Coleman: Dumervil's Decision To Join Champs
Twenty-nine year old Elvis Dumervil has officially joined a franchise with a very rich history. Having spent the last seven seasons with the Broncos, he departed over a contract and fax "snafu."
"At the end of the day, it was an unfortunate situation that happened. I think everybody has their part in the situation," Dumervil said. It was not an easy decision by any means choosing between Peyton Manning and his former team the Broncos or Joe Flacco and the Ravens. He said "Obviously, leaving a really good organization in the Denver Broncos. ... But [an] opportunity came when I could come to another proven-winning organization and a first-class organization, just leaving one great one to another great one. So, that was an opportunity, and I took it."
After two straight seasons of being bounced out of the playoffs (most recently by Baltimore), he comes to a Ravens organization which has been to the playoffs five consecutive seasons, and just won the Super Bowl. Even though the Broncos have Manning, the Ravens posses youth, a degree of leadership and solid chemistry.
To have that feeling of the fans roaring as the team comes onto the field is something Dumervil really noticed during a trip to Baltimore in 2012, "Obviously, the crowd and how pumped the crowd gets for defense here. That was a big selling point. That was huge. Obviously, having good players and good guys in the locker room. Obviously, with Ray Lewis departing, but those guys, just the chemistry they've had here for a long time. I'm sure a lot of the guys learned a lot from them. If I could come in and try to fit in where I can and try to be part of that and keep it going. Honestly, just leadership and just the team is important. [They're] your guys, and you care about them, because once you have that feeling, that chemistry, you go out and you play for one another."
That is EXACTLY why he is a Raven, it is one thing to execute in the regular season and break records, etc. It's another accomplishment to do that in the playoffs. As for the possibility of opening up at Denver, Dumervil admitted the thought "gave me goosebumps." Ravens fans expect the same when the QB drops back.
