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86 TOP 10 RAVENTODD HEAPTOP 10 RAVENTODD HEAP

Todd Heap, the two-time Pro Bowl tight end who made countless clutch catches throughout his career, was voted by season ticket holders as one of the Top 10 Ravens in team history.

By Sydney Wade

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86OZZIE NEWSOME ON TODD HEAP

“Todd was an outstanding player as well as an outstanding person, representing the Baltimore Ravens well. As a former tight end, it was fun watching Todd practice and play as a Raven. He made important, clutch catches for us like the one he made in Tennessee that helped us get to the AFC Championship game in 2008.”

JOE FLACCO ON TODD HEAP

“First, Todd was a veteran teammate who helped me in my first few years in the NFL. I could count on him both on and off the field. Now, he’s one of my closest friends and will always be.”

DENNIS PITTA ON TODD HEAP

“Todd was a great teammate. He was a mentor to me when I came into the league. I knew who he was, and I always looked up to him as a player. When I got here, it was a great scenario for me to be able to learn from someone like him – a Pro Bowl player. I feel fortunate to have played with him. Todd and I have remained close throughout these years. I live in Arizona in the offseason – he’s from there – so we hang out all offseason, and we’ve remained close friends.”

After capturing the franchise’s first Super Bowl Championship in 2000, the Ravens selected Arizona State’s Todd Heap in the first round (31st overall) of the 2001 NFL Draft. During his rookie season, Heap had the distinct advantage of playing alongside future Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe. The Arizona native credits Sharpe for serving as a mentor and teaching him how to be a consummate pro at football’s highest level of competition. This special interaction – coupled with high character and leadership both on and off the field – helped Heap quickly grow into a larger offensive role.

By the start of his second campaign, Heap earned the starting tight end job, hauling in 68 passes for 836 yards and six touchdowns that year. Before long, chants of “Heeeeeeeeap” began to resonate throughout M&T Bank Stadium and became synonymous with the two-time Pro Bowler executing clutch plays for the Ravens.

Heap’s production was consistent throughout his 10-year career in Charm City, with him posting 467 receptions for 5,492 yards and a franchise-record 41 receiving touchdowns. The former first-rounder also remains the franchise’s all-time leader in consecutive games with a reception (74) and received the 2006 NFL Alumni Tight End of the Year Award. These accolades and significant contributions to the team and Baltimore community led to Heap’s well-deserved induction into the club’s Ring of Honor in 2014.

BALTIMORERAVENS.COM 2386TODD HEAP Q&A

What does family mean to you? “For me, family was always the most important thing in my life, starting from a young age. Now, having five kids, it think that’s my most important calling in life, to be a husband and a father. I’ve looked back at how my parents raised me, and I just hope to be able to be the same kind of parents to my kids and carry on that tradition. Their parents before them, my grandparents, were the same way. It’s one of those things that’s hard to put into words, but you like to keep things in perspective. And family was always ahead of football. I would place God first, then family, and then football is down the line. I always tried to keep things in perspective, while still making football a huge part of my life. It’s hard to do, but it’s the best way to do it.”

Best basketball player in Ravens history is... (laughter) “There’s no question. I’ve got to put myself in there. I don’t know who else it would be. Name somebody else. I can’t think of anybody else.” (laughter)

Thoughts on Shannon Sharpe: “Shannon Sharpe – he’s definitely one of the best tight ends ever to play the game. He was a great mentor to me, great in the locker room and great with the media. There was not a bigger personality in football, and I really enjoyed every second I had with him in the locker room and watching him – a true professional – do his job.”

Thoughts on Joe Flacco: “Flacco – he is the calmest, most confident guy I’ve ever been around.”

The team you most loved to beat? “There’s no question – the Pittsburgh Steelers. In fact, all around the country, I’ve run into Steelers fans, and anytime they would come up to me, they’d say, ‘Oh, Todd Heap, we hated you.’ They’re wearing their Steelers gear, and I’ll usually tell them, ‘Hey, the Steelers, they were my second-favorite team.’ And they’ll say, ‘Oh really? That’s awesome. I might like you a little bit more now.’ Then I respond after that, ‘It’s because I had all my best games against them.’ And then they go right back in sync.”

Being in the Ravens Ring of Honor: “It’s special. I’m honored to be in there with all the other guys and just honored to represent the Baltimore Ravens and all the fans. It’s pretty cool, every time you walk into the stadium, to see your name up there. It has really capped off my career, to be recognized in that way by the team that brought me into the NFL and where I called home for so many years. To be received and accepted by all the fans and everybody in Baltimore, it’s really special.”