NEW YORK (AP) — If John Harbaugh coached the Pop Warner football team, linebacker Patrick Rickard told him he would want to be involved in some way, even if it meant being a waterboy.
Harbaugh now coaches the New York Giants, so it will be much easier to follow him there.
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Ricard is one of at least four former Baltimore Ravens players joining Harbaugh in joining the Giants. He and tight end Isaiah Lakeley signed contracts on Thursday, while defensive back Adarius Washington and All-Pro Jordan Stout agreed to terms earlier this week when the NFL free agency period began.
“When I saw he got the job here, I was definitely interested,” Ricard said during a video call with reporters. “When he was interested in me coming here, I was all in. I was just ready to sign a contract and let’s get started.”
The Ravens fired Harbaugh after a season-ending loss to Pittsburgh. It’s possible there was a game-winning touchdown catch that was overturned on video commentary, and if it had stood, he said, “I’d still be in Baltimore” because Harbaugh might have kept his job.
Beyond the butterfly effect of possible changes, it’s possible to attribute the culture Harbaugh instilled to explaining why he and others want to continue playing for the 63-year-old Super Bowl-winning coach.
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“The Habs’ motto is discipline, you give 110 percent for the whole 60 minutes and understand that you never go into the game with a negative thought,” said Likely, who signed a three-year, $40 million contract. “I feel like that’s the best slogan to go into any organization with Habs as the leader.”
Harbaugh and Joe Schoen aren’t just from Baltimore. The Giants agreed Thursday to sign former Pittsburgh receiver Calvin Austin to a $4.5 million contract next season, according to agent Drew Rosenhaus.
Austin, who will be 27 next season, and Lakeley are part of the effort to replace Wan’Dale Robinson, who followed former Giants coach Brian Daboll, now the Titans’ offensive coordinator, to Tennessee. Austin had 31 receptions for 372 yards and three touchdowns for the Steelers last season.
Robinson last year became the third player since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970 to be 5-foot-8 or shorter with more than 1,000 yards receiving. He may be 6-foot-4 and 245 pounds, but he seems destined for a spot in Matt Nagy’s offense.
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He likely did that and felt very comfortable in the role with the Ravens under Harbaugh and Todd Monken.
“I feel like you can see more in a slot machine — here and now, there and then,” Lakeley said, adding that he likes to move like chess pieces.
No matter where Lakeley is on the field, he provides an important and reliable target for quarterback Jackson Dart, who is entering his second pro season. The two have been texting since becoming teammates, and Dart could be another big reason why he chose the Giants.
“He brought me here,” Li said with a smile. “It’s a pleasure to go out there and play with him. When you watch him play, you see his drive to win any game by any means necessary. You love that, when you have a quarterback like that, he’s ready to do whatever it takes to win the game.”
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