Ravens Provide Fond Farewell For Ogden

If it had been up to Jonathan Ogden, he simply would have informed the Baltimore Ravens that he was retiring, slipped quietly out a side door and left it at that. But General Manager Ozzie Newsome was not going to allow that, not after what the left tackle did over 12 seasons for the franchise.

"I've had the opportunity to be in this league for over 30 years, and I had a chance to witness a lot of very, very good football players," said Newsome, a Hall of Fame tight end. "But in my humble opinion, there's not a player that I've seen in those 30 years that played their position as well as Jonathan Ogden played his position."

So Ogden, 33, found himself sitting in front of a packed auditorium inside the Ravens' training facility yesterday afternoon in Owings Mills, Md., explaining why he was leaving the sport he dominated and reflecting on a career that eventually will put him in the Hall of Fame.

"When you play football as long as I have, 22 years, and you play at a high level, it's really difficult when you know that injuries just won't let you play at the level that you all and myself expect me to play," said Ogden, who hyperextended his left big toe in December 2006 and never really recovered.

"Could I have still gone out there and played? Yes, probably, and still done an adequate job. But in my mind, I wouldn't have been helping the team as much as I needed to. And it wouldn't have been good for me."

The public relations staff handed out a four-page release that detailed Ogden's achievements -- the 11 Pro Bowls, the 176 starts (a franchise record), the Super Bowl XXXV victory -- and included testimonials from 35 people -- teammates, opponents, even the academic coach at a high school that receives support from Ogden's foundation.

"It was just so great to see how many people really love Jonathan and appreciate him and value his talents," said Ogden's mother, Cassandra. His wife, 3-year old son, brother, grandmother and uncle also were in attendance, as were many current and former Ravens. Edwin Mulitalo, who played left guard alongside Ogden for eight seasons and now is with the Lions, flew in from Detroit.

Ogden, a former St. Albans star, was sentimental, thoughtful and occasionally playful as he answered questions throughout his half-hour news conference.

He recalled how the Ravens didn't have team colors when they made him their first-ever draft pick, so he was handed a white cap with "Baltimore Ravens" printed in black letters on draft day in 1996. He reminisced about the linemen's tradition of dunking themselves in a cold tub after victories during the 2000 Super Bowl season. He claimed he ran 80 yards to catch Deion Sanders during the 1997 Pro Bowl. One thing was clear: He is at peace with his decision and won't change his mind.

"I actually think I'm lucky. I think I've made the leap at the right time," Ogden said. "I think last year would have been a little too early, but I think playing one more would be a year too late. So I'm really comfortable with this decision, and I'm looking forward to going to the first home game and just kind of watching and being a football fan again."

-- Camille Powell