At Saturday night’s NFL Honors ceremony, Ravens running back Ray Rice’s 30-yard reception on a fourth-and-29 against the San Diego Chargers on Nov. 25 was named 2012 Bridgestone Performance Play of the Year.

Here’s another look at “Hey Diddle-Diddle, Ray Rice Up the Middle” as the Ravens play in Super Bowl XLVII on Sunday night…

NEW ORLEANS — If you go back far enough in time, you’ll find a point when the greatest in NFL history weren’t nearly as accomplished or decorated in their respective careers.

Joe Montana wasn’t always a four-time Super Bowl winner for the San Francisco 49ers. John Elway was long considered the quarterback who couldn’t win the big one before two Super Bowl rings to end his long career in Denver.

In Baltimore, Ray Lewis and the Ravens defense weren’t always associated with the league’s all-time greatest. The soon-to-be-retired linebacker may have been the team’s best defensive player immediately as a rookie in 1996, but the rest of the world didn’t understand his greatness until a victory in Super Bowl XXXV in which he was voted the game’s most valuable player.

That moment in time propelled Lewis into the conversation as one of the greatest defenders in league history and the Baltimore defense into more than a decade of dominance and respect in NFL circles. It’s the shadow quarterback Joe Flacco will try to escape once and for all as the Ravens compete against the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII on Sunday evening.

Even if the fifth-year quarterback doesn’t look at it in the same way, Sunday’s game will be his defining moment.

“This team has had such a great defense for many years, such big faces on that side of the ball,” Flacco said. “That’s what we’re known for. Us guys on the other side, we don’t have any problem with that. We know that in order to win football games we have to go out there and do our job. We’re kind of humble guys on our side of the ball and don’t really care what people say about how we won it.”

Of course, a single championship won’t bring Flacco into the discussion of the all-time greats, but it would forever transform how outsiders perceive both him and the Ravens. With Lewis retiring and safety Ed Reed’s return in doubt, this era of great Baltimore defense is coming to an end. The numbers this season reflected that despite a stalwart performance from Lewis and the defense in three postseason games.

The opinions about Flacco have already been altered as he’s thrown eight touchdown passes and no interceptions in playoff wins over Indianapolis, Denver, and New England. Teammates believes he has nothing left to prove, but the critics and doubters will remain if the Ravens are unable to finish the job against San Francisco.

No one said it was easy — or even fair — to take that final step, but a win against the 49ers is what’s really needed to close the book on one era and open the door to another, presumably with Flacco leading the way. A new-found respect has been penciled in by even his biggest critics this postseason, but his performance on Sunday will be what’s written in permanent ink.

He may not be able to do it alone, but this postseason has fallen heaviest on the broad shoulders of the Baltimore signal-caller.

“This postseason has done that,” tight end Dennis Pitta said. “I don’t know if it will be on one game or not, because we’re going against a really good defense. It’ll be a challenge for us. I think our defense needs to play well, [but] I certainly think the offense has come a long way. That stigma — that perception — that the Baltimore Ravens are only defense has certainly changed through the course of this season and through this postseason.”

Truthfully, there isn’t much more you can ask of Flacco. A loss to the 49ers wouldn’t erase what he’s already done in his first five seasons in the league. Many will debate where he ranks in the quarterback hierarchy, but there’s no disputing his impeccable ability to remain calm in pressure-filled situations.

But a loss would still be a disappointment, leaving him outside a premium group of quarterbacks.

He’s knocking on the door of greatness, but one final push is needed, just as it was when Lewis came through the tunnel and danced in Tampa with the entire world watching on Jan. 28, 2001. In the meantime, those closest to him will continue to sing his praises until the rest of the world finally catches up — at least in their opinions.

“Joe Flacco’s done a hell of a job,” running back Ray Rice said. “He deserves all the credit. Every quarterback out there gets respect, but you’ve got to mention Joe up there with them now because of what he’s done. He just outplayed two Hall of Famers. Tom Brady and Peyton Manning will be Hall of Famers. Joe Flacco outplayed them both, and that doesn’t happen often.”

