Derrick Henry Trains in Dallas, Odafe Oweh Goes to Nigeria, Training Camp Begins | Ravens Wired

Derrick Henry Trains in Dallas, Odafe Oweh Goes to Nigeria, Training Camp Begins | Ravens Wired

A man who doesn’t know where he’s from, he has difficulty in navigating through the path of life. What’s understood doesn’t need to be said. We all know, right? Take care of your job. Take care of your family. Take care of yourself. Get yourself ready for the time of your life. We have a saying, Niger know they carry last, which means we don’t finish in last place. We’re always first. You know, everything we do, we strive to be the best. It’s a brotherhood, man. We’re not just teammates. Let’s do this, baby. Let’s do this. Derek, he’s one of the 1 percenters that run towards pain. It’s very few that are like him. Think it in your head. Make it happen. Push, push, push, push, push, push. Be real aggressive. We’re just getting warmed up. [Applause] Oh, let’s go. We’re all we got. That’s the beauty of get together. We’re focusing on what’s important. Football brotherhood. Let’s get it right together. That’s all we’re talking about. We are back, man. Hey, the standard is high, man. Let’s get it. I said if I had two wishes, I know what they would be. It would be roots to cling to and wings to set me free so that we can reach our destiny. Whatever it takes to get my team to that big dance, that’s all I’m focused on. [Applause] [Music] Took a lot, but we made it. It’s a land of people that hustle, work hard, and you know, just want to do better for themselves. There’s so much opportunity here. Untapped resources and potential. They just need opportunity and a and a platform. We move in one accord. It’s all love here. We’re just all trying to be the best we could be. We’re competitive in a good way. We’re competitive. We really do not like losing in anything. That’s why when you see Nigerians that go abroad, go to the Western world, they’re usually doing really well. [Music] See, we already reached traffic. Just banged out the hotel. We’re dead stop. We’ll see how deep the traffic is. Lagos traffic don’t play. New York times 10. Yeah. DMV times 12. No traffic lights. I feel like it’s everyone just for themselves. Like you’re just trying to cut cut people, get to where you’re trying to go. And in one car, you might see like 12 people in there. No one fears their car getting hit. You know, you see how there’s no lanes. It’s just make it from point A to point B, however you got to do it. Every time I come here, I just get like readjusted in terms of my perspective like of how I view life, you know? I’m just I’m grateful to be where I’m at. I just don’t ever want to take anything for granted because I just see everyone here is hustler trying to fend for themselves, make money for their families. So, like it just allows me to be more intentional when I go back to the States. The NFL is like a melting pot. People from different backgrounds, different cultures, grow up different ways, different schools. You’re going to run across different types of people and they have different ways that they do things. But it’s also cool to meet people that are like you. Diaspora that you know have African roots, parents are are from Nigeria or any type of African country. I was born in Port Harkart or PH for short till I was uh 7 years old. Then I moved to Scotland before transitioning to New Jersey, Blair Academy, which is where I met DF. There was this dichotomy of raised in an African home, but where we lived was the suburbs and when he went to Blair was obviously when he started to meet Nigerians. And somehow someway they just gravitated to each other. We did so much to to blend in, feel like we belong, and we’re in the right place. then it kind of makes you start feeling like disconnected from who you really are. One thing about Nigerians, we can recognize each other from afar and then just bond off uh you know off rip. I want to go by my African name, my actual first name, Adaf. But you know, I’m going to call you Adaf man. Shoot. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. That’s your name. Let’s go. When I got drafted, that was something I impulsively wanted to do. Change my name back to Adaf. I don’t care anymore. You’re going to have to learn how to pronounce. Jason was born in America, but he’s a Nigerian. So, him really tapping back into his roots and I can see him just falling into himself now that he’s just embracing like this is who I am. It was a beautiful thing to see now that he’s in his work environment and he’s able to to look to his left, look to his right of people that are just like him. Really easy to continue just keep powering forward because it’s not just you doing it alone. You got someone else and someone else doing it with you. Justin Mabik changing his name. Outstanding player who has made a household name for himself with terrific play the last couple of years. Believe me, everybody in the league knows what his name is. He has been fantastic. Paris moved to the US in ’94. They’re from Umaya State in Nigeria. Basically like a bunch of families that create a kindred. I just changed it to Nami cuz I just felt in my heart that was just the right thing to do. It’s been on my mind for a while. Dante did it when he first got here and uh I guess you can say I drew some inspiration from my boy, but that’s really how it came about. You connect with, you know, where they’re from and how they were brought up and stuff. That’s something that you instantly connect with. Obviously little differences with growing up in America and then having to go home to like a cultured household, you know? So, we find ways to like joke about throughout, you know, the days of practice and stuff like that. So, I don’t know. Something with Nigerians is you always