Drinking the Yaterade: Interview with Ravens QB Eric Haskins
by AST1N | 7 years ago | 0 Comments
Today we sit down with an exclusive interview with Ravens third-year quarterback Eric Haskins, who has taken the league by storm since joining. Haskins has led the team to a 15-0 record this season, and is looking to keep that record blemish free as the season draws to an end.
Field Yates: Hey Eric, thanks for taking time to sit down with me, especially at this point of the season. I have to ask the question that has been trending on the internet. Tell me about your nickname “Air Rick”. Everyone has their theories.
Eric Haskins: (Chuckles) Yeah, I saw that question coming. You apparently go straight for the juicy info. As for the nickname, I have heard them all, but they are all wrong. I’ve heard the reference to Rick and Morty, saying I am a mad scientist when I am on the field. There’s the Rick Astley reference, saying I will Rickroll you over on the gridiron. Ricky Martin, saying I am Livin La Vida Loca. Then there’s Ric Flair comparisons, and occasionally I will get a guy or two who see me and just give me a loud “WOOOO!” They are all funny to me…. Incorrect, but funny.
FY: ….So are you going to tell us?
EH: Well Cincinnati Bengals LT Allen Heddlesten gave me the nickname while we were college together. Maybe you can get the truth out of him.
FY: Fair enough. Speaking of college, tell me about playing for Lafayette. You really helped turn that program around.
EH: I loved it. I grew up in Pennsylvania and they were one of the few programs that gave me a chance out of high school. I don’t think I would have made it if they didn’t hire the greatest coach in history right before I joined.
FY: Yeah, the hiring of Hugh Jackson after he was fired from the Cleveland Browns was a big deal. Now you set all sorts of records in the couple of years you were there, but there were plenty of skeptics about you declaring for the draft at just 21 years old after playing for a lower-tiered Division I program. Many analysts even had you projected to go undrafted. Tell me about the draft.
EH: It was exciting and nerve-racking at the same time. I heard all of the rumors and it freaked me out. I started regretting declaring early. However, the night before the draft, I got a phone call from Coach Astin assuring me that there would be no way I drop past the second round. Their second round pick came up early, and they took their chances on me.
FY: And I am sure they regret nothing. You came in and Flacco was released immediately after, which kind of threw you into the starting position as a 21 year old kid. You could tell you were shaky in your first few games, but it appeared you started getting a hang
of things. And then you just took off. What was your first year like?
EH: Surreal. I watched a lot of these guys growing up and now all of a sudden I am supposed to be their leader? That shit is crazy to ask of a rookie. (Covers mouth) Can I swear?
FY: Haha, yeah. You are fine.
EH: I hope my mom doesn’t read this. Anyway, you are right, I had some learning to do. Everything was just so fast. I am pretty sure that season I was at the team facilities 16 hours a day just trying to prepare myself. Then I hurt my shoulder, missed a few games, came back just in time to lead the team to the Super Bowl.
FY: And you have been ballin’ ever since, winning numerous Player of the Week awards. Has Deion ever given you a call?
EH: Nope. That’s okay, though. After I was drafted, the Ravens Front Office sat down with me and kind of laid out how things go with the team. They told me to expect there to be haters for your success, but to not let it get to me. It is the Ravens way, they said. It doesn’t matter, I rarely even have my phone on me to take the call if he did try. My wife Tess usually has my phone, but he better not be calling her!
FY: How is the family?
EH: Man, it’s so good. My son Ryker just turned one. Being a father is one of the greatest feelings ever. If you had to make me rank the Super Bowl win or the birth of my son…. It’d be close. The Super Bowl gets the slight nudge…. Sorry, Ryker.
FY: Alright, let’s talk about your season this year. You are off the charts. Literally. Look at this chart. It shows the historical QB ratings in history, and it only goes to 125. You broke the record last year, posting a 127.2 rating, and now this year you are sitting at 131.7. The record was Aaron Rodgers in 2011 with 122.5, and now you are about to shatter that. That’s quite the feat.
EH: I still have one game left, Field. Please, for the love of God, don’t jinx me. I have got a great team around me and they help make things much easier. Our running game has finally started to work, which takes a ton of pressure off of my shoulders to get the offense going. It has been so nice. If I only have to throw it 15-20 times a game, that’s fine by me. That’s just less hits I have to take.
FY: You’ve got my MVP vote, no matter what happens in Week 17. You’ve had a heck of a season and led your team to an undefeated season. It’s a no-brainer. Anyway, we are out of time. I appreciate you sitting down with me to talk. Good luck the rest of the way.
EH: No problem. I should probably take a little time away from studying film every once in a while. Oh, I was joking earlier about the nickname. Don’t go running to Heddlesten for the answer. He’s a goofball. One day in practice he was mumbling to himself “Eric…. Air Rick….” And I was like “Can I…. help you?” and he was like “I GOT IT! You are like Rick Moranis! But instead of blowing up your kids, you are about to blow up the Red Zone! Air it out, Air Rick!” It’s so stupid, and that’s why I haven’t told anyone until now. I am just mad that of all the cool nicknames, that is the one that stuck. Oh well. You aren’t going to publish that, right?
FY: It would be an outrage to all journalists alive and dead if I didn’t.
EH: Damnit.