and try to just give back because
like I said, it takes a village and there's numerous
people that have gotten to this point. So just doing
my best to pay forward. That's probably the plans that
you have close.

Speaker 10 (38:15):
To your any causes immediately that comes to mind that
are close to your heart.

Speaker 15 (38:19):
I've done some stuff with the why, grew up going
to the Why a little bit. Me and my brother,
So that's I feel like experiences like that makes it
a little more genuine and then tough, which is a
t uff organization. Adam Shibley went to Notre Dame with
me and was walking on the football team he started.
And it's premise pretty much just to provide like shoulder pads, cleats,

(38:42):
all this stuff for underprivileged kids who don't have them.
So maybe a little something like that, not one hundred
cent sure yet I've also been interested in like financial
literacy for people and like some stuff like single mothers
as well. But I mean this is just me.

Speaker 16 (38:58):
Spitballing right now.

Speaker 15 (38:59):
Hopefully get around all those things and hopefully make it happen.
But off the top of my head, that's where I'm at.

Speaker 11 (39:04):
Is there a next step for you that you want
to take as a player, just something that you are
hopefully something you were hoping has reflected in your game
stats whatever in twenty twenty.

Speaker 16 (39:12):
Five Super Bowl?

Speaker 15 (39:15):
Really, I think you know, you check a lot of
boxes off, hopefully throughout your football career, and not to
my own hornor I feel like I've checked a good
bit ever since high school and Super bowl s, sois
you have to be checked so you know, that's the
next one that I want to check off. All the
personal accolades and stuff, that's cool, but I feel like
as a team, as an organization. Talk to mister Bashati,
it's just like Super Bowl and we're not trying to

(39:37):
wait anymore. So I want to get greedy with that.
I want to do that now as soon as possible
and stack them play.

Speaker 4 (39:43):
Kyle.

Speaker 2 (39:44):
Appreciate y'all.

Speaker 1 (39:47):
Today we also heard from head coach John Harbaugh.

Speaker 17 (39:52):
Okay, good to see everybody. Appreciate everybody being here. Shout
out to bow Smolka. He's got a second child going
to Notre Dame. Just wrote that check at tuition check. Congratulations.
It's not many people that have such smart wives. But
really happy with camp. You know, see the ice cream

(40:13):
truck out there. It's a small reward for the work
these guys put in. The level of work, all right,
the work capacity that was put forth. We monitor, we
keep track of that stuff. Maybe I could say I'm
up here one of these days to explain it to you,
but it's just high level. It's more than it's more
than anybody else does. And I'm just proud of the

(40:35):
way these guys do it. I think we've made the
most of the effort, had the best training camp we
could have. We've traveled just as far as we could
travel in training camp. Now it's time. It's time to
start the next part of the journey, which is the
regular season. So this was kind of an opportunity this
week to tie some things together and get ready for
the season. But our guys will be excited to get
back here on Monday and be one hundred percent into

(40:58):
the bills preparation. Disappointment is we can't play until Sunday night.
We gotta wait till Sunday night. So but we'll be there,
we'll show up, we'll be right on time, and we'll
be ready. So proud of our guys, excited about the roster,
happy about the practice squad. Uh, really really happy for
the guys that made the team, that we're kind of
on the bubble. Uh and and we're ready to go.

(41:19):
What question do you have, John.

Speaker 3 (41:21):
Calham didn't find it a pretty good extension Monday?

Speaker 7 (41:24):
Kind of your thoughts about Kyle and giving that that, Well.

Speaker 17 (41:27):
I'm gonna ask you to pay for the ice cream
truck today. First of all, that'll be his job. But really,
happy for him. I obviously very well deserved to be
the highest paid safety in football at this point. And uh,
and he's earned it, you know. And he's a guy
that I don't think there's anybody surprised by that. I
think everybody, and you know, everybody in the raven flock
was hoping to see that happen.

Speaker 13 (41:47):
And uh and that's not the end of it either.

Speaker 17 (41:49):
But you know, see Kyle with his fiance and here
today and how happy they were, so many so many
beginnings and uh, and really the thing about Kyle is
is like he's not He's not really, I'm he's pretty
even keeled, you know, He's just not like he's doing
cartwheels down the hallway or anything. He's he's just ready.
He's ready to come to practice. And and that's where
he wanted to get to practice and even talk to
the team afterwards, and he just talked about starting to

(42:11):
check those boxes off starting in Buffalo.

Speaker 13 (42:13):
So yeah, it's great, it's great for the Ravens.

Speaker 4 (42:16):
You never know how players will progressed, but you know,
just to see Kyle's progression to this point, I'm sure
this is somewhat at least to what you guys were
hoping to get out of him. Just what does it
feel like to be able to feel happy about the
investment you guys have made to him, just even going
all the.

Speaker 17 (42:32):
Way back to drafting, it's really a great point because
you know, not everybody makes it. You know, you don't
hit on all your picks, and you certainly you don't
hit on all your first round picks. And to have
two first round picks from that one year hit the
way they have, it's just it's just a great thing
for all of us, for everybody, but mostly for them.

