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Sports Then and Now



Super Bowl Teams Look For Rare Return 1

Posted on July 26, 2013 by Dean Hybl
Joe Flacco and the Ravens hope they will again be hoisting the Lombardi Trophy following the 2013 season.

Joe Flacco and the Ravens hope they will again be hoisting the Lombardi Trophy following the 2013 season.


For millions of Americans it is “Christmas in July” as most NFL Training camps are now open and the start of the regular season is now just six weeks away.

At this point, even for those already betting on the NFL online, it is difficult to predict the future for each of the 32 teams. But as training camps begin there is optimism in all camps that 2013 will be their year to lift the coveted Lombardi Trophy.

Of course, the team that hoisted the trophy a year ago was the Baltimore Ravens. While they signed quarterback Joe Flacco to a lucrative contract, they will be without many of the familiar faces that helped them claim the championship a year ago.

The loss of future Hall of Famers Ray Lewis (retired) and Ed Reed (not resigned and playing for the Houston Texans) will certainly leave a leadership void on defense, but from an on-the-field standpoint there are several other losses that could be more significant. Leading tackler Bernard Pollard, top sacker Chad Kruger and linebacker Darnell Ellerbe are three additional defensive players that must be replaced.  In addition, the trade of wide receiver Anquan Boldin to the 49ers will put added pressure on Flacco and the other receivers on the squad. Read the rest of this entry →

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      The Sports Then and Now Vintage Athlete of the Month is the only football player ever to capture college football’s top individual award twice.

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