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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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28 Jan 2001: Jamie Sharper #55 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates his interception with teammate O.J Brigance #57 during the Super Bowl XXXV Game against the New York Giants at the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The Ravens defeated the Giants 34-7.Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Daniel /Allsport
28 Jan 2001: Jamie Sharper #55 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates his interception with teammate O.J Brigance #57 during the Super Bowl XXXV Game against the New York Giants at the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The Ravens defeated the Giants 34-7.Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Daniel /Allsport /

4. Jamie Sharper

Jamie Sharper makes the list for two reasons. For one, he was a very good linebacker who was part of the all-time great Ravens defense in 2000. Secondly he had a good career after his time in Baltimore. Sharper had three seasons with over 100 total tackles with the Houston Texans. Even when the Ravens moved to a 3-4 defensive scheme, Sharper would have been great next to Ray Lewis. Sharper may have been even better suited for that kind of a defensive shift. There was no defense that would have been a problem for him.

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Ed Heartwell was a nice player for the Ravens but he fizzled out at his next stop. He was okay and the Ravens made him good. Sharper was just an awesome linebacker. In the 2002 season Ray Lewis only played five games before having a season ending injury. Having Sharper and Heartwell together could have been the difference in the Ravens scraping into the playoffs and the 7-9 result they had. Nothing could have replaced Ray Lewis in his prime, yet that would have been a very fearsome defense. That could have gotten the Ravens two more wins that year. I truly believe that. On a side note, the 2002 team was a scrappy team wasn’t it?

Keeping Sharper would have been a cool way to keep a part of the Super Bowl XXXV team. The 2001 season was the last year in Baltimore for Tony Siragusa, and Sam Adams as well as Sharper.  and Sharper. That year’s losses are a good place to start an honorable mention section. Sharper was the defensive lost that may have hurt the most. He was such an under the radar star at the linebacker position. He was a huge part of everything for the Ravens and he could have given the franchise a lot more quality football.

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