The Baltimore Ravens signed former UNC standout Bernardo Harris as a free agent prior to this season to give the team some depth at linebacker.

Said Ozzie Newsome, the senior vice president of football operations: "Bernardo adds a veteran presence in the middle to back up Ray (Lewis) and Edgerton (Hartwell)."

The Ravens ended up getting more than a backup with presence.

They got a starter.

When Lewis went down with a shoulder injury, Harris got the nod five consecutive games at linebacker for the Ravens.

"It has worked out great for me, being close to home and being in ACC territory," said Harris, just days after his fifth start in a row on Nov. 10 in a win against Cincinnati. "Baltimore does a great job of taking care of us."

Even though he spent seven years with the Green Bay Packers, and came away with a Super Bowl ring during his tenure in the frozen north, Harris knew his place when he arrived near the Chesapeake Bay.

"Ray is maybe the best linebacker in football in my mind," said Chapel Hill native Harris, just days before Lewis returned to the starting lineup in a 26-7 loss at Miami on Nov. 17. "I know what my role is. Ray ... he's the man. I can not compare to him. No one can fill his shoes."

Still, Harris felt out of place at the beginning of the season when he saw little action. The Ravens were on two nationally televised games, but relatives of Harris had trouble finding him.

"It was difficult in the beginning. They would wonder if I was on the team," said Harris, 31, with a smile after a recent afternoon practice in suburban Baltimore.

It has also been difficult for Harris and Baltimore defensive lineman Riddick Parker, a former UNC teammate, to face a few of the Ravens in the sometimes rowdy dressing room.

The two former Tar Heels have heard a lot of grief from their ACC teammates since UNC struggled mightily this season under head coach John Bunting.

"I have been getting beat up over how the season has gone," said Harris, who is listed at 6-foot-2, 250 pounds. "We know (the Tar Heels) will be back. It's hard right now."

Other ACC products with the Ravens are Michael McCrary and Mike Collins of Wake Forest, James Trapp of Clemson, Peter Boulware of Florida State and Shannon Taylor of Virginia.

"For the most part, the ACC guys stick together," said Parker, who was signed with the Ravens on Harris' birthday, Oct. 15.

One saving grace for bragging rights is the Ravens' roster also includes Todd Heap, from Arizona State, at least one school that UNC did beat this year. That gave Harris and Parker some bragging rights way back in early October after the Tar Heels won, 38-35.

Baltimore, meanwhile, was 4-6 before its home game with Tennessee on Nov. 24.

"Our record doesn't indicate how hard we have played," said Harris, who had 38 total tackles in the first 10 games.

Harris was a two-year starter and four-year lettermen for UNC from 1990-93. He had 224 tackles in his college career, with 117 solo, 15 for a loss and seven sacks as an outside linebacker.

He was a second-team all-ACC pick as a senior when he had 85 tackles and 4.5 sacks. He had 90 tackles as a junior, the most by a UNC linebacker since Lawrence Taylor had 95 in 1979.

Harris had a career-high 18 tackles in a game in 1992 against Army.

After his college career, he was signed as a rookie free agent by the Kansas City Chiefs on June 2, 1994. But he suffered a minor knee injury and was out of football.

On Jan. 13, 1995, Harris signed as a free agent with the Packers. In seven years he became a defensive key for Green Bay, as he started 79 regular-season games and six playoff contests.

He led the Packers in total tackles in four seasons: 1997, 1998, 2000 and 2001. Prior to this season he had five straight years with at least 100 tackles. In all he had 460 tackles with Green Bay.

Harris played in three NFC championship games (1995-97) and two Super Bowls (1996-97), and won a Super Bowl ring in 1996 with the Packers.

Despite his success in Green Bay, Harris has enjoyed his stay in Baltimore under head coach Brian Billick.

"I think he is a great coach. He relates to the players," Harris said. "You have to judge a person for yourself. I respect him a great deal."