What's the deal with ESPN?

[flynismo]

When did Tedy Bruschi become such a big Ravens homer? He's been talking us up for WEEKS.

Though it also seems like he just really hates the Bengals.

Yeah I like it! He warms up to us more and more each year. Even if he hated us, I'd still like him as a commentator. Very well spoken and intelligent guy...surprising to me, he always struck me as a dumb jock until he started getting into commentary

[FerrariFan87]

NFL Network's post-game coverage was very fair and discussed all of the bad calls on both sides... but gave the Ravens much-deserved praise.

[Gordo52]

Brushi only likes us because of Pees probably. I've never been too fond of him.

[omar586]

yes, the coverage was absurd, i never saw a coverage where they question past plays from other games, i thought that was disrespectful .

[NaveSenrag]

Good thing we've moved past the whole "NFL hates the Ravens" conspiracy theory. Oh wait, I guess not.

[varaven]

Did anyone notice in the pregame how they were all dogging on Ray for picking the Ravens "with his heart but not his brain"? Even Dilfer picked the Lions and they were all acting like it was common sense and that Ray was an idiot to say otherwise. It was funny to watch him preach in the postgame afterwards to them :wootwoot:

[RavensAllTheWay]

I haven't gotten a chance to watch the game.  I had people tape it for me (I'm gonna watch it tomorrow).  But from an unbiased perspective, were there any blatant bad calls against us in this game, other than Flacco getting hit in the knee?

[gabefergy]

I haven't gotten a chance to watch the game. I had people tape it for me (I'm gonna watch it tomorrow). But from an unbiased perspective, were there any blatant bad calls against us in this game, other than Flacco getting hit in the knee?

PI that was missed. They called blow to the head though instead... still it was like 25 yards difference in field position. A defensive hold on their DL, but that rarely gets called.

They missed a PI on Webb too in the EZ, so calls went both ways.

[T3hRaven]

Why do we care what ESPN says?  The network is just a shell of its former self, which used to be a respected outlet for sports journalism.  Now they're all caught up in sensationalism and pushing ratings.  They have an agenda, and advertising and market concerns cause them to champion and focus on certain teams.  I stopped paying attention to them some time ago.  The only programs they produce that are worth watching are NFL Matchup and Outside the Lines, both of which they've tried to hide from people.

[sflegend89]

Gruden saying Chykie PI'd Sanders on the 2 pt conversion was just obnoxious. There wasn't even a mention of it being PI by Steelers fans, they all just blamed Sanders for dropping the ball. Because that's exactly why happened, Chyikie played inside technique, Ben threw back shoulder to Sanders and he had both hands on it and couldn't hold on. They even showed the rplay and everyone's reaction I was watching with was "Are you serious?".

 

Also he criticized the Ravens for taking a timeout on the 2 pt conversion and it ended up being a great call. We weren't prepared for the 4 wr offset formation and the timeout was essential for getting everyone prepared incase they came out in the same formation after the timeout (which they did).

[CalvinSmoke]

I haven't gotten a chance to watch the game.  I had people tape it for me (I'm gonna watch it tomorrow).  But from an unbiased perspective, were there any blatant bad calls against us in this game, other than Flacco getting hit in the knee?

against us? No the Flacco call was the biggest. The PI/unnecessary roughness was... ehh at least we got a flag. Flacco getting hit low was easily the biggest no call. At least the most obvious 

[FlocksGottaFeed]

Why do we care what ESPN says?  The network is just a shell of its former self, which used to be a respected outlet for sports journalism.  Now they're all caught up in sensationalism and pushing ratings.  They have an agenda, and advertising and market concerns cause them to champion and focus on certain teams.  I stopped paying attention to them some time ago.  The only programs they produce that are worth watching are NFL Matchup and Outside the Lines, both of which they've tried to hide from people.

Very Wise! Thank you. Who cares what anybody thinks about us? This is one of the most 'meaningless topics' I've come across. We are trying to win a playoff spot, our AFCN Championship and/or defend our Super Bowl Championship - NOT the ESPN Championship. Come on people. Really? We believe in our team and that's always been enough. Let's move on.

[gooftroop]

I'm not going to look for it, but what were some of "the calls" that were in it? Kinda curious, but I won't look it up for myself because it'll probably get me a little heated, lol.

Two-point conversion try by the Squealers a couple of weeks ago, last play in last year's Super Bowl, and one or two others.

[gooftroop]

Very Wise! Thank you. Who cares what anybody thinks about us? This is one of the most 'meaningless topics' I've come across. We are trying to win a playoff spot, our NFC Championship and/or defend our Super Bowl Championship - NOT the ESPN Championship. Come on people. Really? We believe in our team and that's always been enough. Let's move on.

It's just something to talk about. This a forum for discussion. Maybe you think what you discuss somehow affects our chances of earning a playoff spot- I don't. If you don't want to talk about it, just move on.

[RavensAllTheWay]

I see.  The compilation of "calls" was during the game.  I thought you guys meant like the next morning after the game, all they talked about was bad calls that have gone the Ravens way.  That would've been way worse, lol.  

 

I think on the Marlon Brown play, it should've been PI and Personal Foul because he was restricted from getting to the ball before he got hit in the helmet.  That would've gotten us really close to the endzone with more time and two timeouts left.  Whatever though.

[billick]

Next week the Ref's can wear purple and white jerseys.

