ExtremeRavens Posted 20 hours ago Posted 20 hours ago He wears brown collared shirts underneath his shoulder pads, practices left-handed putting despite being right-handed, and once lived in a camper as a multimillionaire. Those quirks are just part of why Marlon Humphrey isn’t your typical NFL player. “A lot of the veterans that I’ve had here, a lot of different guys that come from different teams, none of them are like Marlon,” said former Ravens edge rusher Odafe Oweh, who was traded to the Chargers earlier this month. Humphrey has played nine high-level seasons at one of the most turbulent positions in the league, become a leader in Baltimore’s locker room and is “uniquely himself.” His teammates say that they’ve never played with anybody like him. T.J. Tampa said that he “shut the room down” when he first met him. Jaire Alexander said, “There’s nobody like [Marlon].” Nate Wiggins said, “You really can’t explain him. He just does Marlon things.” The cornerback has endeared himself to Baltimore with his popular Instagram Live videos that show the relationships inside the Ravens’ locker room. He’s also frustrated them with his podcasting after losses this season. His teammates appreciate his authenticity. Humphrey declined to comment for this story, saying he only wanted to talk about football. “He’s just a genuine person. He’s gonna be himself. And that’s what we love about him,” said rookie safety Reuben Lowery III, who was cut by Baltimore earlier this month and later picked up by the Colts. That originality shows up in many ways. Humphrey wears distinctive clothing — Alexander said that he’s never seen anyone put a dress shirt under their practice gear — publicly holds teammates accountable after tough losses, and even owns a massive farm in Alabama, where he raises a variety of animals. Wiggins, an animal enthusiast, said that he’s waiting to visit the farm. One of Tampa’s first interactions with Humphrey came in a defensive meeting. Tampa watched as Humphrey entered the facility with sweatpants, a towel wrapped around his body, and a hat and durag on his head. Everyone seems to remember their first encounter with Humphrey. Former Alabama safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix recalled the cornerback visiting Tuscaloosa as a high school recruit. Humphrey, a former five-star prospect, was slated to sit down with the Crimson Tide’s defensive backs and defensive staff. Clinton-Dix, a senior at the time, anticipated a routine meeting with a high schooler. But that was far from the case with Humphrey. Humphrey was quiet. He wasn’t brash, nor shy. Clinton-Dix and he spoke, and the Crimson Tide safety came away impressed with the 18-year-old’s maturity, Clinton-Dix told The Baltimore Sun. The two stayed in contact during Humphrey’s career, and when the freshman recovered a critical onside kick during Alabama’s national championship game against Clemson, Clinton-Dix made sure to call him. The Ravens drafted Humphrey with the 16th overall pick in the 2017 NFL draft. He entered a secondary with cornerbacks Jimmy Smith and Brandon Carr and safeties Eric Weddle and Tony Jefferson — a combined 49 years in the league between the four of them. Not an easy situation for a rookie to find playing time. But Humphrey carved out a role as a nickel back and then started the final four games as an outside cornerback after Smith tore his Achilles tendon. Humphrey has switched between the slot and boundary cornerback throughout his time in the league. At 29 years old, he’s playing some of the best football of his career. Humphrey played 500 snaps in the slot last season and 316 on the outside, according to Pro Football Focus. He turned in a career-high six interceptions and was named a first-team All-Pro. “He’s just a workaholic. He really cares about his craft. If he’s doing something wrong, he’s going to get to the bottom of what he’s doing wrong,” Wiggins said. Ravens fans clamor for autographs from cornerback Marlon Humphrey in 2024. Humphrey's teammates say he's unique personality among his NFL peers. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) He’s also become a leader for Baltimore’s defense. Humphrey said the Ravens “weren’t mature enough” and players would face repercussions for poor performances after their loss to the Buffalo Bills. But Humphrey’s frankness occasionally frustrates fans, too. After the Ravens’ defense was shredded in a 38-30 loss to the Detroit Lions, the cornerback said, “We’re not good enough.” The next day, he released a YouTube video titled “Marlon reacts to Lions-Ravens MNF loss.” The comments were unforgiving. “I’m stunned by your lack of self awareness, almost in admiration,” one user wrote. “Marlon read the room,” another commented. “Stop with the podcast [crap] and go win some games first.” Humphrey’s not going to change, though. His channel description reads like a personality promotion: “Marlon Humphrey has a lot on his mind … The Marlon Humphrey Show is not another player podcast pumping out PR-approved talking points — it is a one of a kind experience led by one of the most curious minds in sports.” That last line rings true. Ask anyone around the Ravens about Humphrey, and you’ll hear the same response: there’s nobody like Marlon. “He’s not scared to [speak up]. It’s different in that aspect,” Oweh said. “He’s gonna say whatever’s on his mind. He doesn’t care who you are. He wants you to know who he is.” Have a news tip? Contact Sam Jane at sjane@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/Sam_Jane230. View the full article Quote
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