[News] Late For Work 1/16: Why Didn't Devin Hester Play Like That In Baltimore? More Playoff Takeaways

[BR News]

Ray Lewis: ‘It’s called football, Brady.’ Ravens fans’ worst nightmare has come true. All offense in playoffs. Facebook Live in locker room may not be a good idea, Antonio Brown. Joe Flacco part of an elite club.

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[bioLarzen]

Dunno... but I don't like at all how Ray Lewis has apparently turned into a critique-machine, saying negative things about players... Ray, your career was never about negativity - it was always about being positive. I think you should stay on the trodden path...

[dirtybird66]

it seem's player's don't want to play for/under our coaches,their too constrictive just like under gary williams,players played tight and scared and make mistakes/penalties! and tom brady will never win another superbowl,i so hoped KC would of played atlanta in the super bowl.

[RaRaRavens]

"Green Bay Packer have notched 24 touchdowns and one interception since Nov. 20. By comparison, the Ravens scored 32 touchdowns all season."

This. Just this. P A T H E T I C!!!

As to the Flacco question, I know it wasn't a serious one, but still - NO! Not by any standard whatsoever does Flacco qualify elite. He doesn't even deserve to be in the same sentence with these other AFC QBs on that list. The only thing Flacco is elite at is being the most inconsistently performing, mind-numbingly average quarterback.

[drillem]

This article has much jibberish contained herein. The reason Hester came alive was the change in coaching. No mystery there. The notion that this year it's all about offense is bogus. Pburgh yesterday failed to score one single TD. All points came from failure of their offense to get the ball to the end zone. You might say special teams but not offense won that one. I did see some offense in some of the wins, but the statement that 'it' was all about offense this year just ain't so.

I realize though, that this time of year it is difficult to come up with good material for these articles, so I forgive. My main concern is what will be done to motivate this team going into the next season. And I don't see much forward progress so far.

I saw a lot of manufactured excitement in both of yesterday's games due to officiating discretion. One time I saw a pburgher basically body slam a KC player to the ground and got away with it. Meanwhile some more questionable behavior was called by the refs. We all know pburgh plays dirty and try to intimidate opponents on and off the field. I think the matchup between them and NE is appropriate. They really deserve each other. And if the NFL is wondering why viewership is down, the idea of one team going to the championship game for umteen years in a row may be the reason why.

[dirtybird66]

RAY LEWIS would bring back the passion and the NO whining rule and 9-5pm player's we have here,funny how we had way more penalties on offense than ERIC WEDDLES defense,thats hard to do actually.WEDDLE spends way more time as the defensive play caller than our offensive play caller-FLACCO! we need a qb in this draft-PAT MAHOMES and another great cb-DESMOND KING opposite TAVON YOUNG.then bring in one of the SKINS many talented recievers they have to let go,or better yet,KURT COUSINS if they let him walk!

[The Mom Gene]

OK, so I hate the P*triots. and I hate Br*dy. I think I hate them more than I hate the Squeelers. While I hate the Squeelers, I do respect them as an adversary in our Division. So, as much as it pains me to say it, I think I have to root for the Squeelers to win on Sunday.

When either of these guys goes to the Super Bowl??? And the Packers beat the Falcons??? I will be rooting for the Packers... Go Pack Go...

[The Mom Gene]

"Green Bay Packer have notched 24 touchdowns and one interception since Nov. 20. By comparison, the Ravens scored 32 touchdowns all season."

This. Just this. P A T H E T I C!!!

As to the Flacco question, I know it wasn't a serious one, but still - NO! Not by any standard whatsoever does Flacco qualify elite. He doesn't even deserve to be in the same sentence with these other AFC QBs on that list. The only thing Flacco is elite at is being the most inconsistently performing, mind-numbingly average quarterback.

The Packers started off the season slow as well. I had Devante' Adams on my Fantasy team... did they come alive??? Absolutely and at the right time. But as well, they don't have much of a running game either. Just sayin.

[jravens1313]

Go Falcons!

[The Greek]

hope steelers beat the pats than get destroyed by falcons or packers.

[The Greek]

hester played better because he ended up on a playoff team and his juices were flowing.

[leziRav]

Hester had a good day because it was his last game and had to give all. Anyone saw him vs Detroit, he was the same Ravens Hester.
Regarding the playoffs, we hate both the steelers and the pats. However I would want to see the steelers beat the pats and then get their heart broken in SB by the Falcons/ Packers.
Ray Lewis has to be negative, critical of players because of the nature of his job. Journalism, News is about entertainment now days for viewers. But I think Ray is better than that. I would love to see him in our coach staff even if it is just a motivator and someone that will teach the young players about the Ravens mentality and the Ravens football.

