Rob Abiamiri takes advantage of second opportunities.
The former Mount St. Joe?s and University of Maryland tight end is hoping to catch on full time with the Ravens in his second year with the organization. And he said there is one way to do it.
“Hopefully, I will be able to show the coaches this summer that I can be a contributor on special teams,” Abiamiri said.
With Pro Bowler Todd Heap and veteran Dan Wilcox among others at the tight-end position, Abiamiri knows space at his natural position is limited. Last season, Abiamiri was cut following training camp. “I understood, even though I was disappointed,” he said. “I thought that was the end of my career as a football player.”
In the weeks that followed, Abiamiri stayed at his family?s house in Randallstown, mere minutes from theteam?s Owings Mills headquarters. He was home for “10 or 11 weeks,” getting an occasional workout with an NFL team. One day late in the season, the Ravens asked him to rejoin the team on the practice squad.
“Two hours after that, the Broncos called and wanted to sign me. It was crazy, because if the Broncos had called two or three hours earlier, I would have been in Denver,” Abiamiri said.
The life of a practice-squad player is a challenging one.
“There is a little disappointment,” Abiamiri said, “because you?re hoping and preparing like you?re going to play, but it doesn?t happen. But, what can you do? I just took it and got ready for the next week.”
Abiamiri said he relished the opportunity. “I?m trying to be on the roster this year,” he added. “The thought of playing in the town where I grew up, that?s one of the things that really excites me about being here.”
THE ABIAMIRI FILE
High school: Mt. St. Joe?s
College: Maryland
Did you know? Abiamiri?s brother, Paschal, followed him to Mount St. Joe?s and Maryland, where they were on the football team together. Paschal graduated from Maryland this week . . . His younger brother, Victor, a high-school All-American at Gilman, is a promising defensive lineman for Notre Dame.
