The ref was black. I doubt he's racist against blacks. But good try. Not everything is a race issue.

There is no excuse for 30 yards in penalties that denied us a change for a kick off return.

how in the hell can you side with
the ravens....they acted like "boys"
because they are undisplined and
show off with their stupid antics.
when they act like men who have
been there...they will be called men.

It is a sad, sad state of affairs that the Ravens have gotten themselves into. And it's not going to change anytime soon. But, it didn't start last night, but rather has been accruing over the years. I passionately believe the Ravens got screwed last night by the officials. I also believe the NFL would love to have the Pats go into the final game against the Giants undefeated. The game is on NFL network and the league will enjoy the anger (against the cable companies) of those who do not have the NFL Network as one of their basic cable channels.

Last night, the Ravens were the victims and have every right to be mad. Really, really mad. But, unfortunately, the prejudice against the Ravens is a result of the Ravens own "sytle" of play and trash talking over the years. Pretty much the whole world hates the Ravens.

And, now, a magnificent football game, on a national stage, has been ruined by the contempt everyone, including the officials, has for the Ravens.

It's a shame....

I agree, there is no reason for disrespectful conversation (insults, name calling or foul language) between officials and players.

But, Mr. Rolle admitted this morning to asking the official if he had ever played the game before. Maybe an innocent question, but more likely a sarcastic and insulting one. What he didn't know was that the official had been a member of three NFL football teams. Officiating games is difficult, it's even more difficult when mature, grown men are screaming profanities and casting insults in your direction. They need not behave like sore losers.

Before passing judgement, I'd like to hear both sides of the story.

Hopefully, these millionaires, both ravens and pats players, pay signficant fines this week.

Concerning your comments in your Blog of 12/4 referring to the "BOY" allegations, which by the way I don't believe considering the "sour grapes" nature in which they were presented.
Since we can certainly do away with any racial connotation as the referee in question is african american. Isn't entirely possible that if in fact the term "boy" was used at all, it was meant to describe the immaturity being exhibited by Roll and Scott throughout the last drive. In other words' be a "man" stop acting like a little " Boy" , YOU LOST PERIOD, GET OVER IT; YOU BEEN "DISSED" BY A ZEBRA.

Last time I checked, workplace racial discrimination and hostile environment racial harrassment on the job are illegal and actionable in the State of Maryland. So is retaliating against an employee who complains of such discrimination and harrassment (like flagging someone 30 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct for objecting to being slurred).

This is a matter for Maryland's Commission on Human Relations to investigate and prosecute.

Since the dude who allegedly said it was black, does that lessen the "loaded word" aspect of the situation?

Seems like a lot of the comments on some of the other blogs are assuming the official who allegedly did the comment was "white".
According to this info he was not. While an insult is an insult lets not make this another black/white issue.
"The refs called me a boy. No. 110 [McKinnely] called me a boy," Rolle said in the locker room Monday night. "I will be calling my agent in the morning and sending my complaint. I have a wife and three kids. Don't call me a boy. Don't call me a boy on the field during a game because I said, 'You've never played football before.'"
McKinnely, 53, who is African-American, was an offensive tackle for three NFL teams (Atlanta, the Los Angeles Rams and Chicago) during the 1970s and 1980s. He has been an NFL official since 2002."

It wasn't a slur.

I'd like to know the context of the "boy" comment. Since the ref was African-American, can't one assume that it wasn't intended to be racist? Also, what if instead of "Hey boy, knock that off" it was "Stop acting like a little boy." Some of the Ravens players were acting immaturely. The Pats were livid about some of the earlier calls, but didn't lose their composure. If you think the league is protecting the Pats, check out the Pats-Indy game.

What a disgrace to the sport and themselves,and your suggestion that the remarks of a former nfl lineman and now a referee who happens to be black calling the ultra complaining Ravens(Rolle,Lewis,Scott,McAllister,etc)players that are also black to shutup and play the game and referred to them as "boy" had such an impact that altered the final result is rediculous!Tell the ultra sensitve and immature "men" to toughen up ! This act is very old.I think the comments AD Thomas made in the S.I article really says it all.

The word "Boy" when directed to any adult male is not just unacceptable but it calls into question the impartiality of the person who uses it.

