[News] Eisenberg: Haloti Ngata's Statements Were Misinterpreted

[BR News]

Haloti Ngata didn’t compare the quality of the Lions and Ravens defenses. He compared the styles.

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[January J]

Yeah that makes sense. However it still just rubbed me the wrong way, just seeing his smiling face with the light blue lion colors is just kind of annoying. Esp in light of some of the recent other players that took less just to stay in baltimore or to help the organization- it gives the perception he only cared about the money. It's crazy how the ravens wanted to keep ngata and ngata wanted to be a raven and in the end both sides wanting it to happen just isn't enough. That's the nature of the cap.

[BallsoHard622]

All players leave an say the same things when they go to another team an get payed. It is what it is, we've always played good defense in bmore so o well. At the end of the year I guess we'll no wassup when we look up stats an wins an who's in the playoffs an who's not.

[JoeyFlex5]

and this is exactly how i interpreted his comments when everyone else was getting all up in their feels..

[Bohica5]

Haloti Who??

[MadStorkSociety]

"Ravens hardly lack for aggressiveness themselves under Dean Pees"... uummm, sometimes they do.

[omar586]

i dont know what everybody upset about. what he said was "he never been part of D like this". or something, now if u look at this statment it can go either way, he could mean a number of things, he could mean that they're terrible, good, bad. what else u expect him to say about the team that employees him, would u say anything diff. when u r gettin paid like $18 mill a year?

Edited July 11, 2015 by omar586

[BmoreB]

@John Eisenberg... You're dead wrong on this one and as a matter of fact you should strongly consider retracting this entire article.

 

"It sounded like a slap at the Ray Lewis-led, high-quality defenses Ngata mostly played on during his nine years in Baltimore,".. That's because it was

 

"I think his comment has been misinterpreted." No, it was quite clear in what he said and what he meant.

 

"He wasn’t talking about the quality of the Lions’ defense compared to Baltimore’s; he was talking about the style of defense the Lions are playing.." And here's the key evidence as to why I say you're dead wrong: This is what he also said and that you failed to quote in your article which is in fact quoted on PFT form Ngata's press conference:

 

“It’s exciting, man,” Ngata said, via the Detroit Free Press. “I’ve never been a part of a defense like this. You have so many athletes: J.J., Ziggy, Caraun, Darryl Tapp. You just have so many playmakers all over the front on the D-line. I’m just excited to be a part of it.”

 

Sure sounds like he's talking about the quality of the Lions D compared to Baltimore's to me. That's the obvious and correct interpretation. He meant what he said and to try and write an article that fluffs it up to paint Ngata in a better light is insulting. And you definitely "fluffed it up" on this one.

[MichaelJ34]

Of course he has never been apart of a defense like that we win with defense we arguably had the best defense of all time and if that isnt enough we also have one of the highest defensive personnel turnovers due to our guys being practically pro bowlers so they get the big money else where... coincidentally we never over pay and those who leave us disappear. Simply put could we be more aggressive? Yes but we are the best so what we do works

[stixfix69]

Ngata is one of the most happy go lucky guys in the game, and i wish the beat writers would leave him alone, and stop trying to make more out of the things he says....

[Arch Mage]

We have seen a number of Ravens enjoy getting out of the shadow of the Ravens defenses' reputation. I think we are seeing a little of that in this case, but I think the real thing is something that Ngata said about how he got complacent in Baltimore. Going to Detroit for him is like having his blinders taken off. I don't begrudge him living in the moment.

In our Fantasy Football delusions we get hung up on stats, but like the U.S. unemployment numbers, stats are manipulated in the sense that they are given a label and then everyone forgets how the statistics are actually gathered (hey I think there is a conspiracy in this country to get us to hate math so the powers-that-be can pull the wool over our eyes). Number 1 Defense = fewest yards, not points, not take aways, not giving the offense the best field position, not most 3-and-outs, not....
Pees has a reputation for "bend but don't break" kinds of schemes. I doubt that we will ever give up the fewest yards under him. But doesn't he have a Superbowl ring? Let's just get healthy, stay that way, win a few more games and beat NE in Baltimore in the playoffs this year. Maybe Ngata will be one of the few defensive players who left Baltimore and did well. For us, as they say, the best revenge is living well.

