Tuesday marked a challenging day for NFL enthusiasts, as the most important news during the offseason’s quiet phase was the untimely and tragic demise of Ryan Mallett, the former quarterback for the Patriots, Texans, and Ravens. Reports indicate that Mallett passed away in a sorrowful drowning incident.
Former Arkansas QB Ryan Mallett has passed away at age 35 after drowning in Florida. He was most recently head football coach at White Hall HS in Arkansas. https://t.co/YlZ1kDnNxS
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) June 27, 2023
About Mallett
Mallett, an immensely sought-after quarterback in high school, entered the NFL with high expectations after being drafted by the Patriots in the third round in 2011. His career, however, unfolded in a different way than anticipated. Despite this, Mallett played a pivotal role in one of Baltimore’s most notable upsets, guiding a struggling team to only their fifth season victory against the Steelers in December 2015.
Personally, that triumph remains etched in our memory as the most astonishing. While there have been surprising games against formidable opponents like the Patriots, Chiefs, or other top contenders, those victories were usually secured by formidable Ravens squads. The one Mallett led was one of the weakest teams in recent years.
Mallett’s Career
After he retired from the NFL, Mallett pursued a coaching career and took on the head coach role at White Hall High School in his home state of Arkansas. It’s a tragic loss, as Mallett was only 35 years old. May he rest in peace.
Shifting gears from such sad news is difficult, but there are other noteworthy updates from Tuesday that we’d like to share with you from the Twitterverse.
To begin, the Ravens’ training camp schedule was unveiled, allowing fans to start planning their preseason visits to either M&T Bank Stadium or the Under Armour Performance Center.
The stadium practice is scheduled for July 29th, and the joint practices with Washington are set for August 15th and 16th. We are particularly eager for the matchups against the Commanders, especially to witness which new wide receivers shine in their initial encounters with first-round cornerback Emmanuel Forbes.
On another note, another fanbase is experiencing a situation reminiscent of Baltimore’s. The fans of the Bills are growing restless due to the drama surrounding Stefon Diggs and DeAndre Hopkins.
After enduring decades with a lack of notable receivers, the Ravens’ roster now boasts impactful players in that position. Nevertheless, Baltimore fans have tempered their excitement to some extent. It’s well-known that injuries can occur, and players must live up to expectations. Looking impressive on paper only sometimes translates to success on the field.
However, one thing that can be guaranteed is the exceptional performance of the Ravens’ social media team in delivering engaging content. On Tuesday, they showcased a Jimmy Kimmel-style segment where players read mean tweets directed at them. It was a hit among fans and followers.
What we think
These segments are always entertaining, but I can’t help but wonder why they left out Marlon Humphrey.
As we wrap up, we’d like to leave you all with a thought-provoking question that was recently raised by The Ravens Realm:
We know Ed Reed is the greatest safety in Ravens franchise/NFL History
Who would you say is the 2nd greatest safety in Ravens franchise history? 💭 pic.twitter.com/S3i8yrZzYx
— The Ravens Realm (@RealmRavens) June 27, 2023
We would say, it’s the legend Rod Woodson, who helped to lead the best defense of all time and was instrumental during the first Super Bowl of the franchise. Who do you think it is?