connect. Where’s the family? Hey, we go do it again next week. The brotherhood clicked from the start and then we started all hanging out. Same country, it’s even more special and we share the same bond. You know, our families know each other. When you get it, you have to hold it real real close. You don’t get that too often. So, it’s a brotherhood, man. We’re not just teammates. Pressure and sack back at the 40 yd line. Nambdi Mabik pocket collapsing. He is sacked. David Aavo. He’s sacked. Adafio way. as I gained more notoriety for the in the league, I wanted to find the next idea, the next thing that could bring more light to a heritage and, you know, culture that built me up. When he did mention he wanted to have a camp Nigeria has always been a thought um kind of like a far reach from inception, he was like definitely Niger. We were talking and he said, “Mom, you know, I’ve noticed that in the NFL there are a lot of Nigerians now. A lot of people came from nothing. when you give an opportunity to somebody who is prepared opportunity and preparation meets success he says mom maybe there many other daffes and I said to him I said you know what you’re correct and there is many other daffes my dad even before I got drafted he had a vision he was like you’re going to go back to Nigeria and you’re going to find a way to help it was something that you know it was just bound to happen during the season he was talking about maybe having a camp when he actually made it official I was like man I got to go I got to go and job was on the same type of time. We didn’t even think twice about it. We we were on board. We said we got his back. Spreading the game and spreading awareness of the game and how how beautiful this game is. That not only changed my life, but my teammates lives as well. Definitely something that the Nigerian kids who don’t have the opportunity need to hear and need to understand and they can be inspired to, you know, want to play American football. There’s so many of out there. There’s so many madik out there. There’s so many David or Jabo out there who are just looking for ways just a little opportunity. They’re hungry. They want it. It’s going to create the opportunity for a lot of kids, not just athletically, but academically as well. It’s a blessing to have my father here. Last time I came, my father didn’t come. We got to the airport and we we landed and we saw my mom and everything. I think she was crying. So, it just speaks to how much emotion it is. And we’ve come a long way from, you know, not being here for a while. And then for a majority of our family to be here, it’s big time. and throw a camp and give back. It’s a full 360 moment. We’re going to have like a welcome dinner with a relative of my families. It’s customary just to, you know, welcome yourself in. I’m anticipating the food is going to be good and um, you know, it’s going to be a lot of culture in there and everything. So, I’m excited. Hey, how are you guys? Give me a big hug, Mike. How are you? This man, but you’re good, my high shoe. Yeah. How you doing? I’m good. I’m good. How are you? Nice friend. He’s also an NFL player. How you doing, man? I got your game. Watching your game now. All yesterday. All right. How about you? How you doing? God bless. Your first time to Nigeria? No. No. No. You’ve been here before? I was born here. Oh, you’re origin. What’s going on? Uh, what is going on? I’m scared. How you doing, man? Hey, mom. Nice to meet you. [Music] Oh, I look good. I’m good. I’m good. We are from Delta State and from where we come from when a dignitary or a very important personal is coming to our midst we tend to invite and welcome them in a particular manner as Odafi was coming people from my village we aware of the fact that a son of the soul is coming to visit us they presented him with all the traditional rights this is Lagos everything happened here it’s the best country best country in the world. It was meant to be a surprise. Just wanted to host a dinner and have my people around him. It was an opportunity for my children to see the part of Nigeria I was from, my culture. Nigeria has about 250 languages, but they have not really had an opportunity to experience what it entails. You don’t want to play football? I I mean, I wanted to play football. My mom said I should play football. I would like to play football, too. like any opportunity. Oh yeah. If you want to come to the camp or you want to come to the states, get your opportunity. We’ll be there tomorrow. Exactly. Yes. I really see. Okay. Okay. Okay. Your dad said these are like chiefs in this village that came over short notice. So who who who are the people on the couch? Big boys. Yeah. Okay. You want the glasses? Big boy. Yeah. I I need some context bro like yeah want to welcome you and that is why he invited all his friends you are and you know we Urobo we have a very very very rich culture when you visit anrobo man no matter how poor the man may be he must present you with drink colut and money to support it it’s our tradition I felt it was important for me to just introduce them to the ways that we do things, how we welcome ourself, how we appreciate each other’s effort, especially when they’re successful. And I felt he needed to experience that. Is this like your induction? Are you a chief now? Bro, I’ve had so many inductions. I had one when I first got drafted and they gave me all these beats. I feel like this is my first Nigerian. I bet you bow down. You guys don’t have this at all. But no, you got to reach levels. Yeah. Yeah. One thing I said to Adaf that day, I said, “God used you to honor me.” They were grown dignitaries there, men of 70, 80 who were honoring, you know, a 26y old. It just felt like the hard work, the sleepless nights, the long drives when nobody was there, a pat on the shoulder, not that we need it. We’re we’re mothers. We we do this because you know that’s what drives us. It’s our kids. But then you look at it and you say, “Oh, it wasn’t in vain.” It was not in vain. Niger will be proud of you. Amen. Is proud of you already. Is proud of you. The world will be proud of you. Amen. Both of you will not get America. Amen. You went to America and this what you brought back. [Music] Oh, this is your song. [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Yeah. Go go go. [Applause] Please call me. [Music] took me down memory lane. I reminisce a lot. It just reminded me of the fact that I had a dream and that dream has come true. I left when I was a young man and somehow everything fell into place. You took time out of your busy schedule to honor this invitation within such a short notice and everybody came through. