Ravens West

Congratulations to our Ravens on an emotional win that means nothing for us next year. Great. We went from pick 3 to pick 8. The Steelers were worth that, really? Sometimes it's good to think with your head than your heart.

If you don't get it, if you can't find enough pride in your team (especially in this win) to suspend your draft pick fantasy, then what good is any draft pick (anywhere)...when you have no pride in your team anyway.

Naw, I AM a Time Machine! Anyway,... Done,... Let's move on, but if you need the last word, feel free! 

Hahaha!  Nah!  You can have this one.  I'll get the next one. 

Sez another Satisfied with mediocrity fan! lol

Nah!  Just a realist who understands you can't change time without a time machine...or, hang in the past.

You got a time machine, bruh?

The Offense was a reflection of its QB on those drives, very laid back no type of motivation what so ever! Ravens lost by 5pts which the QB gave them 6pts thank god the Defense held them to FGs and didn't give up TDs making it a blowout! The squeelers won with a 3rd stringer so I feel the Ravens can win with Matt he will look at pictures and find Marlon and Kamar because Joe isn't cutting it!

Okay!  Pump the brakes!  Matt will throw it to the other team...Marlon will drop the balls Matt does throw to him...And Kamar won't catch the ball, because...Matt will throw it to the other team...

Joe's still our best option under center...period!

The problem I have with John is when he talks to the media he thinks he is talking to just the reporters but really in more ways he is talking to the shareholders of Steve's company. If he came out and said "yea we screwed up" I'm fine with that but feed a political correct crap and insult our intelligence is just plain ignorant. This leads me to why the purge of the type of players Ravens fans are use too and why Suggs will be let go.

Agree!  I don't believe a damn thing he says anymore in his pressers...especially, regarding injuries...no credibility whatsoever!

As for Suggs, I may be wrong, but I don't think we can afford to cut him.  He just restructured and I believe it'll cost more against the cap to release him than keep him...and, lord knows, we can't afford any more dead money against the cap.

Harbaugh just doesn't want to throw his coaches and a few players under the bus at this time. The whole team is a mess right now and it really seems like they are all clueless. I predict that, although it may be a couple seasons away, he will be joining his brother coaching in college. Ever since this team lost it's leaders, they are clueless and w/out emotion. Flacco is no leader and will never be. If you watch all the good QB's (which does not include him) when they go to the sidelines, they talk to coaches, look at photos, engage their team mates, etc. He just goes and stands there, by himself and seems to be figuring out in his head how much money he's making for the game. Flacco is a joke. Take away his strong arm and what's left? Nothing. His attitude and lack of emotion (and skill) poisons the team. Could the Ravens do worse? No doubt whatsoever about that. But, they could sure do much better. Oh well....he got his big money, the leaders are all gone and now we see what's left over. Get used to losing, fellow fans. It will take a long time to right this ship. All the problems this team has will take many years to fix. Many. Neg away. I know the truth hurts. I understand.

Spoken like a true Fairweather!  But...

Point:  Even if Harbaugh loses this job, another NFL team (or two) will give him a shot to prove we were wrong for letting him go...just on his track record (overall winning percentage, 5 post-season appearances in first 6 years...and, oh yeah, A SUPERBOWL)!

Point:  For the last two games the camera has shown Flacco interacting with coaches and team mates on the sideline looking at pictures and reviewing plays.  So, what broadcasts have you been watching...enough of the MYTH!  Oh!  Let me explain!  Those things that look like "old school" Etch-A-Sketches that QBs and coaches refer to with each other "on the sideline", are actually state-of-the-art digital tablets with video review and pictures (welcome to the 21st century).  So, when it looked like Flacco was going for high-score on Grand Theft Auto after throwing the pick...NO!  He was reviewing plays and formations...what went wrong.  Furthermore, aren't you aware that what you see on the sidelines during a telecast is selected by one person (the Director) in a booth for that FRACTION of time during the WHOLE game?  Unless you are at the game staring at Flacco for the majority of time he is "on the sideline", there is no way you can make an intelligent comment on his behavior, or interactions "on the sideline".

