BALTIMORE — There are some days in the sports writing profession where you pause and just remember, it’s only a game. Tuesday was one of those days.

By early morning Wednesday, it was confirmed by Atlanta Police that the brother of Ravens defensive end Calais Campbell, Ciarre Campbell, 41, was charged with murder, aggravated assault and possession of a knife in the murder of their mother, Nateal Campbell, 71.

That’s an incredible tragedy. But yet at the same time, if there is anyone who can pull through it, it’s Calais.

In the 30 years the team has been in Baltimore, he is one of my favorites along with former Ravens stars Peter Boulware, an outside linebacker, and placekicker Matt Stover. My prayers and thoughts are with Calais because he is one of the most giving and selfless players in team history.

“We take comfort in knowing she is reunited with our father, her beloved Chuck, and in the arms of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,” the Calais Campbell family said in a statement.

That’s vintage Calais with his faith first, his family second and treating the game like it was and should be — as a game.

He has been that way ever since his seven siblings and his parents lived in a homeless shelter on the far eastern edge of Denver. Now, don’t misconstrue this. Like most players, Calais Campbell became irritated and agitated after losses, but his generosity clearly outweighed the outcome of any game.

In 2019, Jacksonville fans complained about Campbell leaving the city, and the Jaguars didn’t have any players who were as generous as Campbell. A year later, as a Raven, Campbell was given the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award, honoring a player’s commitment to philanthropy and community both on and off the field. He was nominated twice in previous years. In November 2022, Campbell partnered with Campbell’s Chunky to donate 5,000 Campbell products to the Maryland Food Bank as part of the “Chunky Sacks Hunger” campaign.

That’s his style.

Despite being 6 feet, 8 inches tall and weighing 307 pounds, Campbell was bigger than the game because he always kept it in perspective, and that might be his biggest motivating factor.

Game days are an escape from reality. I get it. Those 3 1/2-hour long NFL productions are great getaways. The Orioles play 162 games a year, and those too are nice breaks from personal problems. But some fans take it too personally. They are irritated for two or three days after a big loss, and leave nasty messages or expletive-laden emails.

Some probably lash out at others because the Ravens got off to a 1-5 start last season, or the Orioles are getting booed at home games because of problems with fundamentals. Then there is reality: Calais Campbell dealing with the loss of his mom and the charges facing his brother.

This reminds me of June 22, 2022. On that day, the Ravens announced that fourth-year linebacker Jaylon Ferguson died at age 26 after authorities found him unresponsive in a north Baltimore City home, and later that day a team spokesman confirmed that Ravens former defensive tackle Tony Siragusa died at the age of 55.

It was the longest and saddest day in Ravens history.

Siragusa, commonly referred to as “Goose,” was a throwback to the old days, the last of the era where writers and players could fight, argue and remain friends. There were times when the media could hang in the locker room for hours and form relationships with players who have, unfortunately, died, like offensive linemen Orlando Brown Sr. and Jeff Blackshear. Other former players such as Michael McCrary, Rob Burnett, Sam Adams, linebackers Jamie Sharper, Ray Lewis, Edwin Mulitalo and Jonathan Ogden were built the same way.

It was the same way with the old Baltimore Colts such as Johnny Unitas, Raymond Berry, Lenny Moore and John Mackey, as well as former Orioles such as Brooks and Frank Robinson, as well as Jim Palmer. If you wrote bad things back then, much like today, reporters often got an earful.

It’s different now because teams have their own websites, podcasts and try to put positive spins on stories. The days of lasting friendships are over because the media is allowed in the locker rooms for only 45 minutes to an hour.

This profession has changed, but we’re still paid to analyze and form opinions. The emotions from big losses and wins are somewhat irrelevant pending the situation, but days like Tuesday evening and Wednesday mornings sting and are hard to forget.

Calais Campbell has always been bigger than the game, always able to separate tough life lessons from the problems associated with the NFL. He knows it’s been an honor to play a child’s game where quarterbacks, running backs and other skilled players make millions of dollars even though it might be for only a short period of time.

But there is also the game of life itself, and the realities we all must face at one time or another.

It’s all about perspective.

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