The Ravens like putting on their blue suede shoes after winning the Super Bowl.
There have been six Elvises (or is it Elvi?) in NFL history, according to Pro Football Reference.Â
The Ravens have had two of them, and both were added via free agency after Baltimore won the Super Bowl.
That's freaky.
After winning Super Bowl XXXV, the Ravens bent over backwards to maintain their star defense, and figured that with a better offense and quarterback, they would have a great chance at a repeat. So General Manager Ozzie Newsome replaced quarterback Trent Dilfer with Elvis Grbac.
It was a bold move to supplant the player that went to Disney World, but Grbac was coming off a Pro Bowl year with the Kansas City Chiefs, a year in which he threw for 4,169 and 28 touchdowns. Dilfer's best season was throwing for 2,729 yards and 21 touchdowns.
Well, it didn't work out. Grbac's performance dropped and he threw for 3,033 yards, 15 touchdowns and 18 interceptions. He helped get the Ravens back to the playoffs, but fell in the divisional round in Pittsburgh. It was Grbac's final season.
I expect to see this year's Elvis addition work out a whole lot better.
Dumervil is also fresh off a Pro Bowl season in which he notched 11 sacks and six forced fumbles. He's replacing departed pass rusher Paul Kruger, who went on a playoff surge with four sacks, including two in Super Bowl XLVII.
In case you're wondering, here are the NFL's all-time Elvises:
- DE Elvis Dumervil (2006-current; Broncos, Ravens)
- RB Elvis Joseph (2001-2003; Jaguars)
- QB Elvis Grbac (1993-2001; 49ers, Chiefs, Ravens)
- DB Elvis Patterson (1984-1993; Giants, Chargers, Raiders, Cowboys)
- DE Elvis Franks (1980-1986; Browns, Raiders, Jets)
- RB Elvis Peacock (1979-1981; Rams, Bengals)
