President Barack Obama on Wednesday welcomed the Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens to the White House, congratulating the team on its unlikely Super Bowl run — and offering some good-natured jibes along the way. At a South Lawn event, Obama praised the team not only for the goal line stand that sealed its second Super Bowl trophy but its charitable work in blue collar Baltimore.
Quarterback Joe Flacco was singled out for winning the Super Bowl’s most valuable player — and a miracle touchdown pass at a playoff game in Denver — which helped him win a huge $100 million-plus contract in the offseason. “Good timing with that contract up,” Obama said. The graying Obama praised safety Ed Reed for the Super Bowl’s only interception, though he noted Reed’s sprouting some gray hairs of his own. “You’re looking like an old man,” Obama said.
And the president cited legendary linebacker Ray Lewis for returning from injury to lead the defense in the playoffs — but only after kidding Lewis that he thought his arm injury came from the motivational dance he performed at every home game. They shared a bear hug after the event.
