Ravens option not to play Steelers in Opener

by purpleonblack86 on Mar 24, 2009 9:50 PM EDT

I read an article by Tony Lombardi declaring that the Ravens do not want to play the Steelers in their house to open the season. So just to back it up I checked around and found a post stating that they indeed will not open the season on Thursday Sep.13 against the Steelers. Instead the Steelers will be playing the Titans at home. Good for us. I can see how Steeler fans and maybe even some here will say this is a punk move but I completely agree with it considering the Ravens situation now. With the amount of players they lost, the new free agents, and of course draft picks. They will need time to gel before they play the Steelers, who don't hate me, but could possibly have a better team situation than ours as a whole to start the season. Another smart move by Ozzie and I am sure others will agree, to get the team more ready for our match up.

http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/blog/2009/03/ravens_dont_open_2009_season_against_the_steelers.html

http://www.profootball24x7.com/column_view.php?cid=13&id=3332&view=archive- Good stuff about O.Pace and Derrick Martin in here.

The opinions posted here are those of the administrator of this blog and his loyal readers. They are in no way official comments from the team, and should not be misconstued as such, even though he thinks he could do just as well or even a better job!

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We knew about this about 5-6 days ago

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on Mar 24, 2009 11:04 PM EDT reply actions

Those of us in Steel Town

Have known the ravens are cowards far longer than 5 or 6 days.

I'll drink your Milkshake, I'll drink it up!

by Frank Mineo (DYMS) on Mar 25, 2009 1:25 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, right...

..as we are the team that played you toughter than anyone else three times last year and without our games, you wouldn’t be able to come back in the last minutes of the games.

Rexx

by Rexx on Mar 25, 2009 4:04 PM EDT up reply actions

"those of us in Steel town?"

B*+ch! You’ve probably never been to “steel town!” Get off the bandwagon along with the rest of the midwest Queerbait!. Ya’ll beat us in OT, on a Questionable TD call, and by a rookie QB mistake in the playoffs! Congradulations to you and your construction crew uniform wearin Faggs from P.gA.y!

by FEARtheTERP1 on Mar 25, 2009 10:05 PM EDT up reply actions

Yea

That guy lives in DC, just to let you know….

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on Mar 25, 2009 10:26 PM EDT up reply actions

steelers still have everybody. they pretty much have the exact same team as last year, so we better beat em

by Ravens4Life on Mar 25, 2009 2:26 AM EDT reply actions

You can run but you can`t hide

I have all the respect in the world for the Ravens, but this comes off as such a pussy move. If you guys gave us the tri-beatdown last year, the first thing i would want to do is start off the season with a win in your house. Since when did you become the wimp who did`t show up to the fight?

by SteelerDomination on Mar 25, 2009 3:13 AM EDT reply actions

I kind of agree. We’re going to beat the Steelers on prime time at some point; might as well be at the beginning of the season. Nothing would make me happier than instigating the Steelers’ slide to irrelevance in the 2009 season.

Water covers 2/3 of the Earth's surface. Ed Reed covers the rest.

by Ampallang on Mar 25, 2009 7:14 AM EDT up reply actions

Screw That

Why should we have to go to Pittsburgh in prime time every year, so they can parade out their HOFer’s and get everyone pumped up. Baltimore has done enough as a franchise to deserve to have a prime time game here every few years with Pitt. In a time when everyone is crying about cheating and unfair advantages, I don’t see where the Ravens are off base for wanting a more level playing field against their top rival and reigning SB champs.

Also, as a side note, don’t the Ravens deserve to earn all the extra revenue that a national prime time game against the Steelers brings? It is a business and the Ravens operate it as such, and therefore deserve the same opportunities to bring in revenue as Pitt.

by DT711 on Mar 25, 2009 10:05 AM EDT up reply actions

WOW.........

Did someone just state what i’ve thought all along?! Why cant Armpitt come to B-more on Primetime Every year?

by FEARtheTERP1 on Mar 25, 2009 10:07 PM EDT up reply actions

To Add

This decision was made solely by management and the front office. I guarantee that no Ravens players would ever bitch out to playing a game in Pitt. This is strictly a business decision in the best interest of the franchise.

by DT711 on Mar 25, 2009 10:06 AM EDT up reply actions

My rebuttal

1) After being stripped of a bye week last season and playing an unprecedented 18 consecutive games, the Ravens hardly have to defend their toughness to anybody. Furthermore, since the NFL decided to put them at a competitive disadvantage last season, it was highly likely the Ravens were going to receive something in return. It comes as no surprise that “something” is additional considerations in picking their schedule for the following season. It wouldn’t surprise me if they were able to write their schedule for next season.

