After reading this trash, it assumes a remarkable look alike to your reporting (?).
-----------------------------------
We're sending this comment to the NSA for decoding.
-- Bill O.

I wanted to offer my apologies. After last night it is clear that the Ravens are a better team then the Pats. I am now confident that it was the truly the officiating that cost them the game, not the fact that they are just plain awful this year. I mean a performance like last nights says it all.

How is it "trash"? Did you watch the game? Balitmore was pitiful in every way.

I'm sorry, I forgot... getting burned deep repeatedly on defense and having 5 turnovers on offense means they were playing awesome.

... Idiot.

Last night's "performance" spoke volumes about the true character of this collection of individuals.

And I also expect to hear about a ticket price increase in the works.

After all, "Gouge The Customer" is the REAL name of the game in sports.

Just ask Peter (what an appropriate name!) Angelos.

Both the Orioles and the Ravens offer a second-rate product at first-rate prices.

Only fools would continue to accept this situation.

Bill
I predicted back after the Steeler debacle that many of the 'veterans' would come down with various injuries the rest of the season keeping them out of games. Looks like I was right.

I just don't believe these guys are going to push themselves the rest of the season. I think a few did to play against the Pats and try and end the undefeated streak, but there is insufficient motivation for the rest of the year.

Let's just call it a mini "players revolt". Their back-ups are doing more to prove the veterans value than the vets could do by playing themselves.

I also think you'll see more of it through the last 3 games.
------------------------------------------
Ed,
Interesting discussion point.
-- Bill O.

if you saw the patriots game yesturday, it is obvious the patriots are better than the ravens.

Hard to say whether the "privilege" of beating the Dolphins (no guarantee on this point) outweighs the slight further enhancement of draft position.

i just want all u losers who like boller and washed up mcnair to remember the rest of the year as troy smith is qb with ur stupid height issues and so on what a real qb of the future looks like and to run the td in himself had nothing to do with the morons calls at play calling brian billick i loved it i just wish boller gets hurt first play of the game and this time instead of clapping i orchestrate the cheers for a no good washed up qb mcnair boller billick ogden and rolle mcallister heap all will be gone its obvious they dont wanna play and none of them are even that great only guy i do feel bad for is ray lewis haveing to be put and sticking with this team because im the biggest ravens fan period and they just stink but if troy smith is in i will guarantee we may not win but its more fun to watch at this point also peyton manning and the starters play all 4 quarters i will guarantee.
----------------------------------------
Ted,
Wanting Smith to play is fine but wishing people to get injured is bad karma. Also, punctuation would help in getting your message across.
-- Bill O.

I think the NSA would have trouble decoding johnjames' comment. It amazes me that someone would be so smug about criticizing a piece of writing, yet their own writing shows the literary level of a grade schooler. Lesson #1 in being a critic: if you write like a moron, you probably are one. Go back to first grade and learn to write. Until then, your opinion doesn't matter.

Someone mentioned it earlier, and I wonder, would heap rolle and mcallister be playing if the meaning of the games were different? I know you don't want to risk further injuring players and what not, but it really makes me question the heart of this team.

After such a good effort last week, we came out flat.

And all the Boller haters, yeah he played poorly, but we couldn't get the ball moving on the ground, and he faced probably the most pressure he's seen all year last night. He may not be the QB of the future, but right now he does (like it or not) give us our best chance to win, in my opinion.

My question is, why do you think Billick waited so long to put Troy in last night? Wouldn't this late in the season with nothing to play for make this an evaluation process for a lot of players? With the lead as far out of reach as it was early, why not let Troy come in to start the sceond half?
-----------------------------------------
Pete,
That occurred to me as well. If I had to venture a guess, it was a move calculated to not indicate that the fault was primarily with Boller.
-- Bill O.

Motivation is like a sugar rush. Once the object of motivation is gone, you crash. This is the Tony Robbins theory, at any rate. The Ravens had motivation for the Patriots and gave it their all for that one game, but have nothing left for the rest of the season.

The Patriots' goal is perfection on every play. Improving. This is a lifestyle and a culture, a form of Zen.

Therein lies the difference.

I think that's Boller's general downfall. He's not emotionally stable enough to be the leader of his team, or one that can lead them to any greatness (see Armondo Benitez for another example). Billick has enough on his plate to have his QB's feelings to worry about as well.

Billick has enough on his plate? For crying out loud. Billick is the problem. You can cry and make excuses all day long. But, the key to any organization is generally found at the top.