Point:  That Flacco "joke" took this team deep into the play-offs six of the last seven seasons (including last season), and has out performed all but one of the so-called "Elite" QBs (who, by the way, happens to be a cheater...(another argument, another time)), and has a SB ring to show for it!  So, MAKE ME LAUGH!!!

Point:  This ship will be fine in no time, if not this season, then definitely by next...and will keep sailing without the Fairweathers who've jumped off...don't be looking for a life preserver.  Those things are prime...can't be gettin' them all wet and stuff!

@Ravens West- I was referring to the Ravens hiring some math Guru a couple years ago to work the "money ball" idea with the Ravens. Haven't heard anything about him since the hiring but we're probably seeing the results.

Cool!  Just thought your post made a great point for both of Baltimore's major franchises playing the same overall philosophy and sharing the same results.

"RED FLAG" of Concern: HC Harbaugh's recent Post-game Presser after 49ers lost.

Reporter: Is it more frustrating when you lose that many games when it comes down to the last play or two in almost every game?

Coach Harbs: "I don't know. I don't have the frustration gauge out. You know, you ask a question like that. It's just frustrating. It's not frustrating. I don't get frustrated I've said that before. You know, I don't get, I don't get, I get down a little bit. I get disappointed. You know, but we got to get better. I mean, I can get determined is what I get, you know? And I believe we have a bunch of guys that feel the same way. We got to get it done. It starts with me. The guys are doing the right thing. I don't care if you've been here for four days, you put your eyes on your coverage in the right spot. It's that simple, you know? We got to execute, you know? We got to execute. Offense, defense, and special teams, we find the stuff that we do well and we got to go out there and make sure they do it. That's on coaches. That's how I see it. I'm not making excuses for injuries, or for the players we might have or don't have, you know? You always have good enough players. That's how I look at it. The guys who can get the job done, you find a way to put them in position to get the job done, not just throw plays out there. You throw plays out there that are gonna work, that got a shot to work. And practice 'em and practice 'em and get really precise at executing. That's what I keep chasing. Now, it's not like we're out here and we can't compete. We're right there, and we got heart like you can't believe, obviously. We got a bunch more games to play and there's a lot of wins in front of us for the season, and we'll find a way to get 'em. And what anybody else says, or what anybody else thinks, or what anybody else writes, or what anybody, whatever any scoffer or mocker wants to say, they're not in our shoes or anybody else's shoes in this league playing. You can make fun of anybody you want however you want. We'll keep fighting. I'm not talking about you, I'm talking about just anybody out there, you know? We understand that. That's the arena that we're in. You know, that's just the way it is. That's what you sign up for. And we'll go to work, you know and we'll find a way to get better. That's what we gotta do."

Yes! He is frustrated (despite stating the contrary...maybe even panicked). But the "Red Flag" is playing the You've Never Been Here card...You've Never Been In This League/Strapped It Up, Or Played This Game card. If I had a dollar for every current, or former pro-athlete...every ordinary individual who threw this card down I'd be selecting the interior of my private jet right now.

Point is: this card is usually thrown by the man with no other cards to throw...a guy with no answers who feels it (his grip) slipping away...RED FLAG!!!

Hope I'm wrong...

At this point, I'm actually excited about our team. We certainly suck but I'm sure we'll get this ship sailing again (most likely next year or two) and we'll be better off for it. I think this year (and last) can be attributed to the "Bargain mentality". We used to be really good at letting players go when it was time and OTHER TEAMS would suffer the thoughts that they will propel their team to the top (See Ed Reed). We've been picking up cast offs and bargain hunting for a couple years now and it's got us in a bind. It's always nice to get a bargain but we probably shouldn't have done it across the board with all our players and coaches. Lesson learned now, let's dig out of it and get back to where we belong! GO RAVENS! Did the "Money ball" idea backfire on them?

