Jonathan Ogden Retires

For such a big man to play so well for so long, you have to give a lot of credit to Baltimore Ravens' offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden. Save for the Hogs of the Washington Redskins, no other player did more to popularize such an unglamorous position on the football field. And considering he didn't have a bunch of cross-dressing pigs to assist in the marketing, the fact that his talent made his name for him solidifies the claim that he is the best ever at the position. Forget all of the Pro Bowls, the all-pro selections and other accolades. All you need to know about Jonathan Ogden is that he was the very first pick in Ravens team history. He was the piece around which everything else got placed. The team could afford to build a quality defense because Ogden was the force behind a solid running game. Backs like Earnest Byner and Bam Morris did well early on because of Ogden's size and tremendous footwork. The Ravens could afford to have a garbage quarterback for so many years, because they could rely on the left side of the line being solid. Jonathan Ogden means a lot to this organization, and it's notable that he's willing to stay around and help the young crop of linemen that will attempt to replace him. And while its easy to say goodbye to such great guy and tremendous competitor, its hard realizing what's soon down the road for the Ravens. The retirement of Ray Lewis.