Protect This Kingdom!!!

Less than an hour before game time, the Ravens I am most concerned about are the ones guarding Joe Flacco.  But it does bring to mind these fellows, who are responsible for protecting the British empire. 

You can see they take their duties seriously as they patrol the ramparts at the Tower of London.  Not like anyone is going to pinch the Crown Jewels on their watch.

Even though the Broncos and 49ers were on most everyone's mind the weekend I was in London, my "must see" was not the game at Wembley, but the guardians of the Tower.  They were making their appointed rounds, just as they have been for hundred of years, when I arrived on a Saturday morning.

The ravens, you see, have special status at this fortress, which is one of the most popular attractions in London.  They enjoy this privilege/responsibility by royal decree.  They also seem to delight in being a favorite of the tourists and friendly antagonists to the Yoemen of the Guard (whom they torment with their bickering.)

Their mandated presence dates back to the Restoration, when the monarchy was brought back to England after their brief flirtation with a republic.  King Charles II returned from exile in France and took stock of his realm.  One complaint he heard was from the Royal Observatory, which was housed in the centuries-old Tower.  It seemed the telescopes were plagued by the ravens who populated the tower and relieved themselves on the equipment.  Wanting to be rid of this nuisance, the astronomers appealed to the king to give the ravens the ax (a fate suffered by Charles' late father.)  The king was inclined to agree, until reminded of an ancient prophecy that the Tower of London would fall and the kingdom destroyed if the ravens ever left.

Whether this was a great PR ploy by the birds' advocates or Charles II didn't want to take any chances given his family history, it worked -- the ravens were commanded to stay.  And just to make sure they didn't have a change of heart or try to negotiate better terms, their wings were clipped to keep them inside the moat.  The astronomers, on the other hand, were shipped off to Greenwich where they remain to this day.

Even during the Blitz in World War II, when they were battled and shell-shocked, the ravens maintained a presence in the tower -- giving credence to the belief they would protect the kingdom.

So hopefully our O line will show the same tenacity today.  (At least their wings aren't clipped. )  When they return to Baltimore, they should have plenty to crow about.

GO RAVENS !!!