Honoring Jonathan Ogden

UCLA great Jonathan Ogden has announced that he's retiring from the NFL. Ogden made an immediate impact as the first player ever selected by the Baltimore Ravens, and went on to make 11 Pro Bowls in 12 seasons. The offensive tackle also was an All-American as a shot putter, had his number retired by the Bruins, and is in the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame. Five years from now, he also should be in the NFL Hall of Fame.

In the videos above and below, ESPN provides highlights of the news conference and some commentary on Ogden's career.

Click here for the article in the Baltimore Sun.
Click here for the AP article.

Also, ESPN's John Clayton is calling this the end of an era:

What made the 6-foot-9, 345-pound tackle so great was that he was so much more dominating than those who went against him. He towered over his opponents but was able to lower his basketball-style body into blocking stances that prevented even the shortest defensive ends from getting past him. His ability to consistently nullify the opponent's right defensive end or best pass-rusher without blocking help from teammates opened up offenses to where they are today

Comments

[pk-in-the-mesa]

This was always a great player, and now the bruins should snacth him up as a O-line coach or Cal or Wash. will grab him

[just a Bruin and a fan]

A friend of mine, a UCLA prof, said that Ogden was one of his best students ever, athlete or not.