Many Ravens will likely root for the Denver Broncos to knock off the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50.
After all, the Broncos are coached by former Ravens Offensive Coordinator Gary Kubiak and have a pair of Ravens from last season (tight end Owen Daniels and safety Darian Stewart).
Don't count Ravens outside linebacker Elvis Dumervil among those necessarily pulling for the Broncos, however,* *even though he used to play for Denver.
Dumervil suited up for the Broncos for six seasons before a fax snafu led to his release, and it seems that he's not thrilled that the team is playing in the Super Bowl three years later.
Dumervil is still close with former Broncos teammate Von Miller, but not so much with the organization.
"Von is like a younger brother. So I hope he wins one for him," Dumervil said at the Pro Bowl. "Outside of that, man, it's just a regular Sunday for me. Until I'm in it, it's a regular Sunday."
Dumervil came to Baltimore off the heels of its Super Bowl XLVII victory, hoping the Ravens would give him a good shot of getting there. Along their championship path, the Ravens beat Dumervil and the Broncos in the divisional playoff round.
The Ravens were a trendy Super Bowl 50 pick, but had a rough season and finished 5-11. Dumervil is signed with the Ravens for two more seasons, so there's still a chance of reaching his first Super Bowl with Baltimore.
Wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. is another Ravens veteran still looking for his first Super Bowl ring who will watch his former team in the big dance. Smith and the Panthers lost to the Patriots in Super Bowl XXXVIII at the end of the 2003 season.
Similar to Dumervil, Smith said he's excited for his former friends, and for the city where he still lives. He didn't specifically say he was pulling for the team, however, after the Panthers and General Manager Dave Gettleman released him after 13 seasons.
On last week's "Dan Patrick Show," Smith predicted the Panthers will beat the Broncos, but said, "I think it's going to be a better game than people think."
"I wouldn't be surprised if [the Panthers] ran away with it," Smith said. "But the Denver Broncos do have a solid defense and it's going to be interesting to see what kind of game plan and how effective they will be."
