In 1996, before the first draft the Ravens participated in, then-rookie GM Ozzie Newsome faced a tough choice. He could make an exciting pick or a not-so-exciting pick with the No. 4 overall selection.
The exciting option was Lawrence Phillips, an all-everything running back from Nebraska. Although he had troubling domestic violence incidents on his record, he was an electrifying game-breaker.
The “boring” choice was a hulking UCLA tackle named Jonathan Ogden.
With his franchise in a new city, Newsome surely was tempted to make the choice that would stir fans’ imaginations with visions of long touchdown runs.