Ravens Legends: A Tribute To Todd Heap

Everytime you heard the Baltimore crowd yell “Heeeeeeeap,” you knew something great happened for the Ravens. Todd Heap was one of the most beloved Ravens of all time and was recently inducted in the Ravens ring of honor.

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When I think about Heap, I think about toughness. In a league of big and freakishly strong men, nobody was tougher than Heap. He was a player who had no problem sacrificing his body for the team. On the field Heap was a warrior and his cause was the purple and black.

Off the field, Heap is a family man with a mild temperament. He is humble and always comes across as a true class act. Fans quickly fell in love with the on the field warrior, and the nice guy off the field. In a day where athletes are not always role models, Heap was.

Heap ended his 12 season career, with 499 receptions. He totaled 5,869 yards and 42 touchdowns. Heap was a big play guy. He averaged 11.8 yards per reception and 84 catches of 20 yards or more. It seemed like for the bulk of Heap’s career he was the Ravens only hope in the passing game. The tight end was also a very strong blocker.

The Ravens were heavily dependent on Heap. The Ravens shuffled through quarterbacks and rarely had a great receiving corps. For a long time it was just Jamal Lewis and Heap that had to do most of the work offensively. Too often the Ravens’ quarterback would force the ball to Heap, and he would take a beating for it. Heap was never rattled and he always found a way to catch the football.

Imagine how great Heap could have been if he had a great offense around him. Imagine if he had a quarterback or better receivers around him. Imagine if Kyle Boller didn’t ask Heap to bail him out of bad passes. Just imagine how great he could have been with just a little more help on the offensive side of the football. Heap was a legend with bad quarterback play. He was a legend despite at times having no help around him.

The only problem Heap had in his career was staying healthy. He had a litany of bumps, bruises and nagging injuries throughout his career. Nothing was able to stop him for long though. Heap may have been the most gritty tight end the Ravens will ever see.

One play I remember quite clearly is a touchdown grab against the Denver Broncos, in which Heap tumbled down in between two defensive backs and landed on his head. How he held on to that football, I will never figure out. He got walloped on both sides, landed on the crown of his head and still caught the football. That was the kind of play Heap was capable of.

Next: 2016 NFL Draft Profile: DeForest Buckner, DE Oregon

Todd Heap was a very good football player. He was a Ravens legend. He is and will forever will be a fan favorite in Baltimore.

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