Speaker 13 (42:48):
It speaks to the guys.

Speaker 17 (42:49):
And you know, Kyle was a guy that people were
even criticizing us for taking him where we took him.
You know, he took a safety Why would you do that?
You have all these other needs and here we are today,
So the same thing for the same thing for for Tyler.
You know, why just take a center? Well that's why,
you know, because you see the way they play. So
just proud of those guys, and I'm just really happy for
Kyle and his family.

Speaker 7 (43:10):
Coach, now that you have the fifty your man roster
in practice, but how do you feel as a coach
entering your your number eighteen.

Speaker 2 (43:17):
You see, this is a players very talented.

Speaker 6 (43:20):
What is in your mind going to this new season?

Speaker 13 (43:23):
Well, I just really I like the roster.

Speaker 17 (43:26):
I mean, to your point, go through my mind when
I watch in practice is this is a really good
football team, you know, And and and every season, every
season is its own season, Every every week, every game
is its own game. I mean you take them all
one at a time, truly, and so your focus gets
very narrow. But when I take a step back and
I watch practice, I know that we're a very good
football team. So it's our job to go out there

(43:48):
and play very well, you know, and coach very well.

Speaker 13 (43:50):
And that's what that's what we plan to do.

Speaker 6 (43:52):
Show us all the video.

Speaker 5 (43:53):
Of Aaron talking to the undrafted free agency for you
guys who made the team yesterday, and then of course
that you're you.

Speaker 12 (43:59):
Had a chance of hide it on the day of
practice to talk of them.

Speaker 6 (44:03):
And what's that like seeing?

Speaker 5 (44:05):
You know, just that most of the guys that many
guys work drafted you can go to look to to shine.

Speaker 2 (44:10):
In the roster.

Speaker 17 (44:11):
Well, it's definitely unusual. I mean, I don't know how
many times it's really happened. And you're talking about undrafted
free agency making a team especially you know, a team
that's you know, I was highly thought of as this team,
and this roster is also guys that were in some
cases weren't even signed the first go round. You know,
guys that were tryout. Guys like Keon are guys that

(44:31):
didn't have any signing bonus. You know, Uh, that's uh,
that's pretty amazing, and just goes it goes to me.
It goes to the fact that, you know, football is
probably the truest meritocracy in our society. I mean, I'm
sure there's a lot of meritocracies. Broadway is probably one.
You know, you've got to be really good to be
on Broadway and stuff. But when it comes right down

(44:51):
to it, it's what you do on the field. It
doesn't really matter where you played or how you got here.
Once you're here and you walk out there in that grass,
it's about how you play. And and the best players
are the players who play the best, and when they
play the best, they should be recognized as such. And
we try to give everybody an opportunity. We try to
coach everybody up to the max and try to bring

(45:12):
it out and put them in position to do the
things they do well, and so you know, kind of
to the questions you guys are asking, it's it's a
great thing because it reinforces what it's all about. It
reinforces that meritocracy part of the whole deal. And now
let's steal. Let's go play some ball, let's go win
some games.

Speaker 7 (45:29):
As specifically about Fion because he's a tryout, Guys that
the other day is prayer to try the seniors.

Speaker 4 (45:36):
Saying, what was it about kem when he showed.

Speaker 2 (45:39):
You all to make him in a section?

Speaker 17 (45:41):
Well, you know, I look at defensive players, especially especially
defensive backs, and you know, something I've read in my
notes is a no hesitation play or a no hesitation
player a player that can process accurately and quickly and
then without hesitation, go respond and then show up where
he's supposed to show up on time or ahead of time.

(46:01):
That's what Kean does. He's you know, he's come to
a football family. His dad played I don't know, maybe
Adam in the backyard all those years, but but he doesn't.
He just processes so well. Just like the interception against Washington,
that's a kind of a combination coverage that we're in there,
and he really doesn't have to be out there under
that route. It's really not part of the necessarily part
of the process. But he diagnosed the play and he

(46:22):
was out there waiting for the ball. So and not
just that one play, He's been doing that all the
way through camp. Sometimes you'll see players step a. Shoddy
points us out to me just today we were talking.
Sometimes you'll see players will flash in preseason games and
you're like, man, you got to keep that guy. Sometimes
it's real. Sometimes it's just a flash, a flash in
the pan. But when it's backed up, when those players

(46:43):
are backed up by what you see in practice every day,
then you know what you have. And all three of
those guys keon. Definitely, Uh, that's what happened.

Speaker 8 (46:52):
When you're watching those guys, obviously you're focused on of
what they're doing and building all that up. But when
you step back from it, that's surprised that three of
those guys make the roster, and second it was you
make those decisions that much tougher.

Speaker 17 (47:09):
Yeah, I get surprised. You know, if you look at
that way, you get so deep into it you really
don't think in terms of being surprised because by this
time we.

Speaker 13 (47:16):
Know the guys so well.

