Fullbacks are becoming increasingly rare in today’s NFL, but a few are still making a significant impact, and the Baltimore Ravens may have the best of them.
Patrick Ricard, a five-time Pro Bowl selection and first-team All-Pro this season, has been an invaluable part of the Ravens’ run-heavy offense. This year, he arguably had his best season, paving the way for Derrick Henry and others. In fact, 15 of Henry’s 16 rushing touchdowns came with Ricard on the field.
Having a player of Ricard’s size, comparable to an offensive lineman, in the backfield is a huge advantage, but he’s set to hit free agency in the coming weeks.
When the Ravens cleaned out their lockers on Monday, Ricard, 30, made it clear that he wants to retire as a Raven. General manager Eric DeCosta backed up that statement a few days later.
“His agent is a good friend of mine, and I think Pat knows how we feel about him, and I would love for him to retire as a Raven too,” DeCosta said to reporters on Wednesday. “He embodies everything we stand for, and he’s another undrafted player who’s become – in my opinion – the best at his position. We’ll be having those talks.
“This isn’t the first time he’s been a free agent. In fact, I think he’s signed at least two contracts with us after his rookie deal, so this would be his fourth contract with us – if we can get him signed – and that’s the goal.”
While Ricard isn’t a superstar like Derrick Henry or Lamar Jackson, he’s a crucial piece of the Ravens’ offense. Without a doubt, they’d love to bring him back as they continue their pursuit of a Super Bowl.
Leave a Reply