Word of the day: 'Gamer'
Ravens quarterback Troy Smith had his best day of the week. He opened the team practice with three straight long bombs that were perfectly placed, but two were dropped by wide receiver Mark Clatyon. Hopefully, Smith has rebounded and will play well against the Minnesota Vikings. One team official said today that Smith was a "gamer." I've heard a lot about these "gamer" players all week. "Gamer" seems to be a buzzword for lazy players who don't want to practice hard.
Willis McGahee is a "gamer". Le'Ron McClain is a "gamer," and now Smith is a "gamer." Enough. How about finding some players who want to work and prepare hard to play in a game? I'm sure that at $2 or $3 million a year John Harbaugh can find some practice players who play hard in games.
***
If cornerback Ronnie Prude gets cut, he can mark this moment down as the day the decision was made. Late in the practice, quarterback Kyle Boller rolled to his right. Not only did he pat the ball down once, not twice, but three times. Then he lofted a 40-yard pass to the back of the end zone that had more hang time than a Sam Koch punt.
Not only did Prude fail to knock the pass down, but he allowed receiver Justin Harper to make the catch in the back of the end zone while Prude was playing with a ball under his jersey.
Prude won't get cut this week because the Ravens are low on healthy corners, but he might be standing in the unemployment line by the end of the next week.
Comments
Why did Prude have a football under his Jersey?
Posted by: Steve Sievers | August 13, 2008 3:08 PM
Do You have any Idea why He was Playing with a Ball under his Jersey?
Posted by: Rob | August 13, 2008 3:22 PM
Question Mike,
Why do QB's pat the ball? I have seen Kyle and some other QB's in the NFL do that. Do you have any insite to this?
Posted by: Raven Fan First | August 13, 2008 3:52 PM
I don't believe Troy is a gamer. Also, he doesn't make millions per year.
Posted by: Mike from Ohio | August 13, 2008 4:10 PM
Frankly, I've never been impressed with Prude. His technique is lousy, he's always turning his head the wrong way when coming out of a backpedal, and if he hasn't improved substantially after multiple years in the same system then he's obviously not smart enough for Rex's schemes. I agree that he'll likely be gone soon, and it wont be much of a loss. If Washington and Walker are practicing as well as they supposedly are, then I think we're set at corner for the time being. No love lost.
Posted by: Cliff Bugle | August 13, 2008 4:13 PM
Poor Prude. He let Boller complete a TD pass in the end zone. We cannot have that since we have already given the QB job to Smith.
If Smith makes the same pass with the same results why you would be writing about the wonderful TD pass.
Boller throws a pass and it is dropped..just another poor play by Boller. Smith, on the othjer hand, his passes are never poorly thrown but the other guy dropped it.
Posted by: lewesjim | August 13, 2008 4:18 PM
"Gamer" Someone who's lazy and doesnt practice hard? Is that really how the phrase is used? My impression was that a "gamer" is someone who is simply just a stud on the field... anyways wasnt troy smith at like almost every practice in this offseason...including all the practices and meetings before training camp?? It's hard to believe he could be labeled as lazy after all he's done this offseason... Also i remeber reading how McClain gets his body into shape like a mad man in training camp... how could he be labeled as lazy? I'm confused... McGahee makes sense though...
Posted by: itlstl7 | August 13, 2008 5:15 PM
I like how my comments weren't approved even though they made perfect sense. Not my fault that you are the one besmearching someones reputation.
Posted by: Eric | August 13, 2008 5:31 PM
Mike,
Calling Troy Smith LAZY ?? You are the lazy one if you have not done enough research to know better about Troy. He had to work his behind off to overcome the odds his whole life. Too short ?? last scholarship given, 5th rounder ?? and soon to be an NFL starter. Flacco ?? That D1AA championship game pressure must be tough compared to the Michigan game in front of 100,000 folks each year (home or away). Flacco may be the man someday, but he has some work to do. Gamer means LAZY ?? Means a guy that gives you all he has and fights you to the last whistle !!
Good luck to Troy this week.
Posted by: Texas Buckeye | August 13, 2008 6:23 PM
McClain had to get in shape in camp cause he came to camp fat and out of shape. Great that he shed all that weight so fast, but proper off-season work outs and he would be working hard to learn the new offense, not working hard to lose weight!
Posted by: Doug M | August 13, 2008 6:42 PM
Yea , the official who said Smith was a gamer was the official ball-boy , Smith better shape up or he will be the one gone next year,,,,,,,,,,he has looked terrible in camp this year ,his size really hurts him , I have seen him jump or stand on his toes just to get the ball over the O-line , pretty poor,,,,,,,,,
Posted by: Jim from Dundalk | August 13, 2008 7:01 PM
Dundalk - Up until the past week Smith was having the better camp. Not by a huge margin, but better nontheless. Not only that, but he had been doing exactly what he's needed to do in all the minicamps leading up to the "real" preaseason. What is behind your apparent hatred of Troy Smith? It can't be his height... I mean to read what you've written you'd asume he played behind midgets at Ohio State.
Posted by: Eric | August 14, 2008 7:37 AM