After losing to Tom Brady and the Patriots on this past Sunday, "Sweet Baby" Ray Lewis vented in the locker room afterwards about two roughing the passer penalties called against his Ravens. The rules to protect QB's have been there more than a couple of years now. If you go anywhere near the head or anywhere near the knees, you will be flagged. If you don't want the flag, don't go there. You may not agree with the rules being so protective but if it is on the books you can't argue with it being called. But I digress, that is a subject for another day. Today I want to write about what you will NEVER, EVER hear "Sweet Baby" Ray say.
Ray Lewis is a great football player. He is a first ballot Hall of Famer who gives his all in every game. Why can't Ray give his all in crediting the other team when he gets beat? I can't recall ever hearing Ray Lewis admit that the other team was better than him and his team on that particular day.
The Patriots offensive line has struggled all season to protect Brady. In fact, the Ravens sacked Brady 3 times Sunday but the Patriots did well enough to allow Brady to get them 27 points compared to the Ravens 21 points. If Ray said anything to indicate what kind of job the Patriots did, it did not make national media.
In addition, I wonder what Ray's reaction would have been if his QB had of been the one to get those calls instead of the opposing teams QB? Would Ray still have been yelling to the media after the game about how bad the calls were? As strongly as he stated his comments, he feels the rules are wrong. If the rules are wrong to be called on his team then surely they would be wrong to be called on the other team, right?
A few years ago the Ravens hosted the Chiefs on Monday night. Priest Holmes rushed for over 200 yards against the Ravens. The Chiefs as a team rushed for over 30o yards. This game was the ultimate butt whipping when it came to an offensive line dominating a defensive front 7, which included "Sweet Baby" Ray. Ray never addressed the media after the game. He dressed and left before the media got into the locker room.
I challenge you to observe closely how Ray handles post game comments after winning and losing. If he wins he is the center of the attention. The heart and soul leader of that team. If he loses, it appears he is never around to answer the tough questions. It also appears he will never give his opponent the credit they deserve for beating his team.
It is easy being the leader when your team wins. Accepting all the congratulations and bouquets of love. Talking about how great you and your team are. Posing for pictures. All very EASY.
Hey Ray, real leaders are there to take the questions of criticism when their teams get beat or even whipped. Real respect comes when you can win humbly and when you can admit you got beat, while acknowledging the effort of your opponent.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Oregon Football Is Weak If They Let LeGarrette Blount Play Again!
At the end of the first University of Oregon football game this year, running back LeGarrette Blount sucker punched a Boise State player in the jaw. He then pushed his teammates that tried to restrain him. As he left the field, the Boise State crowd taunted him and he tried to go into the crowd. Blount had to be removed from the field by 4 or 5 people, a couple of which were security personnel.
In the days that followed, Oregon head coach Chip Kelley announced that Blount would not play in another game this season, which is Blount's senior season. The President of Oregon as well as the Pac 10 Commissioner applauded the move and strongly backed Kelley.
Well, now Kelley has announced that Blount may return if he continues to follow guidelines set out by the university. HUH? No way. I cannot let a player that embarrasses my program that bad return to play. Yes, he can continue to be on the team and work out. Stay in shape and pursue a NFL career. But no, he cannot ever play in a real game for my team again.
Information has surfaced according to collegefootballtalk.com, that Oregon caving on the punishment could be linked to a threat from Blount's parents of a possible lawsuit. I recommend you read the articles on collegefootballtalk.com. I literally became nauseated by the story.
Sometimes you just have to do the right thing. Second chances are allowed. However, Blount's second chance was used in advance when while being removed from the field after the first punch, he tried to enter the stands after fans, some of which may have been paying customers.
Apparently everyone is controlled by money. Sorry, I need to be able to look at my self in the mirror and go to bed with a clear conscience worse than I need money. If you cave in to this threat of a lawsuit, where do you draw the line? Because this will only open the door for more lawsuits and challenges. Players and their families will be trying every way in the world to trump Coaches' and Universities' authority. The T.O.'s of the world don't stop until they are the only authority.
