Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs had a pretty good idea about what was hidden on the table in front of him after he tried to move his seat and he was told that it wasn't a good idea.
Suggs had waited a decade in the NFL for this moment. He decided he could wait a couple of more minutes.
"To have it so close, it finally hit me, what exactly we accomplished together," said Suggs, sporting a shiny new ring on his finger. "It didn't take a year. It took me 11 years to get it. It took Coach [John] Harbaugh [from] when he got here in 2008. It finally paid off, all that blood given. There's not a word that describes what I'm feeling and all the emotions. … The journey was long but it was worth it. But I will tell you this, I damn sure want to feel like this again."
Two days after they were honored by President Barack Obama at the White House, the Super Bowl XLVII champion Ravens received their ultimate reward, collecting their championship rings at a private ceremony at the Under Armour Performance Center in Owings Mills on Friday.
Team owner Steve Bisciotti spoke to the team, a highlight video of the championship season was shown and then Bisciotti encouraged members of the organization to look under the boxes that were on the tables. That gave many of the players, coaches and staff members their first glimpse at the rings, which are made up of white and yellow gold and includes 243 round-cut diamonds.
"I always told them I wanted them to really feel what the confetti felt like. Now to be here, to have something that symbolizes it, it's the ultimate because now it connects us forever," said retired Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis, who wore the Super Bowl ring the 2000 team won on his right hand and his new ring on his left. "It took me 12 years to get back and get another ring. I want them to cherish what this moment feels like right now while we're world champs."
Lewis, whose 17-year career came to an end on Feb. 3 after the Ravens' 34-31 victory over the San Francisco 49ersin Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans, and quarterback Joe Flacco both had input in the design of the ring.
On the front of the ring, which was designed by Jostens, the Ravens' logo is outlined with 40 round-cut diamonds sitting atop amethyst stone. Behind the logo are two Lombardi trophies that represent the organization's two Super Bowl titles. The inside of the ring includes one of Harbaugh's mantas — "The team, the team, the team — and the scores of the Ravens' playoff victories.
"It's kind of un-wearable," joked Flacco, whose Super Bowl MVP-performance was recognized in Bisciotti's speech. "When I see people for the first time, I'm sure they're going to have some interest in seeing it or at least I'm going to have some interest in showing it off to them. So, I'm definitely going to bring it a couple of places. I wouldn't necessarily say I'm going to wear it but it's pretty special."
The theme of the night was "Celebrate Together" and most members of the Super Bowl-winning team took part in the ceremony. That included linebackers Paul Kruger and Dannell Ellerbe and safety Ed Reed, who all have left the organization in free agency. However, some of the players no longer with the team, a group that includes wide receiver Anquan Boldin and safety Bernard Pollard, did not attend the event because they either had commitments or they chose not to. Suggs called their absences a "little sad," though those players will get their rings in the coming days.
Wide receiver Torrey Smith was still staring down at his hand long after he discovered his new piece of jewelry.
"It really symbolizes that this is the last time we're all going to be together as a team, and it's definitely a special moment," Smith said. "I told you all what I was going to be like. I didn't cry or anything, but I can see how women feel when they get a ring. It has a lot of different meanings. There will never be another season like this. We can win the Super Bowl every year while I'm in the league and there will be nothing like this one."
Baltimore Ravens Insider
End zone:The Ravens have signed third-round defensive tackle Brandon Williams to a four-year, $2.697 million contract.
Williams received a $515,000 signing bonus. His contract includes a first-year salary-cap figure of $533,750.
Williams is slated to compete for an immediate starting job at nose guard with Terrence Cody still recuperating from offseason hip surgery.
With Williams signed, the Ravens have just one remaining unsigned draft pick: first-round safety Matt Elam.
Elam still hasn't hired an agent, but has met with several and is still deciding on who will represent him in contract negotiations.
Baltimore Sun reporter Aaron Wilson contributed to this article.