Torrey Smith 2- 2015

Torrey Smith Drawing

I have drawn Torrey before, and have an entry in this blog from an autograph signing that I went to with my boys. Torrey played for the Maryland Terrapins before playing for the Baltimore Ravens. This week he signed with the San Francisco 49ers. He has never caught a pass for the 49ers as pictured in my drawing.

Ray Rice No.2, 2013

 Ray Rice No.2 Drawing

Ray Rice No.2 Drawing in progress

Running Back for the Baltimore Ravens, Ray has become one of the team MVP's, and a crowd favorite. Since being drafted in 2008, Ray is now second in rushing attempts, second in rushing yards, second in rushing touchdowns, and third in combined touchdowns, in the Ravens history. Last season in Superbowl XLVII, he won his first ring. He has gone to the Pro Bowl three times (2009,2011,2012).

My wife also has a big crush on him!!!

Torrey Smith Autograph Signing 2011

Torrey Smith Autographed Drawing

Torrey Smith with his drawing

Joshua and Jacob with Torrey Smith as he signs his drawing

Ravens Wide Reciever: I did this drawing of Torrey when he was a Senior at University of Maryland. This year he is a rookie with the Baltimore Ravens, and quickly becoming one of the teams superstars. In this seasons week 3 against the St. Louis Rams, Torreys first 3 receptions (74,41,18 yards) as a professional football player were touchdowns. The 74 yarder was the longest touchdown pass of Quarterback Joe Flaccos career. He was the first NFL rookie, and only the twelth player to amass three touchdown receptions in one quarter. The autograph signing was on Nov. 29th, which is also the day Joshua became a teenager!

Matt Birk 2011

Matt Birk Drawing

Matt Birk Drawing in progress

Center for the Baltimore Ravens: Matt was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the 1998 NFL Draft. He has been to six Pro Bowls. He also started the HIKE Foundation for at risk children.

Steve Largent and Jim Zorn 2011

Steve Largent and Jim Zorn Drawing (autographed and inscribed by Steve)

Drawing in progress while the cat stays warm under the drawing light!

Jim Zorn is a retired NFL quarterback, and current quarterback coach: A left handed thrower, Jim was considered one of the most prolific scrambling quarterbacks of his time. He joined the expansion Seattle Seahawks in 1976 and played the first seven and a half seasons of his career there. That same year, he was named the AFC rookie of the year. He retired from playing in 1987. He spent two years as the head coach for the Washington Redskins, and this past season was Joe Flaccos' quarterback coach with the Baltimore Ravens.

Steve Largent is a retired NFL wide receiver: Steve was drafted in the 1976 NFL Draft by the Houston Oilers. After four pre season games, they were going to cut him, but got an eighth round draft pick for him from the expansion Seattle Seahawks. OOOPS! Steve spent 13 seasons with them, and when he retired, he had been to seven Pro Bowls. He also held the NFL record for most receptions (819), most receiving yards (13,089), most receiving touchdowns (100), and had the then current streak of 177 consecutive games with a reception. Steve was a U.S. Congressmen from 1994-2002, and was elected to the NFL Hall of Fame in 1995.

In 2008, NFL Films voted Largent and Zorn as the number ten pass catch combination of all time. They were also the first two players inducted into the Seahawks Ring of Honor.

My father is friends with someone who works on Capital Hill with Steve Largent, and had him autograph and put his Hall of Fame inscription on my drawing.

Mike "Mad Dog" Curtis 2011

Autographed Mike Curtis Drawing

Mad Dog and I

Mad Dog signing my drawing (notice the Super Bowl ring)

Baltimore Colts Linebacker: Mike "Mad Dog" Curtis was considered the meanest player of his era. Mike was drafted by the Colts in the 1965 NFL Draft (the year I was born). In 1970 sportswriters voted Mike as the NFL Defensive player of the year. That year the Colts won Super Bowl V against the Cowboys. Mike played in four Pro Bowls, was drafted by the Seattle Sea hawks in the 1976 expansion draft, then retired in 1978 with the Washington Redskins.

In 1982, Four years after Mike's retirement, Ben Roethlisberger was born. In this drawing, Mike is sacking Ben. As a Ravens fan, nothing would be better than seeing Mike take off the head of "Big Ben". This is my version of fantasy football!

On Saturday night Ben and the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Ravens to eliminate them from the playoffs AGAIN! On Monday night, Jan.17, I went to the Great Moments shop in Timonium for the Mad Dog signing. I told Mike that this was my version of fantasy football, and his response was, "I never played the pass, I would have never gotten to him."

Josh Wilson 2010

Josh Wilson Double Autographed Drawing

Josh signing my drawing

Josh and Josh!

Josh Wilson drawing in progress

Baltimore Ravens Cornerback: Josh played his college ball as a University of Maryland Terrapin. He was drafted in the NFL 2007 Draft by the Seattle Seahawks. In 2010 in an effort to strengthen its secondary, the Ravens traded for Josh. On Dec. 13,2010 the Ravens went into overtime against the Houston Texans. Josh intercepted Quarterback Matt Schaub and ran 12 yards for a touchdown to win the game.

On Dec. 29,2010 Joshua and I went to Great Moments in White Marsh for the autograph signing. Josh loved the drawing, and got a kick out of signing it twice with both his Terp, and Raven jersey number.

Ray Lewis Autograph Signing Dec.10,2010

Autographed Ray Lewis Drawing

Ray Lewis with my autographed drawing

Ray signing my drawing

Ray Lewis meets Jacob, one of his biggest fans!

