Harbaugh

[JohnJohnson]

I have to bring this up, because it's a little bit bothersome to me. Before the game, Harbaugh was asked a question about fining players for illegal hits. He disagreed with the comments and concerns of certain players (including Ravens), and basically said that it was cut and dry, and teams/players will have to adapt to these perfectly clear rules.

One day later, Jameel McClain is fined $40,000 for his hit on Heath Miller.

Harbaugh's comments:

"I think the big issue, from our perspective, is what Jameel is capable of doing and what he’s not capable of doing,” Harbaugh said. “Jameel tried to go low. He tried to go low to make the tackle, and Heath Miller fell. So he’s going down, and as Jameel is trying to go low to make the tackle in that strike-zone area, [Miller’s] head ends up in that area. So there’s nothing that Jameel could have done that was humanly possible to avoid that kind of contact. Now if they’re going to call that a penalty because they can’t tell that it’s a duck-and-hit type of situation, that’s up to them. But from a fine perspective, to me, it’s clear that Jameel was trying to go low."

Isn't that the whole point? Isn't that what almost all defensive players are saying? Harbaugh didn't do himself any favors with these contradictory remarks, and honestly it's a little bit embarrassing.

[BloodRaven]

Is this newsworthy? If anything Harbaugh is addressing intent, the contact was unintentional yet illegal but he doesn't want his boys being called dirty.

[SuRihtanil]

I don't see the point? Either way nothing Harbaugh said would have changed anything. What would you have said? The guy got fined for something that's illegal. I have been preaching against Harrison's rough neck all out play style all year so I couldn't take McClains side because he was in the wrong either way. The guy could have broke Millers neck... It was a pretty vicious hit I like to see steelers in pain, but not at the cost of seriously injuring someone. The Ben hit was rather funny to me OoOo big deal he got a bloody nose from a **** slap. However the hit on Miller could have been him out for the rest of the season or worse.

[jj2020]

Harbaugh is just stiking up for his guy I understand. It was most likely an honest mistake but our guys were wrong and get the fine that is how it goes.

[JohnJohnson]

The point is that before the game he didn't seem to think there were legitimate concerns about the way these hits are fined, and now he expresses the obvious concerns that players have been expressing. If you saw the pre-game interview you'd understand what I'm saying.

[SuRihtanil]

I see where you're coming from now more, but still nothing he can do about it. You have to back your players play because after all you coach them. I don't believe in helm to helm hits I think they're dangerous. BUT when players get in the heat of the moment really nothing you can do... Ravens D were playing like ravens last night.

[Ravensdiciple96]

That's it bench Harbaugh and put Billick back in!!

[JohnJohnson]

[quote name='SuRihtanil' timestamp='1291711475' post='565614']
I see where you're coming from now more, but still nothing he can do about it. You have to back your players play because after all you coach them. I don't believe in helm to helm hits I think they're dangerous. BUT when players get in the heat of the moment really nothing you can do... Ravens D were playing like ravens last night.
[/quote]

So he should have been a little more understanding of the comments made by defensive players, and shown a little more support to that whole side of the argument. Don't act like it's cut and dry and that the rules are perfectly clear, and then 24 hours later voice the same concerns that defensive players have. Did it really take a personal experience for him to realize the subjectivity of these fines?

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='JohnJohnson' timestamp='1291749550' post='566106']
So he should have been a little more understanding of the comments made by defensive players, and shown a little more support to that whole side of the argument. Don't act like it's cut and dry and that the rules are perfectly clear, and then 24 hours later voice the same concerns that defensive players have. [b]Did it really take a personal experience for him to realize the subjectivity of these fines?[/b]
[/quote]

Maybe it did. Even in regular walks of life, people often don't understand the plight of others till they've experienced it themselves.

To me, this is a non-issue.

[D-Rey]

This is not a big deal.

[berad]

Non-story and coach-speak. He was sticking up for his player.

[reediddy]

I'm sure Tomlin has been saying that about Harrison all season

[flynismo]

I don't see how Harbs is contradicting himself.
Even if he is, I'm okay with it since he would be doing so to defend our guys against the monsters who run the show.

[-Truth-]

Does this make him a lesser coach? No. Let's move on.

[Marc2k6]

I do not see where him giving an explanation for the hit is a contradiction in what he said previously.

[theFRANCHISE]

As everyone stated earlier, he's defending his player. Simple as that.

Harbaugh will probably chew McClain out on his own time and in private. He handles everything behind the closed doors, just as coaches should. These are grown men, even if they don't always act like it, so they deserve the courtesy of having reprimands handled privately; after all, would you like it if your boss gave you a public flogging?

This is a non-issue. If anything, Harbaugh's candid comments about this game against the Steelers shows that he knows when to pick-and-choose when to be more transparent.

[Shammy]

harbaugh is on thin ice with me

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='Shammy' timestamp='1291761097' post='566450']
harbaugh is on thin ice with me
[/quote]

Why?

[1/28/01]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' timestamp='1291761169' post='566455']
Why?
[/quote]
cause it was 36 degrees today.....just not quite there yet (wow, was that lame?)

[hawkprey]

[quote name='1/28/01' timestamp='1291761200' post='566456']
cause it was 36 degrees today.....just not quite there yet (wow, was that lame?)
[/quote]

True though. In the winter he's "on thin ice", during TC he was "on the grill".

Still wondering why they were ice skating together.

[Florida Ravens Fan]

[quote name='1/28/01' timestamp='1291761200' post='566456']
cause it was 36 degrees today.....just not quite there yet (wow, was that lame?)
[/quote]


OMG sooo horrible it's funny:229031_rofl:

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='1/28/01' timestamp='1291761200' post='566456']
cause it was 36 degrees today.....just not quite there yet (wow, was that lame?)
[/quote]

You can do better big guy.