2) If you can freely write your own schedule, wouldn’t you? I sure would, and furthermore, I’d do it to give my team the best competitive advantage possible. Pittsburgh is a strong starter as a team and the Superbowl champions have never lost their Thursday night opening game. So, it seems that the Ravens can increase their chances by playing later. Furthermore, there are financial considerations as well. I’m sure it’s a big money deal to get a prime time game against a major division rival. The Ravens could pick up some cash forcing the NFL to let the Ravens host a game.

3) The Steelers have hosted the last THREE primetime games of the Ravens. It’s not like the Ravens are consistently getting out of playing prime time at Heinz field. A little reciprocity is not too much to ask.

by math_geek on Mar 25, 2009 1:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Correct

It’s crazy to me how shortsighted most fans are. They jump to rash conclusions without even trying to understand the situation. Most people who criticize the Ravens do not know that every team submits yearly schedule requests.

by DT711 on Mar 25, 2009 2:49 PM EDT up reply actions

"Staff and Wire Reports"

That is the source?? Sounds like media BS to me… Anyone have a legit link they can post on this?

by adh on Mar 25, 2009 9:58 AM EDT reply actions

here's your credible source buddy

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/football/bal-sp.ravens21mar21,0,348616.story- Jamison Hensley has never lied about the Ravens, lol at least I don’t think so…. By the way tell me the difference between Staff and Wire Reports and Associated Press reports. If there is a difference?

"But like my father said, you want Jennifer Lopez but does she want you? No. I'll just take what ever they give to me."-Julian Taverez

by purpleonblack86 on Mar 25, 2009 4:41 PM EDT up reply actions

got any links that work??

I want to believe you man, but both Baltimore sun links you posted don’t connect to anything, both dead links dude. Had to truncate the first one to get it to work and I don’t see Hensley as a contributor to the article.

One problem with the Sun story ( and to a lesser extent Lombardi’s too), is that they seem to spin it against the Ravens organization, let me give you an example of presenting the same “facts” but spun in the other direction.

How about a headline like this:

" Steelers: Afraid to leave their house at night? NFL attempts to grant home prime time vs. Ravens…again, Baltimore tells league to f@*K off, we play it at M&T or not at all"

As far as I know the AP actually lists the writer/author and when the article was written, it offers some credibility and accountability. Not just some anonymous source, (at least Lombardi added a rumor disclamier to his article.)

From my view it’s all BS trying to make the Ravens org look bad, as a fan doesn’t this bother you?

by adh on Mar 25, 2009 10:10 PM EDT up reply actions

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/football/bal-sp.ravens21mar21,0,348616.story

"But like my father said, you want Jennifer Lopez but does she want you? No. I'll just take what ever they give to me."-Julian Taverez

by purpleonblack86 on Mar 26, 2009 2:19 PM EDT up reply actions

No problem opening the season against the Steelers,

but how about evening things out by playing it in our House? I realize the SB Champs get to open up on national TV at home, but beofre that, we ALWAYS played in prime time there. The players don’t care but as fans enough is enough. Jeez, hard to wonder about the validity of the thought that the NFL loves Pittsburgh and hates Baltimore!

Rexx

by Rexx on Mar 25, 2009 10:26 AM EDT reply actions

I agree, but..

I think the players do care, there is a significant advantage when playing at home, at least with teams like the Ravens and Steelers. If it was Miami, then yeah the players probably would not care.

by adh on Mar 26, 2009 10:18 AM EDT reply actions

Nah...

They’ll take national TV anytime, as they like the exposure, plus they all think they can win anywhere!

Rexx

by Rexx on Mar 26, 2009 10:20 AM EDT up reply actions

Sure...

but c’mon, if they had a choice between home and away, they would pick home every time…

by adh on Mar 26, 2009 10:45 AM EDT reply actions

if this is true…to speak frankly, yes this is a pussy ravens tail between the legs move after getting your ass handed to you 3 straight times by the scary steelers. we lost those games watching them warm up. ooooh, the black and gold..ooooh at home…ooooh its raining..ooooh its cold. shut up and beat the Colts, NE and Steelers when it counts purple melvins.

by raven on Mar 27, 2009 11:23 PM EDT reply actions