It was the one word, when used by my father, that told you just how angry he was.

Mr. Rolle should vigorishly pursue this issue. I can only reflect on how I felt when it was directed to me...and I do not have his background.

I live in DC, but I am not a Raving (pardon pun) fan of the Washington team. I just love to watch good football and guys making great plays--, whoever. But in watching the Patriots vs Ravens I told my wife that that particular ref is making some ticky-tack calls against the Ravens. I pointed him out to my buddies for the same thing in other games, so I was kind of paying special attention to him. Someone needs to go back and check all his outings. He seems to want to be on TV -- the center of attention. I'm not a Ravens fan either, but congrats guys on a helluva effort.

Enough is enough. Football players push themselves to the point of throwing up, play through injuries, and even lead with their helmets when they make tackles and yet the reason they threw away any chance of a comeback last night is because a ref called them "boy"?!

While growing up, i was taught that sticks and stones can break my bones, but that names will never hurt me. The bottom line is that the Ravens threw the game away. They played their hearts out, but they also had the most penalties of any home team this year, 13, and called a time out at a point in the game when there should never be a defensive time out. Those are the reasons that we lost.

Enough of the whining and crying. The Ravens beat themselves and after they beat themselves, they shot themselves in the foot with 35 yards of penalties.

I'm glad that the NFL is going to look into the allegations that there was name-calling, but it's all for show. The Ravens blew it and no name-calling short of using the N-word should cause a player to eliminate any chance they have of hitting a game-tying field goal.

Is Steele kidding? Boy? If a player is making a personal accusation at the referree that he 'never played the game before' (oh it turns out that he did) and he calls him a boy, Samari deserved to be treated that way.

And Steele with this column? How ridiculous. Why does this newspaper put up with these types of columns?

I notice you fail to mention the official who used the "B" word is African American.

Could it be that the "B" word is another one of those allegedly offensive comments that African Americans can use willy nilly towards each other without penalty in real life, but can get a white person hanged on the public square.

Comment?

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/football/bal-maesecolumn1204,0,5734057.story

Having read the comments from the Ravens, I turned to your column, and Rick Maese's -- and I have to say _thank you_.

If someone wants to say that the Patriots (who play about 10 miles from my house, let it be known) left their A-Game in cold storage in Foxboro, couldn't stop McGahee if they had the Berlin Wall in front of them, and let Brady get sacked like this week's toothpaste giveaway at Foodmart -- they're right. I'm a Patriots fan, and I'll agree with you -- the Patriots probably didn't deserve to win this one.

But it's also true that they were given chance after chance, not by the refs, but by the Ravens, and you just can't do that with the Patriots! Penalties aside, I saw one of the worst long passes I've ever witnessed intercepted about six yards in front of the intended receiver. And fumbling after an interception and a long run back? And that time-out? Come on!

Those things aren't the ref's faults. But, unfortunately, some of the Ravens don't seem to understand this.

A great sports sage once said, "It's like deja vu all over again!", and for me, that's true about the Ravens players' complaints I read this afternoon. Y'see, I heard similar complaints about 16 years ago, coming from the doormat team of the AFC -- the New England Patriots.

Treated unfairly, refs are against them, press is against them, owner's against them -- gosh, you'd think those guys were so unhappy with their work, they might quit their night jobs and start shoveling snow for a living! Fact was, it was pretty embarrassing to be a Pats fan in those days.

You and Rick are absolutely correct that the Ravens should bring the NFL to look into potentially provocative comments made by a ref. Officials should be beyond reproach, if they're going to maintain that they're running a fair match -- whether or not anyone actually believes that they are.

But imagine if the Ravens weren't a team that, all year, has given away penalty yardage like cards at Christmas. And further imagine that they're not the kind of guys who complain about being penalized, even if they have been.

How much more weight would a complaint like Rolle's carry if he were the gentleman, and if his buddy Scott weren't trying out for the Orioles starting rotation?

Fortunately, they have sensible people like you and Rick who're able to separate the legitimate complaints from the bombastic sanctimony. (That's abbreviated B. S.)

So, thanks, again for your columns and your blog entry. You're right.