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. All right, y’all. All right, y’all. Looks like you’re ready. So, uh, we going to get started. Set. Hey, false start. Full start. The camp is is all daff. It’s the things that he thinks that the Nigerian kids and um you know the Nigerian youth have and they just need the platform to be able to express this natural talent and you know just the joy of learning something new and being good at it. 1 2 3 Let’s go back. Let’s go back. I try to do this camp every year. Pride obviously my genetics, how I was raised, the culture is is what got me here. So I I take that on my shoulders and try to give back as much as I can. These are kids who are hungry to discover the best of who they are, looking for opportunities, platform that could help them showcase that which they have within themselves. Just being around the kids and just seeing their joy in their faces and just their enthusiastic energy and like their attitude, you know, was was great to see, great to be around it. Woo. When the likes of Adaf and other players come to, you know, put them through the motions and show them the ropes and how to do some of these stuffs, you know, it sticks with them and stays with them. They’re getting around Odaf who is an NFL star, Nandi, who’s an NFL star, David, who’s an NFL star, all these guys. And and they’re coaching up from the ground up. They’re giving them one-on-one learning. One, two, it’s about how you sell it. Remember, his job is to grab you. Your job is to not allow him to grab you. Make the best man win, right? They have more knowledge of the game that their interest starts to spike and you know they’ll be more uh confident and they’ll be more inspired to play the game that they see us play. Pass rush is all about confusion. You the pass rusher, you’re trying to confuse who lineman. The old lineman. How do you confuse them? By making everything look what? The same. The same. informing them about what this game is about and like the ins and outs of the game and how people play it and put the position that we play it will definitely grow their interest of the game and make them want to maybe move over here and play the game. Yeah. It’s like as a man you have like you’re like a mechanic pass like it’s like being a mechanic. You have your hammer powers. Good. You have your screwdriver. Good. That’s your best one yet. You have your stuff that you can use. You have your tools. Your tools are your moves. Lamar Niger Lamar the talent here too is it’s just it’s here it’s just not tapped into you know just today alone like four or five kids that have the potential to go to the NFL. That’s good that we see talent, bro. That’s potential. That’s potential. Everybody needs a chance. Yeah. That’s all you need is a chance and opportunity. potential means you haven’t done it yet, but you have the ability to do it. Kids that, you know, that you see the talent, but they just haven’t been able to foster that because it wasn’t a priority. You know, they’re just trying to survive. Now, they’re they’re being opened and introduced to the idea that there’s more. There’s something that you can, you know, chase after and and get you into a better situation. [Applause] That was hard. That was hard. That was hard. Africa Lamar. Africa Lamar. So, you find little gems out there. I told him, man, we’re out here. They just need structure and it’ll be good, man. Yeah. Look at that. Damn. You see that? You see that spiral? I’m telling you, we found them. They just need structure, man. And that’s what the whole goal of this is, you know, just to find gems. But you see a kid like that that naturally is like, you know, taking on to the instruction and, you know, succeeding. That’s what it’s all about. So, I’m happy that they can do that. I feel like the youth is the future. So, if you can instill knowledge into them and show them that there’s there’s another way to do things, that’s only going to help the country of Nigeria in the future. I honestly moved to America purely off watching LeBron. I wanted to be like LeBron that’s a professional athlete. So, coming back now as a professional athlete, I can only imagine for these little kids, you know, looking at, you know, the likes of myself, DF, and Beaks and just like, man, I want to be like them. And sometimes that’s all it takes. That might be all the motivation you need to take it to the next level. It doesn’t matter. Don’t be intimidated. Believe in yourself. What I would take away from this is definitely when I go back home is to be even more motivated, to be even more inspired, to work even harder cuz you know that somebody is watching. It gives you a new drive. It gives you a new a new sense of purpose where it’s like you want to fulfill and and use your potential that God gave you to its fullest because there’s no reason not to. The younger next generation is watching you. So you need to do your own due diligence to make