[metalraven]

OK, so I hate the P*triots. and I hate Br*dy. I think I hate them more than I hate the Squeelers. While I hate the Squeelers, I do respect them as an adversary in our Division. So, as much as it pains me to say it, I think I have to root for the Squeelers to win on Sunday.

When either of these guys goes to the Super Bowl??? And the Packers beat the Falcons??? I will be rooting for the Packers... Go Pack Go...

I'm with you all the way, mom. Us much as I dislike the Steelers; I absolutely hate the Patriots. Tom Brady is the biggest whining, baby I've ever seen on a football field. Dude throws tantrums for getting tackled. I respect Ben as a football player, and I respect the Steelers organization, generally. But I have zero respect for the Patriots. I'd much rather the Steelers win the SB than the Pats. And besides, they're representing the AFC North. Ya, it sucks it ain't us, but as long as it ain't the Pats, I can live with it. lol

[Raven1995]

RAY LEWIS would bring back the passion and the NO whining rule and 9-5pm player's we have here,funny how we had way more penalties on offense than ERIC WEDDLES defense,thats hard to do actually.WEDDLE spends way more time as the defensive play caller than our offensive play caller-FLACCO! we need a qb in this draft-PAT MAHOMES and another great cb-DESMOND KING opposite TAVON YOUNG.then bring in one of the SKINS many talented recievers they have to let go,or better yet,KURT COUSINS if they let him walk!

Nice wish, if we did get Cousins nobody is gonna take Joe Flacco's contract, and if you cut him that is 25 million Dead money for 2 years and a third year of a little lesser dead money.

[bluehen]

Obviously Hester was just phoning it in with the Ravens, didn't want to get hurt, surprised he did not get cut sooner!

[RaRaRavens]

1 hour ago, The Mom Gene said:

OK, so I hate the P*triots. and I hate Br*dy. I think I hate them more than I hate the Squeelers. While I hate the Squeelers, I do respect them as an adversary in our Division. So, as much as it pains me to say it, I think I have to root for the Squeelers to win on Sunday.

When either of these guys goes to the Super Bowl??? And the Packers beat the Falcons??? I will be rooting for the Packers... Go Pack Go...

It really sucks to have to choose between them, but I'm with Suggs on this one. As much as I hate the Patriots, Steelers are still our rival #1 and the ones we will  always be compared to. Couldn't stomach the sight of them getting another SB title. Either way at least there won't be a question who to root for in the SB.

[Moderator 3]

Go NFC!

[law215]

I'm tired of media even bringing up this "Is Joe elite?" question. The answer is no. However, after watching these playoff games, you can see without at least a good QB, your team won't go far.

Alex Smith looked pathetic against the Steelers poor defense. If he was a little better, Steelers would be home. Waste of a good regular season and great defense.

Same story with the Texans. Brady made enough mistakes to lose, but Brock is not good enough to take advantage.

Joe is not elite and Ravens can't get out of the fact that they had to over pay him, but Joe is good enough. Marvis Lewis and Andy Reid wish they had a QB that could win playoff games.

If Ravens run the ball more and upgrade the DBs and Wrs, I think they are good "enough" to beat a lot of the frauds like Dolphins, Chiefs, Texans that made it to the playoffs.

[RaRaRavens]

16 minutes ago, law215 said:

I'm tired of media even bringing up this "Is Joe elite?" question. The answer is no. However, after watching these playoff games, you can see without at least a good QB, your team won't go far.

Alex Smith looked pathetic against the Steelers poor defense. If he was a little better, Steelers would be home. Waste of a good regular season and great defense.

Same story with the Texans. Brady made enough mistakes to lose, but Brock is not good enough to take advantage.

Joe is not elite and Ravens can't get out of the fact that they had to over pay him, but Joe is good enough. Marvis Lewis and Andy Reid wish they had a QB that could win playoff games.

If Ravens run the ball more and upgrade the DBs and Wrs, I think they are good "enough" to beat a lot of the frauds like Dolphins, Chiefs, Texans that made it to the playoffs.

Church! 

 

That is actually my main issue with Flacco. Money vs performance. If he was to make even 2mil less per season (avg between 20-21M per season) I wouldn't be all up in his grill.

[balfan23]

I just hate it when a player who struggles with us goes on to look great elsewhere. I'm not sure what the reasons are, but it is never a good look for the coaching staff. 

[balfan23]

Yes, it is the nightmare scenario for us with the AFCN, but we all were about 95% sure that it was what we were going to get the moment Brown broke the plane.