-- Tom from Boston

P.S. I'll forgive Rick Maese's cheap shot about the Pats as "known cheaters." I'm sure he'll explain -- real soon now! -- how that fifteen minutes in the first game of the season has been what's doomed the Jets.

For as you pointed out regarding the strange case of Milton Bradley and the Cranky Umpire, above, the bad guy got punished, even if the good guy, in that case, wasn't always so good.

Similarly, the Patriots draft opportunities this coming year aren't what an aging team needs to have as a direct result of their unnecessary and stupid rule-breaking during those first fifteen minutes of the season. I so wish they didn't do that! But they will pay the price -- as they should.

Oh, come on ! Rolle was disrespectful of the ref, which brought on the comment from a man much older and more experienced. The subject has to be taken iin it's total context.

What Babies. Time to play men's football.

For the record, readers: Yes, I knew that the official in question, Phil McKinnely, is African American. No, I did not know until I saw in Jamison Hensley's story today that he played in the NFL in the 1970s. With that knowledge: it's not only just as bad that he said it than if he had been white, it's even worse. Because of his race and his age, he knows probably better than anyone the punch that word packs, and it implies that he used it intentionally, that he knew exactly what he was doing. He can't plead ignorance and can't say he's too young or comes from a different culture and thus wouldn't know the history of it. I repeat, anyone who seriously insists that it shouldn't be perceived as an insult either hasn't ever been called it, or is lying. And sorry, whether you believe Rolle was being disrespectful (by saying "You never played before''?) or not, if you believe that game officials, the ultimate on-field authority whose integrity and credibility has to be above reproach, should have a license to get into shouting and name-calling matches with players, then you've got a whole other set of issues we need to discuss.

Not one headline I saw in any of the Boston papers indicated the Patriots should have won last nights game. Up until the final minutes, the Ravens played a great game. And deserved to win.

The integrity of the Refs, which was not mentioned in Boston until this afternoon, needs to be addressed.

Too bad the two teams can't meet again. The Patriots would have to step it up on both sides of the line to meet the competition, and the Ravens would need to keep the penalties in check.

OK, let me get all this right...

Nobody can use the "n" word unless you're a rapper or you're yelling it across the "hood" at one of your buddies.

Let me state this - I will believe any NFL official's word before any football player whose team had just blown a hotly-contested game because of stupid play on the field and a loser mentality from a coaching staff.

Isn't it interesting that this whole "boy" stuff started after Scott threw a temper tantrum like a four-year-old?!? Admit it Ravens, years ago you won a Super Bowl, but you're an old, old paper tiger and now you're looking to blame everybody else because you can't beat a team full of grandmothers!!

Suck it up. Grow some and understand that graceful losers are always liked more than sorry, cry-baby, sissy-boy losers.

Get over it. It amazes me that in a game where after every catch, every tackle, every sack and every TD there follows a ridiculous dance, shuffle, mime - call it what you will - that is both in bad taste to the opposition and the the opposing fans and that detracts from the game. Makes me wonder who half of these people are playing for. Is it the team or is it the TV? Thank god the NCAAF decided to outlaw such practices. And while these "men" are perfecting their muscle poses and learning their trash talk lines, they might want to ask themselves why, if they show disrespect to an official, he should not be allowed to retaliate. I would also add that I wish, just once, that an NFL coach would speak out against this too. If there was the same discipline for these clowns, maybe dear Bart would not have tried to play quarterback the way he did; maybe Rolle wouldn't be playing tell the teacher; and maybe - and this IS a stretch - the team might have won. The way Bart Scott left the field, maybe the linesman should have called them all spoilt, overpaid kiddies instead.

Ravens did play a great game. Pats were lucky to get out of there. As far as the many penalties called on the Ravens, well they were penalties.
I have heard the "let the players decide the outcome" does that mean do not call blatant penalties why dont they just fight it out ant last one standing wins be serious

I was at the game and there was some serious 'something' going on between the Ravens secondary and the officials; which I DO BELIEVE caused them to use their emotions in calling some of those penalties and the touchdown catch. Regardless, this type of behavior, if it happened in my or your workplace, would be reason for termination, why is this different?

