Harry Swayne thought his NFL career was over.
The Ravens director of player development (and former offensive tackle) was drafted in the seventh round (190th overall) by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1987 as a defensive end. When a coach later suggested Swayne transition to the offensive line, he balked.
"I thought I was a pretty good defensive end," Swayne said Wednesday. "I couldn't see like he could see. ... All I could hear from my coach was, 'You have failed at defensive line.'"
It was then, Swayne told those in attendance at The Baltimore Sun's High School Athletes of the Year awards ceremony, that he was forced to change his attitude.