Wow!  Not sure if you're talking about the Ravens...or O's.  Although, I get the gist!

Oh well, "birds of a feather!"

Let's hope "lessons learned" on both fronts...

Not gonna blame it ALL on Dean Pees (though, he deserves some), when we have a highly paid CB who allows an aging - good, but still, old in football years - slow receiver (maybe the slowest receiver in the league at this point...and not to mention almost every receiver he's faced this season) get behind him for a huge play...part of his consistency, this year, is getting burnt!  We have DBs waiting until the ball is caught before reacting to, and of course, not making plays. As a whole each group consistently miss tackles (rooks and vets alike...and we thought it was just Elam), and are not aggressive enough on the football.
I have crowned us the DUMBEST team in the NFL!  At what point in this debacle of a season do you NOT look at yourself on third/fourth down and say from your gut, "I will NOT cost this unit, my crew, to stay out here for another set of downs!"  Yet, this clown act CONSISTENTLY draws Hands To The Face, Defensive Holding, Illegal Contact, Roughing The Passer, Pass Interference, Lining Up In The Neutral Zone (HUH?), Face Mask, Encroachment, Offsides...did I miss any?
At this point, if Pees has to go then so does the rest of the defensive coaching staff...and, at least, half of the defensive unit!
Play Like A Raven!!!
Coach Like A Raven!!!
Dammit!!!

This is just a bad, bad football team. The coaching is bad. The players are bad. Coach says players are TRYING to go fast! You don't TRY to go fast. You either go fast or you don't. The players decided not to do so and Harbs defends them. SMH. Harbs TOs and challenges horrendous yet he defends the decisions. Doesn't matter though if he admitted mistakes anyway as it wouldn't make the team any better. Flacco, man, he's playing worse than his rookie year. The team is just about the worse in the NFL. How did the Ravens get here? Don't use injuries as an excuse. There are teams with backup and journeymen QBs playing far better than the Ravens. The lack of urgency has finally permeated throughout the entire team, coaches and players. All that is left to find out is what urgency will Bisciotti have once this disastrous season is over.

Agree!

Don't think Harbs will lose his job, but may/should be put on notice...(Again?)  The one consistency with this team the last three seasons is:  they start out flat and listless; there are arguable too many practice injuries coming into the season; and lots of excuses for lack of discipline (penalties), and lack of execution of the fundamentals on the field.

As you stated, "bad football" out the gate!

SSmith, Sr. is just what his name implies - a SENIOR citizen in NFL terms! We'd have done better keeping Bouldin - period!

You can keep arguing a name ("SENIOR") if you want.  I'll continue to argue his productivity as still one of the best in the league (check the numbers)!

As for Boldin, that ship sailed long ago and continuing to cry about it won't change it...so, time to GET OVER IT, AND MOVE ON!!!

Flacco needs a good WR if he could get a good WR the Ravens will play better... last time Newsome gave Flacco a good WR in Boldin, Ravens won a superbowl.

So...what is Steve Smith Sr.?  This attitude that we can just go to the local grocery store, go down the WR aisle, and put a "good WR" in the cart for checkout is ludicrous!  Your AMEX Platinum Business Card does not work here! 

(1) Who's available? 

(2) How much will it cost? 

(3) Can we afford them (with a projected cap of under $2 mil., for which draft pick(s)/player(s), and contract (multi-years or rental))? 

(4) And, of course, who does this added player replace on the roster?

All factor in to adding any player at this point.  Give Givens a chance to step on the field in OUR system before judging whether he's a "good" WR!

Let Ozzie do his job!

Well, its not really a requirement that the public knows.

 

I for one am glad that we are starting to key our injury information much more internal. Really no upside to having everybody know.

I, for one, am glad Harbaugh has decided to get out of the "Return From Injury Prediction" game.  He no longer has any credibility.  When he says, "minor" or "not serious", I tend to automatically interpret it as just the opposite now anyway.