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RUNNING BACK RAY RICE

 (on playing San Francisco’s defense) “One thing about the running game is that this defense just takes what’s there – maybe it’s two yards, maybe it’s three. You have to make the best of those situations. We know it’s not going to be easy at all, but it is the Super Bowl, and you have to go out there and give it your best shot at whatever you do because there is no tomorrow after the Super Bowl.”

(on his success this season) “I’ve been patient with my runs. I haven’t been forcing anything. I’ve always said as long as I don’t force the issue, something good will happen. We have our best five linemen out there doing a great job. In the last couple of weeks, the run game has went this way. With that being said, with all that focus on the run game, we pass the ball really well, too. It’s all about having that balance. You have to balance the offense. You’ll be able to move the ball, but the moral of the story is you have to get down there and you have to score. You can have a bunch of yards, but if you don’t have any points to show for it, you find yourself out of a football game.”

(on why his team is in the Super Bowl) “I’ve always known we had a great team, but now we have weapons. We play together, and that’s the best feeling about this whole situation is to know you have a great team. When you have a great team, all things are possible. I don’t have to be the center of attention, but I know I’m a playmaker on this team. When it comes, I just have to make the play. My number is going to be called fairly often, but there are other guys out there that can move the ball. That’s just one of the situations where I don’t have to worry about me going out there and doing too much. I’ll do my job, and my job will be just enough.”

(on his accomplishments) “Last year was the contract. This year the contract is done, I’ve played another Pro Bowl. What’s next? We’re here at the Super Bowl. You win the Super Bowl, and the only thing to chase after that is a legacy. That’s where I’m at in my career now. It went by fast. I can’t believe next year is going to be my sixth year in the NFL. It’s one of those things that goes by fast. I’m glad I didn’t let this time by. I just took advantage of the opportunities I had.”

(on football’s life lessons) “One thing I’ve learned about football that I apply to my daily life was in life you have to hold yourself accountable. If you hold yourself accountable, great things are coming. I hold myself on the field, but you have to hold yourself accountable off the field as well. Another thing is family and brotherhood. You take that brotherhood and family that you’ve learned about in football and take that to life. Anytime you have a close-knit group with somebody, the moral of the story is you have to work together. In life and with your family, you have to work together. You can take a lot of football lessons and apply them to life.”

(on favorite running backs as a kid) “As a little kid, Barry Sanders, Emmitt Smith; I have some Walter Payton apparel. Out of modern-day running backs, LaDainian Tomlinson, (Maurice) Jones-Drew. I’m just a big fan of the running backs because you see everybody’s differences. You can’t just say, ‘Oh, that guy’s a running back.’ Now it’s more like for me, I like to catch the ball. I don’t mind catching them. A catch for me is like a long hand-off. Once I get it, the stat book says different, but you can make a big play on a catch.”

(on who will be the star of the Super Bowl) “It’s hard to say who’s going to be the star of the game because I look at Super Bowls, and just think about the year the Giants won when David Tyree made the catch. The stats run huge numbers, but that catch went down as one of the most memorable plays of Super Bowl history. I just think that your star is being here. You’re in the biggest game and biggest spotlight in the world. Stats are a hidden agenda in that game. It’s all about who makes the play. If it be the guy who came off the bench, the next thing you know if he makes the wining catch, he’s going to get the most media. He’s the star.”

(on Ray Lewis) “He’s been going for 17 years. You have to be doing something great like that for people to come at you. He’s been doing something right for 17 years. He’s going to be a Hall of Famer. When you’re doing something right, there’s got to be that one thing somebody wants to talk about. He takes it in stride. He handles it. He’s taught me how to handle things as well. It’s our job to send him off right for his last game. Then, he can write another chapter on life because he’s going to do something great after football.”

(on Baltimore’s offense) “Just going to the game, how do you not respect our run game over the last couple weeks? We’ve been putting up tremendous numbers. You go down to the playoff stats, the Ravens are ranked pretty high. We’re up there with the best of the best statistically, offensively. It’s the best of the best right now in the playoffs. The regular season is done. In all reality, you have a whole new season right now. Right now, we’re one of the best teams in football statistically in the playoffs.”

(on preparing for the Super Bowl) “I’m definitely excited to get back to practice. I can’t wait. I worked out yesterday. I feel pretty good. I got some conditioning in. I’m treating it like a regular week, taking care of my body. I got a nice deep tissue massage. I’m back to the grind, old school.”