Speaker 17 (47:17):
They're just they're they're part of the ninety man roster
and you're just watching them play every day and you're
coaching them up, you're sending them a video, you're talking
to them, and you're just sorting it out as you go,
you know, and trying to put together the best fifty
three and the best you know, sixteen after that that
you possibly can. So I think, yeah, when you step back,
you have to say, gosh, that's that's unusual. But in
the process of it's just it's just trying to put

(47:39):
the best team together you can.

Speaker 9 (47:40):
Really, as you're preparing for what f scenario is how
nice is it to bring back Tyler Huntley as a
veteran quarterback.

Speaker 13 (47:46):
You know, you're hoping you don't have to go there.

Speaker 9 (47:47):
But you know you certainly you can have some trust
in yeah, you know.

Speaker 17 (47:50):
And I think one thing, it's pretty interesting when you
watch Tyler. I've been watching his games on tape. You
see the growth, you know, and and he's he's had
to travel a journey. You know, it's been it's been
a hard road for Tyler, but that's how you grow right.
You know, the scars are stronger than the other parts
of the bone, and he's had his bones broken, so
to speak a little bit and bounce back and compete it.

Speaker 13 (48:12):
And I see him out here today.

Speaker 17 (48:13):
He looks really good, you know, and uh, I think
it's really it makes our team stronger to have him
that spot.

Speaker 6 (48:21):
We just missed.

Speaker 16 (48:22):
We didn't see Kyler.

Speaker 6 (48:23):
We just missed over anything.

Speaker 17 (48:25):
Yeah, no, I don't know if you missed him or not.
But he They kicked at the stadium today, so they
were down there. The Jordan punted and you know, obviously
Nick snapped, but but Tyler was kicking at the stadium today.

Speaker 6 (48:39):
We didn't see Marlins.

Speaker 17 (48:40):
Okay, Yeah, Marlin kind of needed to rest, you know.
I felt like just watching him yesterday, it was a
good rest day for Marlin. Okay, great, thank you, thank you.

Speaker 1 (48:51):
Another big move this week is that the Ravens trim
the roster to fifty three players, and they had three
undrafted rookies make the squad. Those three plays or linebacker
Jay Higgins, defensive backs Ruben Lowry and Kean Martin. Here's
what Higgins had to say today during his time with
reporters after practice.

Speaker 6 (49:12):
You guys are doing. It was pretty good. Pretty good.

Speaker 5 (49:16):
Jay, you kind of doubled over in Eric's office for
a minute and you needed a minute. What was sort
of the physical sensations you were going?

Speaker 18 (49:26):
Yeah, lightheaded, lightheaded for sure. I was sitting at lunch,
actually sitting next to Jake and Linderbaum, and you know,
I was eating my meal and they you know, got
tapped on the shoulder and as I was walking down
the down the hall, I just felt my heart rate
keep rising and rising. Came up the steps, walked in

(49:47):
office and then that's all Eric and it really start
really started beating. And so I was just just lightheaded.
When he when he told me, I was I was
so so surprised. You know, I knew there were so
many talented players, uh, you know on the on the roster,
and you know we got a lot of those guys
back on the practice squad, and so it was just

(50:07):
you know, the numbers for me. Uh So when he
when he told me, I was just you know, really surprised.
I mean, the here your hear your dream coming true?
Uh and you're standing up. I guess my my legs
were locked out. So I should have had a slight
bend in the knee. So I did that wrong?

Speaker 6 (50:24):
Have you watched the video? Yeah?

Speaker 18 (50:26):
I actually actually did. I get a little cringey when
I like see myself. Uh you know, so I tried
not to, but uh my my parents sent it in
the family group chat. I don't know how because none
of them are on Instagram, so it must have been
on Twitter. Uh uh and they sent it to me,
you know, and I just had to watch it and
then uh, Coach Santucci actually played it in the linebacker room,

(50:51):
uh this this morning with all the guys and we
you know, we were just we were celebrating everybody, Reuben
and Key as well, you know, just to see the
surprise in our face and you know, just just how
happy we were. And I think the coolest part was
just like the family's response, uh to to what happened.
And you know, it's kind of it's kind of community success.

(51:11):
I felt like the whole family one that day.

Speaker 6 (51:13):
So did you do?

Speaker 3 (51:14):
Zach Orr had a particular appreciation for the journey that
you were trying to make. And then he was also
an undrafted linebacker.

Speaker 18 (51:20):
Yeah, yeah, I remember, you know talking to my agent,
uh sixth round actually uh, and he he he called,
and he was like, you know, there there's a couple
of picks left, but we need to start making a
list of where you want to go.

Speaker 10 (51:34):
Uh.

Speaker 18 (51:34):
And he he mentioned that, you know, the the defensive
coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens was an undrafted linebacker. You
know that that I knew that, you know, it wasn't
gonna be enough, that connection wasn't gonna be enough to
just get me on a Super Bowl when super Bowl
ready team. But I knew that if if you go
to the Baltimore, you play hard, play physical. You know,

(51:58):
they respect their linebackers. I felt like this was a
good fit for me. Uh, you know, just coming from Iowa,
the programs and what they stand for, I think they're similar.
So I felt comfortable coming here, uh knowing I had to,
you know, keep my head down and work and show
up every day. And then you know, when there's special
connections like that, you gotta, you know, got to use

(52:20):
them to your advantage.

