FOXBOROUGH, Mass. —
O.J. Brigance is going back to the Super Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens, a model of toughness and perseverance.
On Sunday, confined to a wheelchair as he battles Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, the former Baltimore linebacker presented the Lamar Hunt trophy to the team after it beat the New England Patriots 28-13 for the AFC championship on Sunday.
Using a communication device that translates his thoughts, Brigance, now a senior advisor to player development for the Ravens, had this to say:
"Congratulations to the Baltimore Ravens. Your resiliency has outlasted your adversity. You are the AFC Champions. You are my mighty men. With God, all things are possible."
In 2007, Brigance was diagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. In his current position, he helps the athletes in all phases of their careers.
He was part of the Ravens team that won the Super Bowl in the 2000 season, starring on special teams.
Now he inspires them.
"Every day I came out and told O.J. that you're my greatest motivation," said linebacker Ray Lewis, the only active Raven who played on that championship team.
Brigance, 43, also was on the field for the coin toss Sunday.
"What can't you say about O.J.," safety Ed Reed said. "O'J.'s been our strength. O.J. took me under his wing when I first got here and everything he's been through and is going through, to still be the same O.J. and being a light to you and be a light for our team ... He's been like an uncle to me and like a brother. I love Juice."
Top Sports
NFL: Brigance remains inspiration to Ravens
- Top Sports
-
-
LOCAL GOLF: Lindsey takes 3-shot lead into final day of Cullman Golf Course Spring Invitational
Todd Lindsey went low with a 5-under 67 on Saturday to head into the final day of the Cullman Golf Course Spring Invitational with a three-shot lead over Jake Tucker and Josh Roberson.
-
TALKIN' PREP SOFTBALL: Raider seniors close out prep careers as proven winners
Anyone who believes athletes are only as good as their last game obviously knows nothing about Cara Goodwin, Kayla Tillman and Darcie Wilson.
-
CLASS 3A STATE SOFTBALL TOURNEY: Trio of solo HRs helps Winfield eliminate Raiders
Winfield was only able to muster five hits off Good Hope's Cara Goodwin on Saturday morning — but three of them were big ones.
-
WALLACE STATE SOFTBALL: Six-run fifth inning lifts Lions to 8-6 win over Pima
Wallace State is two wins away from the program’s second National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) national softball title.
-
GOLF: Bradley has 3-stroke lead after 2 rounds at Nelson
Keegan Bradley again bogeyed Nos. 1 and 18 in the second round of the Byron Nelson Championship.
Unlike the first round, Bradley didn't set a course record. But he still finished with a three-stroke lead.
Bradley started and ended his round Friday with those bogeys, part of a 1-under 69 that got him to 11-under 129, the lowest 36-hole total at the Nelson since 2001. -
CLASS 3A STATE SOFTBALL TOURNEY: Raiders on to weekend with up-and-down Day 1 split
Canceling hotel reservations for an entire softball team isn't exactly Wayne Harris' idea of a good time. Yet, that was precisely the predicament the coach was put in when his Good Hope squad failed to score a run in two quick losses at the 2012 state tournament.
-
PREP SOFTBALL: Wilson to reunite with former Raider after signing with Martin-Methodist
Going to an out-of-state college can be a scary proposition for any prep athlete fortunate enough to continue their playing careers. Having to leave behind family, friends and your hometown isn’t always the easiest situation for the average 18-year-old to handle.
-
WALLACE STATE SOFTBALL: Lions knock off top-seeded Butler at NJCAA national tourney, advance to semifinal
Katie Gentle had another big afternoon at the plate with five RBIs, and Wallace State’s offense applied early pressure, scoring in all but two innings, as the Lady Lions knocked off top-seeded Butler (Kan.) CC 8-6 in a winner’s bracket game Thursday at the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division I national championship.
-
MLB: Increase in draft pool could affect Cats' Thompson
Major League Baseball teams can spend a little more money on amateur draft picks this year.
The signing bonus values for the selections in next month's draft will increase by 8.2 percent, players and owners agreed this week. -
PREP FOOTBALL: Broncos land championship-caliber coach in Bates
The Holly Pond football program is receiving a special package from the Red Cross — but it isn’t filled with the usual supplies, such as food or hygiene products. Instead, this particular parcel is fully equipped with a championship-caliber coach — Mike Bates.
- More Top Sports Headlines
-
LOCAL GOLF: Lindsey takes 3-shot lead into final day of Cullman Golf Course Spring Invitational
Probe Begins After Conn. Commuter Trains Crash
NTSB Begins Investigation Into Conn. Train Crash
Lotto Fever Sweeps the Country
Conn. Commuter Trains Collide; 60 Go to Hospital
Coffee Run Leads to Hatchet Hitchhiker Arrest
Fmr. IRS Head Insists No Politics in Targeting
CDC: Fecal Bacteria Common in Swimming Pools
$1 Million in Jewels Stolen at Cannes Film Fest
NM Mom Chases Down Child Abductor
Raw: Crash Sends Car Into Fla. Pool
Raw: Obama Sits Down With Elementary Kids
Raw: Bear Falls From Tampa Tree
Ousted IRS Chief: Errors Not Caused by Politics
Terror Suspect Due in Court in Idaho Friday
Raw: Driver Ejected From Truck, Over Bridge
Could Tobacco Be the Next Biofuel?
Wash. State Releases Draft Rules for Legal Pot
Dying Man's Blinks Lead to Murder Conviction
Officials: Texas Tornado Likely Had 200 Mph Wind
Brothers Arrested in NOLA Parade Shooting
