ExtremeRavens Posted August 8 Posted August 8 Entering his 10th season, Ravens wide receiver Nelson Agholor has seen it all. A first-round pick in 2015 by the Philadelphia Eagles, he has experienced the ups and downs that come with a long career in the NFL. “You always have a certain expectation coming in, but it pans out in different ways,” said Agholor, who won Super Bowl 52 with the Eagles and later signed with the Las Vegas Raiders and New England Patriots. “To be in this league going on 10 years, being able to play in the big game and even play in the AFC championship last year, I’m blessed.” Agholor has transformed from a rookie first-round sensation to a sought-after free agent and everything in between. Now in his second year with Baltimore, the 30-year-old has once again embraced the role as the “old guy” in the wide receiver room. As the most tenured pass catcher on the roster, he embraces the opportunity to lead his younger teammates on and off the field as they work toward reaching the franchise’s first Super Bowl since the 2012 season. “Being able to share my experiences from my career and also learn from the younger guys at the same time, it’s a beautiful thing,” Agholor said. As the team papers for training camp’s toughest stretch and the preseason, some of his most potent messages to the young group center around the importance of preparation and taking care of your body. “The most important thing you have to do is practice,” Agholor said. “Watch the film and be self confident, but also be self critical and grow. The best ability is availability, so take care of your body so you can practice and get better.” Early in camp, Agholor’s impact on the young guys has bled into the offensive meeting rooms. “His nickname is ‘The professor’ [in the meeting room],” wide receiver Tylan Wallace said. “He details all the routes and maps it out. Just listening to him, you can immediately tell he knows a ton of football.” “The best ability is availability, so take care of your body so you can practice and get better,” Ravens wide receiver Nelson Agholor said of the advice he gives to younger teammates. (Amy Davis/Staff) “He’s engaged,” offensive coordinator Todd Monken said. “If he doesn’t understand, he asks. If he has a better way of doing it, he talks about it. That, to me, is the number one part of leadership, or being an older player, is seeing the big picture and then relaying that to the rest of the players.” Agholor brings a unique perspective to the Ravens’ receiver room in large part because he has been in the position many of his young teammates on the roster find themselves in. The Super Bowl champion has been in the shoes of fourth-round pick Devontez Walker, a young rookie with high expectations and bountiful potential trying to make a name for himself in the league. He’s been Zay Flowers, a first-round pick who has shown promise early, proving himself worthy of being a major part of the franchise for years to come and ready to take the next steps toward being elite. He has also been Rashod Bateman, a top draft pick who has dealt with the struggles of the NFL, fighting through some tough moments and excessive criticism from fans. “He’s the definition of a true professional, that’s why he’s been around for so long,” Wallace said of Agholor. “Watching the way he carries himself on and off the field has helped me out so much as a player.” Good or bad, Agholor has taken it all in stride throughout his career. When a fan in Philadelphia went viral for a quick jab at the receiver for some critical dropped passes during a television interview after a 2019 house fire, Agholor responded with class, calling the fan a “hero” and inviting him and his family to an Eagles game to thank him for his life-saving efforts. Some of Agholor’s messages to his teammates have included handling and understanding criticism and taking it in stride while going through rough patches. “Everybody gets criticized,” Agholor said. “As a player, you have the right to just get better and to put your best foot forward for your individual career, for your teammates and for your family. The criticism will always be there, it’s not personal, it’s just part of the game.” Agholor’s reliable veteran presence has been shown on the field as well. He was the only Ravens wideout to appear in all 17 regular-season games last season and caught more than 75% of his targets, the highest rate of any wide receiver on the team. “I’ve done everything, been in every position and seen it all,” Agholor said. “My job is to come in, play football and do whatever’s asked of me.” Ultimately for Agholor, the goal is to add another Super Bowl championship to his resume and share that feeling with his Ravens teammates. With a talented young group, he embraces the opportunity to lead. “He comes in every day and is ready to work,” Wallace said. “Just being able to pick up on the little things he does, coming in early, catching extra balls after practice, it sets the tone for the group.” Preseason opener Eagles at Ravens Friday, 7:30 p.m. TV: ABC Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM View the full article Quote
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