Time for the ravens to rebuild the farm system and go back to the PLAN! Mail it in baby and collect a check just like the Orioles do!!!

GO COLTS!!!

In my 55 years of watching football I have never seen a coach with no senseat all,showing his players a shovel and a sword.I think he should dig his grave and fall on his sword,for the way the ravens plyed

Right regis...let's dump Harbaugh, who has a winning record and back to back playoff appearances. Because his shovel and sword speech obviously caused the Ravens to resume the deficient offense they've had since before Harbaugh's time. While we're at it, why don't we dump Ozzie too. He didn't draft a single guy this year who is going to the Pro Bowl, so obviously he's not doing well.

It was a religious story, Harbs is religious, most of the guys on the team are religious.

How does the Colts Defense always play over its head vs the Ravens???

my guess would be that Wayne possibly posted under my bf name but perhaps there is another bf in the world.
If it was you Wayne, so be it, you continually show your ignorance and poor attitude and I wouldn't be surprised if you signed with other peoples names.
You and Gill should really go start your own blog. You all really seem to crave all the attention
I will join Pete in not responding to any more of your kindergarten type drivel and personal attacks.

Shamrock, the Colts defense wasn't playing over their heads yesterday. 5 years ago the beliefs about the Colts defense may have been true, but for the last 3 or 4 nothing could be further from the truth.

They may give up a lot of yards but scoring points against the Colts is tough. Before benching their starters the last two weeks of the regular season I think Indy was 3rd in the NFL in points allowed. They still finished 9th. Last year they finished 7th or 8th in points allowed, The year before that they finished 1st in points allowed.

Fact is most widely held beliefs about the Colts defense being terrible are untrue.

I think Pete is right, the Ravens do have some things to be excited about for the future. But there are also some major concerns.

On offense they need to find some more weapons, right now RR is the only option and everyone knows it.

On defense they need to figure out how they are going to replace Lewis and Reed in the next few years.

Those who crack on the O's failure to improve need look no further than their beloved Ravens. The Ravens have needed a "real" wide receiver for "how" many years? More than most care to imagine. And once again Ed "watch my moves" Reed's careless ball handling (though much credit to Garcon for punching the ball out) leads to a bitter ending to a great play. And of course, the penalties. This has got to be acknowledged as one of the most undisciplined NFL teams in history. They look for ways to kill momentum. Oh well, spring training's right around the corner.

Go O's!

I fear that Flacco is vastly overrated. Especially when I see the presence that Sanchez has developed in his ROOKIE season for the Jets, versus the plodding confusion that seems to be Joe's style. I am also convinced that Harbaugh is in way over his head and the team follows only the aging Ray Lewis. Harbaugh just cannot inspire this crew.He cannot game plan, and he cannot manage the game and clock as it unfolds. Half of the players are probably permanently angry because Rex Ryan was passed over for a "corporate" hire who never got past special teams coordination before taking over our show. We have accomplished what we managed in spite of Harbaugh, not because of his coaching.

Pete, would it be a "very successful season" if the Ravens' 9-7 record didn't get them in the playoffs, which it often doesn't (look no further than the 9-7 2004 Ravens)? The only thing the Ravens really did this year was (a) beat San Diego in Week 2 and (b) not lose to a team with a losing record (which teams like Pittsburgh did and it cost them).

It was great beating the beat-up Pats and it's always nice having 2 extra weeks of football, but anything the team accomplished was sort of the result of a statistical anomaly, wasn't it?

No bf,

Sorry, it wasn't me! I'd be allot more clever than that!

As for the rest of you Oriole shills that post on Raven subjects, just do yourselves a favor, and stick to the Orioles.

You've associated yourselves with losing for so long, you now have no idea how to recognize a winning organization.

You're an embarrassment to Baltimore, or at least to anyone who appreciates playing meaningful games.

So by all means, begin getting all ramped up for the ONE meaningful game the Orioles EVER play in..... Opening Day!

After that, you can start talking about NEXT YEAR during the remaining 162 games on the schedule!

You know that's what you live for....... Enjoy!

