Zay Flowers Saves Christmas, Comes Through With Ravens Jersey
Zay Flowers' most clutch Christmas play came long before Monday's kickoff against the San Francisco 49ers. The Baltimore Ravens rookie put up 72 yards and a score in the 33-19 win but one family is lauding the way he came through for them in the holiday pregame.
In a story documented by WMAR-TV, Baltimore's ABC affiliate, a woman named Debra Jenkins sought to purchase a Flowers jersey for her nephew Josiah. Alas for Jenkins, the garment was the right color but branded with the wrong team, as the front of the jersey bore the insignia of the Minnesota Vikings.
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After conversations with jersey manufacturer Fanatics yielded unsatisfying results (unable to get a new jersey out before Dec. 25), Jenkins took her plea to social media. That drew the attention of Flowers' agent Eric Dounn, who was more than willing to help out.
"My heart broke," Dounn told WMAR sports anchor Ja Nai Wright. "A kid who's ready for Christmas, who's going to get a Zay Flowers jersey and can't get it and if he gets it says Vikings on the front, he might be confused ... I certainly wouldn't want that if I was him."
Flowers not only made sure new threads made it to Josiah but also signed the jersey and included a personalized message.
"I'm sorry about the inconvenience, but we've got you right!" Flowers said in a video, brandishing the purple No. 4 replica. "Merry Christmas, thank you for being a Ravens fan, and thank you for being a fan of me."
Flowers had more surprises waiting for Josiah and all the other Ravens fans on Monday night, as he earned a game-best nine receptions in the win over the 49ers. With the win, Baltimore (12-3) inched one step closer toward both the AFC North division title and the top seed on the playoff bracket.
Nothing on the field, however, could compare to his good deed for Josiah, especially in Jenkins' eyes.
"It meant so much to my nephew, not only that he sent the jersey and signed but that he took just two minutes of his time to send just a really sweet message and say his name online. He was so thrilled by that. I would just say thank you, thank you, thank you."
Jenkins told Wright that she plans to continue speaking to Fanatics to get the jersey she originally paid for, as she and Josiah intend to frame the special gift from Flowers. There's no doubt they'll be watching when Flowers and the Ravens return to action on Sunday afternoon against the Miami Dolphins (1 p.m. ET, CBS).
