It's not often that Ravens fans applaud members of the opposing team. But when those members are former Ravens players, those restrictions can be briefly lifted.
Defensive tackle Haloti Ngata and wide receiver Anquan Boldin, two key pieces of the team that captured the Super Bowl to wrap up the 2012 season, returned to Baltimore on Saturday night, and despite their employment by the Detroit Lions, the pair were greeted warmly by fans when their faces were displayed on the giant video boards at M&T Bank Stadium in the third quarter of the Ravens' 30-9 victory.
The franchise's first-round draft pick in 2006 who went to five Pro Bowls before leaving the Ravens traded him after the 2014 campaign, the 6-foot-4, 345-pound Ngata was swarmed by former teammates after the preseason game.
"It was pretty awesome," Ngata said of the warm reception from fans. "I was here for nine years and won a Super Bowl with them. It was pretty cool. I think, definitely, I want to be back when I'm done with the Lions."
Ravens outside linebacker Terrell Suggs, who made his preseason debut Saturday night, was one of the players who hugged and chatted with Ngata.
"He's my best friend," Suggs said. "He's more like my brother. It was weird seeing him in another jersey in M&T, not playing on our sidelines. But that's just the nature of the game. We still love him. He'll always be a Raven for life. He's just wearing different colors right now, but we loved having him back, even if it was just for a couple of hours."
Boldin, who played three seasons in Baltimore before departing for the San Francisco 49ers after the Super Bowl win, was also grateful for the fans' welcome.
"It's always cool coming back," he said. "I always get love every time I come back here to Baltimore. It's a place where I spent three years of my life. It seems like it's been longer than that, but helping to bring a championship here, so everyone is always appreciative of that."