So please, Harbs.  Don't give us any more than "uncertains", or "we'll sees".

...In my opinion Mike Preston is a bit off base calling it a cheap shot! Preseason or not...

I find most of Mike Preston's opinions are not worth repeating or noting anyway.

My dream is that by 2023 the Steelers will ask and be granted realignment to the NFC...because they can't beat us...and they know it! So, we meet them in LVII...in Pittsburgh...and we raise the trophy in their face!!!

OH!...TO DREAM!!!

If the guys need a place to hang on the "Left Coast", there's a huge contingency of Ravens fans out here more than willing to accommodate. How many rooms you need? Let's talk!!!

...I mention 4-6 Super Bowls before Flacco retires, What's so hard to believe a few Super Bowls here and there over a course of maybe 12 years if he last that long...

I tend to lean towards the lower end of this.  Flacco is 30, with one Superbowl.  My projection is if he can achieve two more in the next six years, then he'll have a chance at four Superbowls in the next 12.  This is based on several factors: 

(1) In 12 years he'll be 42 yrs. old.  IMO, he'll be more than done - as a starter - by then.  My feelling (just my feeling) is Joe will retire by the age of 38.  If so, that  gives eight more years for, at least, three Superbowls.  After age 38, it's hard for me to throw my chips on the Joe Flacco experience - given the number of snaps and hits (he has yet to miss a start in...6 seasons) he'll have taken after the 2023 season.  I expect his age and decline in resiliency will take it's toll by this time and he will no longer be performing on the level of a starting QB.

(2) At age 30, Joe has one Superbowl win; Ben Roethlisberger (33) has two (in three appearances); Tom Brady (37) has four Superbowls in six appearances.  Though it's not out-of-the-question, obviously the window of opportunity is short...and now!  Superbowl wins are tough!  Superbowl appearances are tougher!!!  By the measure of the QBs mentioned, which I believe is fair, Brady has six SB appearances (with four wins) in 13 full seasons; Roethlisberger has three appearances (two wins) in 10 seasons; Joe has one SB appearance with one win in seven.  That means to match Brady's accomplishment, Joe will need to WIN an average of approx. one each of every other season for the next six seasons (BTW, I don't see Brady winning another SB.  This season will tell a lot about that...stay tuned!!!). To accomplish four plus SB wins...again...the time is now!

(3) Continuity of the organization's brain trust - those responsible for the success on the field (and thereby SB wins).  The Ozzie/DeCosta train is on even a shorter track (IMO).  Ozzie is 59 years young.  Even by my projection of eight years out has him dancing on an age of 67 birthday cake in 2023.  I don't see him sticking around as GM that long...especially, if he achieves another ring.  Matter-of-fact, I see him walking away on top with the next one (...and why not?  Could you blame him?).  That leaves DeCosta/???  Not saying that ??? can't equate success, just ??? is ??? and we don't know what the unknown FO without Ozzie is, or will be capable of...just that we know what we've got!...And that equals success, and the best chance for Joe with the Ravens to win multiple SBs.

So, four rings - possible; six rings - they'll really need to step it up...as in SHOCK THE WORLD!!!

...And I'm ALWAYS for that!!!

I still admire Ray Rice somewhat, I hope he finds a team willing to take him as for the Ravens taking him back is wishful thinking. Good luck Ray in your future endeavors

Except...against us!...

Uni Watch judge Paul Lukas, is obviously either a Steeler fan...or doing heavy doses of psychedelic drugs. I mean, really??? That Steeler bumblebee uni. looks like a chain-gang viewed through an old, bad color picture tube.

"What the heck?!...What the heck?!!! I gotta stop hittin' that stuff!", exclaimed Elliot Harrison after sobering up and reading his now, prematurely, published list comprised during the previous night's extreme partying.

