To celebrate their 25 years as a franchise in the NFL, the Baltimore Ravens asked fans to help create the all-time best starting lineup. While all the selections had merit and it’s a solid team, there were always going to be snubbed players. However, the most egregious had to be wide receiver Derrick Mason, with fans voting Anquan Boldin and Steve Smith Sr. as the team’s starters over him.
Mason was with Baltimore for six seasons after spending his first eight years with the Tennessee Titans (Oilers). He holds the top receiving records in Ravens history, topping the charts in targets (768), receptions (471) and receiving yards (5,777) while finishing third in receiving touchdowns (29). Though Mason missed out on both of Baltimore’s Super Bowl victories, he was a major help in getting franchise-leading quarterback Joe Flacco up to speed quickly.
With how important he was to the franchise and where he stands in the team’s record books, Mason was rightfully upset at the snub. He took to Twitter to voice his displeasure, giving fans a little of the “no respect” line comedian Rodney Dangerfield was famous for.
🤦🏾‍♂️ some people are just so ungrateful. It's crazy how you can clearly be the best wr in two franchise's history,but still get no respect. I feel like Rodman and Rodney Dangerfield all rolled in one. #numbersdontlie #ALPHADAWG https://t.co/n2a6Nigz2B
— Derrick Mason (@deemason85) July 12, 2020
While both Boldin and Smith have clear places in Baltimore’s legacy, neither come close to topping the franchise’s record books in any major stat. Though both players were with the Ravens for just three years compared to Mason’s six, only Smith managed to put up more yards and receptions per game. At the same time, neither Boldin nor Smith had Kyle Boller, Anthony Wright, or Troy Smith throwing them balls like Mason had before Flacco was selected in the 2008 NFL Draft.
Ravens fans had a tough job of selecting from a bunch of really great players at nearly every position. But it’s tough to see recency bias kick such a monumental player from his earned spot on the all-time list.
Take a look at the selections for Baltimore’s all-time team below.
Ravens All-Time Team: Offense
| QB | Lamar Jackson |
| RB | Jamal Lewis |
| FB | Vonta Leach |
| WR | Anquan Boldin |
| WR | Steve Smith Sr. |
| TE | Todd Heap |
| T | Jonathan Ogden |
| G | Marshal Yanda |
| C | Matt Birk |
| G | Kelechi Osemele |
| T | Ronnie Stanley |
Ravens All-Time Team: Defense
| DE | Michael McCrary |
| DT | Haloti Ngata |
| DT | Tony Siragusa |
| OLB | Terrell Suggs |
| OLB | Peter Boulware |
| ILB | Ray Lewis |
| ILB | C.J. Mosley |
| CB | Chris McAlister |
| CB | Marlon Humphrey |
| S | Ed Reed |
| S | Rod Woodson |
[vertical-gallery id=45226]