On Dec.10,2010 Lauren,Joshua,Jacob and myself went to the Great Moments Sports shop in Timonium Md. to meet Ray Lewis. We couldn't believe how nice and gracious he was. He loved my drawing, and the no.52 Miami Hurricanes jersey that I was wearing!

Ed Dickson 2010

Ed Dickson Drawing

Ed and Joshua and Jacob with the autographed drawing

Ed about to autograph my drawing

Baltimore Ravens rookie Tight End: Ed played his college ball at the University of Oregon. While there he was considered one of the best Tight Ends in the country. In the 2010 NFL Draft, the Ravens chose him in the third round (70th overall pick).

Our family went to his autograph signing at the Great Moments Shop on Oct. 26th.

Willis McGahee 2010

Willis McGahee drawing

Baltimore Ravens Running Back: Willis played his college ball for the Miami Hurricanes. He was on the 2001 National Championship team. In 2002, Willis set team records with ten, one hundred yard games, and twenty eight touchdowns. In the 2003 NFL draft, he was the twenty third pick in the first round by the Buffalo Bills. In 2007 he was traded to the Baltimore Ravens and made the 2007 Pro Bowl.

Michael Oher 2010

Michael Oher Drawing

Baltimore Ravens Offensive Tackle: Michael was the Ravens first round draft pick (23rd overall) in the 2009 NFL Draft. Prior to the 2010 season Michael was moved permanently to the Left Tackle position to protect Joe Flacco's blind side. His early life from childhood through his football career at Ole Miss, was the subject of Michael Lewis's 2006 book, The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game. The book has since been made into a movie.

Anquan Boldin 2010

Autographed Anquan Boldin Drawing

Anquan Boldin and Joshua with my drawing

Anquan signing my drawing

Baltimore Ravens Wide Receiver. Chosen by the Arizona Cardinals in the 2003 NFL Draft, Anquan has played opposite of Larry Fitzgerald who I drew two seasons ago. In 2003 he was the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. In his first game as a rookie, he had 217 yards receiving which is an NFL record. He was the fastest player in NFL history to reach 400 and 500 career receptions. He has been to three Pro Bowls.

On March 6, the Baltimore Ravens made a trade with the Arizona Cardinals for Anquan. He is pictured here in my drawing, three days later, in his Ravens uniform which he has never actually worn yet.

In week 3 of the Ravens 2010 season against the Cleveland Browns, Anquan became the fastest player in NFL history to reach 600 receptions. (He also caught three touchdowns passes in the win) Two days later, Joshua and I went to Anquan's autograph signing at Great Moments in Westminster.

Matt Stover 2010

Matt Stover drawing

NFL Place Kicker. Signed by the Indianapolis Colts at the start of the 2009 season, Matt was the third most accurate kicker in NFL history, and fifth all time in scoring. Matt played the previous thirteen seasons for the Baltimore Ravens, including winning Super Bowl XXXIV. On Feb.7,2010, at 42 years and 11 days, Matt became the oldest player to start a Super Bowl. Matt kicked a field goal to become the oldest player to score points in a Super Bowl, but the Colts lost to the New Orleans Saints.

Jared Gaither 2010

Jared Gaither drawing

Baltimore Ravens Offensive Tackle. Jared played his college ball for the University of Maryland Terrapins. At 6'9" and 340 lbs., Jared is the biggest player in the NFL.

Ray Rice 2009

Autographed Ray Rice Drawing

Joshua and Jacob with Ray Rice and my drawing

Ray signing my drawing

Baltimore Ravens Running Back. In just his second year, Ray not only lead the Ravens in rushing, and receiving yards, he was second overall in the NFL in all purpose yards (2041 total). He also had 286 combined yards in the two playoff games. Ray was only the eighth player in NFL history to have over 1000 yards rushing, and 700 yards receiving, Ray was named team MVP, and named to the 2010 NFL Pro Bowl, his first.

Thanks to Cedar at Bolt Athletics.com for getting me the picture of Joshua and Jacob with Ray and my drawing!

Haloti Ngata 2009

Autographed Haloti Ngata Drawing

Haloti signing my drawing at Great Moments Timonium

Haloti with Joshua at Great Moments Timonium

Defensive Tackle for the Baltimore Ravens. In the 2006 NFL Draft, the Baltimore Ravens selected Haloti as their first round pick (12th overall). This year at seasons end, Haloti was elected to his first Pro Bowl. On Jan. 7,2010, Joshua and I went to Jay's Great Moments memorabilia shop in Timonium Md. for Haloti's autograph session.

Ray Lewis 2009

Ray Lewis drawing 2009

On December 20,2009 I went to my first Ravens game. During the pre-game warm ups, I went down to the front row of the end zone where the Ravens were. This was the first time that I had seen Ray, or any of the Ravens that I have drawn live. I really didn't think much of it until I was up in my seat during the player introductions. When Ray exploded out of the tunnel, and did his dance, the place went nuts! His presence just electrified the crowd, just as it has done for fourteen years now in Baltimore. Ray Lewis IS the Ravens! At seasons end, Ray was elected to his eleventh Pro Bowl.

Derrick Mason 2009

Derrick Mason drawing 2009

On December 20,2009 against the Chicago Bears, Derrick in the first quarter, became only the sixteenth player in NFL history to make 850 catches. That was my first Ravens game.

Terrell Suggs 2009

Terrell Suggs drawing 2009

Baltimore Ravens Outside Linebacker

Ray Lewis 2008

Ray Lewis drawing 2008

Middle Linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens. The teams leader on and off the field for many years, Ray is now regarded as one of the best linebackers of all time. Ray was the MVP of the 2000 Superbowl.