Former Black Bear Pat Ricard signs a new contract with the Ravens. He deserves every penny.

While taking classes at the University of Maine, Pat Ricard studied economics. He can now use some of that financial knowledge personally as his own economic situation improved greatly Tuesday when the Baltimore Ravens extended his contract through 2021.

Ricard is making around $645,000 in his final year of his current contract and earning every penny.

He is the only guy to play more than 100 snaps on both offense and defense this season. Ricard plays Fullback, Defensive End and is a key contributor on special teams.

His total 2019 snaps:

Offense: 231
Defense: 127
Special teams: 78

In his role as a fullback, he’s an integral part of a prolific Ravens rushing attack. Baltimore is averaging 207 yards per game on the ground, the most in the league. They have racked up more than 5000 total yards, second only to Dallas.

The Ravens are currently the #1 seed in the AFC.

Former Black Bear and nine year NFL vet Mike DeVito recently stated in his 3 and OUT! Sports Chowdah video that Ricard is going to have the best pro career of any former Maine football player.

“UMaine has had alot of great football players but what Pat is doing is some of the most impressive stuff I have ever seen. I can tell you what it was like for me as an average two down run stopper. I’d study all day, all week. Pat does this for all three phases of the game. I get anxiety thinking about what his days are like. He must work from sun up to sun down.”

Ricard is also earning high praise from coaches, fans and the media alike. Earlier this year I wrote a blog on how the NBC Sunday Night Football crew gushed over Ricard. As the Ravens whooped the Patriots in prime time, NBC used graphics to twice point out where Ricard was on the field. Cris Collinsworth even declared “There’s our boy!” as they showed Ricard lining up for a play.

All of this deserved admiration will most likely culminate in a spot in the Pro Bowl as he is currently the leading vote getter at Fullback.

“Project Pat” as he is affectionately known by at least some of his teammates and fans, signed with the Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2017. It was a three year deal worth $1.6 million.

Ricard played four seasons and in 44 games at UMaine where He totaled 208 total tackles, 18 sacks, 11 pass breakups, 3 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery and 2 blocked kicks.

www.sportschowdah.com

Jeff Solari

About Jeff Solari

Jeff Solari is the president and founder of the Sports Chowdah, Maine’s only free, weekly sports e mail newsletter. Recently, the Mount Desert Island native was the co-host of "The Drive" on 92.9 FM in Bangor.