Former Pro Bowl safety Ken Hamlin has joined the Baltimore Ravens on a one-year deal after leaving the Dallas Cowboys in April.
Cowboys safety makes switch to Ravens on one-year deal
Former Pro Bowl safety Ken Hamlin has joined the Baltimore Ravens on a one-year deal after leaving the Dallas Cowboys in April.
The 29-year-old is a seven-year NFL veteran after being picked in the second round of the 2004 draft by the Seattle Seahawks, where he spent four season before joining Dallas.
A Pro Bowl selection came after his first season with the Cowboys, after he grabbed five interceptions and made 102 tackles for the team.
An ankle injury limited Hamlin's production last year as he missed four games and recorded just 47 tackles, but he believes he is now back to his best after making a full recovery.
The Ravens have a fearsome defensive reputation and ranked third in the league last year, and after earning a one-year deal following a successful try-out, Hamlin is hoping to add to that strength.
Puzzle
"I'm just trying to be another piece of the puzzle," Hamlin told the team's website. "The Ravens already have great talent and great players there. I'm honored for the organisation to want to bring me in. This is an opportunity for me to get better and learn from guys that have been doing it well for a long time.
"I'm a guy that's going to fly around and get to the ball, and I'm about to be surrounded by a lot of guys that do the same thing."
Hamlin will line-up alongside and provide cover for revered safety Ed Reed, who has hinted at retirement, and the new man is also looking forward to playing with charismatic linebacker Ray Lewis.
"Those guys have made their name known," added Hamlin. "Not just in the AFC, but where they're recognised across the NFL. I'm excited to play next to Ed at the same position and pick his brain about the types of things he does. And watching Ray and the way he plays, to get the knowledge of how this defense works, is going to be big.
"I think it's good to be a little nervous and have that energy that gets you excited to start something new. I'm excited to see the team together and how I fit in. It's going to be fun to get out there and start playing football again."