(on making it to the Super Bowl after coming close in past years) “I just think now when you do something that hurts so bad that you have to think about something for a whole year for it to set in. When you get close, it’s like, ‘You know what? Not this time.’ I think that was the most convincing thing about it. People say maybe against the Broncos, people call it whatever you want without the pass we’d lose the game, but we went up there and dominated New England. No one is talking about how the Ravens dominated New England. We outscored them 21-0 in the second half. That was the way to get into the championship because we didn’t want that feeling of them getting close to coming back. That was the only way to get over what happened last year. It’s not that the growing man just beat them, but the growing man dominated them at what they did best. What they do best is score points. Hats off to our defense. I know you’re talking about New England, but it was just the only way to get that feeling out of your stomach. You know how you get that itch? I got in the locker room, and I felt sick when I got there because of that feeling of thinking about how many guys were crying and thinking about our old equipment manager who was fighting a stomach virus. He was sick. It was just a sick feeling coming out of that place that day.”

(on being portrayed as an underdog)  “The world already portrayed us as underdogs. I don’t watch the news and all that stuff, but sometimes it comes across. You check your Twitter or something, and it says the Ravens are four or five point underdogs. I don’t know. I guess that’s for the world to decide. I’ve been the underdog my whole life. Being the underdog just feels like you have something to prove. If you always put yourself at the top, the only way you can go is down. Being the underdog, you have to climb and get to the top, and the only way you can get to the top is winning the Super Bowl.”

(on running backs around the league) “With the running back value said to be going down, what Adrian Peterson has done to bring it back up has been really special. It’s been really special to see what a lot of running backs have done this year. I think every running back came out with a chip on their shoulder this year because everybody was saying our value was going down. I’m satisfied where I’m at, but look at what Adrian Peterson did after knee surgery and his ACL.”

LINEBACKER NAVORRO BOWMAN

(on how competitive he was with his brothers growing up) “We were very competitive. We’re still competitive to this day. Anytime you get a chance to go up against your family member, it’s a little bit more personable, but at the end you can laugh about it. Before it happens we definitely want to win, so I know how (Jim) Harbaugh is feeling.”

(on if it was good to get back to football and practice today) “Yes. We started off yesterday walking through, but today we can run around a little bit.”

(on if he felt like he was out of rhythm with all of the time off) “No, not at all. Everywhere you walk, you see the Super Bowl. You see 49er helmets. So you’re always going to be in rhythm when you see that.”

(on how he and Patrick Willis contrast one another on the field) “I think we complement each other well due to the fact that we’re very similar in athletic ways. We have a chance to disguise a lot of our defenses because we can do a lot of the same things. I just think that gives us an advantage. When going against opposing offenses, they really can’t get a read on what type of defense that we’re in because we’re staying put. We just benefit from it.”

(on stopping the run on Sunday and how important the linebacker corps will be to ensure a win for the 49ers) “The biggest thing is to stop the run. Whenever you can make a team one-dimensional, it gives you a better shot to win the game. That’s our job in the middle, up-front, front seven, just to stop the run and once we do that we’ll be able to let them loose on the outside.”

(on emerging as an every-down linebacker and his ability to cover in the passing game as well as stopping the run) “I just pride myself covering guys, whoever it is – fast, quick, whatever – and I think that’s what you need to separate yourself in this league. You have to be able to do something different or unique and a lot of guys can’t do that at my position.”

(on what to expect from him in this game) “Me to leave it all out there on the field. It’s the last game of the season. We can rest later.”

(on who the best athlete on the team is) “Probably Isaac Sopoaga. He’s about 350 (pounds), can throw the ball probably 100 yards, can catch, can run, can lift whatever he wants to lift and can eat whatever he wants to eat.”

(on how much responsibility he needs to have when Ray Rice is coming out of the backfield considering Rice’s unpredictability) “We’re always matched up on running backs, so I’m not too much worried about it. You have to realize what’s at stake and focus up a little bit more, key in on what to expect. Ray’s a great athlete also. I know they’re going to try to get him the ball as much as possible, but Coach (defensive coordinator Vic Fangio) has done a great job with calling the defenses at right time. So, I’m sure we’ll be in the right defense in the right situation.”

