Newly Signed Raven Makes Comeback After Losing Job, Ring

BALTIMORE, MD — A newly signed member of the Baltimore Ravens practice squad says he's "already indebted to Baltimore" after the team helped him propose to his now-fiancée. He shared the story of his tumultuous week, which involved being released by one NFL team and getting picked up by another as well as losing the engagement ring and having it mailed to him, to inspire others to hold on when things seem rough.

Demone Harris, 23, said he had planned for weeks to propose to his longtime love on Friday.

But his plans appeared to have taken a detour that Tuesday when he was cut from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Over the next few days, he zigzagged the East Coast.

By Friday, Harris said he was in his hometown of Buffalo asking Arianna Hope Valentina Marinelli to marry him.

"I tell this story to tell you guys this," Harris posted on Instagram. "No matter what your situation is or how bleak your future may look at that current moment, put everything in God's hands, and he will see you through. I told this story because I felt like it might strengthen someone's faith."

Here's a look at the week Harris described on Instagram:

Oct. 14: Harris flew back to the United States from London, where the Tampa Bay Buccaneers fell to the Carolina Panthers, 37-26. They had a 4,400-mile trip home.

Oct. 15: He had planned a trip for the week to his hometown of Buffalo, New York.

At 3 a.m., Harris drove to Orlando because it "has better deals than Tampa," then boarded a flight at 6 a.m. and arrived in Buffalo at 9 a.m.

At 11:30 a.m., "Adversity comes knocking and I get a call from Tampa saying that I was going to be released that day," Harris said. He wasn't given a reason for his release, and he put his faith in God to stay composed.

"Literally in a matter of hours I got a call from the Ravens saying that they want to fly me out that Tuesday night for a Wednesday workout."

Hours after he had arrived home in Buffalo, Marinelli helped him pack his bags to fly to Baltimore. She "almost sees" the jewelry he planned to surprise her with, as it was hanging in his suit jacket pocket in the closet, he said.

Harris flew to Baltimore and but did not sleep well because he was still on London time.

Oct. 16: He woke up in Baltimore and did morning physicals followed by an afternoon workout.

Although he said the Ravens "told me I had a good workout, I felt that I didn't put my best foot forward because I barely got any sleep."

At the airport Wednesday night, he realized he did not have the ring in his bag.

"The most expensive thing that I have ever bought in life is gone," he said.

He took an Uber back to the team hotel to look for the ring but couldn't find it, then went back to catch his flight.

"At this point, I'm at the airport with no job in the NFL and more importantly no ring to propose to the woman of my dreams," Harris wrote. The jeweler in Florida arranged for him to pick up a temporary ring since he was headed back to the Sunshine State.

Thursday: After a 6 a.m. flight to Orlando, Harris headed to Tampa to turn in his playbook to the Buccaneers.

On the drive there, he received a text from the Ravens at 9:45 a.m. informing him the team planned to sign him Monday, he said.

At 10:30 a.m. he received a call from the hotel in Baltimore they found the engagement ring. He asked the Ravens if they could overnight the ring since he was going to be in Buffalo, where he had a weekend planned around the proposal starting Friday.

Friday: Harris proposed to Marinelli "and the weekend went perfectly just like I had planned," he wrote. He captured the proposal on video.

The Ravens shared the news, giving the pass rusher the "nod for practice player with the most interesting proposal story."

Said Harris: "Obviously I was under an enormous amount of stress and anxiety but if I had flipped out at any point during the week, God may not have blessed me the way he did."

Now Harris has set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for his wedding.

"Keep your faith strong," Harris said. "God's got you!"