"He's a coachable kid and, like all the rookies, it takes time to adjust to the speed of the game. But the kid went to Notre Dame, so you know he can play and has the confidence to play in this league."
Confidence has never been a problem. Maybe it's because he has been successful in two sports.
Zbikowski was a nationally ranked boxer who has competed in the Golden Gloves program since age 9, achieving a 60-13 amateur record. A Silver Gloves national finalist from 1998 to 2000, he was once named Regional Boxer of the Year. He made his professional boxing debut June 10, 2006, at Madison Square Garden in New York, knocking out Robert Bell in 49 seconds during their heavyweight bout.
After that fight, Zbikowski went into semi-retirement.
"I had to give it up because the stakes were getting too high; there were too many good football players," Zbikowski said. "You have to focus. A pro football career can be short-lived, so you focus and try to play as long as you can."
Zbikowski said he might go back to boxing but that it's not high on his agenda. The priority is to make the Ravens' roster and become established. The opening bell sounds when training camp opens.
"In college, you were pretty much told what to do," Zbikowski said. "Here, you have freedom to make checks and make plays. Right now, I'm trying to make plays, but sometimes you start thinking too much.
"I actually thought I was going to go higher in the draft, but I guess they didn't think I made as many plays as I did the year before," Zbikowski said. "I'm not going to complain about it. I just have to go out there and prove myself again."
mike.preston@baltsun.com