He didn't have the ball boy do it sneakily.  Why would Tom Brady fix his own balls.  If Tom wanted them deflated he would literally just ask one of the ball boys to do it.  They wouldn't question Brady.  I wouldn't say it was initially sneaky.  I would say that after it broke out and Tom Brady realized how big of a deal it was, he knew that there was no TRUE evidence that he was behind it, so I can see why just denying it and getting on with his day seemed like a decent option, rather then blatantly admit it, and then go through all of the after math.  Not to mention, this broke out the week before the Super Bowl.  Brady was focused on the Super Bowl, and he was not going to admit to something like that, where it was just an accusation at the time, and no REAL evidence was given that he was behind it.  I can understand that.  After the Super Bowl he definitely could have came out and admitted it, and I would have completely understood his decision to wait.  However, as we seem to act like this is common in our country, blatantly admitting that you did something with no complete evidence that you did it, is not something people do.  Sometimes it happens, but mainly only truly good people, or dumb people do that.  The fact is, the Patriots legitimately thought they were going to get away with it.  In the Wells report, he does not claim that he has any confessions or direct evidence that it was indeed Brady's idea, but rather he just has assumptions that Brady knew about it.  He said Brady would not comply to his demands on the level Well's wanted him to, but Tom Brady just won his fourth Super Bowl.  He has been cliff diving, world traveling, partying, going to the Kentucky Derby.  So WHY would he want to spend his time to come in and let this guy interrogate him over slightly deflated balls used in a game where they won by over 30 points. NO ONE IS PERFECT, not even Tom Brady. Put yourself in his shoes and tell me you would actually risk tainting you reputation, when it is such a small factor, that he probably didn't even know was that big of a deal, and when there is no REAL evidence that PROVES he did it.  Also when you are traveling the world and enjoying your awesome life, why don't i just fly back from Italy real fast so I can be interrogated about slight deflated footballs.  If you can put yourself in his shoes, and be perfect in this situation, then you win.  BUT I guarantee MOST  people in that situation would have handled it exactly how Brady did. Ignorance is not an excuse, as I said, and I don't think they should cut him a break on it. I was just merely saying that the ignorance factor definitely plays a role in this case, and should be added into the overall equation.  I compared it to high school football, and the back yard with my friends was just to add more football experience to back up my point.  I played Safety, and I threw, caught, and ripped footballs out of people arms.  There have been balls that were over inflated, and under inflated that I have played with, and not once did I notice a difference.  What are you talking about…. Obviously the Patriots are the scandal, but with that scandal comes the mass media.  Every coach/player getting followed around and questioned.  Living with eyes on the back of your head.  Tainting of reputation.  The media involvement in the scandal is what makes it a punishment.  All you did was questioned my examples.  Sorry I didn't have a full elaboration of each example. Well, here you go. The Reck Court is adjourned.

RavensReck27, you are either very, very, very young and naive, or an adult punkin' this forum.  I'm not sure of which one, but if it is the former, I apologize for attacking your previous post.  I understand seeing your idol dressed down and exposed for his real self can deflate a young fan much more than the Patriot's game balls.

If it's the latter, thanks for the laugh.  This last post had me on the floor in stitches.  There's a lot of funny stuff in it...like how you keep reaching for obscure speculations to defend a defense you obviously don't have.  My favourite is how Tom Brady is too busy partying and jet-setting to address anything that could destroy his integrity (Oops!  There's that word again, "integrity".  That's a funny word, isn't it..."integrity"?  But, I digress...).

I actually tried to put myself in Brady's shoes:  "Hmmm.  Do I cooperate and try to save my reputation and my legacy, or do I...Nah!  I'm feelin' like a Mint Julep!  Kentucky, here I come!  Horsies! Horsies!"  And that tongue/braintwister thing you did at the end about scandal vs. media, and media vs. scandal was a nice touch...I couldn't make heads, or tails out of it, but chalk it up to a clever ending in your ploy.  Good job!

