— Hayden Hurst has finally found a sport Anthony Miller Jersey Bears , position and team that are best suited for his athletic ability: football, tight end, Baltimore Ravens.
After being selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 17th round of the 2012 draft, Hurst pitched in the Gulf Coast League in 2013. He tried first base the following year before calling it a career.
“It wasn’t exactly the easiest three years of my life. But I learned a lot about myself,” Hurst said.
He then played football at South Carolina, lining up as a wide receiver in 2015 before moving to tight end. In 38 games with the Gamecocks, Hurst scored four touchdowns — one of them on a 2-yard run.
Still, Hurst was impressive enough to be picked 25th overall by the Ravens in the 2018 NFL draft. Just 39 minutes into his first game last Thursday night, the 6-foot-4, 245-pound rookie caught a touchdown pass to help Baltimore beat Chicago 17-16 in the Hall of Fame Game.
“It’s pretty exciting,” Hurst said after Saturday’s practice. “I’m a big body guy, and I like to be utilized in the red zone. I’m a threat there. At South Carolina, I wasn’t used a whole lot in the red zone. Nut here I think they’re going to take advantage of it. So it should be a fun career.”
Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco has long relied on his tight end for big plays and touchdowns. From Todd Heap to Dennis Pitta to Benjamin Watson, the man in the middle of the field has been a vital component of the Baltimore offense.
Hurst could very well be the newest addition to that impressive list.
“Joe throws to the tight ends a lot. He has a lot of faith in that position,” Hurst noted. “When things kind of break down, he tries to find us. It puts more emphasis on my position.”
Flacco didn’t take a snap in Baltimore’s preseason opener Kyle Long Jersey , yet both Baltimore touchdowns were scored by tight ends. Hurst’s 8-yard TD came on a pass from Lamar Jackson, a former Heisman Trophy winner who was after Hurst (32nd overall) but has received far more publicity and acclaim.
“The quarterback gets all the attention. That’s how this league works,” Hurst said. “It doesn’t matter to me.”
Baltimore lists six tight ends on the roster, so the 24-year-old Hurst is going to have to earn playing time. Though he admits he needs to know the playbook better, Hurst has already made a positive impression.
“It was good to see Hayden play well in the first game. That’s the first test,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “The next test is to come back and have a good week of practice and take it into the next game.”
Toward that end, Hurst made a sensational grab between three defenders Saturday, drawing a collective cheer from the fans in attendance.
Not bad for a former baseball player.
“I’m glad I experienced it,” Hurst says of his abbreviated baseball career. “It kind of hardened me, made me the football player that I am today. That’s why I play fast and physical, because I don’t want anything to be taken away from me like I kind of had with baseball.”
In other news, the Ravens activated six-time Pro Bowl guard Marshal Yanda from the physically unable to perform list Saturday. Yanda had offseason shoulder surgery and will slowly be worked back into a practice routine.
“Very encouraging,” Harbaugh said. “This was the target date, so he’s right now schedule.”
Darrelle Revis officially shut down his dominant playing career by signing one final contract.
The seven-time Pro Bowl cornerback who routinely frustrated opposing receivers with his blanket-like coverage officially retired Tuesday as a member of the New York Jets 鈥?the team with which Revis spent eight of his 11 NFL seasons.
The 33-year-old Revis inked a one-day deal with the Jets at a ceremonial news conference at the team's facility after he announced last Thursday on social media that he was done playing.
Former teammates, including D'Brickashaw Ferguson, and several current players attended Luke Falk Jersey Elite , along with owner Christopher Johnson, general manager Mike Maccagnan and coach Todd Bowles.
"It's been amazing," Revis said of his career. "My work ethic and my study habits I feel propelled me to strive to be one of the greatest. It took a lot of work, week in and week out, to prepare and play at the highest level and covering some of the toughest receivers in the world."
He was known for his uncanny ability to shut down receivers and the nickname "Revis Island" grew in popularity as receivers were routinely left "stranded" without being much of a factor in games because of the cornerback's airtight coverage.
In a clever nod to the nickname, the Jets set up a makeshift "island" outside of the facility's main entrance, complete with sand dunes and three small palm trees and had Revis pose in front of it for photos.
The team also issued green lapel pins that read "REVIS ISLAND" at the top with the Jets logo on the bottom and Revis' familiar No. 24 featured in the middle in front of a small island.
"As I look at it now and as I take some time to really assess what I've done and what really happened, it's amazing, it's amazing," Revis said. "You leave a legacy behind that players can follow, they can mimic and they can study your film, too."
Revis also gained notoriety for his business savvy at the bargaining table and made more than $120 million during his career.
He had several contract squabbles during his time with the Jets after being the No. 14 overall pick in 2007 out of Pittsburgh, including a lengthy holdout that was documented on HBO's "Hard Knocks" in 2010. Led by then-agents Jon Feinsod and Neil Schwartz, mother Diana Gilbert and uncle Sean Gilbert, a former NFL defensive tackle, Team Revis was a force to be reckoned with.
After contentious contract negotiations in 2013 Cheap Pernell McPhee Jersey , Revis was dealt to Tampa Bay for first- and fourth-round draft picks. He was a member of the Buccaneers for just one season before being released and signing with New England as a free agent 鈥?and winning the Super Bowl with the Jets' biggest rival.
Revis became a free agent again, and returned home to the Jets by signing a five-year, $70 million contract, including $39 million guaranteed in 2015. After a solid first season back, Revis struggled with injuries and consistency in 2016 and was released. He finished up his career by playing in five games for Kansas City last season.
"I would've loved to play my whole career here and wear the green and white until I actually retired," Revis said. "Things happen. Team acquisitions come in and there's a different direction a team may want to go. You know, it happens. It really does, and that's kind of how I can sum that up."
Revis finished with 29 career interceptions, and returned three for touchdowns, including one for 100 yards against Miami in 2011. He was a four-time first-team All-Pro selection, including in what was his most dominant season in 2009, when he was beaten out by Charles Woodson for Defensive Player of the Year honors.
That was a rare time Revis lost out to anyone in his prime, especially that season. Randy Moss 鈥?whom Revis acknowledged was the toughest he ever covered 鈥?Terrell Owens, Chad Ochocinco, Andre Johnson and Reggie Wayne all struggled against the Jets star.
Darrelle Revis shuts down his career, is celebrated by the Jets as he officially retires @DWAZ73 s://t.co/AzhqprYnX7 pic.G1Rhj1zUW3
鈥?AP NFL (@AP_NFL) July 25 Jerome Baker Color Rush Jersey , 2018
"His dominance at the cornerback position is legendary," Christopher Johnson said of Revis. "Forget giving up the catch. We were all shocked when quarterbacks would dare to attempt a pass in his direction."
Revis wouldn't reveal specifically on what the future holds for him, but acknowledged that staying around the game in some capacity is likely 鈥?perhaps in a coaching role somewhere.
"It's a love, it's a passion for me," Revis said of football. "I'm surely going to miss it. ... I'll weigh my options and see."
A trip to Canton, Ohio, and induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame could also be on the agenda in the next five years or so.
"I accomplished a lot in my career and the assignments that I had to face during my career takes a lot of toll on your body, week in and week out," Revis said of why he chose to retire now. "Every day my purpose was not to just be the best at my position, but to be the best player on the field. That was my motivation.
"I came out to practice and tried to set a tone, and game day, I tried to set a tone."
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