There are some who don't quite understand certain cultures(I am not perfect in that regard myself) and assume that because the ref was black that made the comments, they were not racist. Now, do I believe that they were racist. No. Personally, I believe that the Ravens reputation for being boisterous and passionate through physical play and verbally is why the refs got into it with them and I feel that black refs actually respond more aggressively to the ravens ways than white refs. It takes me back to the ref of that (I wish I could forget it) Ravens game in detroit two years ago.
However, it is not impossible for someone to be racist against their own kind and that should be dismissed in attacking Steele's column. People who angrily go against their own race due to dislike of their color, environment and culture. It is not unheard of.

I believe that one thing must be made clear here and that is the fact that the referees have a difficult job where they can never satisfy everyone. Their lone job is to call a great game right down the middle. We do not come to see them over animated. Interracting with players after great plays or bad calls. That is the nature of their job and they know this before they put on the stripes. We all know that this is the deal with refs and yes I do feel that if what the referee said was true than it is out of line and should be dealt with swiftly.

One thing that is lost in all of this is the fact that New England is not much better than Baltimore when it comes to their mouths and actions on the field except we have not seen any of them chuck a flag into the stands.

Tom Brady, yes the NFL's new golden boy(dethroning Manning), was on the field yelling in officials faces and at officials from afar over penalties that he felt should have been called and should not have been called. Brady was out there using foul language of his own. Maybe not at the refs, but this whole humble pie bit is getting on my nerves. If they were really so humble, why is Moss getting into a defender's face after a TD(You don't see Marvin Harrison doing that sort of thing when he is out there do you). Why do you see Rodney Harrison Cursing out Brian Billick after the Boller Int. Why do you see Brady so snappy with the media if they are so humble. Why do we hear Mr. Humble(Mr. I don't want all of the glory AD) after the game saying that in the fourth quarter his main thought was "if we going to lose, let be anybody but these guys. Why do we have their coach getting busted for cheating if they are so humble. Why do we have him running up the score on teams if they are so humble? They are as humble as Ray Lewis after a third down stop.

I have several problems with some of the previous comments.

1) Blacks can't be racist toward other blacks.
Dismissing the referee's comments out-of-hand because he is black is wrong. Referees are in a position of power that commands an automatic, unreproachable respect (not that they're perfect, but they need to feel protected on the field). Anyone in such a position is susceptible to a feeling of superiority. Thus, the referee in question may very well have used the term "boy" in a derogatory manner (it's hard to use it otherwise) because he does indeed feel that he has paid his dues and deserves the respect of the players. I personally believe the man has earned the right to feel that way, but that just lends itself to my point: he is in a position to degrade others, even if they are of the same skin color.

If you are having trouble with my argument, think about the reverse situation. What if Samari Rolle had responded to the "boy" comment by calling the ref an "Uncle Tom?" It works both ways.

2) The referee was just responding in kind to comments made by Samari Rolle.
He is a professional, he is supposed to act like a professional.

3) Bart Scott was just responding to the comments made by the referee.
He is a professional, he is supposed to act like a professional.

Regarding 2 and 3, you can't say that one action was justified and not the other. In my opinion they are the same, and they are both wrong.

Cooler heads prevail. If Samari Rolle had addressed the referee with an ounce of respect, the whole incident would never have happened. And if it did? If the referee still came back with the "boy" comment? Then we would really have something to write about.

All this referee business aside, here's what burns me. Refs are flag-happy when it comes to D-backs touching receivers. How about calling offensive pass interference once in a while? Am I the only one who saw Moss stiff-arm McAlister in the end-zone? The guy does it all the time...no wonder he is always open.

To the poster who noted the Ravens played like Boys, totally agree. Based on the Ravens undisciplined conduct when it counted most in the game, this is an insult to most youth.

Regarding the "Boy" comment the ref allegedly made, its common to say, "Will you Boys calm down." Based on how the Ravens acted, they have no credibility as an information source. Its in their best interests to let this joke die a quick death.

If the Ravens would learn to keep their mouths shut and play football, they might win a few more games. I wonder what blame made the rounds in the post game locker game?

You guys are missing the point. It doesn't matter if the ref was black or green and it wasn't just one ref. Mason and other players have corroborated stories of taunting by more then one official. Unfortunately, right or wrong they brought it on themselves. All the celebrating after even the simplest play, it has given the Ravens a bad name. Why wasn't Rodney Harrison fined for taunting Billick all night, players have no business being on the opposite sideline. The league did the same stuff of Peyton last year. This year "brady bunch" are the leagues darlings.

