Brian Billick, who led the Ravens to their only Super Bowl title, was replaced as head coach by John Harbaugh.

Veteran quarterback Steve McNair, after two seasons with the Ravens, announced his retirement just days before the NFL draft. And All-Pro offensive lineman Jonathan Ogden also retired. Veteran center Mike Flynn was signed by the Patriots.

Lo and behold, that meant Jason Brown, the former Tar Heel standout, was one of the most experienced offensive linemen for the Ravens this season, starting at center.

"With Ogden, I have learned so much with him my first three years," said Brown, who was drafted by the Ravens in 2005 out of UNC. "He has helped me develop my game more than I can ever imagine. I have the potential to be the veteran on the offensive line. I am trying to set an example."

Another thing he wanted to do is put last season behind him. The Ravens were 5-11 in 2007.

This season they flipped that record to 11-5 and, today at 1 p.m., play at Miami in an AFC wildcard playoff game.

"There are a lot of bad memories," Brown said of 2007. "You really want to discard them. But it is still a learning experience."

Brown already has spent more time with the current coaching staff talking about non-football issues than he did with the previous staff.

One of Brown's new coaches asked what his goals were for the rest of his career. The former UNC star said he would like to be an All-Pro player one day.

"Why not this year?" the coach responded.

Brown, listed at 6-foot-3, 320 pounds, was a three-year starter at center for the Tar Heels after he switched from tackle prior to his sophomore season. He made 36 straight starts at center for UNC and was an all-ACC player as a senior.

He did not allow a sack as a senior and he was taken in the fourth round of the 2005 draft by the Ravens, the 124th player selected overall. As a rookie in 2005, he played in six games and made one start.

The next season he played in all 16 regular-season games and made 12 starts at left guard. The Ravens allowed just 17 sacks in 2006 -- the second-best mark in the NFL that year.

Brown moved up to start in all 16 games for the Ravens in 2007 and was a key contributor to the offensive line at left guard.

A native of Henderson native and a Northern Vance High graduate, Brown spent the off-season commuting back and forth between team workouts in Baltimore and his home in northern North Carolina. He remains very active in the community in central Maryland.

Brown first made a public appearance at the Baltimore VA Medical Center in November 2006 and has since made several visits to the veterans' facility. He also worked with volunteers from the NFL and United Way Hometown Huddle to fix up a house in the Sandtown community of Baltimore in 2005.

Also that year he served as a "personal shopper" for several youths in Baltimore, accompanying them to Wal-Mart with donated gift cards. And he has taken part in the annual Holiday Helpers, where gift certificates of $150 are given to underprivileged youth in the Baltimore area.

How does he decide where to spend his time?

"You start off with what you are passionate about," Brown said. "I definitely want to give back to kids as much as I can, both in Baltimore and my hometown in North Carolina. I visited six schools this past spring, one church and three other organizations."

One of those organizations was to a home for boys who have had trouble with the law. "I try to implement godly principles in everything I tell children," said Brown, who will turn 26 on May 5. "It is still very important to have that type of foundation."

David Driver is a free-lance writer in Maryland and a frequent contributor to the Chapel Hill News. He can be reached through his website at www.davidsdriver.com.