For nine seasons, Haloti Ngata has played defensive tackle for the Baltimore Ravens. Over that span, Baltimore was one of the top-tier defenses in the NFL. For that reason, it is an absolute shock that Ngata would insult his former Ravens teammates with recent comments that shine his current team, the Detroit Lions, in a bright light.

“It’s exciting, man,” Ngata told the Detroit Free Press. “I’ve never been a part of a defense like this. You have so many athletes: J.J. [Jason Jones], Ziggy [Ezekiel Ansah], Caraun [Reid], Darryl Tapp. You just have so many playmakers all over the front on the D-line. I’m just excited to be a part of it.”

There is no denying the Lions have a loaded defense. Their run defense was phenomenal last season, and there is plenty of reason to believe they will be just as competitive in 2015. But, to compare the mentioned names to the likes of Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, Terrell Suggs, Elvis Dumervil, Pernell McPhee and Jimmy Smith is ludicrous.

It is quite clear Ngata is attempting to boast Detroit’s confidence, because even the Lions players who were mentioned have to know they are not worthy enough to stand on the same gridiron as Lewis and Reed. Still, for someone who found great success in his career with the Ravens, mainly due to the production Lewis, Reed and Suggs provided, it is disappointing to witness such an insult.

Too bad the Lions and Ravens do not face each other this season because that would have been quite the homecoming for Ngata.

Michael Terrill is a Senior Writer for Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter @MichaelTerrill, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.