(on if Ray Rice is the most dangerous player on Baltimore’s offense) “They use him a lot on their offense, even on third down. You don’t see too many running backs that’s a go-to guy on third down and they definitely try to get him the ball.”

(on his ability and Patrick Willis’ ability to cover tight ends one-on-one and how it provides an advantage for the defense) “Half of it goes to our ability to do it and half of it goes to Vic’s (Fangio) feeling of what type of situation it is. If they’re running short and intermediate routes or if they’re going deep. So, all of that comes into play when you’re covering a tight end or wide receiver. You have to know the situation, the down and distance because if you think something’s coming and it’s something else, you could get beat. So, it’s not just about the athletic part, it’s the knowledge of the game. All three of us – me and Pat and Coach Vic working together – we just take a lot of pride in covering the tight ends and wide receivers.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Super Bowl XLVII – Wednesday, January 30, 2013

QUOTES FROM SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS MEDIA SESSION

MORE LINEBACKER NAVORRO BOWMAN

(on if he and Patrick Willlis’ positions are interchangeable) “Yes. If the game speeds up, we go to what we know, 100 percent, no mistakes because it’s going so fast. But, if the team’s tempo is slow and we’re understanding, and we’re in a rhythm, we’ll mess with their heads and sit still.”

(on how difficult it is to pick out a guy like Ray Rice who can hide behind offensive linemen) “It’s not that difficult. I don’t know, I can see him.”

(on if Ray Rice is underestimating the 49ers linebackers ability to cover in the passing game) “Yes, he’s underestimating. We’ll have to go out and show him on Sunday. I’m looking forward to it. We’ve all worked hard to get this far. There’s going to be one winner in this winner and it’s going to be the Harbaugh family.”

(on his high school experience at Suitland) “It was a great experience. I was able to play varsity since I was a freshman – basketball and football and I was able to have success in both. My junior year I decided to just stick with football just because I wasn’t getting any taller and the letters were coming in for football. I was just able to let the fans, my classmates and teammates fill me up and say I had an opportunity to be great. I was just playing the game back then. I was blessed with some talent. I was able to earn a scholarship to Penn State and that just went well for me. I was able to earn my degree and make it to this level.”

(on putting the last two seasons into perspective as well as his relationship with Patrick Willis during that time) “It’s like you see what you can get in front of you. We refused to just let it disappear. We refused to take a day off. As far as me and Pat, we don’t take days off. We’ve been working hard ever since we’ve met. Pat had a rough four years while he was with the 49ers and we were able to get this thing rolling together and we want to win this thing together.”

(on if he was frustrated waiting for his opportunity or if he knew that in 2011 he would get his chance) “I was young. I don’t know. I didn’t really let it get to me. I was very patient. Whenever you’ve got guys like Takeo (Spikes) and Pat (Willis) in front of you, you can’t really complain. You just have to make sure you’re working as hard as them, you’re preparing like them and you’re just sitting back. They eased me in there on third downs my rookie year. I’m a fan of Takeo Spikes. I’m a fan of Pat. I got placed in a unique situation where I know I can get better in this rookie year because Takeo and Pat are going to take all the snaps. I know I can get better off the field without playing and just see little things that can help my game next year because next year I’m going to come back and I’m going to really be ready to play a 16-game season. All those things were in my head. My rookie year, I enjoyed it. It was the best, but my second year I came back and I wanted to play and I was able to get in a right situation to be able to do that.”

SAFETY DONTE WHITNER

(on if it’s easy to stay focused on football this week) “Well, when you have the type of guys that we have, we really like to play football. We’re really not here for everything else. We’re here to play football and to come back with a ring. So, yeah, it’s easy for us to switch off and on.”

(on the biggest way LB Ahmad Brooks has grown this year) “He’s just tremendously focused out there. And you can tell it – he was second-team All-Pro. He’s out there getting to the quarterback. Even if he doesn’t get sacks, he’s putting a lot of pressure on the quarterback, setting the edge on the run, getting all of the blocks, being extremely physical, tossing a lot of tight ends around, and that’s what we like him to do. So, that’s why he was second-team All-Pro.”