sure that you’re doing all the right things and working hard and being the best that you can be on and off the field so you can inspire the next batch of kids and the next generation to even take it to the next level. Slow. That’s like a source of motivation to these kids that oh you started up from the grassroots, started from the bottom, but they can get up to that opportunity where in years to come they might be players who get opportunities to play in the NFL. There’s just a lot of avenues and routes for these guys to achieve more now, now that they have kind of somebody to look at and and model themselves after. There’s circumstances where are out of people’s controls where, you know, if they were in the right circumstance, they’d be right where you are. It’s like, who are you to be lacadasical and take things for granted because you were in a good position growing up your whole entire life. Now, it’s just like, man, we got to do everything that God put us on this good green earth to do. And that’s what we’re trying to do now. louder. 1 2 3, you know, give people an opportunity to understand that there’s a different life outside of Nigeria as well. And then once you make that that opportunity for yourself to give back and if they can see someone, you know, doing being successful and coming back to Nigeria and giving back, they’re going to want to do that. And then it just starts starts, you know, a train. Appreciate you, bro. Appreciate you so much, bro. You already know. Anytime. Any know anytime. Anytime. Anytime. Just trying to do something. Every time I I come here, you know, I feel like I got to do do better in terms of like getting closer to my my, you know, my culture. I get reminded every time that I come back that I’m I’m way more American than I thought, you know. So I got to do a better job of you know staying true to uh you know what my parents taught me the culture it’s a very vibrant culture musically artistically you see it comes from diverse part of our nation Nigeria all that has to do is just come in here and decide which angle he wants to release his energy into art’s really really important to Nigeria and all cultures I love art it’s something that Nigerians do well they love to express it themselves and in depth in the culture. We set up this place to make people feel happy. You never come in here and go out sad. Never ever. When I wasn’t paying attention in class cuz I’m a good student. I was sketching on like, you know, the corners of the papers and stuff like that. My dad could draw like he he’s really good at it. So, like he would draw these crazy portraits. I would try to trace over it. You know, I just wanted to copy and be like him. So, I just started drawing on my own. There’s a bunch of art in here, but it’s like all from like different artists and it’s not just one area. So, Ebo, Euroba, Arobo. I like this one too cuz the way we were driving around and you know, just looking outside of the van, it’s like you see something like this all the time. You know, just the energy and you know, people just in the marketplace just chilling by the side of the road, you know, just living an everyday life. You know, growing up, my mom used to wrap something like this around her waist and have meat on like her stomach just to carry. And you know, I was always interested by like the different colorways that she had. I love the way Nigerians like to switch up the traditional in terms of what they wear. You know, has different patterns, different colors, different expression. That’s what it’s all about. Art and culture are interwoven. Any society or any community without culture is not an existing society. So art is very relevant in anything you do. Whether you are talking, whether you are eating, if you are singing, you are dancing, they are all full of art. Sport is art. Obviously, you cannot detach sporting from art. Is art. Every human endeavor is art. A man who doesn’t know where he’s from, he has difficulty in navigating through the path of life. And I felt when the opportunity presents himself for us to come back home. We’re just going to take it and run with it. It was definitely enlightening. Changed my perspective on a lot of things, it made me more grateful. you know, that might be a day where I’m tired or like, you know, I don’t feel like doing something. But then my trip here just showed me that how much people really are hungry to want to be better. Hungry to want to do better for themselves and their family. And if I I have such a beautiful opportunity with the NFL and the Ravens. So why not take advantage of every opportunity I get? Grew up in America. I was raised in America school system in America. And to be able to come here and see these kids and ask them questions. And what I want to take away from this is just humility and and inspiration and more will to work even harder. The talent here is here. It’s just not tapped into maybe opportunity or exposure whatever it may be. Which is why fact it’s upon the people like me and D and beaks to to just come over here and uh just give them at least a platform. There’s a saying we say oh leger meaning it’s in the blood. The mission becomes each one help one. we can bring more more kids and that to me is is the drive that we take back the work begins to plan for next year so that it’s better has a calm demen but it’s a fire in him he has evolved to be that person not that timid young kids anymore but a mad a lion Good. [Applause] I like to say Derek, he’s one of the 1enters. We have uh three or four hills that we kind of use over the offseason. This one and the one across the way here has become one of the tougher hills. [Music] want like this eye. No, it’s not really like He said I got to go up on that. Yeah, that was a little bit more steeper though with the