Edited July 11, 2015 by Arch Mage

[edreed2o]

@John Eisenberg... You're dead wrong on this one and as a matter of fact you should strongly consider retracting this entire article.

"It sounded like a slap at the Ray Lewis-led, high-quality defenses Ngata mostly played on during his nine years in Baltimore,".. That's because it was

"I think his comment has been misinterpreted." No, it was quite clear in what he said and what he meant.

"He wasn’t talking about the quality of the Lions’ defense compared to Baltimore’s; he was talking about the style of defense the Lions are playing.." And here's the key evidence as to why I say you're dead wrong: This is what he also said and that you failed to quote in your article which is in fact quoted on PFT form Ngata's press conference:

“It’s exciting, man,” Ngata said, via the Detroit Free Press. “I’ve never been a part of a defense like this. You have so many athletes: J.J., Ziggy, Caraun, Darryl Tapp. You just have so many playmakers all over the front on the D-line. I’m just excited to be a part of it.”

Sure sounds like he's talking about the quality of the Lions D compared to Baltimore's to me. That's the obvious and correct interpretation. He meant what he said and to try and write an article that fluffs it up to paint Ngata in a better light is insulting. And you definitely "fluffed it up" on this one.

I couldn't agree with you more. I love most of John's articles but he does try to sugarcoat things. He never has anything negative to say even if it warrants it. Ngata could of plain out said "this defense is way better than the Ravens defenses I've played in" and John would of still made up something defending Ngata. Sorry John, but you're wrong on this one.

[edreed2o]

We have seen a number of Ravens enjoy getting out of the shadow of the Ravens defenses' reputation. I think we are seeing a little of that in this case, but I think the real thing is something that Ngata said about how he got complacent in Baltimore. Going to Detroit for him is like having his blinders taken off. I don't begrudge him living in the moment.

In our Fantasy Football delusions we get hung up on stats, but like the U.S. unemployment numbers, stats are manipulated in the sense that they are given a label and then everyone forgets how the statistics are actually gathered (hey I think there is a conspiracy in this country to get us to hate math so the powers-that-be can pull the wool over our eyes). Number 1 Defense = fewest yards, not points, not take aways, not giving the offense the best field position, not most 3-and-outs, not....

Pees has a reputation for "bend but don't break" kinds of schemes. I doubt that we will ever give up the fewest yards under him. But doesn't he have a Superbowl ring? Let's just get healthy, stay that way, win a few more games and beat NE in Baltimore in the playoffs this year. Maybe Ngata will be one of the few defensive players who left Baltimore and did well. For us, as they say, the best revenge is living well.

Who are those ravens that enjoy getting out of the ravens defense shadow? Name one that had good years beyond the Ravens D? Maybe Adailus Thomas or Bart Scott but they both did nothing compared when they were with us.

[January J]

@John Eisenberg... You're dead wrong on this one and as a matter of fact you should strongly consider retracting this entire article.

"It sounded like a slap at the Ray Lewis-led, high-quality defenses Ngata mostly played on during his nine years in Baltimore,".. That's because it was

"I think his comment has been misinterpreted." No, it was quite clear in what he said and what he meant.

"He wasn’t talking about the quality of the Lions’ defense compared to Baltimore’s; he was talking about the style of defense the Lions are playing.." And here's the key evidence as to why I say you're dead wrong: This is what he also said and that you failed to quote in your article which is in fact quoted on PFT form Ngata's press conference:

“It’s exciting, man,” Ngata said, via the Detroit Free Press. “I’ve never been a part of a defense like this. You have so many athletes: J.J., Ziggy, Caraun, Darryl Tapp. You just have so many playmakers all over the front on the D-line. I’m just excited to be a part of it.”

Sure sounds like he's talking about the quality of the Lions D compared to Baltimore's to me. That's the obvious and correct interpretation. He meant what he said and to try and write an article that fluffs it up to paint Ngata in a better light is insulting. And you definitely "fluffed it up" on this one.

not sure I'm with you on this on, I will have to re-read it bc the first time I skimmed through it , but it sure sounded spot on to me. At the very least the comments are up for interpretation and you can't definitively say that's what he was trying to say. Like I said ngatas comments did rub me the wrong way just bc of his tone and it did come off as an "implication " ... But I definitely can't say what he meant for sure- and I think your going a little far by saying eisenburg should retract the article. Even if ngata was trying to imply something- it's obvious that he's full of it and just upset that he got traded. So who cares? Edited July 11, 2015 by January J

[TXRavensFan]

@John Eisenberg... You're dead wrong on this one and as a matter of fact you should strongly consider retracting this entire article.