Who to root for? As sickening as it may be ... I guess the answer is NE (although I wouldn't use the term "rooting"). Whether NE wins this or not, they have already achieved the status of the top franchise of the new millennium. Steelers will start to put themselves into that conversation if they win here and they don't need anything new in their trophy case and anything more evidence to show their superiority over us. 

[Minionhunter]

Steelers Patriots game:

I'm rooting for Tomlin to try and trip a pats player and some assistants to punch some patriots players who wander onto their sideline, while at the same time for more and deeper Patriots cheating to be exposed irrefutably on national television.

When life gives you lemons, make lemoncello

[Tdot.to.Bmore]

Hester is auditioning for next year if he decides to come back. That one game could have landed him a job next year.

[Raven in ATL]

13 of the past 14 Super Bowls featured either Brady, Manning, or Ben.... that doesnt put Flacco in that company, it makes him more of an anomaly 1 of 14!

[Minionhunter]

  52 minutes ago, law215 said:

I'm tired of media even bringing up this "Is Joe elite?" question. The answer is no. However, after watching these playoff games, you can see without at least a good QB, your team won't go far.

Alex Smith looked pathetic against the Steelers poor defense. If he was a little better, Steelers would be home. Waste of a good regular season and great defense.

Same story with the Texans. Brady made enough mistakes to lose, but Brock is not good enough to take advantage.

Joe is not elite and Ravens can't get out of the fact that they had to over pay him, but Joe is good enough. Marvis Lewis and Andy Reid wish they had a QB that could win playoff games.

If Ravens run the ball more and upgrade the DBs and Wrs, I think they are good "enough" to beat a lot of the frauds like Dolphins, Chiefs, Texans that made it to the playoffs.

Church! 

 

That is actually my main issue with Flacco. Money vs performance. If he was to make even 2mil less per season (avg between 20-21M per season) I wouldn't be all up in his grill.

Somehow I think you would still be all up in high s grill. Anyone who blames Joe for his contract should remember that he was ready to take 15 million per year and the Ravens were hung up over 1 million dollars so they, Ravens management, are the ones you should direct that anger towards.

[Minionhunter]

Hester has said he blamed injuries for his caprophagic performance with us, but I still remember him saying he was fine and finally healthy when he got here. He was like shaq with the celtics, just stealing.

[Minionhunter]

13 of the past 14 Super Bowls featured either Brady, Manning, or Ben.... that doesnt put Flacco in that company, it makes him more of an anomaly 1 of 14!

NFL parity in the regular season, only the most profitable franchises are allowed into the super bowl. The Ravens were an anomaly.

[billiejean]

I just want to remind people that its not like this "elite" debate is a nationally talked about issue (at least for the last 3 or 4 years). I don't think its even a locally debated issue. It is just an issue that is brought up maybe once or twice a month on this site and people get all worked up about it. I would be willing to bet about 85% of the time it is brought up in LFW. And for the most part, Sarah isn't actually advocating for the fact that Joe is elite. Mostly, just like today, its a comparison of a particular stat or attribute that Joe shares with the elite QBs in the league. But she never actually makes the inference that because of these commonalities that he is in fact elite (Eisenburgs articles do seem to be a bit overly romanticized, so it is possible that he has tried to make a JF is elite argument recently but I don't regularly read his work so I wouldn't know). Its a tough job to write an article on every single weekday of the year about such a narrow topic. Sometimes you have to stir the pot a little to keep people interested (see Mike Preston) and Sarah knows that if the word elite is used in conjunction with the name Joe Flacco regardless of the inference, its going to create a little buzz. And its not like she is loosing readers, as it seems that it is always the same people that get incensed every time the "E" word is mentioned. You just can't take what the media say OR what people say to the media at face value.  It always makes me chuckle when John does an interview after a loss and people are fired up on here because he didn't throw Marty, Dean or Joe under the bus.  Unfortunately, the era when coaches didn't censor themselves has gone away with Rex.  But even he started cleaning up his media act a little bit and even being the loose cannon that he was, he would rarely talk disparagingly about his current players or coaches. 

[MadStorkSociety]

  1 hour ago, Raven in ATL said:

13 of the past 14 Super Bowls featured either Brady, Manning, or Ben.... that doesnt put Flacco in that company, it makes him more of an anomaly 1 of 14!

NFL parity in the regular season, only the most profitable franchises are allowed into the super bowl. The Ravens were an anomaly.

I don't know if it's "profitable" franchises; more likely, franchises that make consistently good decisions.

[billiejean]

Hester has said he blamed injuries for his caprophagic performance with us, but I still remember him saying he was fine and finally healthy when he got here. He was like shaq with the celtics, just stealing.

Anymore insider info about Kubes coming to baltimore?