Chip Kelley and the University of Oregon should find some testicular fortitude and stand by their disciplinary action. Tell the Blount's and any lawyers, do what you gotta do because we are gonna do what we have to do and that is uphold the season long suspension.
I am sure Oregon will eventually settle at best rather than face a lawsuit. But as for me, if I were in charge at the University of Oregon, we would say go ahead, sue us. LeGarrette Blount you may win a lot of money from me in a lawsuit but I will have something more valuable than money to you. I will have your senior season which you can never get back. By the time this thing gets through court, the football season will be over and your eligibility completely gone. Oh, and once you file that lawsuit you are banished from any and all contact and participation with the team that you would have had. More important than any of this, I will be sending the correct message to my current players, recruits and their families, alumni, supporters, boosters, faculty, students, and fans. That is, as the head coach of Oregon I will see that the players, staff, and myself will conduct ourselves in a manner that will not embarrass or humiliate the students, faculty, administration, boosters, or fans. In addition, I will see that the behavior of everyone associated with Oregon football will bring a sense of pride to our fans and not a sense of shame.
Sometimes, just doing the right thing will require that you dig deeper and find the utmost courage, guts, and character. That straight and narrow path can be very lonely.
In the days that followed, Oregon head coach Chip Kelley announced that Blount would not play in another game this season, which is Blount's senior season. The President of Oregon as well as the Pac 10 Commissioner applauded the move and strongly backed Kelley.
Well, now Kelley has announced that Blount may return if he continues to follow guidelines set out by the university. HUH? No way. I cannot let a player that embarrasses my program that bad return to play. Yes, he can continue to be on the team and work out. Stay in shape and pursue a NFL career. But no, he cannot ever play in a real game for my team again.
Information has surfaced according to collegefootballtalk.com, that Oregon caving on the punishment could be linked to a threat from Blount's parents of a possible lawsuit. I recommend you read the articles on collegefootballtalk.com. I literally became nauseated by the story.
Sometimes you just have to do the right thing. Second chances are allowed. However, Blount's second chance was used in advance when while being removed from the field after the first punch, he tried to enter the stands after fans, some of which may have been paying customers.
Apparently everyone is controlled by money. Sorry, I need to be able to look at my self in the mirror and go to bed with a clear conscience worse than I need money. If you cave in to this threat of a lawsuit, where do you draw the line? Because this will only open the door for more lawsuits and challenges. Players and their families will be trying every way in the world to trump Coaches' and Universities' authority. The T.O.'s of the world don't stop until they are the only authority.
Chip Kelley and the University of Oregon should find some testicular fortitude and stand by their disciplinary action. Tell the Blount's and any lawyers, do what you gotta do because we are gonna do what we have to do and that is uphold the season long suspension.
I am sure Oregon will eventually settle at best rather than face a lawsuit. But as for me, if I were in charge at the University of Oregon, we would say go ahead, sue us. LeGarrette Blount you may win a lot of money from me in a lawsuit but I will have something more valuable than money to you. I will have your senior season which you can never get back. By the time this thing gets through court, the football season will be over and your eligibility completely gone. Oh, and once you file that lawsuit you are banished from any and all contact and participation with the team that you would have had. More important than any of this, I will be sending the correct message to my current players, recruits and their families, alumni, supporters, boosters, faculty, students, and fans. That is, as the head coach of Oregon I will see that the players, staff, and myself will conduct ourselves in a manner that will not embarrass or humiliate the students, faculty, administration, boosters, or fans. In addition, I will see that the behavior of everyone associated with Oregon football will bring a sense of pride to our fans and not a sense of shame.
Sometimes, just doing the right thing will require that you dig deeper and find the utmost courage, guts, and character. That straight and narrow path can be very lonely.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
