A Stirring Finish
What else is there to say about this Ravens season that hasn't already been said about most of the losses, and even about most of the wins?
Just that today in Cleveland, midway through the second quarter, the Ravens were leading 13-0, Browns quarterback Charlie Frye was looking as if he could use an extra year of college eligibility, fans in the half-empty stadium were booing, and the Cleveland media was chasing everybody in a suit down the nearest hallway trying to figure out who was or wasn't still running the team.
And the Ravens ended up losing. In case you didn't watch, it was hideous. Frye suddenly turned into Brett Favre (at least the old Brett Favre). Antonio Bryant turned into Jerry Rice. Dennis Northcutt turned into the old Deion. The old Deion just looked old. Kyle Boller turned back into Kyle Boller.
When it was over, the old Browns faithful around the stadium, who still enjoy beating this team more than any other (with the possible exception of the Steelers), were talking much smack. For most of the fourth quarter, fans were pounding on the glass of the press box, mostly in joy, but probably because there was an off-chance that Art Modell might be up there. (No chance of that. That streak is still alive.) The elevator operator that took us from the press box to the locker rooms almost had to be sedated, she was crowing so loud and long.
Give it to them, they earned it. This should have been an ugly finish for the Browns, and instead it was an ugly finish for the Ravens. Very few players bit on the theory that 6-10 looks a lot worse than 7-9, especially if the 7-9 had included a three-game winning streak at the end. But from here, 6-10 looks a lot worse.
But at least it's not freezing cold in the press box right now. Oh, wait a minute ...
Comments
Hello
As I watch the game today it became clear to me that the Play Caller who called the games in the beginning of the years was back. Kyle Boller look as if he had regressed back to jumping jack Kyle.Plus, he was getting very little protection from his line. I had the feeling that the defense would have been able to win the Football game without the Offence, "What Offence" Until they stopped playing. In my unqualified opinion, The Ravens are a puzzle with many missing pieces ( players/coaches ) need to take a good look in a mirror and ask themselves if they deserve to be apart of the Ravens team. Like everyone else, I wanted this team to uphold the tradition set by the Champs we once had in Baltimore.
As I sat and watch the team play, I was embarrassed and angry at the lack of pride and self destruct play of this team.
There will be a clean sweep of coaches and player who have failed to present themselves as professional . If they had
played and lost, "that is one thing". but they simulated a football team and came up short. They are at the bottom of the bucket where they belong. I simply feel sorry for the people who worked their butts off and had to be torn down by those
who showed up unprepared to do grid iron battle with their foe.
This is next year and I hope the leader of this team pulls together and select from the draft and free agents to rebuild a
team that will show up every Sunday ready to kick some ass. I am tired of second string football players.
Thank You
Vernon Hodges
Posted by: VERNON | January 1, 2006 10:01 PM
Bye Bye Kyle! Need to keep Jemal.
Posted by: Brian Carter | January 1, 2006 10:57 PM
Professionalism aside, did you really think after the last two weeks that we were going to see anything other than some players acting as if their bags were packed for a long vacation? I mean, Jamal knows he should be tagged and there is the lingering doubt that even the hometown boy might not be back, and of course the all-time great DB really is calling it quits, even though, I'd still take him over Rolle, hell I don't even play with him on Madden! Yeah, it was frustrating, but every now and then, teams have to go through this sort of thing......You and your buddies Preston and your cousin Sage act as if this is the Texans we are talking about! And please enough of the Reggie Bush hype!! 2006 does have endless possibilities......It's a shame we gotta see or hear about the o's until then
Posted by: Jace Woods | January 2, 2006 12:40 AM