"There’s not a tougher player I’ve been around in 27 years of coaching”

January 1, 2012

From Aaron Wilson's "Suggs' big play helps Ravens hold on for win"

YANDA RETURNS: Pro Bowl offensive guard Marshal Yanda played through a lot of pain, starting and playing the entire game despite bruised ribs that prevented him from practicing most of the week.

Yanda delivered the key block on running back Ray Rice’s 70-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, bashing into middle linebacker Rey Maualuga.

“I’m hurting right now, but it’s all good because we won,” Yanda said. “That was the goal. That was the objective to play because they needed me. I played and we won and it don’t get no better than that.”

Yanda had trouble breathing normally as late as Friday and was listed as doubtful on the injury report.

Yanda indicated that his ribs aren’t cracked, but said, “My cartilage is loose from my rib bones. I fell on it again and hurt it again at the end. At that point, I was just going to fight through it.”

Yanda’s grit didn’t go unnoticed.

“It was a huge boost,” coach John Harbaugh said. “We thought there was a chance he would play, but wasn’t totally sure. There’s not a tougher player I’ve been around in 27 years of coaching.”

The first-round playoff bye is especially meaningful for injured players like Yanda to recuperate.

“That was the plan: to play and get the bye,” Yanda said. “It’s huge. Things are good in Baltimore right now.”