(on the successes of Brooks and DT Ray McDonald that gets overlooked) “He and Ray are extremely physical on that side, teams do not run the football to that side. Really, teams can’t really run the football on us at all. We have four guys up there that are extremely physical, extremely talented, and they really make this defense. That’s why we play like we do, because those guys go out and work the way that they do. All four of them are top guys in the National Football League.”

(on a unique challenge that Ravens RB Ray Rice brings to the game) “Well he’s a smaller guy, so he can hide behind some of those linemen and pop out at the last minute. Extremely shifty, and they like to use him in the pass game also. Try to work your linebackers. Joe (Flacco) can go deep, and (if) the second or third receiver isn’t open, you better believe it’s coming down to Ray Rice – and Ray Rice makes a lot of plays in the pass game also. So we have to know where he is at all times.”

(on the challenge facing Joe Flacco) “Extremely, extremely strong arm. Likes to take chances, but he’s extremely accurate on the deep ball, also. Some other thing we’re going to have to do is understand that when he’s being pressured in the pocket, the play can sometimes be extended. If you’re not continuing to stay deep in your deep zones, then that’s when you’ll get beat. We understand that, it’s something that we haven’t really seen, and we just have to keep those guys in front of us and not allow them to get behind us.”

(on the different strengths of the Ravens wide receivers for Flacco) “They start off with Anquan Boldin. Extremely physical guy – they move him in the slot. He’s really their possession receiver, but he also goes over the middle, breaks tackles. Fearless guy. Extremely strong, extremely quick. Not the fastest of guys, but extremely quick and can get behind the defense. Then you go to Torrey Smith. Torrey Smith is extremely fast, probably top five in the National Football League as far as pure, straight line speed. And that’s his deep throw. When he wants to go deep, he’s going to Torrey Smith. He can run other routes, but his specialty is going deep. And then you have (Dennis) Pitta. Pitta is starting to emerge as a top guy for them. He’s getting behind the defense, he’s scoring in the red zone, and he’s becoming just a reliable, all-around guy for them. Developing into a top tight end in the National Football League. It’s hard to jam him, so we’ll have to be physical with him. He’s pretty good. And then Ray Rice. He uses Ray Rice also in the pass game. Everybody knows what he can do in the run game and the plays that he can make, but as far as getting up into receivers and making them miss, catching the football and making big plays, he’s probably, right now, one of the top running backs in the National Football League in terms of being able to receive the football out of the backfield. So, they have a total group of weapons for him, and he’s been utilizing them well.”

(on the importance of San Francisco’s secondary against the Ravens’ deep game) “Our secondary is going to be huge. Not allowing his guys to get behind us and keeping them to a certain amount of big plays in the football game is going to be huge. And it’s huge each and every week, though. It’s not just because of the Super Bowl, it’s each and every week. But they have, arguably, one of the fastest guys in the National Football League in Torrey Smith. He’s been getting behind the defense all year long, especially over the last four games. You’ve seen a lot more (Anquan) Boldin going a little deeper, and they have tight ends that are getting behind the defense. So we have to be disciplined in what we’re doing and have to understand that sometimes, when the rush looks like they’re getting there, he’s still going to be able to extend the play and he still has a strong enough arm and accuracy to throw it deep and get it to where it’s going. And we just have to be aware of that.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Super Bowl XLVII – Wednesday, January 30, 2013

QUOTES FROM SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS MEDIA SESSION

MORE SAFETY DONTE WHITNER

(on what San Francisco’s secondary needs to do to keep the Ravens receivers in front of them) “Well we can be very detail-oriented, and that starts with everybody in the secondary, from the nickel to the outside corners to both safeties. If we’re in a cover-two and the corners are supposed to get a really, really good jam on them to break the rhythm of the play, he has to be detail-oriented and do that. If the safety is supposed to be two yards from the top of the number, 14 yards deep, with a good pace on the inside receiver, then he has to be detail-oriented and get that done. A lot of times when you see mistakes happen on the back end, it’s because guys aren’t really detail-oriented. They don’t really know their responsibility, they’re probably guessing, or they want to do something on their own. Every play you see happen out on the football field, there’s somebody that didn’t do something right, and that’s why it happened.”