Speaker 10 (52:21):
Jay, we saw that Rippon took whole you guys out
for dinner. I guess can you speak to the closeness
of that group and what it's been like to be in.

Speaker 6 (52:29):
A group like Ril yeah, definitely.

Speaker 18 (52:32):
Obviously when I when I got here for Rookie Mini Camp,
I just remember because those guys aren't even here yet.
But I just remember seeing his name in front of
his locker, and then you look down two more lockers,
it's Lamar Jackson. You look down at the locker it's
Derrick Henry.

Speaker 6 (52:48):
Uh.

Speaker 18 (52:48):
And so it's like you're quickly like fanned out because
you're like these these Pro Bowl players that you're literally
watching on TV three months ago.

Speaker 6 (52:56):
Uh.

Speaker 18 (52:56):
Now you're you're in the same locker room as those guys,
you know, and as as ot As gets going, and
the longer you hear and the more workouts you put
under your belt, the more comfortable you you start to feel.
But obviously just respect for him as a player, you know,
just just turn on his tape and it's obvious how
how good he is.

Speaker 10 (53:16):
Uh.

Speaker 18 (53:16):
But when when you start getting to the linebacker meeting room,
you see how he you know, diac knows his plays,
how he triggers on certain things, how he views the game.

Speaker 6 (53:25):
You start to see how he separates himself.

Speaker 2 (53:28):
Uh.

Speaker 18 (53:28):
You know, and I think the coolest thing about Roquan
who he is off the field, Uh, I think he's
done a great job of there's football roquand and then
there's Roquan Smith the human being. And I think every
football player has got to have that balance, and he
does a great job.

Speaker 6 (53:44):
And just he he.

Speaker 18 (53:45):
Allows you know, the rookies, anybody in the room access
to both parts of his life. Uh So, just learning
that from him, you know, learning mental health and how
important it is to to be okay off the field
so you're your your best on the field. Uh you know,
it's just been cool learning from him, getting closer with him.

Speaker 5 (54:03):
We see how expressive your dad is on social media
and his support for you and Iowa.

Speaker 6 (54:09):
I don't know if you can buy that. I mean,
I promise he is.

Speaker 18 (54:12):
He has been like that my entire life, my entire
life like this. He was like that when I was
playing AU basketball and the shorts were too big for
me and my jersey was too big and my socks
are pulled all the way up and there was a
rim on top of the rim so they could we
could shoot at the lower room.

Speaker 6 (54:31):
He's been like that my entire life.

Speaker 18 (54:34):
Like there, there's no there's no camera or platform that
made him like that.

Speaker 6 (54:40):
And it was it was funny because the day I
got to Iowa, he was like that.

Speaker 18 (54:44):
And I mean it took me three years to be
a starting linebacker there, but I was running down on
kickoff and this. You would have thought I was a
buckets winner when he was. You know, just his presence
on social media. Uh so when he when he says
he's he's my biggest fan, my biggest supporter, he means
that from day one.

Speaker 5 (55:05):
I mean we saw a little bit of that phone
call on the video and that it looked.

Speaker 6 (55:09):
Like he wanted to call him back.

Speaker 5 (55:10):
What was that like, just kind of luxuriating in that
moment with your dad.

Speaker 18 (55:14):
Yeah, when it when it comes to when it comes
to my family and anything to do.

Speaker 6 (55:19):
With success, My my dad's uh.

Speaker 18 (55:21):
Super emotional. He he's a family guy. Like he he
lives off me and my sister and in anything we do,
he's he's willing to support it. I mean, I could
I could tell him I'm trying to do anything. You know,
my dreams are anything. Him and my my mom they're
willing to support you know anything, and just to see

(55:42):
you know, where my my football career has gone. And
then just like these these last couple of months of
my my football career have taken like a drop, and
it's like I was doing really good in college and
you know, everything was good. Uh then you know, the
combine came around and the draft came around, and it
was kind of hard on me because I was like,
I just don't know what I'm doing wrong. But to

(56:05):
see him not waiver, I think that's why you you
saw some of that emotion on a phone call, because
for me, it's it's hard to say like I knew
this would happened, Like I knew everything would work out.

Speaker 6 (56:17):
You know.

Speaker 18 (56:17):
I was having real conversations with myself after the draft
if football is in my future, if I need to
go do something else. But if you would ask him
after the draft, he knew this day was gonna happen.
Uh So just knowing I gotta I gotta a father
like that in my my corner.

Speaker 6 (56:32):
I think that's that's what the video show.

Speaker 3 (56:35):
Used to being underestimated or it was just a little
bit of experience.

