Derrick Mason - Speaker Of Truth

[BrownsFan]

Interesting thoughts from Mason.. thought I'd share if anyone out there hadn't seen them yet.


“I can understand the fans frustration, but they’ve got to look at the big picture,” Mason said. “Where are we? We’re 9-4 and if the playoffs happened right now, we’d be the fifth seed. Stop being a pessimist. Be an optimist. Be happy with where we are. Because honestly, it could be a lot worse.”


http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/12/16/derrick-mason-to-baltimore-fans-be-glad-were-not-buffalo-or-cincinnati/

[theFRANCHISE]

I read this on the Baltimore Sun's website yesterday and smiled.

Mason is right. First off, you have to consider that, as upset as we fans can get, the players are even angrier because their livelihoods are literally at stake every week. Secondly, the players understand the game better than we ever could, which is why I characterize some of the criticism here as over-analysis. And most of all, the players have a better perspective (literally and figuratively) than we could ever have because it's a much different view on the sideline and on the field and in practice, than from a seat in the stadium or the comfort of our own home.

I understand there are expectations, and we are entitled to whatever individual expectations they set. But keep in mind, it's always better to win ugly than to lose pretty. No one will care that the Ravens were underachievers in some of their victories if their final win of the season is in the Super Bowl.

[ellicottraven]

Yes he is outspoken and usually right!

[BrownsFan]

I agree with Mason too. There's a lot that goes on we don't see as fans but the bottom line is you're 9-4 and currently in the playoffs. As I've also said before (yes it pains me slightly to admit it) but the Ravens are a good team and better in many ways because good teams find ways to win games that they probably shouldn't.

[flynismo]

Of course he's going to say that. And if he really believed that, him and Flacco wouldn't be having their little scuffles, and he wouldn't be telling the media how disappointed he is in our offense. We have just as much reason to be frustrated as he does.

[Echodumpty]

"Character overcomes adversity because you've got hearts this big.
Was it perfect? No! Was it pretty? No! But it was us!!" -- John Harbaugh
Nice quote John, but they dont give the lombardi trophy to the team who had the most heart, They give it to the team who had the most points. So you better start worrying more about getting in the endzone instead sitting at home writing quotes to blanket poor performances.....

[noy]

[quote name='theFRANCHISE' timestamp='1292509811' post='577151']
I read this on the Baltimore Sun's website yesterday and smiled.

Mason is right. First off, you have to consider that, as upset as we fans can get, the players are even angrier because their livelihoods are literally at stake every week. Secondly, the players understand the game better than we ever could, which is why I characterize some of the criticism here as over-analysis. And most of all, the players have a better perspective (literally and figuratively) than we could ever have because it's a much different view on the sideline and on the field and in practice, than from a seat in the stadium or the comfort of our own home.

I understand there are expectations, and we are entitled to whatever individual expectations they set. But keep in mind, it's always better to win ugly than to lose pretty. No one will care that the Ravens were underachievers in some of their victories if their final win of the season is in the Super Bowl.
[/quote]

They understand the game more than we could, sure, but I think all of us understand what goes on in the art of flipping a coin; luck. I haven't seen anybody post about how the win over the Texans literally came down to a coin flip. If the Texans had won the flip, can you say the defense could have stopped them? The 4th quarter performance should give you a good prediction. I timed the amount of rest time the defense got (giving 5 minutes for the one intermission ESPN had). In reality, the defense got 13 minutes to rest(from the time they left the field in the 4th Quarter) by winning the coin flip; sitting on the bench, sucking wind, getting oxygen and getting drinks, etc. That's a lot of time. If they had not had won the coin toss, they would have been out on the field in 7.5 minutes. That's a 5.5 minute difference in rest time (42% less time than winning the toss). That's pretty significant. We could say that the defense could have found something deep inside them to stop the Texans with less rest, but did it look likely from what we saw at the end of the 4th quarter?

Mason is right to tell fans to cool down, especially insulting ones. But this last win is probably the ugliest of the season imo because, when all factors are involved, it literally came down to a coin toss. You can't tell me not to worry about that in the future. I'm just hoping that the short week was what had the biggest factor in the defense tiring...really really hoping.

[EnVy_CaLiBeR]

[quote name='flynismo' timestamp='1292516862' post='577220']
Of course he's going to say that. And if he really believed that, him and Flacco wouldn't be having their little scuffles, and he wouldn't be telling the media how disappointed he is in our offense. We have just as much reason to be frustrated as he does.
[/quote]
Right. Now he's right to a certain extent, we are sitting on a solid 9-4 record but the fact that no win this season except for Miami, Carolina, and Denver was a convincing win for the Ravens does warrant concern. You won't see me complaining about a 9-4 record but I still want the best for my team as we all do.

[ravensfan160]

Can Mason be the football equivalent of Jamie Moyer and play until he is 47? I think by then Joe should be experienced enough to get by without him.

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='ravensfan160' timestamp='1292521735' post='577269']
Can Mason be the football equivalent of Jamie Moyer and play until he is 47? I think by then Joe should be experienced enough to get by without him.
[/quote]

Why not? Only the best CBs in the league can shut him down and he's still fast enough to blow by people after he sets them up with crafty route running.

[mdrsharon]

I pray that Mason comes back next year - he is a tremendous value and asset to our team. Can you imagine what is said in that locker room, behind closed doors?
Between him and Ray Lewis, I think they probably are the mental inspiration for the Ravens.
We need that so much.
Of course it helps that we are a good team - the expectation of being a great team is pretty tough, and the fans(myself included) are looking for the big payoff - one more Super bowl victory.
There will be problem areas at every position but they are still my team do or die!

