Antwan Barnes felt like he was preparing for the first day of school Sunday. However, instead of preparing for English or science, all of his classes centered on football.
The Ravens rookie outside linebacker from Florida International arrived at the Best Western Hotel in Westminster set to start his first NFL training camp, which begins this morning at McDaniel College.
Recommended Stories
“I was in Miami and couldn?t wait to get back to Baltimore,” Barnes said. “I was trying to call the coaches every day trying to see how everyone was doing and if I could come up earlier. I came up here to prove myself.”
Barnes joined 23 other rookies hoping to make the Ravens final, 53-man roster. Many of them entered the hotel like wide-eyed high school freshmen unsure of where to find their room or playbook.
Fellow fourth-round pick fullback Le?Ron McClain, who starred at the University of Alabama, said playing college football in front of larger crowds than the Ravens will help him transition into his professional career.
“I?ve been working hard for months getting ready for this day and it all gets started [Monday],” McClain said. “I?m looking forward to taking advantage of everything and getting ready to play. We packed the stadium with 95,000 fans every week and are fans are crazed and Ravens fans are the same or maybe even more so I feel like I?m prepared for the game.”
On the opposite end of the spectrum were the Ravens? veterans, who exuded confidence Sunday. Ray Lewis, who entered the hotel around 11 a.m., appeared relaxed in a University of Miami T-shirt and shorts.
Tight end Daniel Wilcox arrived about two hours later and said he feels much more upbeat about training camp this year coming off a 13-3 season than when the team entered training camp last year following a 6-10 season that put Coach Brian Billick?s job in jeopardy.
“It helps tremendously to focus [on the game],” Wilcox said. “Distractions are what bog your mind and keep your mind from learning your plays and just keep your mind off football.”