Sanchez presence. Just some facts to clear up some confusion. Sanchez has over 20 picks this year and I think 10 TD. Flaccos numbers where much better in year one. Flacoo numbers dramatically imporved in year two, even better then Matt Ryans. Flacco and Ravens have been to playoffs for two years in a a row and he does this with far less receiving talent then the Jets, Falcons and almost every team in the NFL. We have one good reciever who is still sutied to be a #2.

First of all pete if the colts played the ravens 100 times they would win 100 times as long as peyton manning is there QB. If you look at every remaining playoff team the things that they have that the ravens don't have are wide receiver's, a fierce pass rush and a Qb that is capable of making all the throws. We are simply a 1 demensional team that managed somehow to get into the playoffs.Again if you look at every team remaining in the playoffs they always seem to find all pro receivers, we have had the same ineffective players for the last 5 years. Our pass rush is nonexistent,while kelly and haloti are good against the rush they don't generate any pass rush at all, Pete the sad truth is without the ability to sign free agents in the off season this team will be very hard pressed to improve themselves next year. And for all of you purple kool aid drinkers that already enshrined joe flacco into the hall of fame you better really reconsider your thinking. He is nothing but a average qb with a huge arm that needs extensive coaching to improve. And for that matter Coach Harbaugh needs to look at all his mistakes as well.Our Defense actually improved well enough in the second half of the season to win, but the offense was horrible.

Bernie. Do you watch football much?
!2 teams, out of 32 make the playoffs each year. 20 go home! Want me to start naming all the teams that were suppose to challenge to make the playoffs who didn't make it?

The only record that matters each year is the record that gets you into the playoffs. So many fans, in so many cities, were heartbroken when their team didn't make it into the tourny.

Then though, the Ravens made it to the Top 8. 8 out of 32!

Think Denver, who were 6-0 would have loved to been in the Top 8? How about Miami, who won their division last year? Or what about Atlanta? Weren't they the up and coming team with the amazing rookie qb last year? How about Houston, a team picked by many to go deep into the playoffs? There are so many more examples of teams who wished they did what the Ravens did this year.

So maybe give them a little bit of a break. No, they didn't win the Super Bowl, and yes, last nights loss still hurts. But they made the top 8, after making the top 4 last year. All while it was suppose to be a rebuilding era last year with a rookie qb and a rebuilt off line.

strange things are going on when Blancione seems downright positive and giddy when compared to Wayne and Gil, and Company

Chances are the Ravens got knocked out of the playoffs by the eventual Superbowl champions. There are worse ways to end a season.

The Ravens offense does need a spark. You are on the clock, Ozzie. Get to work.

The 20 second posession was a key factor, as you pointed out Pete. As Mike Preston wrote, the issues that plagued the team all year finally did them in.

I have a lot of confidence that the Ravens version of a "GM" will set out to fix the weaknesses and fill the holes this offseason so that the team can go deeper in the playoffs next year.

It takes good, professional ownership to win consistently in professional sports. The Ravens have it. Although the Ravens will not go to the Super Bowl this year, Baltimore fans can be proud of the fact that there is one professional franchise in town that plays meaningful games after the regular season.

Very well said Gil!

People just want to call us (well me more than you) negative. Truth is, we just like meaningful games and a front office who tells the truth.

Pretty simple formula - one would think!

Troll wrote:

No bf,

Sorry, it wasn't me! I'd be allot more clever than that!
---Really? Like this....

So by all means, begin getting all ramped up for the ONE meaningful game the Orioles EVER play in..... Opening Day!

After that, you can start talking about NEXT YEAR during the remaining 162 games on the schedule!

MLB plays 162 games, not 163.

So clever and witty!

You can't even spell alot right, Dr. Clever.

Hoosier and company "Spring training's right around the corner"? What are you, a Patriots or Giants fan? Get real! There is really nothing to cheer for in area sports for the next several months unless you count "Wrestlemania". Or are you guys just rubbing it in?

Don't even try comparing the Ravens and the Orioles. One team is widely respected while the other one is the butt of everyone's jokes. Whew! "Spring training's right around the corner"?

