2006 was a breakout year for Baltimore Ravens free agent fullback Ovie Mughelli. Mughelli's '06 season started out slowly (zero touches in the first six games) but finished in an ideal fashion for a player slated to become an unrestricted free agent this March.

Over the season's last eight games, Mughelli had 21 receptions, 229 total yards, scored two touchdowns and asserted himself as one of the most versatile fullbacks in the league, contributing to his selection as a second-team NFL All-Pro.

How has the off-season treated you so far?

“Well, right now, my body enjoys the off-season; it finally gets a little time to recover. It’s a long season to begin with, but with 2006 being the first time I played in every game, including preseason, and I definitely feel it. Right now I haven’t worked out for a couple of weeks but I need to start again because now that I’m going to be a free agent in a couple of weeks, I need to stay in shape in case any team wants to take a look at me.”

What do your free agent prospects look like?

“I’m hoping that I won’t have to do anything that Baltimore will re-sign me, but we’ll just have to wait and see. I’d like to stay with Baltimore but that’s between my agent and the Ravens organization. That’s what I want anyway. I hope it works out because they are a great organization and we seem to work together very well.”

Was your success in the second half of the season the result of head coach Brian Billick deciding to call the plays after Jim Fassel was fired?

“I don’t think who was calling the plays was as responsible for that. I think me getting more involved in the offense was more of a natural progression rather than who was the coach. I was ecstatic to have him (Billick) as the offensive coordinator because his energy and passion flows down to the whole team. He was a big part of why we started doing so well in the second half of the year; just his energy and the kind of coach he is.”

How much of a factor was it to have Steve McNair as quarterback rather than Kyle Boller?

"Steve McNair is invaluable. Nothing against Boller, but Steve is one of the best quarterbacks in the league because of experiences he’s had, the people he’s played with and against. He was able to get us out of a lot of situations that with someone else it would be a lot more difficult."

What does McNair’s reputation as a leader mean to the team? How does it manifest itself on a day to day level?

"He is not a vocal leader like Ray Lewis. He has a quiet style of leadership, but it’s just as powerful as Ray. He has occasionally in the huddle gotten upset and yelled, but more often than that he looked at us in the eye, let us know were going to score no matter what and  that we all better make up our mind to get into the end zone. But that’s what makes him great; that level of determination that the whole team can get behind. That’s what makes him a leader."

Did you feel like you were snubbed for the Pro Bowl this year coming in second behind Lorenzo Neal?

"Absolutely not, Lorenzo Neal deserved it. He’s done as much for the fullback position as anyone in this league. He is one of my mentors or role models just like a Mike Alstott or someone on that level. When I got into the league I really looked up to what those guys had been able to do in their careers so when I got a chance to meet them, I mentioned that because their success meant a lot to me getting to where I am.

Another guy who is like that is the Saints Mike Karney. We worked out together during the summer two years ago. When he got into the league he approached me and told me that he respected what I had done in college and in the pros. I was working out in Phoenix at the time and so was Mike.  He was more familiar with the area having one to college at ASU and he helped me out a  lot. He made sure I had a place to stay, showed me around, he was just really cool to me. So it was funny this year when we both received the same amount of votes for the All-Pro team having worked out and really gotten to know each other."

It seems like the fullbacks around the league have a great relationship with each other. Why do you think it is so different from the wide receivers?

"We have to be our own cheerleaders. No one can appreciate the work you put into being a fullback like another fullback can."

With the combine coming up this weekend what is something you remember about the transition for the college game to the pros?

"Coming out of college you get a little full of yourself with all the hype and hoopla. You try to fight it, and you're obviously confident of your abilities, or you wouldn't be in the NFL in the first place. So you're anxious to test yourself against the NFL guys you hear so much about: 'Are they that much bigger?' 'Are they that much stronger?' And the answer of course to these questions is, Yes.

The first time hitting Ray Lewis in training camp was something I’ll never forget. I came as hard and fast as I could through the hole and no matter what I did it was like trying to move an immoveable object. My legs were pumping, grass was flying every where, and he just leveled me. He rang my bell and I realized that if I was going to survive in this league I was going to have to come correct every single time.”