09-05-2021 Ravens Preview - Flipbook - Page 6
NFL2021
6
COMMENTARY
A special acquisition
On and off the field, Ravens DE Calais Campbell is truly one of a kind
I
n the young history of the
nearly a year ago, the Jaguars received
Ravens, there has not been
more grief from community leaders than
a bigger acquisition in free
avid football fans. Jackson gives back to
agency or trade, on and off the
the cities he has played for in Arizona,
field, than defensive end Calais
Jacksonville and now Baltimore.
Campbell.
“I try to spread happiness, spread good
The Ravens have had some good
energy and good vibes and try to have a
Mike Preston
free-agent signings, like defensive linesmile on my face all the time,” Campbell
men Tony Siragusa and Sam Adams. They’ve had some
said. “Positive energy is contagious, and I want to spread
great ones, too, like wide receiver Steve Smith Sr., tight
so much love in this world. I want to create a legacy
end Shannon Sharpe and safety Rod Woodson. Smith,
where I affect as many people as possible with the time
though, conceded in his first season that he couldn’t
God has given me in this world.
take a leadership until his second year. Woodson was the
“I grew up in the church and my parents made sure
leader of the Ravens’ Super Bowl-winning secondary
we were saved and baptized. When you grow up with
in 2000, but it was Sharpe who shaped the character of
religion, there comes a time when you have to decide for
that team with his dynamic personality.
yourself, and my time came in college.”
Campbell is the total package.
There are no pretenses about Campbell. When you
Don’t get carried away by his subpar 28 tackles and
look at his imposing 6-foot-8, 300-pound body, it’s hard
four sacks last season, when he suffered a calf injury and to imagine that he could be so compassionate. Campbell,
battled the coronavirus for weeks. Ask his teammates
though, has nine siblings.
who has been the best player in training camp. Ask them
When he was in seventh grade, both of his parents lost
who they seek out for professional and personal advice.
jobs as accountants, and the family had to live in a homeIn 2019, Campbell won the NFL’s Walter Payton Man
less shelter for eight months. The emphasis on family,
of the Year award for his contributions on and off the
Christianity and community never changed. Nearly six
field, as well as the Bart Starr Award for exceptional
years ago, Campbell toured Jerusalem, and was baptized
character, which is voted on by the players. The 34-year- in the Jordan River.
old’s presence is overwhelmingly dominant and positive.
“My mom [Nateal] is the most giving person in world.
“He is a great leader, loves the game of football and
If she has it, she is going to share it,” Campbell said. “Dad
loves the competition,” said Joe Cullen, the former
was a man of the community who knew it takes a village,
Ravens defensive line coach who is now the defensive
and that we had to know our neighbors, be involved in
coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars. “He wants to
community events. That was a big deal to him, for us to
win every one-on-one battle. He loves his teammates
be involved.”
and makes everyone around him better.
If he isn’t involved in some type of charity event,
“He is a Hall of Fame player and better person. He is
Campbell likes to travel or participate in poker tourone of the best players and best human beings I have had naments. He likes to read, usually about how somethe privilege to coach.”
one achieves greatness, in particular NBA Hall of Fame
Campbell is a throwback. His raspy voice sounds like
plyer Michael Jordan. That probably led to Campbell
that of late Hall of Fame defensive tackle Reggie White,
researching former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker
who played with the Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay
James Harrison, who played in the NFL for 15 years.
Packers and Carolina Panthers from the mid-1980s until
He borrowed some of Harrison’s workout ideas in the
2000. But there are other similarities.
offseason, which included more weightlifting. In addiWhite was an ordained Evangelical minister, a player
tion, Campbell changed his diet.
who Campbell admired. Like White, Campbell is
“I’ve done some things to help my body,” Campbell
extremely active in the community, either with food donasaid. “As you get older you realize more how food affects
tions, grants for Black kids to attend college, donations to
you. When I was younger, I could still fly around on
nonprofit organizations or putting together seminars or
Mondays. The more I played, Mondays became Tuesday
virtual sessions for troubled youth. He named his CRC
and then Wednesday, and now it’s Friday before I feel
Foundation after his late father, Charles Richard Campbell. good again. But you’ve got to push through that soreness
When he was traded from Jacksonville to the Ravens
and still be able to go out there, put your hands on people
and have some strength. I used to be more of a quick guy
with power, but now I have the strength and will use
speed as a changeup.”
It has showed in training camp. He has been dominant
at the point of attack or with his penetration to disrupt
running plays. In pass-rushing drills, Campbell has
been unstoppable. If he can play like he did three or four
years ago, the Ravens will get a pass-rushing force in the
middle of their line, which they haven’t had consistently
since the early 2000s.
So far, the Ravens like what they see. The effects of
COVID-19 and the leg injury appear to be behind Campbell. They Ravens think he can still play at a high level,
like he did in 2017 and 2018 when he registered doubledigit sack totals.
Throughout his 13-year career, Campbell has started
180 of 198 games and collected 724 tackles with 92 sacks.
He has knocked down 54 passes, forced 14 fumbles and
been named to the Pro Bowl six times. If he can stay
healthy along with fellow end Derek Wolfe and tackle
Brandon Williams, the Ravens will have one of the best
defensive lines in the NFL.
If that happens, and they can develop a passing game,
a Super Bowl championship is possible.
“That is definitely the goal. That makes it a lot easier,
that’s the main reason why I am still playing,” Campbell
said in reference to his possible retirement. “I want that
jewelry, that place in history. I want to come back every 10
years, have those Super Bowl tours and be a part of history.”
Sharpe and Woodson are part of that legacy. If Campbell can win it all, that will make his time in Baltimore
just as complete, and certainly more rewarding.
No Ravens acquisition has ever promoted as much
goodwill so quickly.
“Calais is a proven leader both on the field and in our
community,” said Heather Darney, the Ravens’ vice president of community relations and executive director of
the Ravens Foundation. “He sets an incredible example
as someone who doesn’t just talk about helping others,
but through his demonstrated actions. Since Calais
joined the Ravens right as the COVID-19 pandemic
began impacting the country, he has been limited in how
much he’s been able to physically visit with those in the
Baltimore community.
“Yet undoubtedly, his presence has been felt through
various donations, distributions, and genuine acts of
kindness. We’re so appreciative for Calais’ commitment
to serving Baltimore, and we know his philanthropic
spirit is also being instilled into our younger players.”