Ravens DT Pierce: Exit from minicamp my fault
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Defensive sort out Michael Pierce accepted accountability for being pulled from working towards throughout final week’s Baltimore Ravens necessary minicamp, blaming it on an error in his coaching routine.
“All through the offseason, I are likely to elevate greater than run,” Pierce informed WNSP-FM radio in Alabama on Friday. “Being a nostril guard, I wish to be robust or whatnot. I, actually, simply mismanaged my working somewhat bit.”
Pierce reported to the Ravens final week considerably heavier than his listed taking part in weight of 340 kilos. A restricted free agent, Pierce did not attend the crew’s offseason conditioning program and sat out all the voluntary practices within the spring.
On Tuesday, Pierce left the sphere following the stretching portion of apply after talking to teach John Harbaugh, who later informed reporters that the fourth-year lineman wasn’t able to apply “from a security standpoint and for his personal well being.”
“Out of respect for Coach Harbaugh, he is been nothing however a good man, he simply needed me to get in with the energy and conditioning employees and do extra working earlier than camp comes,” Pierce stated.
Baltimore defensive coordinator Don “Wink” Martindale expressed disappointment that Pierce wasn’t in form to apply however cautioned anybody about piling on him.
“Let’s remember what an excellent soccer participant he’s,” Martindale stated final week. “He’ll get again there. I am unable to inform you when, however he’ll get again there.”
Pierce, 26, was ranked because the fifth-best inside defensive lineman by Professional Soccer Focus final season. Thought of one of many higher run defenders within the NFL, Pierce acquired a second-round tender this offseason and can earn $three.095 million.
He signed as an undrafted rookie out of Samford in 2016, and his weight had beforehand by no means been a significant subject. This is a crucial 12 months for Pierce, who can change into an unrestricted free agent after the season. However his season did not begin easily.
“On the finish of the day, you anticipate a crew chief to come back again in higher form than I did,” Pierce stated. “That is a mistake on my behalf I’ve to right. I do not wish to get into far more than that.”
The Ravens report back to coaching camp in about 5½ weeks.