[Alexir]

I see Mason's point and no one is counting us out of going to the playoffs. But we are worried about how we will fare against the elite teams, thats all. I mean going to the playoffs is fun but if you lose the first round, then what really is the point? Not saying Super Bowl or Bust, but I expect us to win at least 2 games in the playoffs.

[reediddy]

I think the majority of fans aren't in here saying our season is over or we are a bad team. Recent performances have just made us a bit uneasy when it comes down to the fact that we are a team firmly in the Super Bowl discussion. We haven't seen a complete game out of the offense, we haven't seen a complete game out of the defense. Special teams is arguably our best factor. And in terms to us being pessimists, I'd have to agree. I don't know what it is with Ravens fans but we honestly expect perfection week in and week out. If not perfection then at LEAST marked improvement! I honestly think we have not evolved as a team since Week 1. Maybe our offense has just got a tad better, as with the defense, but when you talk about a team clicking at the right time (like the Saints), I just haven't seen it yet.

[Jamal]

I am very happy with the record, but it would probably look a lot better if were on top of the division.

[ravensfan160]

[quote name='Jamal' timestamp='1292546537' post='577753']
I am very happy with the record, but it would probably look a lot better if were on top of the division.
[/quote]
True. The Steelers have been handed some free wins. None more obvious than the Bills game. Not to mention the game against us.

[TSizzle00]

Could be the 2-10 Bengals!

[ravensfan160]

[quote name='TSizzle00' timestamp='1292598929' post='578183']
Could be the 2-10 Bengals!
[/quote]
As horrible as that would be, once the season was over we'd all be even more excited about the draft.

Probably the worse season we had since the SB was when we went 6-10 and that poor year allowed us to draft T-Sizzle. Can you imagine our defense without him?

[UMDan]

Mason is right, as usual.

[1/28/01]

[quote name='ravensfan160' timestamp='1292598406' post='578177']
True. The Steelers have been handed some free wins. None more obvious than the Bills game. Not to mention the game against us.
[/quote]
Uh, the most obvious one was the Miami game, the rest of them they won...

[ravensfan160]

[quote name='1/28/01' timestamp='1292606593' post='578262']
Uh, the most obvious one was the Miami game, the rest of them they won...
[/quote]
Uh... the Bills receiver dropped an easy touchdown in overtime. The Steelers then scored and won. I would consider that a gift. Heck, everyone considered that game a gift.

[1/28/01]

[quote name='ravensfan160' timestamp='1292609743' post='578319']
Uh... the Bills receiver dropped an easy touchdown in overtime. The Steelers then scored and won. I would consider that a gift. Heck, everyone considered that game a gift.
[/quote]
Drops happen every game (Jets Holmes this past week), but refs "not seeing who recovered a fumble" is more of a gift in my opinion.

We're on the same side of this debate here, so let's say they were both HUGE Steeler gifts...

[TSizzle00]

[quote name='ravensfan160' timestamp='1292609743' post='578319']
Uh... the Bills receiver dropped an easy touchdown in overtime. The Steelers then scored and won. I would consider that a gift. Heck, everyone considered that game a gift.
[/quote]
Bills fumbled the ball and put the Ravens in FG range in OT. = Gift

[ravensfan160]

[quote name='TSizzle00' timestamp='1292616095' post='578384']
Bills fumbled the ball and put the Ravens in FG range in OT. = Gift
[/quote]
You can't compare the two. Maybe if the guy fumbled on his own like Eli Manning did earlier this year I could see it. But Ray Lewis forced the fumble. If a mistake is forced its not a gift. Dropping a sure TD with nobody around you is a gift.

Why are Ravens fans giving me such a hard time about this? C'mon guys didn't you see that Steeler/Bills game. Man guys...!

[1/28/01]

[quote name='ravensfan160' timestamp='1292619028' post='578420']
You can't compare the two. Maybe if the guy fumbled on his own like Eli Manning did earlier this year I could see it. But Ray Lewis forced the fumble. If a mistake is forced its not a gift. Dropping a sure TD with nobody around you is a gift.

Why are Ravens fans giving me such a hard time about this? C'mon guys didn't you see that Steeler/Bills game. Man guys...!
[/quote]
I was just saying that a ref "error" is more of a gift than a player "error", such as a dropped pass that happens in every game, every week. The refs blindly saying "there is no conclusive evidence as to who recovered the fumble" is complete hog wash!

Either way, I agree.....both games were gifts!

[OLD SCHOOL SMASH BALL]

Derek Mason is my Favorite offensive Raven. He took the time to hook up my son after camp, got a pic with him, and steps up every week. He has passion for the game, hates to lose, will not evade the press when we lose or he messes up, is one of the best receivers in the league, and we are very lucky to have him.

[1/28/01]

[quote name='OLD SCHOOL SMASH BALL' timestamp='1292687908' post='578787']
Derek Mason is my Favorite offensive Raven. He took the time to hook up my son after camp, got a pic with him, and steps up every week. He has passion for the game, hates to lose, will not evade the press when we lose or he messes up, is one of the best receivers in the league, and we are very lucky to have him.
[/quote]
Hope he didn't sign it "Derek"...if so, it wasn't Mason!

[Guest DrVenture45]

[quote name='BrownsFan' timestamp='1292509292' post='577144']
Interesting thoughts from Mason.. thought I'd share if anyone out there hadn't seen them yet.


“I can understand the fans frustration, but they’ve got to look at the big picture,” Mason said. “Where are we? We’re 9-4 and if the playoffs happened right now, we’d be the fifth seed. Stop being a pessimist. Be an optimist. Be happy with where we are. Because honestly, it could be a lot worse.”


http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/12/16/derrick-mason-to-baltimore-fans-be-glad-were-not-buffalo-or-cincinnati/
[/quote]

Mase is the man. I like the fact that he says what needs to be said without puting a coating on it; he keeps it real, no delusions of grandeur from this cat.