chains pulling the chains up. It’s not really like a hill right here. Like that I mean that that’s steep though if you want. But but let’s go over there. I’m with it. You want to do that? I mean Yeah. It’s more endurance aerobic over there. It’s like long distance. Come on. Let’s go over there. This going to be hard though cuz it’s going to be real rough. He want to get the big He want to get a bigger hill. It’s more crypt. I don’t know what we want to do with the steepness. Hey, we coming to the big boy. He wanted the big big boy. Let’s do this, baby. Let’s do this. It’s about 150 yards from here all the way up. It’s going to grab you, boy. It’s going to grab them hammies. Get it going. Get it going. Get it going. Get it going. Let’s go. Let’s go, Kane. There’s very few that are like him. A lot of people don’t run towards pain. So, he’s one of the 1 percenters that actually run towards pain and adversity and and kind of put itself in some of those fight orflight situations. Up the middle, big hole cuts down for the king. Good King, stay square, King, stay square. Some of those big runs that you see where it’s like, where did that come from? He’s put himself in those situations time in and time out in the offseason where those particular big burst of runs is almost, you know, normal and natural to him. And like the Navy Seals say, you resort to your training. So the training that he does, he falls on that in those in those particular situations. We’re just getting warmed up. It’s work. You versus you, King. It’s good for you. It’s just work. Another day. Another day to be thankful for. I mean, the hill workout, people look at it as tough. He’s across the floor. There you go. He’s out. I would say the hill is actually one of uh the safest workouts, exercise workouts that we do. You know, on flat surfaces, you can pull your hamstring. You’re reaching out further than you supposed to in a sense. This shortens that elongate time. And then it also shortens the reaction time on the on the ground. So you’re also getting ankle, calves, sooulless, uh achilles, things of that nature. And this hill helps with that. 20 gone. Touchdown, Derek Henry. Go. Start up here. D start down here. Which one? Which one you want? Huh? That’s what you want. Chains. Chains. Yeah. [Applause] The famous chains. It kind of gives a little resistance on it. Kind of gives it that grit effect, but they work. They actually work. And you know, when you see Derek and guys are hanging off the back of them and trying to pull them down from the side and they have no chance. He’s trained to break out of those tacos. [Applause] Get that. Get that. Get that. Get that. Solid. He’ll give it to Henry right big hole. Hand across the left. 40. The king of midfield. Rolling. 40. Keep on. He could 20. He will go all the way. This hill right here is a beast though. Reminds me of Eric Dickerson and Jerry Rice and all those old school guys when they in the mountains running and putting their mind and body in places that you can only imagine getting ready for the season. You got to have like mind over matter cuz going upward that incline a little bit harder than just running straight. So it kind of give you that mentality. You got to you got to finish, you know, even though you don’t want to. And that hill, it definitely got to be mind of a matter. I about died twice out there. [Music] Next, heavy. Let’s go. Fourth quarter right here. We need a big run right here. We need a big run right here. They called your number right here. They called your number. 22. Let’s go, King. J Handry. He’s got a hold. He’s to the 40. 3500 to the 30. Smashes the man to the five. He did. Big one. Big one. Touchdown Ravens. You want it to be hard. I mean, that’s what you do it for. So when we go into camp, your legs are ready. They’re strong. And you know, you built to to finish strong. It ain’t going to get done by nobody else. So, you know, I got to do it. I like pushing myself. That’s just how I always been. Push myself to the to the limit and, you know, get the work done. Here we go. Ready, ready, ready, ready, and go. Hold on. Here we go. Ready, ready, ready, ready, and go. Hold on. Okay. Here we go. Get that. Just got one more thing to check off the list. We got everything. We got Russian titles. We got 2K seasons down to 13 over 13,000 yards. Obviously, first ball of fame, bro. We just need just need bring Baltimore in that ring, baby. That’s one last thing we need. It’s a wrap. [Music] Y’all about witness a dead body. Y’all did for a little bit. But no, it was good though. I knew that. I feel good. Year 10, a major major blessing. Um, very thankful. I’m excited for this year and can’t wait to to get to it. But till then, we going to get better today. Derek Henry who muscles in for the touchdown a couple of tackles running through Parsons and carrying him for another first down. Just it takes a toll when you’re trying to tackle him. Stiff arm, one of the most vicious in the game. Training camp’s going to be hot like it was out there in the hills. It’s going to be hard. You going to have times where it’s going to make make you want to quit and that’s the days you get better. That’s the days you find out who you are. You know, holding each other accountable um on the field, you know, making each other better every day on all three phases. And you know, just just focusing focusing on that, focus on getting better individually and collectively as a group and the sky’s the limit. And he slammers his way across in a touchdown. Derek Henry Third and one. It’s Henry Ay racing for the hole and more. Just ran right through Caleb Carson. Henry offering the races. He goes Smithing his way to the 11 yd line. Henry with a stiff arm. Once he gets into you, that stiff arm is vicious. You know, last year was a good year, but