Harbaugh on C-Mac
Ravens coach John Harbaugh shed a little more light on the Chris McAlister situation last night on his WBAL show, confirming the rumor that Chris willfully broke the team's dress code before Sunday's game in Miami. McAlister came into the lobby of the team hotel wearing shorts and accompanied by three women. His dress wasn't close to "business casual" and Harbaugh said that was "wrong" and that the situation has been addressed.
The first caller on Harbaugh's show brought up some of McAlister's past problems and asked how long the Ravens organization can continue to put up with him. Here's Harbaugh's answer pretty much in its entirety:
I can't speak to stuff in the past. I've had a chance to get to know Chris over these however-many months we've been here. Chris is a good person and we've got a really good relationship. I respect him a lot. As far as the dress for the bus, it was wrong, you know, it was a mistake and it's been talked to the team about. It's been addressed and we're moving forward from it but we've got a discipline policy in place and it applies to all our players for this year ... everything is addressed, whether it's late to a meeting, late to a bus, late to practice, missing something. And we've got a number of players who have issues. Guys, sometimes, they oversleep. Sometimes things happen and they are addressed and there's a fine system in place and they're hit with a fine until ultimately the CBA says a guy would go "conduct detrimental" and that's when suspensions happen and game checks get taken away and those kind of things. We don't have anybody in that spot yet, but that's the discipline policy. So that doesn't fall under any kind of suspension for the game or benching a guy or anything like that.
Indeed, the bus incident probably wasn't the main reason for his limited playing time in the Dolphins game, since the Ravens already were committed to their defensive packages. Obviously, there was some other issue that led to McAlister's reduced reps and defiant behavior -- either his poor performance against the Colts or his gimpy knee or perhaps something off the field.
By the way, Harbaugh also said there was little chance the three women were in McAlister's room overnight, since the Ravens have security on their floors of the team hotel to make sure players make curfew and don't bring anybody up there. He believes the three women were picking up tickets from McAlister that morning.
Hopefully, there will be a meeting of the minds soon, because Harbaugh needs McAlister and McAlister needs Harbaugh. The Ravens may be able to weather more of this intrigue leading up to the game against the Raiders, but they'll need all hands on deck in the secondary if they are to beat the Browns on the road the following week.
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Comments
Peter- Do you think there is any interest in the O's maybe making an offer to Mark Mulder? It could be a low risk high reward type of deal. He is a beast when he is healthy and only in his low 30's. It is a definite upgrade over say Trachsel. I saw today that he declared free agency after the Cards did not exercise that 15 million dollar extension. lol. Maybe 3 million? Thats less then what Cabrera got last year. Maybe we can get a response from Macphail?
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Pete's reply: I can ask around, but he has pitched in something like six games in two years and the Cardinals, who are paying him 1.5 million to get out of his 2009 option, have the option to sign him for a small amount and they already are saying they won;t.
Posted by: Ryan | October 22, 2008 5:40 AM
Harbaugh's right. Rules are rules... for everybody equally. Injuries or no, dress and behavior codes also help discipline on the field as well. McAlister is a great player, when he's healthy and focused. But he's not when he's not.
Posted by: Norris | October 22, 2008 6:46 AM
Well there you go, so can all the speculating finally end? C-Mac broke the rules and subsequently got penalized for doing so. Pretty simple if you ask me. Good for Harbs for sticking to his guns on disciplinary measures; we all know that's been missing for some time.
Posted by: Macadamia | October 22, 2008 8:10 AM
He shows up with three women to board the bus before the game? Clearly he was held back due to potential stamina reasons.......
Posted by: Rob K. | October 22, 2008 8:16 AM
Hey Pete, where's the pics? Surely this is a story that screams for some pictures. There goes your Pullitzer.
Posted by: Dumb Idea Detector | October 22, 2008 8:42 AM
Gee thats interesting, isn't McAlister married? I may not agree about not allowing to wear shorts in the hotel, but bringing three women is inexcusable especially when you're in Miami focusing on winning the game which they did. I noticed that McAlister can sometimes challenge team rules and be an idiot about it. I just hope he gets his head out of his butt, and focus on the season because I'm pretty sure the Ravens are still in the playoff hunt as of right now. It is a good time to start a winning streak with Oakland, Cleveland, and Houston coming up.
Posted by: Josh | October 22, 2008 8:47 AM
Pete,
Let's hear your thoughts on the idiotic comments Suggs made on a radio show the other day. Talking about how he wants his boy Troy Smith to start over Flacco and how the Ravens have a bounty on Hines Ward, all while wearing his Yankees hat. Is this guy dying to be let go at the end of the year or what? Harbaugh should suspend him a game to get him to shut up.
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Pete's reply: I didn't hear that. I'll have to get the tape.
Posted by: jeff | October 22, 2008 8:52 AM
Did the women get on the bus with him?