 

"It sounded like a slap at the Ray Lewis-led, high-quality defenses Ngata mostly played on during his nine years in Baltimore,".. That's because it was

 

"I think his comment has been misinterpreted." No, it was quite clear in what he said and what he meant.

 

"He wasn’t talking about the quality of the Lions’ defense compared to Baltimore’s; he was talking about the style of defense the Lions are playing.." And here's the key evidence as to why I say you're dead wrong: This is what he also said and that you failed to quote in your article which is in fact quoted on PFT form Ngata's press conference:

 

“It’s exciting, man,” Ngata said, via the Detroit Free Press. “I’ve never been a part of a defense like this. You have so many athletes: J.J., Ziggy, Caraun, Darryl Tapp. You just have so many playmakers all over the front on the D-line. I’m just excited to be a part of it.”

 

Sure sounds like he's talking about the quality of the Lions D compared to Baltimore's to me. That's the obvious and correct interpretation. He meant what he said and to try and write an article that fluffs it up to paint Ngata in a better light is insulting. And you definitely "fluffed it up" on this one.

 

If you look at the quote in red closely, it actually supports Eisenberg's premise. In context, remember that Ngata's main role for the Ravens was to basically control two gaps and eat up linemen to stuff the run and so that the linebackers could get to the QB on passing plays. Detroit, however, plays an attacking 1 gap 4-3 defense, so he'll now have the chance to go after linemen one-on-one and try to penetrate into the backfield more. From Ngata's perspective, why wouldn't he be excited to learn a new scheme that gives him more freedom to be a play maker? That certainly wasn't his role, and he in fact, never played in a defense like that here. Further, if you notice, all of the players he listed were defensive linemen (if he had included their linebackers or defensive backs - especially safety - you might have a point).

 

I suppose one could go way out on a limb and say the comments were disrespectful to maybe Williams, Jernigan, Gregg, Price, etc. etc., but it just seems like a case of him talking up his new line mates, rather than putting down any of his former team mates. Another poster had the best analogy: "Every guy tells his new girlfriend that he's never had anyone like her before."

[January J]

Re- read the article... He did seem to sugarcoat things a bit, but the comments still can be interpreted in two different ways. I'm also not sure in what order some of the statements he made or if they were even in the same sequence bc I read several different quotes and when you put them together it doesn't sound so bad - not sure if they were pasted together just to fit the narrative or of they were actually made simultaneously , but either way only ngata knows what he meant- and even if he was implying something like that he"ll never admit it anyway.

[January J]

If you look at the quote in red closely, it actually supports Eisenberg's premise. In context, remember that Ngata's main role for the Ravens was to basically control two gaps and eat up linemen to stuff the run and so that the linebackers could get to the QB on passing plays. Detroit, however, plays an attacking 1 gap 4-3 defense, so he'll now have the chance to go after linemen one-on-one and try to penetrate into the backfield more. From Ngata's perspective, why wouldn't he be excited to learn a new scheme that gives him more freedom to be a play maker? That certainly wasn't his role, and he in fact, never played in a defense like that here. Further, if you notice, all of the players he listed were defensive linemen (if he had included their linebackers or defensive backs - especially safety - you might have a point).

I suppose one could go way out on a limb and say the comments were disrespectful to maybe Williams, Jernigan, Gregg, Price, etc. etc., but it just seems like a case of him talking up his new line mates, rather than putting down any of his former team mates. Another poster had the best analogy: "Every guy tells his new girlfriend that he's never had anyone like her before."

that's the way I see it- and I also thought that the quote in red also helped eisenburgs case if anything- aside from the part where he said " you have so many athletes" , but like you said that's just him talking up his new team mates. Edited July 11, 2015 by January J

[TXRavensFan]

that's the way I see it- and I also thought that the quote in red also helped eisenburgs case if anything- aside from the part where he said " you have so many athletes" , but like you said that's just him talking up his new team mates.

