OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- Rookie defensive lineman Patrick Ricard first heard the nickname in offseason workouts, when he became the Baltimore Ravens' latest experiment at fullback.
A defensive lineman referred to Ricard as "Project Pat."
"And it stuck," Ricard said.
Ricard is no longer a project, though. He has replaced Pro Bowl player Kyle Juszczyk as Baltimore's top fullback.
In the preseason, Ricard practiced with the defensive linemen and got a handful of snaps with the offense as a lead blocker. After Baltimore cut its top fullbacks on the roster (Lorenzo Taliaferro and Ricky Ortiz), Ricard got a new number -- the eligible receiver No.