Jonathan Ogden

In NFL circles, Marvin Demoff is the power broker you never see and only occasionally hear about, often after the fact, like some sort of twister that levels the local trailer park.Oh, you mean he was the attorney who backed Bob Irsay into a dark corner in 1983 and forced the Baltimore Colts' infamous trade of No. 1 draft pick John Elway to the Denver Broncos?Yes, he is that attorney -- a man so esteemed in those NFL circles he sometimes is referred to as the "Monsignor"; a man so trustworthy it is said he is a confidant of Al Davis, the inscrutable owner of the Oakland Raiders; a man so powerful he is the contractual voice for Dan Marino and Jeff Hostetler, Rick Mirer and Jim Everett, Rod Woodson and Leslie O'Neal, to name a few of the league's elite.

It has been the source of a major debate for years. Who is the best Raven - Jonathan Ogden or Ray Lewis? It's really no contest. The most physical, technically sound and dominating player is Ogden. The player with the most impact on franchise history is Lewis. It's an interesting debate because you're dealing with two of the best players at their positions in modern times, if not in the history of the NFL. And they also happen to be the team's first two draft picks. Lewis is often the popular choice because of his charisma and leadership.

Ozzie Newsome circled the weekend more than a year ago. He knew that Jonathan Ogden, the first player he picked for the Ravens, would have a strong chance to make the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Feb. 2, 2013. Wouldn't it be something, Newsome thought, if the Ravens played in Super Bowl XLVII the next day? It was quite the fantasy, and it grew wilder still when Ray Lewis, the other potential Hall of Fame player Newsome selected in the first round in 1996, announced he would retire at the end of this year's playoffs.

Jonathan Ogden wants to stay in Baltimore, says he belongs in Hawaii in February for his third straight Pro Bowl, and is gradually accepting a new role as the leader on the Ravens' offensive line."

They did not perform like typical freshmen as collegiate players, and as first-year players in the NFL, left guard Jonathan Ogden and inside linebacker Ray Lewis do not seem like rookies anymore.Then again, the consensus in the Ravens' locker room is that Ogden and Lewis never were looked upon as rookies in the first place. Judging by the responsibilities they have handled as the top two picks in the Ravens' inaugural draft, Ogden and Lewis are growing up fast, indeed.Consider that a little more than halfway through their rookie seasons, they already are fixtures on offense and defense, having started every game.

Want to get a rise out of the normally unflappable Jonathan Ogden? Bring up the toughness issue.Go ahead. Remind Ogden that, on the surface, he doesn't always act like an NFL offensive lineman. The same way those scouting reports hinted he wasn't mean enough to dominate at the professional level, before the Ravens chose him to be their cornerstone in last year's draft.Remind Ogden that he lacks the menacing persona commonly associated with the men in the trenches. He is too cheery during the week.

In Buffalo, O.J. Simpson ran behind the Electric Company. In Washington, John Riggins powered his way behind the Hogs. So, after paving the way for Jamal Lewis' run into the record books, what nickname best describes the Ravens' offensive line? "We're `The Untouchables,' " right tackle Orlando Brown said, "because nobody wanted to touch us." Outside of Pro Bowl tackle Jonathan Ogden, the biggest line in the NFL entered the league unnoticed and has gone throughout Lewis' 2,000-yard season the same way. Three-fifths of the starters - Brown, center Mike Flynn and right guard Bennie Anderson - were undrafted.

TAMPA, Fla. - Jonathan Ogden was asked if he is troubled by the pressure that comes with being the point man in the Ravens' grunt and grind offense. He smiled and shook his head. Do you think Mount Ogden is the highest-paid player in the NFL because he looks majestic in purple? "I wouldn't have it any other way," Ogden said. "I feel that if the game is on me, we can win." At 6 feet 8 and 340 pounds, Ogden is a large answer to a trivial question. He was the fourth player taken in the 1996 draft, and the first ever selected by the Ravens, as they sought a fresh start in Baltimore.

When Ravens fans examine the team's offensive line, talk gravitates toward the two mammoth tackles, Jonathan Ogden and Orlando Brown. Less noticeable is the consistent play of right guard Jeff Blackshear, a 6-foot-6, 323-pound force who has started 28 of 32 games at guard in his two seasons in Baltimore.The lack of recognition is nothing new for Blackshear, 29, an eighth-round pick in the 1993 NFL draft. "I like it that way. I'd rather go out and just play football. It's my role with the team and with the offensive line," he said.

When a lightning-quick pass rusher is dissecting film at home, the Ravens' Jonathan Ogden is getting excited about finding meat on sale at the grocery store. When a formidable defensive end is burying his head in the playbook at night, Ogden is immersed in the latest science-fiction novel. Come game time, the Ravens offensive tackle is not only on top of his game - but also on top of the league. At 6 feet 9, 340 pounds, Baltimore's biggest bird is considered one of the most dominant blockers of his era, blending unusual athleticism, unexpected emotion and underrated intelligence.