(on if it’s a coincidence that two hard-hitting teams like Baltimore and San Francisco are in the Super Bowl) “I don’t think it’s coincidence. I think that when you play the game the way we play the game and the way that the Baltimore Ravens play the game, good things happen for you. We play an old school style of football, we play a physical style of football. Stop the run, and then we get after you in the pass game and get pass rushers. That’s how you win football games. It’s won up front, really, with the offensive and defensive line, and really with us affecting quarterbacks. So, it’s no coincidence.”

(on the tough reality that injuries can play a big role in players, such as Alex Smith, losing their jobs) “It’s tough. I don’t think I’ve ever had to deal with that. I might have had to deal with that once, when I was in Buffalo and Perry Fewell, the defensive coordinator for the New York Giants now, was my defensive coordinator. I think I might’ve hurt my hamstring or something and Jairus Byrd, who was a first year free safety went in, and I think we were playing the New York Jets, and he had two interceptions. Next game he had two interceptions and the next game he had one, and then he had two again. I kind of went through a similar situation myself, with then having to be a role player and probably play some nickel and come in on third down, something like that. So it was extremely tough to deal with, but knowing the guy that Alex is, Alex will get out of this and he’ll go somewhere and play football and he’ll win some games. He’ll let this fuel him, and that’s the way he can deal with it. He’s been dealing with it great so far, Kaep (Colin Kaepernick) has had a great year, but I believe this is not the end for Alex Smith and he’ll do great things.”

(on if he worries that injuries may cause a change in football in the future) “I don’t worry where football is going because I know a lot of money is involved in this to where people can come up with the research and come up with the plan and come up with an idea to keep the game going. I do worry that moms are not allowing young kids to play now, who might have an opportunity to learn something from the game, be able to use it as a tool to further themselves educational-wise, and not really allow them to enjoy something that can be wonderful to you. I know that a lot of people worry about the brain and the neck and all that, but there are ways to play the game the right way and not be injured. There’s a lot of players out there on defense that think they’re flying in and diving headfirst and showing toughness. That’s not the way to play the game. There’s a way to play the game of football, and you know, we’re not perfect. We can’t really prevent injury. It’s going to happen sometimes. That’s why people love this game, it’s like gladiators out there. That’s why people love the big hits on ESPN and all that, it’s like gladiators. Not too many people can go out there and endure this to do this. That’s why people love it.”

RUNNING BACK RAY RICE

(on his feelings on being in the Superdome) “It feels great. Look at this place. It’s been cool. I can’t wait until the family comes down, but I’m going to enjoy it while I can. Tomorrow we get ready to work, ready to practice. It’s my first time here. I stood in our end zone. Hopefully, I’ll get me a little flexing there this week. It’s the Super Bowl. It’s the best event in the world. Everybody watches the Super Bowl, so to be playing in it is definitely special. I just go back to my roots where I was born up and raised, and it feels good.”

(on Jim Caldwell’s new role as offensive coordinator) “Coach Caldwell is a great guy. One thing about him is he kept things simple, but he has that way of saying something and getting it across to everybody. He coached the best, Peyton Manning, and look what he’s done with Joe [Flacco]. He was the quarterback’s coach, but now he took over the role of offensive coordinator. We all took that upon our shoulders to go in there and execute at a high level, but Jim Caldwell is definitely a great guy. That’s not something that you want, a change in between the seasons. One thing about it was our head coach made that decision. The players don’t make that. We go out there and make plays; that’s what we get paid to do. We don’t get paid to do anything else but go out there and make plays. That decision was solely upon the organization and the coach.”

(on his earliest Super Bowl memory) “I’ve never been to a Super Bowl, but the one I watched was in college when I watched the [New York] Giants play. I was actually coming out for the draft. I was coming out of college my third year to the draft. I remember going out to the little lounge. We were training for the combine and ended up watching the Super Bowl party. The game was over. I think [Giants WR] David Tyree made the catch, if I’m not mistaken. That was back in Jersey.  I brought all the guys I was training with down, and we watched the game.”

(on Ray Lewis) “The main thing that Ray Lewis has done for my career was he taught me how to be a pro. Me being a pro has everything to do with how you act, not only on the field, but off the field as well. He was a leader by example, but his words get across to not only us but everywhere in America. It feels good to know that he’s my guy not only on the field, but for life.”

