Tight-end craze catching on around NFL

In Baltimore, Heap said he started to notice opponents last year rolling coverages in his direction, something he had seen happen when Shannon Sharpe played with the Ravens.

"That's a compliment," Heap said. "You definitely know they respect you. Where the outside world sees how many catches and how many yards you get, you really gain respect when the defenses realize what type of threat you are.

"And that's what's changing the tight-end position. It's not always going to be a deep scoring threat, and it doesn't have to be, but it's moving the ball, picking up big chunks, making big plays -- all the little things the offense needs."

It reminds you a little of what went on in the 1980s when tight ends like Kellen Winslow, Newsome, Todd Christensen and Mickey Shuler were among the league leaders in catches -- with Winslow producing 26 100-yard receiving games, second only to Lance Alworth in San Diego Chargers history.

"For me, the guy who changed it and revolutionized it was Shannon Sharpe," said Heap, who played a season with Sharpe. "He had the innate ability to make plays when the team needed it. That's definitely something I want to do."

Well, he's in the right place ... and I don't mean Baltimore.

"The tight-end position definitely is changing," Heap said. "It's become a bigger part of the offense."