What got under my skin watching the game...Is listening to Dierdork all game. Hes got a man-crush with Manning

Gil said regarding Ravens

"meaningful games"
"fix the weaknesses"
"fill the holes"
The game didn't seem so meaningful to me unless getting your butt kicked is meaningful

and you make fun of positive O's fans?
You believe Ozzie is finally going to fix things and fill the holes......oh I get it NEXT YEAR !!!!! They now realize after 5 years that the need a reciever....good thing they are so competent or else we wouldn't have been to all those Super Bowls the last 10 years.....oh wait a minute...that wasn't us
LOL

Pete,

Time management has been a consistent problem, as has the secondary and the soft receiving corps. It'll be real interesting to see what the Ravens do in the off-season.

With the drops and penalties, I wonder what the Ravens do at practice. Do the receivers spend enough time practicing catches on the passing machine?

Many players played well this year and the coaches did a pretty good job. Chris Carr, in particular, has developed into a player that makes a difference. Flacco and Rice are solid. Suggs is hugely overrated and doesn't justify his big contract at all.

Ravens are gonna be a factor again in 2010, hopefully with fewer drops, penalties and fumbles.

ah, right.... meant 161 games!

161 games, during which you can start dreaming about losing games next year.....

nfl wants manning to win,
everyone knows the ravens don't
get any or no calls....

the faceguarding of ray rice
on the broken play was pretty
obvious, but where was the flag??

the 2nd pick by ed reed, how
often do you see a late flag
for pass interference???
only the ravens against the
steelers or indianapolis are
two that i can recall....

the hit by lewis was not
helmet to helmet looked like
it was just a good hit...
but let's get indy a cushion
and the lead so they can
move on.... corporate america,
with manning's face on tv
sells better..

just a fact........

nfl wants manning to win,
everyone knows the ravens don't
get any or no calls....

the faceguarding of ray rice
on the broken play was pretty
obvious, but where was the flag??

the 2nd pick by ed reed, how
often do you see a late flag
for pass interference???
only the ravens against the
steelers or indianapolis are
two that i can recall....

the hit by lewis was not
helmet to helmet looked like
it was just a good hit...
but let's get indy a cushion
and the lead so they can
move on.... corporate america,
with manning's face on tv
sells better..

just a fact........

nfl wants manning to win,
everyone knows the ravens don't
get any or no calls....

the faceguarding of ray rice
on the broken play was pretty
obvious, but where was the flag??

the 2nd pick by ed reed, how
often do you see a late flag
for pass interference???
only the ravens against the
steelers or indianapolis are
two that i can recall....

the hit by lewis was not
helmet to helmet looked like
it was just a good hit...
but let's get indy a cushion
and the lead so they can
move on.... corporate america,
with manning's face on tv
sells better..

just a fact........

Things wouldn't be right with the world if someone wasn't blaming the refs for a Ravens loss.

Thanks, bob m!

Stephen SFS,

The Ravens will be a factor next year because they have an owner who is driven by success and strives to pursue perfection. Steve Biscotti will not tolerate anyone in his organization who does not share that vision. The Ravens have been fortunate to have had a continuity of class ownership since the team arrived here.

The Orioles have not had great ownership since Jerald Hoffberger sold the team in 1979... but Edward Bennett Williams who succeeded him already had experience owning a professional franchise{Redskins} and he was smart enough not to do harm to the brand.

When it is finally over, the Peter Angelos era will be long be remembered as one of the worst in professional sports. It is my sincerest hope that the Orioles franchise can escape the curse of the Angelos family at some point so that an owner with vision and purpose can deliver Oriole fans from baseball hell.

Great post Pete! You nailed it. In fact, you're the only one at the paper who did. The play calling at the end of the half cost us. If we ran the ball we make Indy use all their timeouts, and most likely go into the locker room down 10-7 and still in the game. But nooooo....we give the best QB in the game today 1:30 and a short field. Not smart. But those mistakes are easily fixed. We've got a great young head coach, a good young QB, a young uber talented o-line. If we can find a a play making WR and some beef and speed on the DL to put heat on the opposing QBs an help our secondary we'll be fine. Keep up the great work!

Adding to the conversation . . .

Hargaugh needs to be less Reactive, and more Proactive. In other words, less yapping like a little dog when things go wrong, and more planning for every possible situation. And John, lose the oversized headset.

Flacco needs to be pressured by
a veteran quarterback. Not someone to replace him in the long run--unless someone like Curt Warner comes available--but someone to give him some competition, as well as show him the ropes of being a NFL quarterback. For example, if Safe Rosenfells or Kerry Collins is on the market, the Ravens should jump at the opportunity.

