Calling 52 a locker room cancer doesn’t even begin to describe it, but a close friend of mine offered that assessment Tuesday morning in our hour-long conversation about Monday Night’s game. Look, I understand Ray’s frustration in the ball being turned over, but the DB’s behind him didn’t even see the ball once during the entire game. This was a total team embarrassment. And 52 has NEVER, NOT ONCE owned up after a bad game, a loss, or anything. 52 has NEVER, NOT ONCE taken the heat so that another player could keep his head up. 52 has NEVER, NOT ONCE shown respect for his teammates in a trying time.
Much like I said yesterday that we finally have to accept that Brian Billick just plain has NO CLUE about anything; we must also FINALLY accept that 52 is a locker room cancer who is more concerned about showing off than about winning football games. The thing is, that mentality worked for a long time in this city. 52 was able to get away with that crap for years because other players fed off of it. In fact, players like Bart Scott and Terrell Suggs still seem to feed off of it-to an extent anyway. At this point, if 52 wasn’t on the field, Scott and Suggs would still rally around this defense, and would do the excitement thing their own way. 52 really doesn’t have the pulse of this team anymore. He’s respected for his career and his accomplishments, but he’s no longer respected as the voice of the team.
I don’t want this to be an entire “Poo Poo 52” blog. The man will be a Hall of Famer, and I don’t put down on his on-field play the way some of his former teammates and analysts have. This is simply to say that 52 might be part of the problem that needs to be solved going forward, no matter what that means.
Let’s see what everyone has to say…
RAVENS:
The Official Site says he might not have been defending the pass, but Derrick Martin WAS helping the community last week
The Official Site’s Mike Duffy says turnovers were the name of the game Monday night
The Official Site’s Josh Lukin is happy to be home from this last trip
The Official Site’s Mike Duffy says there WERE good things-Ogden’s toe is okay, and Musa Smith returned kicks
The Official Site’s Mike Duffy also says the run defense was good
Bengals’ Official Site’s Geoff Hobson says Marvin Lewis thinks 3rd down is their issue
The Sun’s Mike Preston says Ravens ‘looked old again’
The Sun’s Sheil Kapadia looks at the weekend some former Ravens had
The Sun’s Edward Lee looks at where the Ravens stand statistically
The Sun’s Bill Ordine wonders if McNair’s time has run up
The Sun’s Peter Schmuck says Ravens may be out of time before they get healthy
The Sun’s Jamison Hensley says McNair is on ‘decline’
The Sun’s Mike Preston says Ravens need to go forward with Boller
The Sun’s Edward Lee says Musa Smith is doing a good job ‘outside of backfield’
Cincinnati Enquirer’s Mark Curnutte says Bengals will get Chris Henry back, may not get Chad Johnson back
Cincinnati Enquirer’s Mark Curnutte looks at what The Sun is saying about Marvin
Cincinnati Enquirer’s Mark Curnutte says blame for Bengals goes around
Cincinnati Post’s Kevin Goheen says Chad Johnson is ‘fine’
Cincinnati Post’s Kevin Goheen says Chris Henry is back
Aaron Wilson says Ravens are in ‘crisis mode’
Aaron Wilson says Ravens’ secondary was ‘shredded’
Washington Post’s Mark Maske ranks Ravens 21st in his monthly power rankings
Ravens Roost’s Mike Zoran wonders if the Ravens learned anything from their beatdown
Ravens Roost’s Mike Brown has just about thrown in the towel
The Loss Column’s Justin Blome says there’s ‘no excuse’ for what happened to the Ravens last night
B-More Birds Nest’s “Nest Minder” has some nicknames for what happened to the Ravens last night
Ravens News thinks team needs to be re-assessed (Attention Ravens News-if you continue to allow a 10 year old to write your blogs-I will not include your updates in the Crabs & Beer)
Ravens Locker says Ravens ‘never had a chance’ Monday Night
Baltimore Beatdown’s “Rexx” looks at Monday Night(mare) Football
Ravens Gab’s Matt Loede is no longer expecting a ‘happy ending’
Pro Football 24×7’s Sy Saulynas thinks Brian Billick should stick around
Pro Football 24×7’s Tony Lombardi says Ravens eyeing ‘implosion’
Ravens Insider tells you how you can fork over $12 bucks to get an autograph from a 3rd stringer!