(on his guilty pleasure during offseason) “Mom’s cooking and more of Mom’s cooking. I’m allergic to shellfish, so I don’t get a lot of sensations off seafood. I like a lot of grilled chicken. I like pasta. To me, I might be a little guy, but I’ve got to keep my weight on so I can absorb some of these hits. I’ve got to be the hammer and not the nail.”

(on why it’s hard to stop Ray Rice) “I wouldn’t say it’s hard to stop Ray Rice. I’m not saying it’s easy, but it’s the NFL. Every team comes in with a game plan. If the team wants to come in there and isolate Ray Rice, they can do that, and I can go off of pass routes. They won’t rush the defensive end. It just butchers you on the way out. I know these things, but it’s my job to go out there and make plays and not try to do anything that’s going to hurt our team. I think when you talk about stopping Ray Rice, you have to stop him in the pass game and you have to stop him in the run game. I’m just as dangerous in catching a pass as I am in running a ball as well. A pass to me isn’t anything but a long handoff, so once I get it, I’m good.

(on NaVorro Bowman and Patrick Willis) “NaVorro Bowman and Patrick Willis are sizeable guys. They’re the two best linebackers in football, and one thing about [the 49ers] is if you try to find a weakness, they really don’t have any. I’ll be honest; they don’t have a weakness. This is one of those games where you just have to keep sawing wood. One thing about it is, you don’t just keep trying those guys and think that it’s going to be all right. That 52 and 53 are going to be around a long time. They’re going to be a force to reckon with, sort of like our guys. I’ll just try to go out there and match up on them on coverage. That’s where I’ll try to get my advantages because I know,  in the run game, they’re very stout. So, I have to try to have a complete game plan and prepare to attack those two linebackers. They get downhill, and I know my fullback isn’t around, but he’s got his hands full. We know that.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Super Bowl XLVII – Tuesday, January 29, 2013

QUOTES FROM BALTIMORE RAVENS MEDIA DAY

MORE FROM RUNNING BACK RAY RICE

(on San Francisco’s defense) “If you look at their structure, the defense is similar to ours with that 3-4, big nose guard and great pass rushes. We see that kind of stuff every day, and we’re successful against our guys. Yeah, they stop us, but we go at them and this year is one of those years where you can see the tide changing a little bit. On the offense, we’ll win a little more battles than we’re supposed to, but when you have that challenge in front of you, not to say the league is vanilla, but it makes you feel so prepared when you go out there to know that you’re going against one of the best defenses. You’ve just got to go out there and execute.”

(on how he wants to be perceived) “Our head coach told us to let our personality shine. When you’re at the level of where you’re at, you’ve got to let your personality shine. I’m 26, and I’ve got a lot left in the tank, but Ray (Lewis) always puts it in perspective: ‘How will you be remembered, and what will your legacy be?’ This is part of my legacy right here, my obligation to the media and letting my personality get out there. I’ve been through enough in my life that I’ve just got to smile when I’m out. People ask why I’m smiling, and it’s because I’m blessed. I’ve been through so much in my life that there’s nothing really to frown about. I want to be known as somebody that’s always smiling, even on gloomy days. You find a smile on a gloomy day. I put life in perspective. There’s people out there that’s really hurting, fighting cancer, all kinds of sicknesses and stuff, and here I am playing in the Super Bowl. What more do I have to complain about? There’s really nothing to complain about. You put money aside. I’m still breathing. I’m still healthy. I’m still doing what I love to do. That’s something that’s special about the NFL that gives you an opportunity. To me, that’s what it’s really all about.”

(on preparing for the Super Bowl) “I’ve been prepping my mind for it. I don’t think you actually get ready for it because it’s my first time. The only time you really have to get ready for it is through experience. My experience is only what I’ve learned from our guy, Ray Lewis. I’m going to try to keep this week as normal as possible. Today when I’m done here, I’m going to work out. I do my cardio and everything I need to do. Tomorrow, I’ll get after it in practice. Thursday, I’ll get after it. Then, I’ll start toning it down where I take care of the body to keep it as normal as possible.”

(on former Ravens owner, Art Modell) “Ray had a deeper relationship, but from the time I got to know Mr. Modell. One thing about it is there’s no Baltimore Ravens without Art Modell’s vision. Where would I be right now without Art Modell? That’s just a question you have to ask. To see him get into the Hall of Fame is something that I think this world deserves.”