And what of the pass rush? What happened to the vaunted T-Sizzle (AKA T-Fizzle)? He got the money, and the Ravens got burned. He made a few plays, but did not give the pressure that goes with his 60 Million Dollar price tag.

Ray Lewis? If he hangs on, they need to develop another defensive leader.

Ed Reed? Retire. Please retire.

Ray Rice? Gotta love little Ray.

Ozzie? Get a big-time receiver, except Terrell Owens. Whoever is available, get him.

Overall? C+ on the season. Some exciting moments, but unfortunately mose of the big plays came against crummy teams. With the exception of the Chargers game, the Denver game, the second Steelers game, aand the playoff win over New England, the Ravens just didn't cut the mustard.

A "great young coach"??? Can we stop the hype please? What has HE done to achieve the title of greatness. The team is not inspired by him, as evidenced by their awful starts and flat performances. He's out of touch with his HS rah-rah stuff, and the players find it condescending. He cannot game plan, and he cannot manage a game and the clock. So what in the hell is left to say he's a "great coach"? We got we we got in spite of him and probably would have gotten farther with any number of more experienced coaches. (paging Bill Cowher....)

Ahh! Pardon my spelling mistakes.

Harbaugh, most

The Ravens made it to the playoffs and won the first round. They got beaten by what is likely to be the eventual Super Bowl winner with the most consistently accurate QB in the history of the game.
Obviously they need to make some improvements. The secondary is a shambles, they have a very weak pass rush, and they desperately need some impact receivers, but they have been in the playoff two years in a row and what other Balto. sports franchise can say that?
Yesterdays loss was heartbreaking, but I'd rather have my heart broken in the playoffs than spend the last half of each season watching them go from bad to worse, and getting eliminated with a month to go.
I never expected the Ravens to even make the playoffs this season let alone beat the Pats in the first round. How many years will it be before we can be disappointed that the O's didn't go deep enough into the playoffs two years in a row?

Mike N,

You mean the Bill Cowher who won ONE super bowl with all those great teams he had in Pitts? The guy who has lost more playoff games (after being favored) than any other coach?

Just checking if you meant to say Cowher. Talk about one of the most overrated coaches in history!

bf, you're caught again (using multiple names). How pathetic are you really?

I've held my tongue for a while now, but feel I must say something.

I'm truly sick of this Wayne chick taking over the discussion here. And Pete, you've done no one a favor by egging this person on.

Enough.

And BTW, Schmuck Nation (Schmuck Nation? Hmm), I believe I am the REAL bf--I post under two handles, logiopath and bf.

I don't know who has been posting under my initials.

Ferg,

Nice try - lol!

A couple of us know the names you go under.

You go Ferg! (lol - cool name this time)

I'm quite tired of the Irsay/Mayflower truck/1984 story. Guess what ... Baltimore pulled just as crappy of a maneuver by stealing the Browns. Lets see some sportswriter in Baltimore actually acknowledge this. Hypocrisy!

Raven's played stupid football, plain and simple. They did not trust their strength which is their running game. The week before, their formula was run on 1st, run on 2nd and run on 3rd down and it worked. Versus the colts, that ran on 1st, than passed on 2nd (incomplete) and passed on 3rd (incomplete). It didn't work and they lost the battle of the clock and the game. They needed jumbo packages and should have run the ball 85% of the time to control the clock, keep manning off the field and keep the game close. The jets look like the team the raven's should be. Why didn't we sign rex ryan?

Said anonymous: "You can't even spell alot right, Dr. Clever"
___________________________
It is difficult to spell 'alot' correctly, as it is not a word. It is, of course, two words, 'a' and 'lot'.

J-E-T-S JETS! JETS! JETS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

bf,wayne, whomever..this isn't your website, and contrary to what you may thnk, noone comes here to read the crap you post, it seems to me, that most of it is negative comments being directed towards one another...like school kids on the playground, that being said...I'd like to see the WR problem solved this offseason, I don't think we can really know if Flacco is the answer until he has the proper weapons around him.