 

Or, maybe save the for the Super Bowl.

[Runnin Raven]

I will say when I saw their little "montage" I was slightly offended.  The SB play, the Sanders play...they were both solid non-calls.  For them to have a montage ready to go the minute they didn't like an arm-bar by Webby was so weak.  Imagine drudging up a bunch of questionable calls every other team has faced over the course of a season.

[Moderator 3]

I'm still wIting for their outrage over the unflagged, illegal cheap shot on Flacco.

[Tank 92]

I'm still wIting for their outrage over the unflagged, illegal cheap shot on Flacco.

 

 

You better believe if that happened to tommy it would be a major headline, everywhere.

[Poes Crows]

Gruden saying Chykie PI'd Sanders on the 2 pt conversion was just obnoxious. There wasn't even a mention of it being PI by Steelers fans, they all just blamed Sanders for dropping the ball. Because that's exactly why happened, Chyikie played inside technique, Ben threw back shoulder to Sanders and he had both hands on it and couldn't hold on. They even showed the rplay and everyone's reaction I was watching with was "Are you serious?".

 

Also he criticized the Ravens for taking a timeout on the 2 pt conversion and it ended up being a great call. We weren't prepared for the 4 wr offset formation and the timeout was essential for getting everyone prepared incase they came out in the same formation after the timeout (which they did).

 

The more one sees of Gruden, the more one understands why he is "out of the NFL loop".   There was no pass interference on the Sanders play.  Why he harkened back to it on Monday Night was just another indication of his particular eccentricity / insanity.

 

Gruden is anathema to enjoying good football. That said, his position that bad calls or non calls should be reviewable by challenge is a sound position. Why should a blown call decide a game?

 

Adopt Gruden's adopted Penalty Review, but send Gruden himself off to somewhere that  fans of football don't have to listen to his incessant blather.

[Ravenslifer]

I'm still wIting for their outrage over the unflagged, illegal cheap shot on Flacco.

 

The only time I've ever seen that kind of thing on ESPN was once when Joe got hit, didn't get a flag, and said something to the ref - the next day they mocked Joe for "whining" about getting calls.  I think Joe said something along the lines of "you're supposed to be protecting the quarterback" to the ref, I just don't remember the game.  I think after that, Joe just doesn't bother anymore.

[Militant X 1]

Agreed. This forum topic 'What's up with ESPN' and the intro itself has a different kind of smoke then the kind that you just talked about as a fan. Based on the comments some of '...we Raven fans...' who have already posted, various, obvious objective realities relating to ESPN and commentators that the topic initiated completely missed when posting. It's hard to see if that's baiting or fan support, but it's easy to see that it wasn't very thoughtout and/or aiming to be productive. I'm glad fans caught that. Balance - That's what I meant by 'embrace positive debate'. Cool.

imo - After watching ESPN's 'Raven's Angel' and there is no, but...my smoke's a little different.

Gotcha!

 

I was commenting on many Ravens fans beliefs in general and their use of Skip(all the time) as evidence that the media "hates us". Its not an argument at all, just stating that Skip as a critic or supporter means little, because of how little he actually knows about football and the fact that he isn't an analyst. I like how actual analysts are shifting towards the Ravens because they understand that momentum,health, and chemistry are fueling our current run.   

Skip is a tool!  We don't need nor do we want his "anti-support".  He'll praise one Raven (Tucker) to put down another (Flacco).  Just a few moments ago Stephen A. Smith said; "Flacco is the straw that stirs that Ravens offense."  And Skip responded with; "Well I think that it's Tucker!"  He a clown!  Smh!

 

#Mili

[FlocksGottaFeed]

It's just something to talk about. This a forum for discussion. Maybe you think what you discuss somehow affects our chances of earning a playoff spot- I don't. If you don't want to talk about it, just move on.

I apologize. When reading my comments back it's seems a little preachy to me. My 'bad'. I really meant no harm. It's an outlet and in these times everybody needs one. No matter what the topic. Truly, sorry about that.

[cushrinada1986]

Yeah I didn't understand that either. Looks like they are simply trying to character assassinate this team.

Thats fine, since the Ravens came into the league they have been the bad guys, so its not surprising they are trying to color the team as cheaters and such. but on the other hand, I love the recent brown nosing by some of the so called know it all's on NFL Network and ESPN who thought the ravens werent gonna win last year.

[gooftroop]

I apologize. When reading my comments back it's seems a little preachy to me. My 'bad'. I really meant no harm. It's an outlet and in these times everybody needs one. No matter what the topic. Truly, sorry about that.

You got it. Appreciate the reply.

[poescrows]

The clip package was bad enough, but it was ridiculous when Gruden insinuated that Chykie had interfered with Emmanuel Sanders on that 2 pt. conversion try. That was in no way, shape, or form pass interference. 

 

Even on the Pitta play last week against the Vikings, most said that was an accurate call. Either way, ESPN disappointed me with that pointless clip package, and having to listen to Gruden throughout it made it seem much worse.

What do you all expect from a company that pays a doof like Skip Bayless for his football hyperbole. Personaly, I didn't see any of this because I don't watch ESPN during football season. Aside from the games televised on ESPN, I prefer NFL Network and MASN. As for Gruden, never understood what the big hoopla was about him in the first place......not that impressive of a coach so his opinion means squat to me.