you know, It got ended early and didn’t end the way we wanted it to, but I’m excited for this upcoming season. We had so much fun last season and I feel like it’s only going to get better. Everybody’s going to be focused and determined and hungry to finish better than we did last year. I know everybody’s working hard. So once we get together, we hit the ground rolling. So yeah, looking forward to a great season. [Music] All right. All right. What we getting? What we doing? [Music] We’re going to do some reacts drops stationary. Mhm. Going to do some left and right sticks. Y we’re going to do some resistance starts. Okay. Get the shoots. Go 45s and 90. Come out of the shoots. Top of the route. Yep. Uh work on some excels and D cells. Cool. Then we got 12 routes. Yep. Yep. Cool. Always come back here to get good work in. My alma mater. Always got great staff, great coaches. Same same coach has been here since I was here. So just here to get a little more work in. God, I met them here in 2014. So, I’ve been with him ever since then. Probably two, him and his brother. Obviously, two of the hardest workers I ever been around. Um, both of them. We get it in every summer. Um, usually here. I want you working your drops right now. Just get your leg activating your legs. [Music] Be real aggressive with your stick. Let’s work on staying in our base right here. Yeah. Let’s avoid this all the crap we see out of out of your base. Keep everything in here. Mhm. And push push push push push push push off the ground. Yep. Drop. Just like a car, right? Car going 100 miles an hour. It’s going to take a longer to slow down. So, same thing. Go, go, go, go, go. There you go. Yep. That’s fine. Good. Good. 3 2 1. There you go. But it’s hard to guard that when you active like that and you making everything just shorter and choppier. People get grabbed when they start getting outside of the frame. Yeah. Just that’s when they start getting hands on you. Yeah. And then we also we just got people that’s like Sauce Gardener and and Certain Jun got long arms and they fast, right? Oh, it’s this it’s got to really it’s hard to like really just trying to stay here like cuz every time I make a move I be DIY cuz they tell you like you know what I mean? They tell you they want you to sell this way. So they want you boom boom make a move but you know what I mean for the longest. So it’s just hard to try to keep it your feet tight. And see that part the second part of that when you’re trying to sell them that should be in your stem. Yeah. So when I’m selling I’m selling them by my stem. If they there and I need to go there I’m going there first. Yeah. Back here. Now I’m going to drop him off back over here where I’m trying to go. Right. It’s hot. It is. Yeah. That’s what uh Harbo say. You know, practicing in the heat gets your blood like going and it gets you like conditioned for the heat to be able to practice in the heat. It’s harder to breathe. So yeah. Yeah. You can do it at 100 100° weather to be able to do it up there. So it definitely gets you prepared for sure. Three, two, one. Yep. There you go. Run. Run. Yep. That’s it. That’s all right. Yeah. Do we’ll do one more. Perfect. Perfect. You ran. You got here. What you did? I too I’m too far inside. Like I I was reaching like I feel I went here and like Yeah. Just keep it tight. Everything else perfect. Yeah. [Music] Exhale. Del Xhale. Good. Run. Run. There you go. Yep. That’s it. That’s it right there. Let’s say he inside. Boom. Right. I push him in. He going to get further inside. Now, once I go back vertical, he got to come back this way. Then I’m coming back inside. Yep. When we get there, we got to run away from him. So, work on accelerating out. Good. There you go. Be quick. Be quick. Be quick. Yep. There you go. Good run. That’s it. Yep. Good. For me, this is this is home. So, I really rather wouldn’t be anybody anywhere else really. And I mean, this this is great work. You know, getting in the hot, getting the Texas heat. I mean, it gets you prepared and makes things harder now, so they’re easier in the long run. [Music] I mean, work hard now, play hard later. That’s how I put it. [Music] had a good workout yesterday. The heat was no joke. But today, we’re here early putting in work, getting some golf in. Have my twin brother Trac, my uncle Jerry, and my main man CV right there. Going to have some fun today. [Music] I use some TE’s, please. That’s crazy, bro. In the NFL can’t afford teeth. [Music] Lucky. Mhm. It went in bogey. Par first. Come on. The camera’s come out. [Music] Yeah. That was that was a good shot. Yeah. Appreciate it, man. Just don’t let it happen again. [Music] Uhuh. It’s a good pup. Thank you. Thank you. You don’t have to clap for me. Sorry, man. It’s okay. That’s all right. I wasn’t going to. [Music] Now you do have a mulligan. [Music] It’s okay to say it’s a good shot, you know. [Music] Is that me all the way up there? Okay. All right. No, I mean, it’s really a lot farther than yours, though. All right, bro. Uh, you know, you have a mulligan. Everybody acted different today, man. Ah, I know we’re going to the beach today. Hopefully, he hits it right in that sand trap. That’s good for me. It’s a great shot. You know, this is truly really the only breaks we both get and it’s fortunate that’s at the same time. So, you know, obviously when we get together back here at home, I mean, we try to spend as much time together possible, you know, cuz we know like especially during the season like two football seasons together, it’s really hard to find time to get, you know, with each other. going into year five. Yeah. Isn’t that crazy? Crazy how fast that flies by. That’s insane, bro. It It flies by so fast, bro. How do you feel about it? I feel good about it. I mean, like especially like, you know, resigning