Two of a kind: Ravens’ Calais Campbell eyeing titles in NFL and poker – Baltimore Ravens Blog

Baltimore Ravens defensive end Calais Campbell wants to be a champion before he retires from the NFL — and after it as well.

Campbell, who is 35 years old, made the decision to return for his 15th year to try and win that Super Bowl ring. He will move his title pursuit to the World Series of Poker Main Event if he does leave the game.

Campbell has been playing poker since college. He has earned $11,487 in real-money earnings. Campbell has played in other WSOP tournaments annually, but he has never entered Main Event as the tournament’s end is too close for training camp. But Campbell plans to put up the $10,000 buy-in for the no-limit hold’em world championship every year after he’s finished with football.

“I want to win the WSOP Main Event,” Campbell said. ‘It’s a tough thing that very few people have done, but I feel like why not? If it can be done, why not me?”

Campbell has made great strides this year at the poker tables. In January, he had his biggest cash payout, winning $6,405 at the World Poker Tour’s Lucky Hearts Poker Open after finishing 191st.

Campbell defeated over 17,000 players at the WSOP Housewarming event. It featured the fourth largest field in WSOP history (2,080 entrants). After being knocked down in 2,405th on a bad beat, he earned $801. (His opponent made a flush using king-deuce suited).

It is believed that Campbell is the only active NFL player at this year’s WSOP, which is in its 53rd year and runs through July 20. This event has drawn many athletes to it, including Paul Pierce (an ex-NBA star) and Michael Phelps (olympic swimmer). The Main Event has been won by no one.

Does Campbell have a chance to ultimately win poker’s top prize?

“I think it’s an absolute realistic possibility,” said Jack Effel, the vice president of the World Series of Poker. “Poker is a game where anyone can enter and anyone can win.

“At the same time, we’re talking about trained athletes that have spent their lives dedicated to competing at the highest levels and under pressure. You need to be able think strategically and take quick decisions to win poker tournaments. So they definitely have the skill sets.”

Campbell soon discovered that he was a good player of poker. He won the 2009 tournament, beating a field of 70 players in Arizona.

Campbell sees similarities between poker and football. Both require patience, discipline, and repetitions to improve. Both sports require you to be aware of your opponent and have a good understanding of their strengths and weaknesses.

Campbell observes the eyes of offensive linemen when they break the huddle. Campbell also watches their posture and leans in certain directions. That information is crucial for Campbell’s anticipation in football. In poker, players look for similar “tells,” which provide clues on what cards an opponent is holding.

Campbell had an amazing experience at the poker tables, which was just a few months ago. Cliff Josephy, a poker professional with more than $7 million in career earnings, offered to re-raize Campbell.

If Campbell had called Josephy, he would’ve been all-in and in jeopardy of getting bounced from the tournament. He laid down his hand, telling Josephy, “I see you got jacks.” Josephy then turned over two jacks.

“It’s a thrill when you’re out there competing and you’re in the hand and you try to get good reads on people,” Campbell said. “I feel like football has taught me how to see things before they happen. It allows me see my keys clearly and gives me information that I can process. In poker, it’s the same thing.”

Campbell has been among the NFL’s most dominant defensive linemen, reaching the Pro Bowl six times. Campbell’s 160 tackles to lose rank second only after 2008 J.J. Watt.

After last season, he considered retiring but decided to return after watching the series. Los Angeles Rams He still wanted to play the Super Bowl. Campbell signed a $12.5 million contract to stay with the Ravens for a two year period in April.

“Calais, he’s an all-timer,” Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald said. “He’s going to be putting on a gold jacket [at the Hall of Fame] one day.”

Campbell, who is nine months younger than Macdonald, is the Ravens’ oldest player. He is confident that he will be able to win a poker title more than an NFL one.

But Campbell didn’t hesitate when asked what championship he covets the most.

“The Main Event bracelet might be on the level of getting a Super Bowl ring,” Campbell said. “But the Super Bowl is more fun because I have to not only play well, but also inspire others to play well. I take great pride in bringing a group of guys together.”