Tommy Streeter learning from Ray Lewis

TommyStreeter
Tommy Streeter will never forget the pain he felt the weekend of the NFL draft. Projected by some analysts to be a second-day pick, Streeter remained on the board until late in the sixth round. But shortly after the Ravens ended his disappointment, his phone rang. Linebacker Ray Lewis was reaching out to the Miami Hurricanes wide receiver and welcoming him to the family.

“I basically told him that I was ready to make that next step, ready to train,” Streeter said Sunday, the final day of the team’s three-day rookie minicamp in Owings Mills. “He took it upon himself to extend that invitation. He stays probably 40 minutes away from me in Miami. He just invited me to come over, work out. I accepted it and we’ve been on a roll ever since.

”Since draft day, Lewis and Streeter have pumped iron and worked up a sweat together in Florida. Steeler, who at 23 is 13 years younger than Lewis, marveled at his new teammate’s work ethic.

“It’s been tough. He pushes his body to the limit,” Streeter said. “It’s no surprise that he plays the way he plays on game day and why he’s been playing so long in the NFL."

Standing tall at 6 feet 5, Streeter was easy to spot during Sunday's practice. His size and speed are his most enticing attributes, but the deep threat has a long way to go to become a complete receiver. Streeter had 52 catches for 967 yards and nine touchdowns in three seasons at Miami. 

Ravens coach John Harbaugh provided this scouting report: “First impression, he’s really tall. Second impression, he’s really fast. I’d say third impression, he’s going to be a good player.”

Streeter isn’t the only Ravens rookie who is being mentored by one of the team’s Pro Bowlers. Safety Christian Thompson, a fourth-round pick, has been getting advice from safety Ed Reed.

“Being a DB, you always want to play under the best players and Ed Reed, to me, is the best,” Thompson said. “Being able to play under him is a blessing. I wouldn’t trade that for the world.”

Streeter said he would always remember how 31 teams passed on him, but he, too, feels blessed to be given the opportunity to be with the Ravens and around Lewis, a former Hurricane himself.

“I kind of felt like a lot of people didn’t believe in me even though I believe in myself. I thank God that the coaches believed in me and gave me this opportunity,” the introspective Streeter said. “Ever since I got that phone call on draft day, I had the mindset that I was willing to work.”


Bookmark and Share
(baltmoresun.com)
blog comments powered by Disqus