It's almost like a fresh start for Ravens cornerback Lardarius Webb, even though he's entering his seventh season in purple.
He buzzed off his once long dreads. He took a reported $2 million paycut, reducing his contract and public pressure to stay with the Ravens. Most importantly, he's healthy, something that has been elusive for the small-statured cornerback.
"I'm feeling awesome," Webb said during minicamp.
"I'm back now, getting my feet acclimated out with the boys. I kind of missed them a little bit. So, I'm just having fun, getting the defense back and getting the secondary back where we're supposed to be."
Webb is a massive piece of the Ravens' secondary, which is looking for a bounce back year after giving up the 10th most passing yards in the league last season.
The Ravens need Webb to be at his best, a level he hasn't reached since 2011. That year, there was chatter that Webb could be nearing Pro Bowl status.
Webb tore his ACL in the sixth game of the 2012 season and missed the Super Bowl run. He started all 16 games in 2013 but wasn't his usual disruptive self. Then Webb suffered a back injury on the first day of training camp last year, forcing him out of the first four games. He battled that and a groin ailment throughout the season.
This will be the first time Webb will go into training camp without having rehab since 2011.
"It feels good just to be able to run around and [not] have any pain," Webb said.
Webb said he went through one-on-one training this offseason since he didn't have to be with the Under Armour Performance Center trainers. He looked a bit stiff in the first minicamp practice, but was improved on the second day.
"Webby looks good. All I know is what I see right now. He came out and he looks, to me, like he's in shape," Head Coach John Harbaugh said. "His feet look really good. He's moving his feet, he's changing direction."
Even though fellow starter Jimmy Smith got a big contract extension this offseason, Webb is still very much a leader in the secondary. And he likes the pieces around him this year. Webb said he's stressing to the group that they need more turnovers this season.
Webb is one of the team's best ball hawks. He had five picks in 2011 and 11 for his career but just one last season.
"If we can just get some turnovers, be Top 5 in turnovers, then we can go a long way," Webb said.