However, if by chance my evaluation is inaccurate, and these are sincere and serious posts from a mature adult, I'll conclude by stating that all the speculating and reaching is not going to do any good.  Tom Brady is now branded as a cheater!  His reputation and legacy is tarnished, as well  as the Patriots organization!  He will forever be thought of as having an asterisk (at least, a mental asterisk) attached to his NFL achievements, as will the Patriots organization!  He is no longer the NFL's "golden boy"!

Oh...and "The Reck Court" is a WRECK!!!

We are a more educated society, as a whole, then we ever have been, but we have not evolved in what we feel is justice. Some people see something, and they decide what they think must be done based off how they feel. That is not how justice is suppose to work. True justice works on a fair and non-biased scale. They should look at this "deflate gate" as how much did Tom Brady even know that this was so frowned upon in the league. The NFL rule book is so complex that it is almost impossible to know every rule. Do you guys know every rule in the sport you play/played? Probably not. That being said, ignorance is not an excuse, but it should be taken into account. Another factor you should take into account is how much did the deflated balls actually affect the game? Coming from me, who has played football in high school and with my friends in the backyard my whole life, as long is the ball isn't flat then we don't even consider that as a problem. I highly DOUBT that a SLIGHTLY deflated ball had as much affect on the game as you guys think. Again, if this were the Ravens you would 100% agree. Why? because you are biased for the Ravens, and biased against the Patriots. When has the pressure of a football ever been an issue in the NFL? Why would Tom Brady KNOW that this of all things was bad and this kind of scandal could possibly occur from this. I think Brady WAS behind the deflation, but I think he didn't consider it as full blown CHEATING at the time. Overall, it is against the rules and he will be punished, but I think he wasn't aware of how severe what he was doing was, and I think it didn't have nearly as much affect on the game as most people think. With the media scandal torturing the Pats since the Super Bowl, I think the further punishment should NOT be TOO severe. Personally, I think they should just be fined, but what I think will happen is that they will be fined, and they will lose a draft pick or two. Just because the NFL wants to please the people, the fans. I DO NOT think Tom Brady should, or will, get suspended. Courts adjourned.

Court is reconvened!

Where do I start with this?

1) He knew he was breaking the rules.  That's why he sneakily had the ball boy do it, instead of openly doing it in front of the refs.  There is no such thing as breaking the rules a little bit.  There is no such thing as cheating a little bit.  You either cheat, or you don't.  This was cheating!

2) As you stated, ignorance is no excuse.  Besides, isn't he the one that so arrogantly proclaimed that the Ravens should read the rules?  So, you really think we should give him a pass for not knowing the rules?...REALLY!

3) It doesn't matter how much the deflated balls affected the outcome of the game.  The fact is he conspired to illegally manipulate the game balls in his favor.  He willingly conspired to circumvent the NFL rules for an advantage.  He cheated!

4) To compare you and your buddies playing backyard football with amateur talent and no football inflation rules to the pro-level of the NFL with football inflation rules is ludicrous!  It made me want to stop reading your post right there.

5) Brady and the Patriots should be harshly punished to secure any chance of the NFL maintaining integrity of its game.  If swift and harsh penalties are not levied, what is to dissuade future occurrences from any other team?  Afterall, how many times have we heard "...to protect the shield..." come from the commissioner's office when handing down discipline.  Here to, the commissioner has to prove he means it.

6) The media is NOT the scandal here.  The Patriots is the scandal.  If the fan base feels too beaten down by the media and worldwide scrutiny, then it's simple:  stop supporting and excusing the culture of cheating!

Verdict:  GUILTY!!!  Fine and penalize the Patriots organization, and suspend Tom Brady for the year.  It's the best and most effective disciplinary solution to show the seriousness of willfully breaking NFL rules to cheat, and to send a strong message to any other team, and their personnel, who may consider doing it in the future.

Don't mean to pile on, but c'mon Ryan! This is just plain laziness. Checking at least one article link before (or immediately after) publishing should've revealed a problem.