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Pete's reply: No, and Harbaugh said they were not in his room with him, just picking up free tickets. He said security is very tight in the hotel and that C-Mac did not break curfew or bring anyone to his room.
Posted by: bryanintimonium | October 22, 2008 9:26 AM
Same McCallister , he will never change, another big headed athlete who will never be as good as he could have been because of his attitude!
Posted by: Mike B | October 22, 2008 9:33 AM
Way to go Harbaugh. From where I sit you have handled it perfectly. 3 and 3, hopefully 4 and 3. With two of the toughest losses possible. Looks like you and the team have wheathered the storm. I''ll be in front of the TV Sunday enjoying another great and entertaining game. Go Ravens!
Posted by: Rich | October 22, 2008 9:38 AM
Walked in with 3 women, sounds like a good price to pay for not starting
Posted by: West | October 22, 2008 10:14 AM
Pete,
Go to profootballtalk.com and navigate to the daily rumormill for the Suggs comments and links.
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Pete's reply: Thanks, I'll do that.
Posted by: jeff | October 22, 2008 11:16 AM
C-Mac couln't cover 1 Colt receiver, what makes him think he can handle 3 women????
Posted by: Chuck | October 22, 2008 12:12 PM
Come on! 3 women, want to be him! Ok, so he dress a little unprofessional he is the best CB on your team, there should be a 3 strikes your out rule.
Posted by: John | October 22, 2008 12:14 PM
i like c-mac, but hes got his ring...hes got his pro bowls....hes leading the team in int's....
let c-mac be c-mac
Posted by: g dubbs | October 22, 2008 12:38 PM
Pete,
Surely you jest! C-Mac wearing shorts in a hotel lobby being "wrong?" In Florida? Call The Hague for Crimes Against Humanity!
If there was a rule against wearing shorts in a Florida hotel then the person making that rule needs to have his head examined (see the NFL conduct policy, it's in there). What exactly is wrong about wearing shorts? If a player is not playing but is on the sideline representing the team, then I can see some sort of dress code, as he is publicly representing the team. But walking through a hotel lobby he should be treated like any other person. Dress codes like this were stupid when I played college sports, where the new "disciplinarian coach" wanted us to wear jackets and ties for a multi-hour bus ride (in old dirty buses) and then walking from the bus into an old dirty locker room to change for the game. This dress code sounds even stupider.
Now, if Harbaugh is really interested in "discipline," how about having the defense tackle properly and wrapping up the ball carriers, rather than just hitting them and hoping they fall down? How about serious consequences for stupid 15 yard penalties?
Good blog, keep it going!
Rich
...............................................................................................Pete's reply: I'm not a big dress code fan myself, as you can probably guess, but it wasn't just walking into the lobby. It was walking into the lobby to get on the team bus when he knew the rule. Clearly, he violated it on purpose to make a point. Harbaugh is trying to instill a better "team" ethic, so I think it's not about whether to have a dress code, but whether some one thinks he gets to make his own rules.
Posted by: Rich | October 22, 2008 12:44 PM
Cmac better get on the bus or it will leave him behind. Harbaugh is the man!
Posted by: Drew | October 22, 2008 12:58 PM
Damn, Harbaugh is no joke! I believe as long as he has the teams support (Ray Lewis), he can continue to be the disciplinarian some players on this team needs. BTW, glad all the speculation is over now. Let's go C-Mac, get it together.
Posted by: Kevin, Iraq | October 22, 2008 2:18 PM
Anyone who believes those 3 women were picking up tickets need a reality check.
This isn't over between Harbaugh and McAlister. Just read Hensley's interview with him.
Why Harbaugh just didn't come out on Sunday and say McAlister was benched for breaking a team rule is beyond me. That's all he had to say. No need to go into detail.
Now we're sitting here on Wednesday and the situation is worse.
Posted by: Mark | October 22, 2008 2:32 PM
I think that the issue is more of a team one. He needed to bring more women to the bus to share with his teammates. This was a very selfish act. Harbaugh did exactly the right thing and hopefully CMac will be a little more considerate in the future.
Posted by: Rick H. | October 22, 2008 3:50 PM
Like Anita Marks said, Lucky the Ravens won Sunday with your best Corner on the Bench. C-Mac is the best Corner on the team PERIOD.
Posted by: Wyatt | October 22, 2008 5:09 PM
Best corner or even best player or not, rules are rules. As soon as you start bending them for one guy because he's your "best," you lose your integrity. Ask that other coach we had.
Posted by: Macadamia | October 22, 2008 7:38 PM
Judging by C-Mac's attitude in the Hensley interview and his performance this year, He's definately not happy here as he said he was. I think his actions and standing on this issue is very selfish and un-team like. He has alot nerve for an Old guy who's obviously loosing speed and looking like Grandpa Moses on the field..... Time to part way's from B-More !
Posted by: Steve G | October 22, 2008 9:05 PM