Terrell Suggs protection nonetheless energetic for Ravens, this time in opposition to No. 55
A Ravens pass-rusher tried to sneakily take No. 55, Terrell Suggs’ quantity, for the 2023 season. He discovered his lesson shortly.
Some NFL numbers are simply untouchable. That’s what Baltimore Ravens’ second-year OLB David Ojabo needed to study the exhausting manner.
This season, Ojabo was gunning for No. 55, the quantity he wore at Michigan, however that quantity has a really particular place within the coronary heart of the Ravens’ franchise.
It was the quantity Terrell Suggs wore for 16 seasons from 2003 to 2018 when he was a part of that legendary, Tremendous Bowl-winning protection and when he grew to become the group’s all-time chief in sacks (132.5).
So yeah, Ojabo isn’t getting it.
He needed to attempt, although, and he detailed his dialog with Suggs and Ravens proprietor Steve Bisciotti about the opportunity of switching numbers:
“Suggs not letting me. We had discussions, obtained Bisciotti concerned just a little bit, however that’s above me. He’s a legend. So I’m going to stay with 90. I needed to attempt, however he’s not going for it.”
Ravens legend Terrell Suggs doesn’t need anybody touching No. 55
There’s just one No. 55 in Baltimore’s constructing, and that’s Suggs. Regardless that the Ravens don’t formally have retired numbers, there are some which might be tacitly thought-about off-limits: Suggs’ quantity, Ray Lewis’ quantity (52), Jonathan Ogden’s quantity (75), and Ed Reed’s quantity (20).
It is smart as to why Ojabo would need No. 55 for causes separate from doubtlessly staining Suggs’ legacy, however he in the end needed to respect the legend’s needs.
Ojabo is lightyears away from reaching Suggs’ stature within the franchise, enjoying simply two video games in his rookie 12 months in 2022 after recovering from an Achilles damage suffered throughout his professional day the March earlier than the draft.
Even when Ojabo had been hailed as the following nice outdoors linebacker of this technology, Suggs most likely nonetheless isn’t going to concede his quantity. Given Suggs’ simple affect on the Ravens all through greater than a decade’s price of divisional rivalries, playoff video games, and that 2013 superb Tremendous Bowl win, he has each cause to not.
