Dean Michaels

The Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens enjoyed a gathering at the White House Wednesday this week to celebrate the win with President Barack Obama.

The Ravens will endure some changes next season with the retirement of superb linebacker Ray Lewis and free safety Ed Reed's signing with the Houston Texans.

There was still time to reflect on their excellence this past season during the gathering with Obama, who once again proved his sports knowledge to those in attendance. He recalled the Ravens comeback win over the Broncos then how they held off a powerful San Francisco 49ers team to capture the Super Bowl.

"Now, I imagine there were times last year when these players were the only ones who knew that they'd make it here to show off this trophy," Obama said. "Because during the year, they lost player after player to injury; they dropped four of their last five regular season games. In the playoffs, they trailed Denver by a touchdown with 70 yards and less than a minute to go. And I still don't know how — well ... and then, in the Super Bowl, just when it looked like they had the momentum, the lights went out for a half hour, but these Ravens always pulled through."

Obama took note of Ravens signal-caller Joe Flacco, reminding the crows the quarterback developed his game as a college star in Delaware, the same state Vice President Joe Biden is from. Obama said Flacco could soon rival the VP among The First State's top heroes.

The Ravens notched their first White House visit since they crushed the New York Giants in 2001, with the exception of Anquan Boldin, Bernard Pollard, Paul Kruger, Cary Williams and Michael Oher, the latter also of 'The Blind Side" movie fame, who didn't make the visit.

Super Bowl Champion Ravens Enjoy White House Visit