Fanhouse’s Ryan Wilson looks at whether or not McNair should get benched
Fanhouse’s Ryan Wilson says Trevor Pryce wasn’t impressed by James Harrison
Fanhouse’s Ryan Wilson says Hines Ward accused Bart Scott of conspiracy to murder
Fanhouse’s Ryan Wilson says Ravens were p3wed (or however you kids say that) by Hines Ward’s blocking
Fanhouse’s Josh Alper says at least Ravens are good at dancing
The Examiner’s Tony Giro sides with 52
Does this make any sense to you? Yahoo! Sports’ Jason Cole has the Ravens 9th in his power rankings, Charles Robinson has them 14th
Sporting News’ Dennis Dillon has the Ravens 15th
ORIOLES:
The Official Site’s Anthony DiCorno says a trip to Wrigley highlights the tentative schedule for the 2008 Orioles
The Official Site provides a tentative schedule
The Official Site’s Anthony DiCorno announces Dave Jauss as bench coach
The Sun’s Jeff Zrebiec says Birds finding little interest in Tejada
The Sun’s Jeff Zrebiec says Andy MacPhail doesn’t plan on talking to Corey Patterson
The Sun’s Roch Kubatko says O’s will welcome Pirates for 1st time since 1979 World Series
The Sun’s Roch Kubatko says at least Jauss isn’t just a random former Oriole
The Sun’s Roch Kubatko says Sam Perlozzo has a new gig as M’s 3rd base coach
The AP says Greg Maddux breaks Brooks Robinson’s Gold Glove record
Oriole Central is pleased to have never heard of Dave Jauss before
Camden Chat’s Scott Christ wonders if Tejada could be A-Rod’s replacement (AH! The old “become the best team in the division by giving a playoff team from a year ago your best player” trick! I believe that last worked for…….anyone?)
Camden Chat’s JQ Higgins offers a Fall League update
Camden Chat’s Scott Christ offers a Lenn Sakata “Photo of the Day” classic
Camden Chat’s “exitfare” looks at new bench coach
Oriole Post’s “Maryland Orioles Fan” looks at bench coach and schedule
Oriole Post’s “Maryland Orioles Fan” was pretty much dead on with his pre-season predictions for the Birds
The Loss Column’s Neal Shaffer is TOTALLY PSYCHED for opening day vs. the Rays
Inside The Warehouse’s Michael Hollman looks at prospect #50: Anthony Matinez
TERRAPINS FOOTBALL:
The Sun’s Heather Dinich says Erin Henderson WILL play, Jordan Steffy COULD play against Boston College Saturday
The Sun’s Matt Bracken profiles Terps commit A.J. Francis
The Sun’s Heather Dinich says Andrew Crummey may be back next week
The Sun’s Heather Dinich says Ralph channeled Yogi Berra today
The Sun’s Matt Bracken looks at Jeff Ermann’s new magazine
Carroll County Times’ John McNamara says Ralph just ‘wants more consistency’ from his Terps (there are a few more things I’d like-health, tackling, offensive production, winning, etc etc etc)
The Diamondback’s Andrew Zuckerman says Boston College suffered a worse loss than the Terps last weekend
Washington Post’s Marc Carig looks at Erin Henderson’s injury
Washington Times’ Patrick Stevens looks at Henderson’s injury
Washington Times’ Patrick Stevens looks at emotional comments from Ralph Friedgen
Washington Times’ Patrick Stevens says Crummey is better off than Burley or Campbell
Boston Herald’s Steve Conroy looks at replacement to Jo-Lonn Dunbar
Terrapin Times’ Chris King previews Senior Night (must subscribe)
Terrapin Times’ Keith Cavanaugh looks at Dwight Galt’s son Tommy (must subscribe)
Terrapin Times announces their Maryland-Carolina Player of the Game (must subscribe)
TERRAPINS BASKETBALL:
Here is a link to ACC Select, where you can watch Wednesday’s exhibition opener
The Sun’s Heather Dinich says starters Gist and Milbourne will miss Sunday night’s opener due to playing in a non-sanctioned tournament in Ocean City
The Sun’s Heather Dinich says Gist wants his name in the rafters
The Sun’s Heather Dinich says that when he comes back from suspension, Landon Milbourne will likely start
Carroll County Times’ Josh Land looks at suspensions to Gist and Milbourne
The Diamondback’s Mark Selig plays “H-O-R-S-E” with Greivis Vasquez
Washington Post’s Eric Prisbell looks at suspensions to Gist and Milbourne