As a die-hard Steeler fan, it's hard to sympothize with Raven Nation. But hello, as an African American I can assure you that there are many Blacks that are prejudice against other Blacks for racial reasons. How else do you explain Clarence Thomas. Born in the deep South, I can assure you that Black on Black prejudice not only exist but is quite common. Additionally, there are many Blacks who feel that a lot of the big mouth, cornrow, disrespectful younger generation are doing a great disservice to the Blacks that struggled for the freedoms we currently enjoy.

Racial slur by a referee, unforgiveable. Professional athletes losing their cool, just as unforgiveable. Sorry, Ray.

You are a joke with all these racial issues. Do you ever write about a non race issue? Do you think any white people are not racist out there? You are such a racist that now you are calling other black people (the ref) racist toward black people. Why can't you write about something meaningful and just leave the race thing alone once in a while?

I think all of you are misunderstanding the point David Steele is trying to make. If in fact these statements by the Ravens are true in that these referees were displaying any negativity in the way of words towards the Ravens' players, that takes away the entire credibility of NEUTRAL officiating throughout the game. Questionable calls become clear cut decisions for the refs, as their personal interest becomes an issue. The whole idea of an official is to remain neutral and not let the players get under their skin, that's PART OF THE JOB. The NFL better be careful because if this type of engineered officiating occurs again against Pittsburgh, the NFL will lose alot of credibility.

Billick needs to go! It is time.

One thing nobody has mentioned in the Rolle-referee verbal confrontation thus far: A referee can severely punish a player who insults him but a player has no recourse against an official short of calling his agent and coordinating a complaint to the league. That's what Rolle did, but it probably would have been better not to mention it in the locker room interview.

The comments in the vein of "The Ravens gave it to them and shouldn't complain" or the more impish "just be men" are simply wrong. Any team that plays an imperfect game is entitled to reasonable officiating. Not perfectly fair or balanced officiating, but reasonable officiating, where the bad calls at least come close to balancing out. It's highly questionable that the Ravens received that. So the officiating gripes are reasonable. If there had only been a couple bad calls against the Ravens, they surely would have won.

Did anybody notice that Maroney's long run preceding the infamous Rex Ryan timeout benefited from an egregious block in the back by Gaffney? That and several other anti-Raven rulings got no media attention but I believe demonstrate a significant but probably accidental bias against the Ravens which decided the game.

That final touchdown catch was a very close call; it still looked to me like he bobbled the ball and it should have been ruled no catch. But this was a reasonable bad call for the Ravens - something so close the official on the field could have called it either way and the booth would have had nothing "indisputable" to overrule him.

Rolle acted like a child towards someone twice his age and so McKinnely had every right to refer to him as a boy. His actions after the game continue to prove his image as a spoiled kid.

Players, even children like Rolle, have to be held to the same standards as the officials. If members of either group can't maintain professional integrity and credibility, than they should be held equally accountable and dealt with accordingly. If McKinnely is suspended, than so should Rolle.

So it's OK for a ref to be verbally abused by a player but it's not ok for the referees to say anything back? Give me a break. This is football, and trash talk goes on all the time! The Ravens are a sad group of whiners trying to make excuses for losing. It's like a kid making an excuse for punching another by saying, "he was talking about my momma." Grow up and take responsibility for your actions!

i think he's making a huge deal about the "boy" thing to distract the american public from how bad the ravens SUCKED on monday. Hes not actually offended i bet you, he just wants to create drama.

Blind loyalist never see the other side of the issue. That is what you happens when you go to a small town in america and get a speeding ticket and you the motorist believe that your being targeted by police. Maybe you are or aren't, who's to say! However, that should prompt the governing forces to look into the matter as long as you go through the proper channels. Your can't get a fair trial from the cop that issued the ticket! And the Trial Judge only regurgitates the Rulebook and gets Payed by the same sources. Mike give it a rest!!! In many courtrooms the presiding official uses his/her will and the facts are often relevant or even heard. Your talking to the Judge Judie's of the sports world.