Ozzie hasn't addressed the WR problems in 14 years. What makes you think he's going to address it in a year where we're prohibited from signing unrestricted free agents until we lose one? What makes you think he's all of a sudden going to know the difference between the Johnson brothers, Pat and Ron, Travis Taylor, and Mark Clayton vs. Fitzgerald, CJ, Boldin, Wayne, etc.? And, who here agrees that the $27.7 million was better spent on Foxworthless than Scott and/or Leonard, or that Terrell Stripper-beater was worth the highest contract ever paid to a defensive player? Yes, we need corners, WRs and a pass rush, but what we really need is a competent GM, or we'll still need WRs, corners and a pass rush next year, and the year after that, and .....

Thanks nicki,
You are right. You're crap is worth reading.

1. Trade Heap and T-Fizzle for draft picks.
2. Draft Ndamukong Suh
3. Get Ray Ray, Troy and L.J Smith, Foxworthless, Walker, McGahee, Carr, and Ed Reed off the payroll.
4. Sign Marhall, Bouldin, Merriman and re-sign Ngata.
5. Fire Cam.
6. Let Billick play O.C....having the ex-xoach around will force the head coach to learn clock management.
7. Bring back Stover!!!!!
8. Impose massive fines for stupid penalties.
9. Let Parmele return punts too.
10. Impose a 6-second ball tim elimit on Flacco.

Regarding the '20 second' series, the crucial mistake was Ray Rice dropping the 3rd down pass....it bounced off his chest. If he caught it, maybe a 1st down....or if tackled short, the clock still would have run, forcing the Colts to call another time out. If that happened, the MAXIMUM # of points the Colts would have gotten--maybe--was 3 instead of 7. Unfortunately, Ray Rice picked a bad time to have a rough game all around.

Ozzie made a mistake hiring Harbaugh. He should have turned the team over to Ryan. Rex, in his first year, has really turned the Jets around. John doesn’t know offence, defense, ball control, the rules (call a timeout then throw the challenge flag) and how to control the penalties. Flacco was decent last year before this coaching staff started playing around with him. Rex and his staff have really helped Sanchez become a good quarterback. I fear Harbaugh and his crew will only continue to ruin Flacco.

Hey teller, yes we stole the Browns but we didn’t steal the name and uniforms. We let Cleveland keep then to be reused when they got another team. At least Baltimore was a class act.

blancione--"There" is used when you are pointing to a place. "Their" is used when you are signifying possession.

I guess this constant marker is supposed to let us know that you, indeed, are the author of your comments.

Remind me again: Did you not say that you would never comment again if Dave Trembley was coming back as the manager of the Orioles?

Is this really you, blancione or some imposter?

ghgygfy

Disclaimer:I'm a Colts fan living in Indianapolis. Having been an NFL fan without a team until they moved/were stolen in '84. Suffered through the Mike Pagels,Trev Alberts and Rod Dowhowers. Got excited with acquistions of Eric Dickerson,Steve Emtmann and Edgerrin James. Had mad fan-love for true ballers like Eugene Daniel,Nesby Glasgow,Barry Krauss,Ken Dilger and Chris Hinton. Worst trade in NFL history? Colts trading two first round picks to Seattle for special teamer Fredd Young. Lived through that,Jeff George and Clarence Verdin returning punts. Point is, the Colts belong to central Indiana now and we humbly feel that y'all need to get over the whole Mayflower incident. I mean, you ever think the reason the Ravens have been owned (eight straight losses) is simply bad karma? The Football Gods are real, they hate bitches and folks.....continuing to be trite and petty by referring to us as "the professional franchise from Indianapolis" and placing "Indy" instead of "Colts" on your scoreboard? That's being a bitch. So how's about it, good people of Maryland? Can we put aside ill will and enjoy a spirited rivalry? But mostly, can we just agree that the Indianapolis Colts era has been more successful than if the franchise had remained in Bal'more?

Okay, first, I never respond to other comments but I can't help it this time. Teller...Irsay LIED about moving the Colts back in 83-84. He lied and left in the middle of the night like a coward all along while Indy was nogotiating with him behind Baltimore's back. Modell told the city of Cleveland he was going to move his team if they did not build a new stadium for him while the baseball and basketball teams got new ones. Cleveland didn't believe he would move. So why not offer him to come to Baltimore especially after the commisioner tells us we will never get an expansion franchise and that we should use the money to build a museum. Do you really blame Baltimore for saying to Modell come to Baltimore. Much more different then being lied to and having your team ripped from under you.