Washington Post picks Terps to finish 3rd in ACC
Washington Times’ Patrick Stevens says Gary Williams loves coaching Hayes and Vasquez
Washington Times picks Terps to finish 5th in ACC
Washington Times’ Patrick Stevens looks at suspensions to Gist and Milbourne
Washington Times’ Patrick Stevens with more on suspensions
Turtle Soup’s Jeremy Gold is excited to see freshmen play in place of Gist and Milbourne
Terrapin Times’ Dan Painter looks at an Eastern Shore PG recruit (must subscribe)
TERRAPINS WOMEN’S BASKETBALL:
The Official Site says Crystal Langhorne named 1st team Preseason All-America
TERRAPINS LACROSSE:
The Official Site announces 2008 schedule
NAVY FOOTBALL:
The Official Site says Paul Johnson doesn’t want to talk about Notre Dame anymore
North Texas’ Official Site previews Navy-North Texas
Annapolis Capital’s Bill Wagner says Paul Johnson has moved on
Go Mids updates Navy’s opponents
Fanhouse’s Brian Cook finds video from the brigade at the end of the game, as well as the “Superman Sack”
Here’s a Youtube link to JUST the sack
SOME QUICK THOUGHTS:
-No matter who plays CB for the Ravens next week, I would like their chances better if Ocho Cinco wasn’t able to play. But I certainly expect him to be ready. I can only imagine that the Bengals have already implemented a “let’s throw all day” policy for this game, and I would assume that they will be successful doing it. This could be ugly.
-I know I mentioned that the Birds should trade Tejada two seasons ago, and I can understand why then I was told I was crazy. The Birds will continue to try to trade Tejada this off-season, but they’re not going to suddenly get a great offer. If only Tejada had shown he was AT ALL capable of playing SS still last season; that would make this process so much easier. The Diamondbacks should consider making the move, but they already have too many corners on their roster.
-The Terps would have to beat the Eagles Saturday for Andrew Crummey’s return to really mean anything. If Erin Henderson can’t play, the Terps have NO CHANCE, a banged up Henderson gives the Terps a SLIGHT CHANCE at least; but little more than that. Unlike the Billick situation, Ralph is still the man in College Park; and will have success there. Don’t forget, Ralph is an alum; and that DOES make a difference. He will have to hire an OC next season, but even a 4-8 finish this year wouldn’t get him fired (although, he should probably try to go at least 5-7 just to make sure things don’t get too hairy).
-How nice is it to hear that there’s a suspension at Maryland that ACTUALLY ISN’T THAT BIG OF A DEAL? Look, James Gist and Landon Milbourne should have been smarter, but what they did is hardly a major transgression. Gary had the easy decision to suspend them for the N. Florida game, instead of having to change the suspension to a later game or stagger the suspensions. This is WAAAY better than hearing about an incident at Cornerstone or a player deciding that school is no longer a concern to them.
-Looking at the 2008 Maryland Lacrosse schedule just provided me one more chance to bitch about the fact that the 2008 Final Four will be played in Foxboro, Massachusetts. This is such an egregious error by the NCAA that I cannot even begin to describe it. Philadelphia was wrong, but at least I could make sense of it. The Final Four will draw another HUGE crowd because the sport is growing, not because of the location. As I’ve said before, Baltimore needs to host this event permanently. The best math equation I can use to explain this is….
Baltimore: College Lacrosse > Omaha: College Baseball.
Did you get that? What Baltimore is to College Lacrosse is GREATER THAN what Omaha is to College Baseball. And much in the way that the NCAA has turned Omaha into a Mecca for College Baseball, the NCAA should do the same thing with Baltimore and the Lacrosse Final Four. Let’s get it right already!
Talk to you tomorrow.
-G
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