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WHO AM I? Unscramble each of the clue words. Take the letters that appear in red and unscramble them for the final message. There might not be a word that carries as much weight around an NFL locker room as “brotherhood” does. Throughout a season, the 53 players on a team’s roster develop a family-like bond that is unbreakable. For Ravens rookie Gino Gradkowski, that family-like bond in the NFL has a very different meaning. When Gino was selected by the Ravens in the 2012 NFL Draft, he became the second Gradkowski to enter the league, joining his brother Bruce, who is a quarterback for the Cincinnati Bengals. Bruce is six years older than Gino, but the two are very close, and Bruce has been mentoring Gino his whole life – off and on the field – even going back to when Gino was just four years old. Growing up outside of Pittsburgh, Pa., the Gradkowskis have been playing football their entire lives, and they have even played on the same team. FAMILY AND NFL COLLIDE FOR GINO By Billy Jones SUMMER 2012 MEET THE ROOKIES By Billy Jones For Gino Gradkowski, his role model grew up in the same household • 2 FREE Large Pizzas from Papa John’s • Exclusive Ravens Rookies Goodie Bag • Invitations to Exclusive Ravens Rookies Events • Birthday Card, Newsletters, and More Every Raven Starts as a Rookie BALTIMORERAVENS.COM/ROOKIES ULTIMATE ROOKIES JOIN $25 FOR A FULL YEAR OF FUN! THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE RAVENS ROOKIES KIDS CLUB Ravens Rookies 1 Winning Drive Owings Mills, MD 21117 Visit BALTIMORERAVENS.COM/ROOKIES “My dad coached my brother’s 10-year-old team when I was four, and I used to suit up and practice with them every week and play at the end of games for them,” Gino said. “So, I was playing with Bruce when I was really young. I was just out there running around and having fun. He’s been a huge part of my life ever since I was a little kid.” While being in the NFL together means so much to Gino and his brother, they both know that it’s nothing compared to the other bond they share – their family name. Bruce has preached it to Gino since the young center/guard was drafted by the Ravens this past April. “He let me know that football is football, but at the end of the day, we are still going to have our family – and that’s the most important thing,” Gino stated. “He told me not to get too down on yourself when you have a bad day, just kind of let it brush off your shoulders and keep working hard. There are so many life lessons that he has taught me about how to handle the ups and downs of life and football.” It’s hard to overstate the importance of a mentor in someone’s life. A mentor is someone who can guide, serve as a role model and help steer in the right direction. And for Gino, he knows that he has the perfect one in his brother Bruce. “I have idolized him my whole life, and I have always looked up to him,” Gino said of his brother. “I had so much fun watching him in high school, college and now in the pros. He has been a great role model, a great idol for me. I have just watched how he has handled himself on and off the field, and that has helped me a lot.” FAMILY AND NFL COLLIDE FOR GINO OLB Courtney Upshaw – 2nd Round The All-American linebacker from Alabama is a prototypical Raven defender – big, physical and competitive. Upshaw is the latest in a long line of top-overall defensive draft selections by the Ravens, and the MVP of the 2012 BCS National Championship game will add to Baltimore’s vaunted unit after totaling 17.5 sacks for the Crimson Tide. G/T Kelechi Osemele – 2nd Round They don’t come much bigger or more powerful than Osemele. At 6-5 and 335 pounds, the Iowa State product’s athleticism and versatility will bolster an offensive line, led by Matt Birk, Marshal Yanda and Michael Oher, that helped Ray Rice lead the NFL in scrimmage yards in 2011. RB Bernard Pierce – 3rd Round Bernard Pierce left his mark on record books at Temple, setting school marks for rushing touchdowns (53) and points scored (324), also finishing second in career rushing yards (3,570). Pierce, the 2011 Eastern College Athletic Conference’s Offensive Player of the Year, will head into his rookie season competing for the backup running back spot behind Ray Rice. G/C Gino Gradkowski – 4th round The younger brother of Bengals quarterback Bruce Gradkowski, Gino was the first of two fourth-round selections by the Ravens. Gradkowski’s physical style of play will be welcomed along Baltimore’s offensive line, as the two-time first-team All-Colonial Athletic Association selection from Delaware will add depth at center and guard. S Christian Thompson – 4th Round Projected to contribute as either a strong or free safety, Thompson has speed, quickness and a physical playing style. Known for delivering some punishing hits, the South Carolina State product will look to add to a Ravens’ secondary that allowed just 11 passing touchdowns in 2011, the NFL’s fewest. CB/RS Asa Jackson – 5th Round With a reputation for being able to contribute in a big way on both defense and special teams, Jackson’s lightning-fast speed and quickness make him dangerous anytime he is on the field. The Cal- Poly alum will provide depth at cornerback and is projected to make his presence felt on returns, where he is explosive with the ball in his hands. WR Tommy Streeter – 6th Round The former Miami Hurricane will look to add to the “U” legacy in Baltimore (see Ray Lewis and Ed Reed). Standing 6-5, his size makes him a tough matchup for any cornerback, as Streeter will serve as a deep and red-zone threat for the Ravens’ offense. DE DeAngelo Tyson – 7th Round Coming out of the University of Georgia, Tyson rounds out the Ravens’ 2012 draft class and joins Baltimore’s fierce defensive line. Weighing 310 pounds, Tyson will fit right into the physical nature of the Ravens’ unit and add depth up front. On defense, I play C I E N L K R E B A Including this season, I have played in the NFL for years E N T V E E S N E I graduated from University of A I M M I I wear number O F T W Y T I F WHO AM I? ANSWERS On defense, I play LINE BACKER Including this season, I have played in the NFL for SEVENTEEN years I graduated from University of MIAMI I wear number FIFTY TWO WHO AM I? RAY LEWIS
