“You don?t want to make a play that doesn?t help your team win,” Heap said. “It?s definitely something that was frustrating for me. I always felt like I have to come back and make a big play to make up for it.”

Other than the season-altering fumble, Heap had a fantastic season, leading the team with 73 catches for 765 and 6 touchdowns.

Heap?s performance came on the heels of the best season of his career, as he recorded 75 catches for 855 yards and 7 touchdowns in 2005.

“One main thing I notice is that we are way further ahead right now than we were at this point last year,” Heap said. “With Steve, he?s a lot more comfortable. We have put in a lot of new things, but the concepts are all still the same, so we?re a lot further ahead and we?re a lot smoother.”

Quarterback Steve McNair, who is entering his second season as a starter, said Heap doesn?t get the same attention nationally as San Diego?s Antonio Gates and Kansas City?s Tony Gonzalez receive, but the seven-year veteran is still among the game?s best.

“He?s so solid,” McNair said. “It?s very difficult to know when he isn?t [healthy] because he?s still going to go out there and give you 110 percent. He?s a guy that?s going to be there and make big plays for you.”

Ravens coach Brian Billick said Heap has emerged as a role model for the younger players, just as Heap?s predecessors did forhim when arrived in his training camp after being selected in the first round out of Arizona State.

“He?s the old man now,” Billick said. “He?s a great leader for these guys, having learned from a guy like [former tight end]

Shannon Sharpe. Now that passes on down to Quinn Sypniewski and [Kendrick] Ballantyne and all the guys that are here. That?s the kind of transition of leadership that you want.”