Stephen A. Smith says we will finish last in the division

[cnyravens]

[quote name='ravensfan2430' timestamp='1364322030' post='1416147']
I bet you he wouldn't put $100 on that being true.
[/quote]

LOL...agree!!
I don't even watch shows like that which are mostly based on the commentators trying to get ATTENTION by spewing a lot of garbage that they KNOW they'll never have to defend!
And it works for them because people watch and they get their attention.
I guarantee they'd never go on a legit show previewing the 2013 season as they have no clue or intention of formulating an "informed" opinion.

The Browns are still searching although seemingly slightly better each year. And their QB for 2013 and the future is????

The Bengals are a legit division/playoff contender but I wouldn't lay a major bet on them beating us out.

The Steelers are a solid franchise and will retool. They have more than a clue but I still see them behind us and Big Ben is taking a lot of hits. If he goes down?????

[elliot]

Yeah, well we ARE last right now. Last team to win the Superbowl.

[Bazooka Joe]

We gotta stop looking for validation from others. We are the 2012 champions. We will be strong in 2013.

Are we interested in being media darlings or consistent winners.

[BMORElegacy]

Skip is a troll but how can he make such a ridiculous statement BEFORE the draft. It's absurd. First Take is all about hyperbolic statements to lure in ratings. Sitting through that show is unbearable.

[mgridda]

I love it.

Remember when we won the Superbowl and Steve Bisciotti came out to Baltimore and said that despite winning the Superbowl he hopes we never lose that chip on our shoulder?

Yeah.

Thank you ESPN. We'll keep that chip on our shoulder for at least another year. I wonder if they'll doubt us in march of 2014 too, after winning back to back superbowls.

[Tank 92]

[quote name='HoldingCall' timestamp='1364300601' post='1415776']
It is always a battle within the division. I expect the Bengals and Browns to improve over last season. It seems the Browns could be the most improved as they will receive the earlier draft picks. I don't know whether they or the Bengals will have more wins than last season but they should be better as an overall team.

Steelers and Ravens have a ways to go to return to the level of strength of last season. I will not address the Steelers but looking at the Ravens what I see is the number 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6 leading tacklers gone from the defense (Pollard, Ellerbe, Cary Williams, Ed Reed, and Ray Lewis), and questions about the number 4 tackler's (McClain) ability to return. The next man up in those positions are still in question. On offense, the team will need to replace Q's production.
[/quote]


You must be hangin' out with Stephan and smoking the same thing! The Ravens will be a BETTER Team next year. Book it.

[Hardbaugh]

ESPN is a far cry from what it used to be in the 80s. While I think Smith is by default the more genuine of the two on that show they are both paid trolls.

[Cville-Raven]

[img]http://static.quickmeme.com/media/social/qm.gif[/img][img]http://t.qkme.me/3t3utr.jpg[/img]

[raybaby]

The same people who we couldn't replace Jarrett Johnson and Ray Lewis with are now the same people we can't live without. I just laugh because even with being Superbowl champs so many are still ignorant about our team.

[DuDe]

Skip Bayless and Stephen A. Smith only know basketball, when they are talking about football they can't form their own oppinions so they just look to see that we lost plenty of starters and say that we won't be good. When it comes to basketballl, Stephen A. is very credible, but when it comes to football, Stephen A. knows only the basics. Skip just goes against what everyone says because that's what he's paid to do; ie: hating on Lebron and praising Tebow.

[Cville-Raven]

[quote name='DuDe' timestamp='1364332098' post='1416399']
[s]Skip Bayless and[/s] Stephen A. Smith only know basketball
[/quote]there you go fixed it for you

[Raven07]

let the doubters and haters hate.

remember this?


doesn't bother me any. keep doubting us.

[IMG]http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d79/hunter89/484659_516349991739267_16961638_n_zpsdc0fdbba.jpg[/IMG]

[Tiz]

[quote name='Raven07' timestamp='1364332988' post='1416410']
let the doubters and haters hate.

remember this?


doesn't bother me any. keep doubting us.

[IMG]http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d79/hunter89/484659_516349991739267_16961638_n_zpsdc0fdbba.jpg[/IMG]
[/quote]

I love it.
People around here (I'm in az) were questioning why I was so confident when the broncos had beat us previously
People were shocked when anquan had quotes about us winning
That game and the n.e. game I felt like I knew the outcome long before the games were played.
With n..e I told people it wouldn't even come down to a last second play

[Guest Mr. Nobody]

we'll win when it counts

[ghost1986]

LOL Bayless is a joke. I can't wait to shut him up for the second season in a row.

[ratedr]

First Take is a joke. The fact that this thread is here shows that they've accomplished their jobs. Though I will say that I enjoy Stephen A's basketball talk. He doesn't know nearly as much about football.

If you want a good laugh, search "mark cuban skip bayless" in YouTube.