that new contract like just as you get into the league, that’s what you where you at least want to get to. Obviously, you want to get more after that, but at least get to a second one. You know what I mean? and let alone second contract with the same team. But this team, yeah, the TL Baltimore Ravens team that’s actually good, you know, playoff contenders basically every year. You know what I mean? Like a lot of guys can’t say that. So, and of course being surrounded by straight dudes. Oh my god. Dudes, I remember we talked about this too. like when it’s all said and done like growing up have kids and everything and be able to say like bro you know you played with Lamar like Hall of Fame players Derek Henry like you got you played with those guys like actually play like caught a touchdown from Lamar Jackson to be able to longest touchdown longest career. I wasn’t going to say it. I wasn’t going to say it. I was going to say, but no, it’s it’s really crazy though, like when you think about it to be able to like when you’re a kid and now getting to that point now to be able to say that like Exactly, bro. That’s you know what I mean? It is crazy. I’m telling you. Blessing, bro. It is. It is. [Music] Obviously, the team’s going to be really good. Yeah, we’re so loaded. Like, we got everything we need. I mean, obviously Lamar’s going to be Lamar. The king’s going to be the king. Exactly. Do that. I mean, bro, we got weapons all over, bro. Like, and I think the big thing like even with Dehop, like having a guy like that, adding that to what already last year with Bait and Z, we have depth. You know what I mean? Like there’s depth. Obviously, that’s what makes it the team good, too. It’s not only the start, it’s the depth behind it, too. [Music] What’s going to be the most exciting thing about you think going to be the most exciting about this upcoming season? I mean just I mean really the the potential like you know what I mean like look how far we got last year if we just pulling it all together like we we have the opportunity to win the whole thing this year. Yeah. So, I mean, I’m really just looking at how good we’re going to piece it all together. And I feel like we do that, nobody’s going to be able to stop us, bro. Exactly. Nobody should should, right? Nobody, man. It’s going to be good. It’ll be a good year. Be a good year. It’ll be good, man. [Music] Football season. It is so so close. The middle of July, everybody. Well, don’t let the summer heat fool you. Football season is about to begin, and we saw that happening in Owens Mills. The final touches being applied for the Ravens 30th season. 2025 coming up. Uh it is training camp season is upon us. Cue those first day of school jitters by the end of uh the week if everyone’s going to be up and Adam in the National Football League. Players back in the facility getting settled in and getting ready for the grind that is training camp. Teammates get set to build some new chemistry with their new teammates, learn a new playbook, and hopefully translate some success on the football field come the 2025 NFL season. How excited are you just to get this thing started and what the season’s going to be? Super anxious, anxious, excited, ready to go. This season’s exciting because everybody’s coming back. Most of us is healthy and ready to go and we’re building around new guys as well. You know, we have the rookies coming around with high potential. So, we’re excited about what everybody can bring to the table. Training camps are opening all over the place. So, we have essentially we’ve made it. Feel like we’ve made it. I feel like we’ve made it. Now, we’re going to start off with Johnny, Reverend Johnny Shelton, our guy. He’s going to kick us off here with a message like we do every year. It’s going to be awesome. What I want to challenge us for just few minutes is that what are we rooted in? What are you rooted in? What is it that holds you together? Not when things are going good, but when things are not not going so well as we embark on this 2025 season, man, let’s check oursel. Are are we rooted deep? Are we rooted in those areas, in those things, man, that’s going to keep us when the storms come? Not if, when they come. Are we rooted deep enough to where we’re going to be able to hold on? not only hold on but thrive. That’s where championship teams are made, championship families are made, championship men are made. It’s during those times. And my challenge and encouragement to all of us in this room is that we do our part. [Applause] I just want to put this in perspective of like how we work together. What is this really about? Like what are we doing here? Okay. So, what are we here for? What’s our purpose? Johnny put the seed up there with the roots. What is it? It’s simple. All right. The seed is football. We’re here for football, right? We’re focusing on what’s important. What’s important? What we’re going to be intentional about is what we’re going to become great at. And we’re going to do it now, one day at a time. All those things that we know are important to our football. Let’s just focus on that today. Okay. Let’s go. [Music] Yes sir. We are back man. They go crazy on that. They love them. Yes, sir. We are back, man. Get that vacation smell off of us today. All right, fellas. Welcome back. Yeah. Oh, yeah. First day of training camp is an exciting day. Get 360 muffin. All right, Dr. M. Let’s start this thing off, right? We’re just trying to have a great day, a great day today, you know, and uh we have a lot of goals. The main focuses right now is being out here in training camp and putting the work in and and getting better. You know, this is time to set yourself up for a great season. We’re trying to get better at a thousand different things that apply to what we’re trying to