Still, it was Ayanbadejo's football talents that caught the eye of NFL coaches. He has what coaches often describe as a "motor," meaning he doesn't stop until the whistle blows. He made the Pro Bowl twice as a member of the Chicago Bears, and he was the first free agent the Ravens signed after John Harbaugh, the Philadelphia Eagles' special teams coach for nine years, replaced Brian Billick as head coach in 2008.
"It was him and a bunch of rookies basically out there," Harbaugh said of Ayanbadejo's first year on special teams with the Ravens. "But he helped show those guys how to practice and how to train. He teaches technique along with our coaches. I think he's one of the premier special teams players, really, ever to play the game. That's a pretty good building block."
As good as Ayanbadejo is on special teams, it still feels a bit like a backhanded compliment. Yes, he's good at what he does, but if he were a truly great football player, he'd be on the field a lot more. The Ravens say they might use Ayanbadejo as part of their regular defensive rotation this year, but nothing is guaranteed.
