More often than not, the obscurity of the fourth preseason game is where a player's NFL dreams go to die.
But for Ravens defensive tackle Michael Pierce, it happened to be where they were revived, if not downright cemented.
For all intents and purposes, Pierce's pro career emerged with a play that epitomized the hustle small-college players, like Pierce, need and teams like the Ravens want.
Late in the second quarter of the preseason finale in New Orleans, the host Saints and Ravens were locked in a 6-6 tie, with the Saints taking possession at their own 9-yard line. Quarterback Luke McCown dropped back to pass, stopping his retreat just in front of his own goal line.
