Flynn paving way for Ravens’ rush

Former University of Maine standout Mike Flynn, the starting center for the Baltimore Ravens, has had a memorable pro career beginning with the team’s 34-7 Super Bowl win over the New York Giants in 2001.

Two Sundays ago, he received a game ball with the rest of the offensive linemen after the Ravens’ Jamal Lewis ran for an NFL-record 295 yards on 30 carries during a 33-13 win over the Cleveland Browns.

“That was a great experience. That’s something I can always look back on. Selfishly, I hope that record is never broken,” said Flynn. “It was one of those once-in-a-career things. It all worked out great.”

Flynn and his linemates have helped the 2-1 Ravens lead the NFL in rushing (194.3 yards per game) entering Sunday’s game against 3-0 Kansas City.

They are also last in passing (96.7 yards per game) as rookie Kyle Boller makes the adjustment from the University of California to the NFL.

“When the decision was made to go with Kyle, it was our job to control the ball with a good running game,” said Flynn. “We didn’t want Kyle to have to make too many decisions. We didn’t want to put him into too many third-and-long situations.”

He said Boller has a bright future and improves every week, but stressed that it takes time to adapt to the speed and complexity of the defenses.

Flynn is a classic overachiever.

He wasn’t drafted and spent time on practice squads with three NFL teams before seeing his first NFL action with the Ravens in 1998.

He has played guard and center and is now an established regular.

“I feel I’ve gotten better. I’ve adjusted my workouts in the off-season and I have a better sense of the game now. I’m used to seeing defenses. I can pick up clues before I snap the ball. I can anticipate,” said Flynn.

“Mike has been a good solid player since we got him here,” said Ravens line coach Jim Colletto. “He started at guard for our Super Bowl team. He was an undersized guard who played hard all the time and knew what he was doing.

“He is a good, smart center with good experience who plays with a lot of emotion,” added Colletto.

The 29-year-old Agawam, Mass., native, who stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 305 pounds, feels his Ravens can be a playoff team if they can “eliminate turnovers and establish a passing game to complement the run.”

Flynn is a diehard Boston Red Sox fan who married former UMaine soccer midfielder Mary Wells in May.

He said he had “some of the best times of my life” during his five years at Maine, “but I don’t miss the winters.”

“The last two years, I spent my summers up there working out and spent a lot of time on the coast. I loved it. Down the line, I’d like to have a summer home up there,” said Flynn.