Gee...first off think about how much your colts sucked when the older Irsay still ran the team and then you get lucky with the draft and get Manning and the younger Irsay is running the team now. The same thing would have happened in Baltimore. But that doesn't matter anyway...but don't tell me or any other Baltimore fan to "get over" it cause if the same thing happened to you, you would still be burning inside. Now, good luck getting to the super bowl...I hate the Jets.

Now for Raven fans...I just wish that Flacco would stop being so Joe cool and show some emotion like Sanchez, Roethisberger, and Favre (to name a few) shows on the sidelines and in the huttle. You can't really teach that but it would make a difference.

Lets stop sugar coating it and be honest with ourselves. The Ravens are a decent team with holes to be filled. Flacco is not that good at quarterback. You can look at stats all you want. Look at the player in game situations. Our cornerbacks are terrible. How many ints do they have. Rarely do we see them knocking down passes. Usually we see them running after a receiver or tackling them after they have made a catch. Also a lot of pass interference. Our pass rush is terrible how many sacks do we have this year. How big is the gap in receptions between Mason and the other receivers. Is Mason always open or is Flacco always looking for Mason. Not using all his recievers. Plus for someone who is suppose to have a strong arm. There have been to many under thrown passes.

Nikki you sound like a piece of poor trash that can't win so you take out your loser mentality on players that are living their dream. They earn the money that they get. What is your profession? If you want to make $27.7 or 63 million, then do your thing, don't get mad at the players. Many loser fans who are dissappointed with their life, call out the players. talk objective, as you sound likeDePreston otherwise. I could say a lot about what I don't like, who made mistakes or othewise. Lets face it, the team did a great job in making the playoffs, compared to were they were one-quarter in the season. That is called moxley, perserverance and focus, which many losers do not have. I'd put my money on any Raven player more so than loser fans, regardless of your position, because many of yo hide behind these call names, are sportsless, have no athletic ability and can't run a mile. Yet you want to call out players-get real. This team did a great job and will do the same as it has for a long time. If you fans want to really shos support for the Ravens, then start coming out and acting like the colts fans at home games. I was in Indy, and they had the place so noisy while our offense was out there that it gave you a headheache. So while I feel bad, I have a headache, I hate losing, I want our tea in Miami, I despise the colts, REMEMBER this, I LOVE THE RAVENS Organization. I support them to the end.

Go Jets!

February 14. Daytona. Cars making fast left-hand turns where it's sunny and 80'. Woo-Hoo!!

Pete , you could have saved yourself a lot of time , your last statement said it all .

Steve 119 said. "Irsay LIED about moving the Colts back in 83-84. He lied and left in the middle of the night like a coward all along while Indy was nogotiating with him behind Baltimore's back." Of course I lied. So what? Power & Money were my chief gods, and I worhipped them faithfully. And you know what else, Baltimorons? I loved rubbing my spite in your faces!
I guess old Shakepeare was right: "The evil that men do lives after them." Gotta go now. Time for some libations. It's hot as h _ _ _ down here today!

Irsay is stuck drinking O'Douls in Hell...

I don't think they need a slam dunk WR, just someone who can get open.

Look at the Pats SB winning teams:

2002- Brady (Flacco-esque numbers), Troy Brown (Derrick Mason), Antoine Smith and David Patten. No discernible TE to speak of.

2004- Brady (almost identical stats as '09 Flacco), no WR over 1000, 2 600 yd RBs.

2005- Brady put up Pro Bowl numbers, 1600 yds out of Corey Dillon, two 800 yard WRs and played a WR at cornerback.

Need to get younger on the DL, groom Birk's replacement, find a solid WR b/w 2-3rd rounds.

For all you Flacco doubters: 1. How great was Manning his first 2-4 years, and 2. With no time to throw (the O-line allows way too much penetration/pressure to a good front4) and one possession receiver of NFL caliber, even Manning would look average at best!
Here's the problem - there are too many holes to fix in one year, and, I'm not convinced that the WizofO knows it.

Pete,

No comments about the great Jets playoff run here?

May Sunday bring a repeat of Super Bowl lll. Go Jets, and while we're at it, Geaux Saints!