Speaker 18 (56:39):
My career has got it's got loops. It's like cycles around.
You know, recruited not not really recruited out of out
of high school from Indianapolis, Indiana, didn't get an IU offer,
didn't get a Purdue offer. You know that that means
a lot from a from an Indianapolis football player. I mean,

(57:02):
I'm forty minutes from you know those campuses. Uh, and
so Iowa was my first big ten offer. Go to Iowa,
sit for three years. Uh, you know, true junior, watching
other people play. You know, then I play. I do
everything I possibly can do, and you know people tell
you it's not enough. So you know, all I all

(57:23):
I can do is focus on me, Uh, focus on uh,
you know, running the ball, tackling the ball, and getting
better every day, and usually things tend to work themselves out.

Speaker 4 (57:34):
I'm curious, Zach were talked about how a lot of
college linebackers he stays like athletes who get moved to
linebacker late in their career.

Speaker 5 (57:41):
You you've just been a linebacker.

Speaker 8 (57:44):
How how do you think that that got you to
this point?

Speaker 5 (57:47):
And what does being an inside linebacker need to you?

Speaker 18 (57:50):
Yeah? Yeah, I think the game's changed. I mean, dudes
are dudes are athletic. I mean you can you can
get a six or four guy who's two twenty five.
Now you've used to play safety. I think that's just
a testament to you know, guys getting bigger, faster, stronger
every year. But I mean, I I think I think
the games won and the xes and o's. You know,

(58:12):
I'm not the biggest guy, obviously not the fastest guy,
but I think there there's a feel for inside zone,
like there's a feel for pinpool, Like you got to
like feel those things. And maybe it's because I went
to ioland I played with a I see you a
fullback and you know Linderbaum and you know big guards
for five years. But there's something about like just filling

(58:33):
the offensive line and who they're working up to and
when that guard's pulling, like you don't you just like
gotta you gotta feel those things. And it's cool because
Rokwan talks like that, like he can't really explain why
he did what he did every single time, but he
has a really good feel of what's gonna happen and
what how the play is going to develop.

Speaker 6 (58:54):
And I think that's that's what makes a good linebacker,
all right.

Speaker 1 (59:02):
Next up is cornerback Kean Martin.

Speaker 2 (59:07):
Check and checking.

Speaker 12 (59:09):
So what does it feel like from a tryout here?

Speaker 2 (59:13):
Coming here not knowing what they can be tyofa three man.

Speaker 14 (59:18):
H it's been a it's been a fun road since
training camp O Ta to fall camp Man. I've just
been enjoying every day of it, just enjoying every day
being in the.

Speaker 6 (59:30):
National Football League.

Speaker 14 (59:31):
Every day I step in this building, I know that
I'm beating the eyes and I'm and it's a blessing.
So I'm just I'm just enjoying the journey.

Speaker 6 (59:38):
Really, what do you feel like all those teams missed
about me?

Speaker 14 (59:45):
I mean, I feel like it was just destined for
me to be at the Ravens. I don't really think
the teams they missed out on me. I just think
the Ravens, the scouting, the scouting they'd seen something in
my play.

Speaker 6 (59:57):
They've seen the way that I played. They seen I play.

Speaker 14 (59:59):
Aggressive, fast, and a very instinctive football player, and they
took a chance on me. And that's all I really,
all I could ask for in college, That's all I said.
I just needed a team to check a chance on me,
and I promise they won't regret it.

Speaker 5 (01:00:11):
So obviously we've been talking about the plays you've made
and the press some games, you know, when you leave
this stadium Saturday, or you feeling like, Okay, I made
my best case, I have a good chancewer where you're
still pretty nervous.

Speaker 6 (01:00:23):
What you would love?

Speaker 2 (01:00:24):
Y'all? Did it?

Speaker 6 (01:00:27):
I mean I don't, not really. I don't really think
about it like that.

Speaker 14 (01:00:29):
I mean a lot of people, you know, everybody see
the plays that I make, the big plays from points
on the boards to sack the pick six. But then
when I go back and watch them, I look at
the plays that I messed up on.

Speaker 6 (01:00:41):
I could have had.

Speaker 14 (01:00:41):
A way better game than everybody else seen. But so
I feel like I could always play a better game.
I'm always my biggest critic, but I feel like that's
the best way to get best.

Speaker 2 (01:00:53):
If you critique yourself.

Speaker 14 (01:00:54):
Better than anybody else critique you, you're gonna play a
long time in this game.

Speaker 12 (01:00:58):
A lot of well could draft and then people signed
as undrafted players right after that, and then you're still
out there.

Speaker 6 (01:01:06):
Come here as a try out candidate. What was that time.

Speaker 13 (01:01:10):
Like and how many teams did you.

Speaker 6 (01:01:12):
Try out for?

Speaker 10 (01:01:13):
Uh?

Speaker 14 (01:01:14):
Well, I only tried out the Ravens was the only
one that called me. Uh So I only had one tryout.

Speaker 6 (01:01:23):
It was pretty It's pretty hard on me.

