Monday Night Football will be a success for Ravens-Floridians Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry and Zay Flowers

Before joining the Ravens, Flowers and Eddie Jackson knew each other from their youth as football players in Fort Lauderdale. Eddie Jackson, whom Flowers calls “Bo-Jack,” was teammates with some of Flowers’ older brothers.

“He’s one of the first guys I saw play,” said Flowers, who is six years younger than the 30-year-old Jackson. “I saw him while watching my older brothers. He definitely inspired me.”

Flowers lost track of “Bo-Jack” when he was 14 and in high school. Then one day Flowers was watching an Alabama football game on television.

“I thought, ‘What the hell, there’s Bo-Jack,'” Flowers said. “I didn’t even know he played for Alabama. He was one of the first people I actually knew who made it to the NFL. That definitely motivated me.”

The Florida Ravens are true to their roots and each other. It’s as if they are part of a brotherhood, connected by their origins. Flowers smiled when asked why players from his home state often spend time together once they reach the NFL.

“That’s how we grew up, it’s been football since we were born,” Flowers said. “You’re going to meet everyone down there before you even leave South Florida. When you get to the league, you probably already knew the guy or knew someone who knew the guy or you saw him.”

“We all know how difficult it is to get here. It’s motivation for the younger kids who are still down there. It’s a rotation that never stops.”