Go Ravens!

The days until NLF draft day have been carefully counted down in our house for months! This is because our nephew, Joe, the QB from the University of Delaware was projected to be drafted in the late first or early second round of the draft! Brian's sister and brother in law had a huge get together to watch the draft and celebrate. A lot of people and analysts were saying that they thought he would go to Baltimore. Baltimore traded their #8 pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars and too their #26 pick. I don't know but we think that Baltimore got scared someone between #8 and #26 would take Joe, so they traded with the Houston Texans for pick #18!

No one expecting the call that Joe got when he did. The Texans started on the clock for the #18 pick and all of a sudden Joe's phone rang. He looked at it almost in disbelief. Joe had been worried all day about missing a call because of bad reception in the house! It was a Maryland area code and he could no longer contain his smile! After he answered the phone, the TV showed the trade and Joe talking on the phone popped up on the screen! A few minutes later, the Ravens announced their pick and the house went crazy!

It was so exciting to be there to experience it with Joe. Brian Jr. was so into in and even gave up playing in the back yard with his cousins to sit and watch the draft! He was on the floor in the family room when Joe got the call! Brian and Justin were in the kitchen just outside the family room and I was outside int he backyard looking for Sean. I was thinking that he had another eight picks to go - which could be another hour or more!

Joe's family lives a few houses from an elementary school. They used the all-purpose room for a press conference a little later! It was so need and there was a lot of media coverage. We are so happy for Joe and cannot wait to go to Baltimore to see the stadium and to watch him play one day soon! Go Ravens!

(There are a lot of great videos and pictures on www.baltimoreravens.com and www.joeflacco.com)

Brian, Sean, Daniel and Chris

Joe and Delaware teammates

(Jonathan Smith, Mark Duncan, Robbie Agnone)

Maria and Brian coloring Joe picturesSean in his GO Joe shirtgetting the official call!talkinggetting the Raven's hatthe family and friends celebratingmore talking Joe and Brian Jr.

(Brian is standing on the couch!)

Joe and JustinBrian and cousin CollinJoe and SeanJoe and Brian Sr.Brian in Joe's Delaware helmet holding

the Draft Day 2008 mini-helmet