Speaker 14 (01:01:25):
I'm not gonna lie being honest, coming out like right
after the draft, realizing that nobody was gonna sign me.
But once I got that call out the minichim, I'm lie,
it's on me now. So I knew that if I
wanted to come in and do what I really wanted
to do in the NFL, I just had to come
out and improve it.

Speaker 4 (01:01:40):
You know what was kind of the mindset you had
gone through this entire summer, I mean, starting from the
trial all the way to this point, was there like
a feeling like did you feel like you had to
make an impact on every day?

Speaker 6 (01:01:53):
Just like what was your daily mindset out here?

Speaker 14 (01:01:55):
My daily mindset was just winning the day, get better
every day. If I come out here, don't worry about
the next week when we in full pass, don't worry
about Thursday when we in the stadium. Just think about
today and if if I accomplished today, and I know
that I did my best today, and then when tomorrow come,

(01:02:17):
then I focus on tomorrow. But my mindset was always
that I deserve to be out here.

Speaker 5 (01:02:24):
Said coming to Baltimore on I mean, obviously, this enfranchise
is a long legacy by.

Speaker 11 (01:02:29):
Drafted free agent sploded guys who are in the.

Speaker 7 (01:02:31):
Ross from down ball, plus the thing best coordinator p's
a former undrafted freege where your food did any of
that legacy or history or any of those specific people
maybe easier to particularly this preseason.

Speaker 6 (01:02:45):
I think so.

Speaker 14 (01:02:45):
I think once I got that that call by many
Camp from the Ravens, I was like, if I'm gonna
play for any team in the NFL, it's gonna be Ravens,
just because the history of the defense, and I just
know the way that I play defense and the savdiness
and aggression that I play. I know that on defense
I played like a Raven.

Speaker 11 (01:03:02):
So so you know it was an.

Speaker 8 (01:03:04):
Hours, minutes whatever leading up to it when you found
out Votevo was.

Speaker 6 (01:03:08):
Up waiting for you found out about the fifty three.

Speaker 10 (01:03:13):
Yeah, uh.

Speaker 14 (01:03:15):
I mean the night before, it really wasn't on my
mind really, honestly, I wasn't anxious. I wouldn't see if
I had a good night's sleep. Really, But I woke
up the next morning and then I think it really
the only time I really got a little nervous, Like
I walked in here and I carried myself like any
other days. When they came in and came and tapped me,

(01:03:35):
it was like, yeah, they want to see us stair.
That's when I'm like, okay, all right. Heart was racing
a little bit, but I thought, I, you know, everybody
know about them tough conversations. I thought that's what I
was going up there for. But when you know, when
they told me, it was just a relief that, Okay,
I'm in this building for a little bit longer. Even
though I gotta you know, it's nothing solidified. You still

(01:03:57):
got I still gotta prove myself weekend and week out.
So but it was just all right, I'm here for
a little bit longer.

Speaker 8 (01:04:05):
You thought you were getting come when you got that tip.

Speaker 14 (01:04:07):
Oh yeah, most definitely.

Speaker 6 (01:04:08):
Yes, the reason to put out a video of him.

Speaker 2 (01:04:12):
The guys get tacked into the decision to the cameras,
have the name of the watch the video and on yeah,
I watched it.

Speaker 6 (01:04:18):
I watched the video.

Speaker 2 (01:04:19):
Man. It was.

Speaker 14 (01:04:21):
It was even better seeing my man, my man, Rube
and j Man just to see their family. Because I
caught Rube when I was walking up the stairs. He
was walking down and I was like, oh, and I'm
like I just gave him a hug. I'm like, yeah, man,
we did it because you know, we both came in,

(01:04:41):
you know, with the with the the same mindset, because
we you know, he he came in the same way
even though he signed after right after the draft, you know,
no sign of bonus and you know, like the bottom
of the depth chart. So like it was just man,
it was just a joy just to see him accomplish
that too.

Speaker 7 (01:04:58):
Yeah, we also saw that video. If you called your
mom and you started to talk a little bit about
how close you are to her, can you elaborate the
more on how she influenced your journey?

Speaker 14 (01:05:07):
Man, my mom, she's my that's my best friend. Really,
I could talk to my mom about anything. But uh,
you know, growing up, she always supported me. She always
literally she came to every game high school.

Speaker 2 (01:05:19):
She came to every game.

Speaker 14 (01:05:20):
And you know, once I got to college, you know,
she even asked me and my brother he was in
college playing college for by the time, she asked me, like,
how do you feel she wanted to go back to
school and get a doctor's but how do you feel about.

Speaker 2 (01:05:32):
Me going back to school?

Speaker 14 (01:05:33):
I won't be able to make every game, And I
mean it did bothers me. I'm like, my god, you know,
pursue what you want to do. But she always made
sure that she watched every game, and you know, she
always supported me, like even when I had my highs
and my los and you know, my mom know, my
parents both know my confidence is through the roof, but
sometimes you had them them thoughts, and she always uplifted

(01:05:53):
me when I had that. So, man, my mom she
always been that, she always knew that I could play
at this level. And then like just giving her that
call is just yeah, that was that was amazing. I
can't wait to see it, or I can't wait see
my moment. She getting adoptors in English, so she graduates
next spring, next spreen she would be doctor.