 

Yep, and really, how concerned should we be when the highest praise he has for the professional athletes he's now playing with is that they are....athletes? That's pretty much the equivalent of setting up a buddy on a blind date and telling him that she's got a great personality.

[Tru11]

@John Eisenberg... You're dead wrong on this one and as a matter of fact you should strongly consider retracting this entire article.

 

"It sounded like a slap at the Ray Lewis-led, high-quality defenses Ngata mostly played on during his nine years in Baltimore,".. That's because it was

 

"I think his comment has been misinterpreted." No, it was quite clear in what he said and what he meant.

 

"He wasn’t talking about the quality of the Lions’ defense compared to Baltimore’s; he was talking about the style of defense the Lions are playing.." And here's the key evidence as to why I say you're dead wrong: This is what he also said and that you failed to quote in your article which is in fact quoted on PFT form Ngata's press conference:

 

“It’s exciting, man,” Ngata said, via the Detroit Free Press. “I’ve never been a part of a defense like this. You have so many athletes: J.J., Ziggy, Caraun, Darryl Tapp. You just have so many playmakers all over the front on the D-line. I’m just excited to be a part of it.”

 

Sure sounds like he's talking about the quality of the Lions D compared to Baltimore's to me. That's the obvious and correct interpretation. He meant what he said and to try and write an article that fluffs it up to paint Ngata in a better light is insulting. And you definitely "fluffed it up" on this one.

 

its funny that the part you quoted and painted red pretty much supports what eisenberg is saying.

 

the players ngata named are all Dliners.

 

Its a huge stretch to suggest he was talking about the defense as a whole since he did not mention the best defenders on that team.

 

Cant see how this is disrespectfull to Ray unless you believe ray  played on the Dline .....

[CanadaEH]

I still don't understand why we let Teryl Austin go and kept Dean Pees.

[Arch Mage]

Who are those ravens that enjoy getting out of the ravens defense shadow? Name one that had good years beyond the Ravens D? Maybe Adailus Thomas or Bart Scott but they both did nothing compared when they were with us.

I wrote that they enjoyed "getting out of the shadow of the Ravens defenses' reputation."  I did not say they did well afterwards on the playing field.  They thought they might do well in another system, thus they "enjoyed" leaving, but not necessarily what happened after they arrived smewhere else.  The list of those who enhanced their own reputatin by leaving is very short.

[edreed2o]

I wrote that they enjoyed "getting out of the shadow of the Ravens defenses' reputation." I did not say they did well afterwards on the playing field. They thought they might do well in another system, thus they "enjoyed" leaving, but not necessarily what happened after they arrived smewhere else. The list of those who enhanced their own reputatin by leaving is very short.

Yes, it is short. I take what Haloti said as a punch in the gut but at the same time he probably hated Dean Pees bend but dont break defense. If he was referring to Pees type of defense, then ok.. But if he was referring to the Suggs, Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, Peter Boulware, Trevor Pryce, Chris Mcalister, Samari Rolle defense, then I dont understand it.

[mearzunkies]

Just this comment...... How many X Raven players that leave for as pay day become pro bowl players elsewhere? Not many:-)

[Rich McG]

Ngata is a beloved Raven...now and forever. Except of course when we play against each other.

[ALSKAN RAVEN FAN]

Just my opinion but Ngata was not worth the 16 Million dollars he had left on his contract. Maybe 6-8 Million but definitly not 16 Million. I think he is trying to talk up his new team and thats not bad. However until the Lions can have a formidible defense year in and year out and show it on the field TALK IS JUST TALK and his talk is CHEAP at best.

[Daven1]

What's Ngata supposed to say - I've played on better defenses than this? Give him a break, he's paid by the Lions now.

[Saxxin]

Who cares what he meant. To many worry about hurt feelings. This is a MANS sport. No whining.

[Gorgee3]

Unfortunately Ngata had a good career with the Ravens for years and he is getting old. He got suspended for using ped's last season.It was good for him to move on to the lions. The lions can have our leftovers.

[cec327]

Great player. Wish him nothing but the best.

[cobrajet]

He did not say anything wrong. He is excited to play in a little different style of defense in a new home. There is nothing wrong with that. He did not say anything bad about the Ravens.