do. And we’re trying to be very intentional. Good job, Katon. About working on the things that are going to apply in games during the season. Practice what we’re going to use during the season. Room to grow, room to improve, and that’s why you have training camp being present right now. um focus on what we need to do out here on the field just so when we get in the season we doing what we supposed to do to get what we want good job getting that ball in that hole right there man he is moving Man, how are you different from past seasons? What’s different from Lamar Jackson? Um, I’m 28. Last year I was 27, so I’m a year older. Yeah, that’s it. A year wiser. That’s all I’m saying. Yeah, there you go. L, that’s better. Good job. Good job. Way to navigate it. See you before, right? He’s been he’s in his eighth year, yet he’s only 28 years old. So, his his window to improve is pretty big. First of all, he works really hard. Good job. Good job. Secondly, he really wants to get better, you know, and he’s already great. He’s not one of these guys that says, “I’m there. I’ve arrived.” He never looks at it that way. He always looks at what can I do to get better. If there’s something that happens on the field, even when it’s not quote unquote his fault, it’s his fault in his mind. What can I do to make it right? Like the thought. I like the thought. I like the thought, though. That’s why we do it, baby. Day one, man. I know he’s done a good job of communicating that with the team as well, you know, uh that kind of mindset. So, uh he’s grown in every way. Safety, good job right there. That’s a good spot. Good job, Z. Great job for If they’re overdoing something early, you know they’re lying. I already knew cuz they don’t never do that. Yeah, I know. And so just like the safeties, if the safeties are like overdoing it early, bring it from the other side. Well done, L. Well done, L. Can you dunk, L? I used to. The only time I want to see you dunk is after a touchdown on the goal post 30,000. I’m good. Little finger roll. Yes, sir. Oh, they’re going to be pretty good on me. What’s it been like so far practicing you out? Um, it’s been great. Um, he is um he’s a confident guy. Certainly, if you’re going to be a star on defense, Baltimore the place to be. All right, Jire Alexander. I like that guy. He said, “Not on me.” Hey, so it’s it’s pretty fun to practice with him. He’s still that guy. Ja still that guy, man. Jaier Alexander is one of those guys. Thought he looked good. I mean, had a heck of a play on the sideline there. I tried him out the other day. I tried to get him on a favor with Dehop. He tried to throw a back shoulder on me with DeHop. So, you know, I had to give him a little a little jazz about that. You know, I said, “Come on, man. I know it’s my first day, but man, you know, it’s still me.” Oh, we was a little bit out of b. We was We was out of bounds a little. Guy’s been playing great ball for a long time. Just to have that addition on our defense, uh, I think is very special. What I like the most is just his his swag to the game. I think confidence is the biggest key you can have at corner. He’s a perfect perfect fit for our secondary. What the hell? What a day. What a day. What a day. What a day. What a day. So, there’s all this outside noise and excitement. How do you as the coach kind of handle all that outside noise when everybody is like, “Man, this Ravens team is loaded.” Cause for excitement is the fact that I think our guys just really believe that that we can be really good at what we do. Yeah, I mean, it’s always cool to build a team with high caliber players who have incredible talent, but I think you got to put the work in. My reason for optimism with the Ravens is that they have nearly their entire offense back. This isn’t just Lamar Jackson. I believe our offense has no limits, but for right now, we just grinding. Everybody can look good in the jersey and don’t have the big name. But it’s about the work you put in, the chemistry you build on the field each and every day, pushing each other to get each other better, just so when we get to the season, we’re cooking on all cylinders. But, you know, we we all more interested in the work than, you know, all the hype and, you know, what it looks like. Today was a great start for us, the start of training camp. Felt like we got out of it. Had a great day. I’m going say it went awesome. You know, just being with my guys, just getting ready for this ride. I I believe it’s going to be a great year this year. An excellent first day. At the same time, we still have miles to go. Hey, I thought today was just all around good. That was a good start. That was a good start. We are on our way, but we got miles to go. Everybody agree? All right. One great day at a time. Thought you guys did a hell of a job. We’ll watch the tape. Continue to get better. Just leave no doubt every single day we out here, man. Coaches, players, every single day, man. Cuz we going to look back on these opportunities and be like, “Damn, I wish I would have did this. I wish I would have did that.” Let’s not have that at all. So, embrace it right now, man, and do everything in your power for yourself to get us to where we need to go as a team. And I promise you, every single player do that and look themselves in the mirror day in and day out. The sky’s the limit for us. Hey, good day today, y’all. Boy, both sides, all phases, man. Let’s keep going, man. Just day one. Get ready for day two. Grind on two. One, two. It’s beautiful.

This episode of Wired takes you from a football camp in Nigeria with Odafe Oweh, David Ojabo and Nnamdi Madubuike to Dallas to run hills with Derrick Henry and play golf with Tylan Wallace and his twin. And, Training Camp begins at the Castle.

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