Speaker 1 (01:06:20):
And lastly here's safety Ruben Lowry.

Speaker 2 (01:06:25):
So we have to be on the same thing. Like
when when you get that news, they need to see upstairs,
what's what's.

Speaker 1 (01:06:31):
Going through your head?

Speaker 16 (01:06:32):
Man probably respond to Sack same way he did. But
it's just a moment you know that you've been waiting for.
You know, when the moment comes. I was talking about
being ready for the moment. So when you go, when
you get up there, you're ready for you know, whatever
decision he wants to make, and you prepare for it.
And you know there's a lot of motions, going on,
a lot of feelings. But you know, when you put

(01:06:53):
all your work you can do, you know, everything you
can give each and every single day that you can,
you can be at peace with whatever decision is. And
I'm at peace right now. But but but still, definitely,
it was a it was a moment. It was like
a moment of triumph and the moment of you know,
accumulation of everything went over in camp and the whole journey.

Speaker 6 (01:07:13):
So it was awesome. Sat at home two days ago,
did you think that you did enough to make the team?

Speaker 2 (01:07:19):
I wasn't. Really.

Speaker 16 (01:07:20):
My mindset wasn't on did I do enough? My mindset
was basically, did I give it my all every single day?
I feel like doing enough that really, you know, you
can toss it up to you know, the coaches and
you know the people that evaluate those things. It's like,
look at myself in the mirror and say like that
I do everything I gave today and kind of wake
up and do it again and again and again. And

(01:07:41):
even when that moment does come like Okay, yes you
make the team all those good things, can I continue
to stack days and do that consistently? So that that
was that was the mindset and I'm glad I got
a chance to and still do have a chance to
keep doing that.

Speaker 5 (01:07:53):
We just heard say that you guys had a moment
on the stairs like that did you make it?

Speaker 10 (01:07:57):
That was?

Speaker 16 (01:07:57):
What was that?

Speaker 2 (01:07:58):
Like what's the relationship? And like going the same thing
with him?

Speaker 6 (01:08:01):
Key man?

Speaker 16 (01:08:02):
He's awesome. You know, he talked about it a little bit.
But we met during rookie mini camp and he was
a guy that we initially played the same exact position
and we were, of course we both deep in the backs,
but it was the same exact nickel position, and it
was a guy we've been competing this whole time, and
you know, you can that brotherhood, in that bondship that
comes with competing with one another, but not not in
a talks away, in a brotherly way. It was awesome

(01:08:24):
to share that moment with him, you know what I'm saying.
I learned so much from him as a defensive back.
And you know, you're going out through the camp process,
you see a guy who just continuously works, just works
every single day on his craft, who's technically sound. So
when you're when you're walking down the stairs, you see
him with a big smile, and you know he knows
and I know we didn't have to say any words.
We just it was just a big hug. It was

(01:08:45):
like a movie moment, honestly, but it was awesome.

Speaker 6 (01:08:48):
It was awesome.

Speaker 5 (01:08:49):
You know a lot of teams say, hey, you can
go prove it out with the we will get your
hispot do it on the field. Was that did that
field particularly true as you're going through this process with
the ring, I mean, were there points where you wonder like,
is there anything I can do to get a spot?
Or did it feel like throughout the process you always.

Speaker 6 (01:09:07):
Had a chance to earn your spot.

Speaker 16 (01:09:09):
Honestly, every single day they harped on in the meetings
is you have to earn it. And I truly believe that.
You see the way they treat everybody here is the
exact same way. If you're the highest paid player, if
you're the lowest and the depth chart, you have to
earn everything that you have. And that's what you love
with That's the beauty of this organization. That's the beauty
of the team that you play for, is that it's
consistent all around. And you know, I love that I

(01:09:32):
got a chance and still get a chance to play
for this team and play for an organization like that
where every single day you have to bring it.

Speaker 19 (01:09:38):
To the fact that you played nickel back in the
spring and when you were making plays then we were
noticing then what kind of went into transitioning? I know
you're still playing for nickel, but what went into the
conversation and everything as far as you play safety and
what was.

Speaker 6 (01:09:50):
That like and you think that helped ultimately making the team?

Speaker 16 (01:09:53):
Of course, yeah, it was playing dB. I played a
lot of depositions in college and all that stuff, and
just the ability need to be versatile, especially here on
this team. It's just it's an awesome ability. And you know,
I wanted to I wanted to challenge myself and even
a recommunicant we talked about it like playing safety a
little bit, and I wanted telling himself to learn that position.
And it was it was hard, you know, learn two
positions at the same time and not knowing which one

(01:10:14):
you're gonna play at certain days. But definitely like when
once you learn those positions, you understand the defense better,
you understand the scheme better, and then ultimately it just
helps you with your play. And I mean how it
kind of went from Nickel to safety or safety to Nigel.
It was just you know the needs, you know what
I'm saying, Like, you know, training campus long, people go

(01:10:34):
down or we need people to feel spots and that's
kind of how it came about.

