OWINGS MILLS – It was a quiet departure from the Houston Texans’ backfield, quite unlike one of fullback Vonta Leach’s thunderous trademark blocks.

The Texans barely lifted a finger to retain him despite how Leach bulldozed linebackers out of the path of NFL rushing champion Arian Foster last season.

It was mostly silence as contract talks never really got kickstarted.

So, the All-Pro lead blocker signed a three-year, $11 million contract with the Baltimore Ravens that included $6 million in guaranteed money.

Three months later as the Ravens (3-1) prepare to square off with the Texans (3-2) on Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium, Leach insists he harbors no ill will toward his old employer.

“I have no hard feelings toward them,” Leach said. “It was just business obviously. I would say that obviously they had other needs and I wasn’t important enough on the team. I wasn’t high enough on the totem pole. I was the odd man out. You can’t pay everybody, but I proved my worth.

“It’s just another game for me, but I do want to win. I don’t think I left on a bad note. I was happy, they were happy. It was just one of those situations where they had other parties they had to take care of.”

Acquiring Leach injected a physical presence into the Ravens’ offense.

Just ask Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Brandon Siler, who got trucked so hard to the ground by Leach during the preseason that the fullback popped his own helmet off.

Or the Pittsburgh Steelers' linebacking corps of James Harrison, LaMarr Woodley and James Farrior, who got the worst of their collisions with Leach during a 35-7 loss to Baltimore to open the season.

Leach is a pure fullback, engulfing defenders with his stocky 6-foot, 255-pound frame.

“I think that he is willing to hit on a consistent basis, and that is rare to find in this arena,” Foster said during a conference call with Baltimore reporters. “Fullbacks that will constantly go at you play after play after play, and it’s his physicality that he brings to the game. Plus, he can catch out of the backfield.”

The Ravens rank ninth in rushing offense, averaging 123.8 yards per game.

And the Texans are now ranked fifth in rushing without Leach after building the top-ranked running game in the league a year ago with him.

With Leach blocking for him, Pro Bowl running back Ray Rice has gained 297 yards and is on pace to rush for 1,188 yards.

“He’s a perfect fit, came in a leader,” Rice said. “When things get going, you’ve got to have somebody speak up. Vonta fit right in that mix. He’ll be the first to grab a group, put us together on the sideline, put us together in meetings, whatever.”

Leach has an easy smile, a good sense of humor and a tendency to sing in the locker room.

When Leach was with the Texans, he used to make his teammates and coaches laugh by wearing a Santa Claus suit to practice around Christmas.

“That kind of brought a smile to everybody’s face,” Texans coach Gary Kubiak said. “Vonta is a joy to be around. He is one of those guys that loves to play. He has a great, positive influence on all his teammates. He is a great family man. I miss him. He is a hell of a football player and a good man.

“He is fun to be around. He is a leader. I really like him as a person, and obviously, he is a hell of a player. You can’t keep them all, unfortunately, in this business. So, we had to go in another direction.”

That direction for the Texans was to install former tight end James Casey as the new starting fullback.

With Casey a question mark due to a strained pectoral muscle, the Texans might start Lawrence Vickers at fullback against Baltimore.

Leach has yet to carry the football this season, but he’s been a big part of the offense as the designated body guard for Rice. And offensive coordinator Cam Cameron throws him the occasional bone with a swing pass out of the backfield with Leach catching five passes for 15 yards.

“I liked it there, but I think here is a better fit for me,” Leach said. “Here, we use the fullback and we like the fullback here. I wanted to play somewhere where they utilize the fullback and like the fullback. This offense fits a fullback like myself. I've been accepted by the players here and the coaches. I really like it.”

Leach has emerged as a popular figure on the team because of his willingness to sacrifice his body and inflict punishment on the field.

Off the field, Leach matches wits with colorful personalities like outside linebacker Terrell Suggs.

“You’ve got to like Vonta’s personality,” Suggs said. “We have a lot of characters in this locker room. We all like to have fun. He came in and fit right in. As far as his play on the field, I think it speaks for itself.

“I think he knows his role as a fullback. He’s not a fullback trying to be a tailback. He’s a great fullback, and he plays Ravens-style football.”

Suggs winked and smiled after making the comment. It was an obvious playful jab at former Ravens Pro Bowl fullback Le’Ron McClain who signed with the Kansas City Chiefs after unsuccessfully lobbying the team for a return to his featured role as a running back from three seasons ago.

Leach is more than satisfied to knock someone down. He has no visions of grandeur of being the star.

Now, Leach is taking aim at his former teammates.

“Everyone should buckle up their chin straps when they play against the Ravens, not just one team,” he said. “I don’t have nothing to prove. I played for them for five years, they know everything I can do. I had some great times there.

“I still have a lot of friends on that team, but Sunday it’s time to play and I’m trying to get a win. It’s going to be fun and weird. I’m going to have mixed emotions leading up to the game and during the game. Hey, we’re all professionals. When the game starts, it’s on.”