Weddle says he's retiring 'as a Raven'

Longtime NFL safety Eric Weddle hung up his cleats last week after spending his first nine seasons with the San Diego Chargers, three with the Baltimore Ravens, and then the 2019 campaign with the Los Angeles Rams.

When asked if he's given any thought to retiring as a member of a certain organization, the two-time All-Pro said he feels a particular kinship with Baltimore.

"Oh definitely. As of right now, I would retire as a Raven before those other two teams," Weddle told Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic.

Weddle cited his acrimonious breakup with the Chargers in 2015 as part of the reason for choosing the Ravens. The Chargers placed their longtime free safety on injured reserve before the last game of that 2015 campaign, just hours after Weddle was fined $10,000 for staying on the field to watch his daughter perform during a halftime show.

"Until there's new management with the Chargers, I'm not going to set foot in that place," Weddle added. "That's been said. It's unfortunate how it happened, but I'm a guy who is very loyal and once you burn that bridge and do the things that they did, that's just not going to happen. There's no need to push that button quickly, but I'm a Raven.

"I loved my time with the Rams. I was all in, but those three years in Baltimore were as fun and enjoyable as I've ever had in my career."

Weddle was named to the Pro Bowl in each of the three seasons he spent with the Ravens.

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