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Ozzie Newsome: His top 10 accomplishments with Ravens

By Chris Schisler

BALTIMORE - 2006: Ozzie Newsome of the Baltimore Ravens poses for his 2006 NFL headshot at photo day in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Getty Images)
BALTIMORE - 2006: Ozzie Newsome of the Baltimore Ravens poses for his 2006 NFL headshot at photo day in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Getty Images) /
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FOXBORO, MA – JANUARY 20: Joe Flacco #5 of the Baltimore Ravens hands the ball off to Ray Rice #27 against the New England Patriots during the 2013 AFC Championship game at Gillette Stadium on January 20, 2013 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)
FOXBORO, MA – JANUARY 20: Joe Flacco #5 of the Baltimore Ravens hands the ball off to Ray Rice #27 against the New England Patriots during the 2013 AFC Championship game at Gillette Stadium on January 20, 2013 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images) /

3. Drafting Joe Flacco and Ray Rice in 2008:

In the 2008 NFL Draft, the Ravens got a franchise quarterback with the 18th pick and then they got him a star running back in the second round. That’s some good work Mr. Newsome. Say what you will about Flacco, he is a Super Bowl MVP and he has been the Ravens quarterback for a long time. He has taken the Ravens to the playoffs six times and he has played well in the playoffs. The Ravens may be guilty of overpaying Flacco now, but that doesn’t mean for a second that he wasn’t one of the most important picks this franchise will ever have to brag about.

Pairing Flacco and Rice together was one of the most important things Newsome ever decided to do. Flacco leaned on Rice, especially in his first three seasons. At one point Rice was one of the most dynamic players in the league. The Ravens best years came when Flacco was under center and Rice was behind him in the backfield.

The Ravens would not have won Super Bowl XLVII without Joe Flacco having his magical performance in the 2012 playoffs. Without Ray Rice, Flacco may not have been able to grow into the quarterback who tied a record held by Joe Montana and Kurt Warner. Newsome surely found two players that the team needed in the 2008. Having a franchise quarterback, allowed the Ravens to build a team that could be contenders.

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