Harbaugh Not Buying Bears’ Draft “Mistake”
Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh hasn’t forgotten about the Chicago Bears’ botched draft-day trade.
National media has portrayed a “fuming” Harbaugh, but if one listens to his interview on “The Waddle & Silvy Show” on Chicago’s ESPN 1000 yesterday, they will hear calm, yet strong words from the coach.
Harbaugh was first asked if the Ravens are still angry. He recalled the Ravens’ feelings, largely repeating sentiments he had expressed back in April.
“I don’t think any of us were real angry,” Harbaugh said. “It was disappointing. I’ve said it before and I guess they can get mad at me if they want, but I’m not buying the mistake thing. It wasn’t a mistake. They knew what they were doing.
"They agreed to a pick. They got their guy on the phone. They recognized he wasn’t getting calls from the other team behind them, and they basically stalled for over a minute, telling us that they had called the trade in. That was just not honest. They said it was a mistake. Those guys have been doing it for a long time, c’mon. You communicate back and forth and someone is responsible for calling a trade in. There’s no way to not get that done.”
If you remember, the Ravens felt they had a trade worked out with the Bears to swap first-round draft picks and pick up an extra fourth-round selection. However, the Bears claimed they had a communication mistake when trying to phone in the trade to the league.
Thinking the trade was going to be completed, the Ravens had the clock run out on them and could have lost their man, cornerback Jimmy Smith. They still ended up grabbing him immediately after Kansas City moved one spot ahead of Baltimore, but didn’t get that fourth-round pick.
“They basically just stole two spots from us and that’s not OK,” Harbaugh said. “It’s not ethical, it’s not right. I personally agree with our Owner, Steve Bisciotti, that they should have been held accountable for it. But also, it is what it is. They didn’t do anything illegal. We were just disappointed with it.”
As compensation for their admitted blunder, the Bears offered a simple apology and refused to forfeit a pick, even after NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell reportedly encouraged them to do so.
A Bears team official told ESPN Tuesday that, “We’ve moved on months ago."
All is well for the Bears, who got their coveted player in Wisconsin tackle Gabe Carimi, and didn’t have to deal a fourth-rounder.
But later in the day Tuesday, Chicago Bears linebacker Lance Briggs cast a skeptical eye on his own franchise.
“I don’t know what happened in this situation,” Briggs said Tuesday on “Carmen, Jurko & Harry” on ESPN 1000. “If it went down the way John Harbaugh (said) then obviously shame on us. Shame on our organization for that because you don’t really need to do that in order to get what you want.”
Harbaugh said the Ravens would “of course” be more hesitant to trade with the Bears in the future. ESPN’s Kevin Seifert wrote that while he does “admire and appreciate’s Harbaugh’s raw honesty,” he doesn’t see it affecting other teams trading with Chicago. However…
“It’s not ideal [for Chicago] to have a respected coach on record saying what Harbaugh said,” Seifert wrote.
Ravens Free Agent Shopping Guide
One of the most exciting times of the NFL calendar may be just days away as reports indicate the lockout is on its last legs. Thus, Sports Illustrated is rolling out a “Shopping Guide” for all 32 teams.
There are some interesting names on Baltimore’s list, which was compiled by John P. Lopez. Apparently Lopez sees the Ravens’ needs being at cornerback and wide receiver, even though Baltimore spent its first two draft picks to address those positions.
In the “Money is no object” category, Lopez thinks Steelers cornerback Ike Taylor would be a coup. Taylor, 31, has played eight seasons in Pittsburgh and been a starter for six.
“Want to get twice the bang for your buck? If the Ravens could somehow pry Ike Taylor from Pittsburgh, they could hurt their division rivals and bolster their secondary,” Lopez wrote.
At wide receiver, Lopez thinks the Ravens should go for the Vikings’ Sidney Rice, who missed 10 games last year due to a hip injury. The 6-foot-4 Rice had a breakout 2009 campaign with 1,312 receiving yards and eight scores.
However, we all know the Ravens like to find bargains on the market.
So for the “smart shopper,” Lopez believes Baltimore should pursue an in-house option at cornerback (he names Josh Wilson). He then points to the Cowboys’ Sam Hurd and Texans’ Jacoby Jones as wide receiver options.
Last year, Hurd had 14 receptions in 15 games for 120 yards. Jones hard seven starts, 51 catches for 562 yards and three touchdowns
What’s your Ravens shopping guide?
Rice Fires Back At Steelers’ Clark
Now for the latest chapter of the Ravens-Steelers chatter. (P.S. – Who’s ready to see less talking and more football?)
This time, running back Ray Rice spoke up about Steelers’ safety Ryan Clark’s comments that there is no rivalry between Baltimore and Pittsburgh because the Ravens don’t win enough.
“He was basically calling us out to disrespect us,” Rice told The Baltimore Sun.
“Rivalries are tough, hard-hitting games. We respect the Steelers. They are our rivals. They’ve won many Super Bowls; we’ve won one. I understand that. But the way the game is played between the two teams, you’ve got to respect the rivalry, Ryan. Ryan knows we bring it to them and they bring it to us. He’s had to tackle me a few times, and I’ve got the best of him.”
Ravens wide receiver Derrick Mason already responded to Clark as well.
“I think Ryan Clark is cool [people] and a good player but RYAN let’s keep the talking on the field," @deemason85 said on Twitter. "If the league wants to call this game a rival … let them call it that! When we play each other it’s good for football [because] you know there will be a lot of hard hitting going on.”
Ravens’ Stock Rising
ESPN AFC North blogger James Walker revved up his stock watch feature and has the Baltimore Ravens and guard/tackle Marshal Yanda on the rise.
“Unlike the Steelers, no news has been good news for the Ravens. The players have stayed out of trouble and even rallied behind their quarterback, Joe Flacco.
“Any little edge between the Ravens and Steelers could make the difference in this competitive rivalry, and Baltimore has fewer questions right now. ”
Walker says the versatile Yanda is one of the more underrated names on the free agency market and will get interest from around the league.
“The proposed 72-hour window for teams to negotiate with its free agents could be big for Baltimore and Yanda,” Walker writes.
The Pittsburgh Steelers, quarterback Carson Palmer and Bengals’ Adam Jones and Cedric Benson are on the falling list.
Quick Hits
- NFL.com says the AFC North is a two-team race between the Ravens and Steelers unless the young players from the Browns and Bengals step up. Analyst Elliot Harrison did express concern with the age of the Ravens’ defense.
- The Ravens are opening as three-point favorites over the Steelers in their Sept. 11 meeting at M&T Bank Stadium. [The Baltimore Sun]
- NFL games could get longer due to the new replay rules stating that all scoring plays will be automatically looked at by a replay official, says former NFL Vice President of Officiating Mike Pereira. [FOX Sports]
- @TorreySmithWR: When I move into the owing mills area within the next week…lockout or not…I need a local to give me a tour haha I’m dead serious too
- @RosenhausSports [Agent Drew Rosenhaus]: I fully expect the player reps to follow the executive committee recommendation and approve the CBA tomorrow
- Harbaugh is ready to get the seasons started: “It’s going to be a very strange year. It’s going to be a lot of fun. I know one thing, I just can’t wait to get going. Let’s get this deal done. As Jim [Harbaugh] said, let’s push this thing across the goal line, man. Let’s get the guys in here and get things started.” [ESPN]
