Lee Evans, Sterling Moore
|
|
Former Ravens Lee Evans and Billy Cindiff want Baltimore to win despite being released by the team after their shortcomings last season.
|
Ex-Ravens WR Evans still feels part of team
FOXBOROUGH, MASS. (AP)
While Lee Evans awaits another chance in the NFL, he'll be rooting for
the Baltimore Ravens
in Sunday's AFC championship rematch with New
England.
The wide receiver who couldn't hold onto a pass in the end zone a year
ago - which likely would have sent the Ravens into the Super Bowl - has
no regrets. Except, maybe, that he's not part of the Ravens this time
around.
Evans says in an email that he ''wishes he made the touchdown catch,
but is thankful for the overall journey. You play the game to win and
celebrate the joy with your teammates.''
With 27 seconds to go, Joe
Flacco connected with Evans in the deep
right corner of the end zone, but defensive back Sterling Moore
knocked
the ball to the ground.
Soon after, Billy
Cundiff missed a 32-yard field goal that would have
forced overtime.
Evans says he has not gotten depressed over the play - Moore did make a
strong strip after Evans got two hands on the ball.
''Give him credit for the play he made,'' Evans said.
Unfortunately for Evans, he's remembered as much for that incompletion
as he is for two 1,000-yard receiving seasons in seven years with the
Bills, and 43 touchdown catches.
''My goal is to play in the NFL again,'' said Evans, who was cut in the
preseason last summer by Jacksonville, a team not exactly overloaded
with receivers. ''And if I am afforded that opportunity, I will be
fully prepared and absolutely capable of competing at the highest
level.''
Cundiff hooked up with Washington and then San Francisco this season,
but was cut by the 49ers on Friday without kicking for them as they
stuck with veteran David
Akers, who had been struggling.
Evans said he will be in front of his TV on Sunday watching the title
games. He likes what he's seen from Baltimore (12-6) and knows the
Ravens' recent postseason history; they've won a playoff game in each
of the last five seasons and will be in their third AFC championship
match in those five years.
But he also knows how tough the Patriots (13-4) are at home,
particularly in January.
''It is a chess match between a defense that goes hard after the
quarterback and gets after you on every play,'' Evans said, ''and an
offense that seeks to exploit their match-ups while always trying to
capitalize on a defense's mistakes.''
A part of Evans will share in the Ravens' excitement if they win Sunday
''after fully understanding what it feels like to be on the losing
side.''
''Life brings you highs and lows,'' he said, ''and you have to keep
that in perspective.''
|