(on if he’s satisfied now) “Coming out, I was told I wasn’t fast enough, strong enough, definitely wasn’t tall enough. I couldn’t run. I couldn’t jump high. I couldn’t do a lot of stuff. That’s been the story of my life. Am I satisfied now? Absolutely not… I’m not satisfied where I’m at. I’ve made three Pro Bowls, and I’m still not happy. I’m blessed and I’m humbled by the achievements, but I’m not to the point where I’m satisfied by my legacy. It has to keep going. These 1,000-yard seasons have to keep going. Sharing the load at running back is probably one of the greatest things that’s happened to me because I don’t have to put that wear and tear on my body. One of the things I do is spell myself. I have a great young running back who can come in and take some of that pressure off of me, and that feels really good.”

(on promoting anti-bullying) “You know how they say, ‘Sticks and stones may break your bones, but words shouldn’t hurt you?’ Words are killing people, and it’s happening over the web with cyberbullying. That’s just something I couldn’t believe. You know, I get it. Sometimes people tell me how terrible I am, and it doesn’t affect me because I know what it’s all about, but you get a vulnerable kid who takes these words to heart and feel like it’s not worth living anymore. I had to say something about it. I had to. I believe social media is great, but you get people out there who take so much advantage of it, and I use it as a tool to give back positive messages. One thing about social media is you can get your personality out there, but it shouldn’t hurt people. That’s where people get it twisted.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Super Bowl XLVII – Tuesday, January 29, 2013

QUOTES FROM BALTIMORE RAVENS MEDIA DAY

MORE FROM RUNNING BACK RAY RICE

(on his team making it to the Super Bowl) “We were counted out the whole playoffs. We were not the team. People wanted to see Peyton Manning and Tom Brady. That’s what they’re used to, but we’re here. It feels pretty good. We’ve been close. Anyone who knows the Ravens knows we’ve always been close. I’ve been in the playoffs every year my professional career. I know what playoff football is about. I went to three AFC Championships. So, it just tells you that these opportunities don’t come by too often to play in the Super Bowl, so it feels pretty good.”

(on the running back position) “I have tremendous respect for every running back in the game, but [San Francisco RB] Frank Gore gets on you really fast. When he gets those shoulders going low, I tell you. I watch running backs. I study them. The reason I wear number 27 is because of [former NFL RB] Eddie George. It’s just one of those games where you think back on where we came from. [Minnesota RB] Adrian Peterson has done a lot for running backs this year. He brought our value back up. We weren’t seeing value because of the way quarterbacks are throwing the ball now. It’s still amazing, but when you get a guy go for 2,000 rushing yards, and the sole reason why his team was in the playoffs, how could you not value the running back? We’re like a big fraternity. I like to see all the running backs do well because it brings our value up for the next generation that comes in. I’m not saying my contract wasn’t great because my family is blessed, and I thank the Ravens for everything they’ve done for me, but running backs aren’t going anywhere. The football needs the running back. Obviously, I’m just one that does a little bit more. I catch, I run, and do a little bit different things, but I don’t have a problem taking it between the tackles as well.”

(on the fullback position) “Everybody who knows me knows that I’m nothing without my offensive line, but I’m nothing without my fullback. Last year when we played the 49ers, Vonta Leach cracked his helmet. He literally cracked his helmet. I have a picture… he cracked his helmet on [San Francisco LB] Patrick Willis. That’s a position that’s real and not being appreciated in this game. They’re skilled linemen, but they can catch the ball. Vonta Leach, without him, they say they like to go to that single-back offense. No, keep my fullback in front of me.”

(on assuming leadership after Ray Lewis’ retirement) “We had our leaders, and I never spoke over our leaders. When you have a guy saying he’s done, I don’t mind taking on that vocal leadership now. I’ve been taught under the best. I don’t need to speak if something doesn’t need to be addressed, but I will always be that guy now in the locker room that Coach looks to say something to the guys and get them going. I’m not going to shy away from that. It’s a blessing to be able to have something handed down from [Ray Lewis] who we call Mufasa around the building, and they call me Simba.”