Speaker 5 (01:10:37):
Another big announcement today was that Kyle Hamilton got sign
this organization for the long term.

Speaker 6 (01:10:42):
Me working with a guy like that in the secondary,
what has.

Speaker 16 (01:10:46):
He done for an event for you?

Speaker 5 (01:10:48):
Because you kind of get amplimented to how to play
defense in this organization.

Speaker 16 (01:10:51):
It's funny we were talking about versatility. I mean, he's
the epitome of versatility, literally plays every position on the defense.
And you know, to have a guy that leads you
in that way, you know, intellectually, and then you have
a guy that you know actually puts it on every
single day, puts the paths on every single day and
works hard.

Speaker 6 (01:11:06):
It's very rare.

Speaker 16 (01:11:07):
And you know a guy that you can go up
and ask a question midplay if you don't know what
you're doing, he knows, like and you might be a
corner you might be to say that he knows exactly
what you're supposed to be doing. And it's just awesome
to play for a guy like that, it's awesome to
you know, lay it on the line because you know
he's gonna lay it on the line for you, and
you know he's all about ball and all about playing
for his brothers.

Speaker 7 (01:11:27):
Is there any advice that he gave you the can but.

Speaker 1 (01:11:32):
You kind of apply.

Speaker 16 (01:11:34):
I would say the advice, I wouldn't say give it
to me specifically, But he's, like I said, he's a
leader for the defense and the team, and he always
talks about pushing forward. So just pushing forward every single
day and like knowing that yesterday is in the past.
You know, you might have a good day, yesterday, my
bad yes, say yesterday, but you still have to go
out today and do what you do. And I think
that's the like you said, that's the beauty of it all,

(01:11:56):
earning it every single day. And he's a leader that
does those things, not just those things. He does those things.

Speaker 6 (01:12:02):
Mother teams calling you up in the draft about signing.

Speaker 2 (01:12:05):
There, and if so, what led you here?

Speaker 16 (01:12:08):
No, it was a it was a quiet period after
the draft. It was I was with my family and
it was about you know, our hour or two after that,
we were sitting, we were waiting and it was it
was radio silence. You can imagine how that goes. And
then ultimately we got that call from the Ravens and
it was a it was a joy. It was so
much joy around people's faces. My grandpa was there. It

(01:12:29):
was amazing. It was a it was definitely a moment
to celebrate. And then you know, coming up here for
a community camp, it was it was great to see
the organization and the people and get a feel for
what we were about to walk into stup days.

Speaker 3 (01:12:42):
Uh, had that been like a painful, stressful couple of
days feeding into that before you got.

Speaker 2 (01:12:47):
That called up?

Speaker 16 (01:12:49):
It wasn't painful or stressful because it kind of goes
back to what we talked about earlier. You just know,
you know the work that you put in, and you
know that the journey that you're gonna go on, and
you know, for me, it was like if God allowed
me to go on a team or be on a team,
then awesome, But if he didn't, then I was going
to continue to work hard at the next thing. And
I've been blessed to be in this position and blessed

(01:13:10):
with this opportunity and to do this with all these
people and all these awesome teammates.

Speaker 12 (01:13:16):
Gratis, do you have a.

Speaker 10 (01:13:18):
History of undrafted free agents? I guess have you been
able to wrap your mind around going from undrafted to
making the roster of a team that's always in all
the contention.

Speaker 16 (01:13:29):
It's really it is hard to wrap your mind around,
honestly right now because your your brain, especially in camp,
has been so focused on working, working, work and working
and like not looking back and taking a step. So
my brain actually hasn't. I haven't digested actually the moment yet.
But I think that's also a good thing, you know,
like not to stay complacent like this moment, but to
continue to work. But you know, one day or one moment,

(01:13:51):
I'm gonna definitely look back on it be like, wow,
this is this is insane.

Speaker 8 (01:13:55):
Which is harder than mechanical engineering or this?

Speaker 16 (01:14:00):
That's a good question. Different aspects I would say. I
would say here just because it's a new it's a
new atmosphere, it's new people, it's a you have to
you know, kind of adapt to new environments. You know,
mechanical engineering is hard, but you just go into a
classroom every day and you figure it out. Like he
get as many reps as possible for mechanical engineering. You
can just go practice one hundred times a day, but

(01:14:22):
here now it's a we're play like a Raven means
something here.

Speaker 6 (01:14:26):
Appreciate it. Awesome.

Speaker 1 (01:14:33):
You're listening to the Ravens Press Past Podcast. The Ravens
want to have a few days off before getting back
to Baltimore on Monday to really dive into the preparation
for the game coming up against the Buffalo Bills on
September seventh to kick off their NFL season. That's it
for us on the Press Past Podcast. Thanks for listening.
We'll be back with you again on Monday.