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Baltimore Ravens: Top 6 players we wish stuck around longer

By Chris Schisler

Ravens, Anquan Boldin (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Ravens, Anquan Boldin (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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BALTIMORE, MD – OCTOBER 7: Shannon Sharpe #82 of the Baltimore Ravens runs with the football against the Tennessee Titans at PSINet Stadium on October 7, 2001 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ravens defeated the Titans 26-7. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD – OCTOBER 7: Shannon Sharpe #82 of the Baltimore Ravens runs with the football against the Tennessee Titans at PSINet Stadium on October 7, 2001 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ravens defeated the Titans 26-7. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

3. Shannon Sharpe

One of the players that was so important to the Super Bowl XXXV run that the Baltimore Ravens had was Shannon Sharpe. Sharpe always does a lot of talking himself but in relation to the Super Bowl run he doesn’t get talked about enough. The 2000 Ravens were all about defense and Jamal Lewis right? That’s too simplistic. Sharpe was the lifeline of the passing game for an offensively challenged Ravens team.

He had 67 receptions on that 2000 Ravens team and with Tony Banks and Trent Dilfer, that wasn’t easy for a tight end to get. Remember the 2001 Ravens had Elvis Grbac and Jamal Lewis was out for the season. Sharpe was Superman for the Ravens. One of the saddest parts of Ravens history is that the Ravens only kept Sharpe for two seasons. Remember, Sharpe was a Pro Bowl tight end in the 2001 season. When he went back for his second time with the Denver Broncos, Sharpe was an elite tight end.

The Ravens drafted Todd Heap in 2001 and that had a lot to do with Sharpe moving on. Heap was one of the best players in franchise history and is arguably the best tight end the Ravens have ever had. Could you imagine what a ground and pound Ravens offense could have done by keeping both elite tight ends? Sharpe retired after the 2003 season. If the Ravens kept Sharpe for the rest of his career the two tight end sets they could have used would have gotten amazing results. Sharpe was a fun and charismatic leader who is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. You have to wonder what could have been if the Ravens got more than two years from Sharpe.

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