[ratedr]

[quote name='Tiz' timestamp='1364333757' post='1416426']


I love it.
People around here (I'm in az) were questioning why I was so confident when the broncos had beat us previously
People were shocked when anquan had quotes about us winning
That game and the n.e. game I felt like I knew the outcome long before the games were played.
With n..e I told people it wouldn't even come down to a last second play
[/quote]I'll admit I thought we'd lose at Denver, but I knew we would beat NE. Frankly, Houston scared me more than both.

[ravens533]

I bought some Ravens summer things and will proudly wear them is summer in CO. We will end up being one of the most balanced teams in all of the NFL. Can't wait to see how it all will plays out over the next few months. We will at least make the playoffs and I expect we will win the division again.

[CalvinSmoke]

Stephen A. is only credible when it come to basketball. He has no business talking about Football

[codizzle]

Why do people still listen to these clowns?
Haven't heard a word out of their mouths in months and couldn't care less about what they say

[berad]

[quote name='ratedr' timestamp='1364334554' post='1416446']
First Take is a joke. The fact that this thread is here shows that they've accomplished their jobs. Though I will say that I enjoy Stephen A's basketball talk. He doesn't know nearly as much about football.

[b]If you want a good laugh, search "mark cuban skip bayless" in YouTube.[/b]
[/quote]

That was incredible, I had not seen that before. He strikes right to the core of most of the sports writing I have seen - speaking in hyperbole and generalities.

[adam713]

You cannot take First Take as serious analysis. It's a show. Meaning it's #1 priority is ratings. Know what does good for ratings? Bold statements and controversy. Stephen A. and Bayless are mere pawns to deliver ratings for ESPN, which equals advertising revenue. You might think: Why isn't every show like this? The answer is because many shows like to balance sensationalism with some analysis (it's rare to find a TV show or article with pure analysis based on logic & stats simply for the reason that it doesn't sell as well to the masses). For example: What are we doing now? We're talking about the show, which equals free marketing for them, which equals better ratings, which equals more $$.

Don't mind those clowns and let's focus on the fact that we have a high quality organization that knows a helluva lot more about putting together a winning team than outsiders and poser "insiders." Put your faith in the numbers; not ESPN gibberish.

[omar586]

the same "experts" that picked us to lose through out the playoffs, come on meh, that show is a joke, its staged, good cop bad cop crab.

[DMH_in_WA]

Wait, who here even watches ESPN? The only time I know one of these idiots has said anything is when someone here mentions it or posts a video. The only time ESPN even floats across my channel is during Baseball Season and "Baseball Tonight" is on so I can see the highlights. Watching ESPN for intelligent sports commentary is like watching Fox or MSNBC for news.

Why even care? They both have ZERO credibility. I'd be more upset if Elmo from Sesame Street said it.

[funky141]

[quote name='Ragin'Raven' timestamp='1364298509' post='1415756']
I can't stand this guy. We might not finish first, but we sure aren't finishing last; not in a division that has the Cleveland Browns in it!
[/quote]

Agree with this..

[Gordo52]

Yeah, let's just stop entertaining these fools.

[TonyTone1192]

[quote name='HomeoftheBRAVENS' timestamp='1364295069' post='1415740']
He lost alot of credibility with me when I heard him say that.Also,Skip Bayless said that Kruger is better than Dumervil.....I kid you not.I dont see why every keeps dragging the ravens through the mud.Were the freaking SB champions [size=4]and [/size][size=4]have been to the AFCCG twice in a row.How are we not the favorites?Before last year nobody outside of baltimore even knew Kruger,Ellerbe and Williams existed so why are we doomed without them?[/size]
[/quote]

We were "Peyton's Warm-up" for the Brady-Manning showdown. The Pats were supposed to "Blow us out of New England." And we had no answer for Kaepernick. Lol

Let them CONTINUE to talk.

we LOVE it!!!!

[HoldingCall]

[quote name='awholelottahaloti' timestamp='1364328563' post='1416325']
You must be hangin' out with Stephan and smoking the same thing! The Ravens will be a BETTER Team next year. Book it.
[/quote]

They still have time to be a better team than last season but they are not there yet. If you think they are then shame on you for wearing blinders.

[cwfRaven]

[quote name='ghost1986' timestamp='1364333969' post='1416435']
LOL Bayless is a joke. I can't wait to [b]shut him up[/b] for the second season in a row.
[/quote]

The thing is, he doesn't shut up even when he has been proven wrong. Dude makes my skin crawl.

[ghost1986]

Was just watching NFL Total Access and there was a guy explaining how our D could be better than last year. You look at guys like Ellerbe, Kruger, Reed and Williams and they're all getting paid more than they're worth. And we get Webby back this season and Ngata and Suggs will be healthy. Only one I'm concerned about is Suggs, but even when he wasn't 100%, people were double teaming him and same with Ngata. I also heard Huff is supposed to visit us soon. I'd rather get someone like Elam or Swearinger in the draft, but we'll see. All I know is this Stephen A Smith is just another skip Bayless.