Flacco = Franchise

I was skimming through the Baltimore Sun online, and saw an excerpt in which Flacco was talking about being uncomfortable the first time he moved into a hotel room for training camp. And how, two years later, he's used to it.

Then I skimmed across another sportsblog, the name of which I'll withhold because it's pretty embarassing. The author of this blog said that Flacco has not proved to him that he's a franchise quarterback yet.

I beg to differ. The Baltimore Sun has already put together a short paragraph of his accomplishments:

Few young quarterbacks have had as much success as Flacco. He has thrown for 6,584 yards, the fifth most in NFL history in a quarterback's first two seasons. He is the fourth starting passer since the 1970 NFL-AFL merger to reach the playoffs in his first two seasons.

Statistics aside, because they're really not my thing, Flacco has finally grown into his role as a franchise quarterback. This can be seen in his demeanor.

It's July, he's ready, he's excited - he just doesn't show it. After all, he laughed at the kid who ran up and down hills telling everybody. More importantly, he's tasted two playoff seasons, and wants more.

Holy hiatus!

As football season approaches, I'll be writing more. Or, at least I hope to write more. I've been updating, if you can't tell.

Cry the Raven, "Never[beentherebef]ore!"

The clock just ticked over to the two-minute warning, better known as "time for Peyton to run the score up in Baltimore as they've burned all of their time outs, missed two opportunities for the lead, and have little-to-no hope in this game."

Think about it:

If the new kicker Billy Cundiff doesn't pull a Steve Hauschka on his FIFTH field goal attempt in the game, the score right now would be 18-17, Ravens.

If the offense could get into the redzone and then penetrate the goal line, the score would be 35-17, Ravens.

If Joe Flacco didn't force the ball to leading rushing-receiver Ray Rice... the score could possibly be 22-17, RAVENS.

This isn't about Cam Cameron coming up with more creative plays or the defense stepping it up. The defense did its job; the offense needs to seal the deal on their end of the field.

This isn't about Cundiff or Haushcka, because there should be no reason a team should rely on their kicker.

And there should be no reason big-time Ravens, such as Ed Reed, should be ruining opportunities to win. Champions know how to win championships because they've been there before: The veteran Ravens aren't playing like they've been there before.

The Bengals are Legit

I'm not surprised the Cincinnati Bengals defeated the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday afternoon. Instead, I'm appalled by the lack of intensity the Ravens played with until the last quarter.

When the 3-3 Ravens defeated an undefeated Bronco's team at home, there was hope. The NFL-fined hit by Ray Lewis on Chad Ochocinco initiated discussions about a brutal beating a second opportunity could offer. Ochocinco's sweat-free message to Raven's linebackers Lewis and Terrell Suggs furthered those discussions. Analysts reminisced Ochocinco's last messaged delivered to the Cleveland Browns' defense, and how Ochocinco had a mere three catches in that game.

Ochocinco had more positive yards in the first half of this game than the entire Baltimore offense. Of course, it's easy to do that when the Ravens' offense has the ball for one-third of the game - and the majority of that time was gained during the fourth quarter.

This game cannot be blamed on referees.

This game cannot be attributed to Haloti Ngata's absence.

This game cannot be blamed on Steve Hauschka's missed field goal.

This game cannot be blamed on Frank Washington and Dominique Foxworth's inability to control Ochocinco.

This game was not caused by Joe Flacco's two interceptions.

This game is not a result of penalties.

This game was not a game, but a mockery... because the Bengals are finally legit.

The Bengals, who had four wins last year, have an offensive line, a defensive line, a quarterback who can hit receivers who can actually catch.

The Bengals are making it a point to terrorize teams that once made a mockery of them, and they are good at it (at least for the time being).

Ocho don't like Stinko

Bengal's wide receiver Chad Ochocinco mailed carepackages to Baltimore linebacker's Ray Lewis and Terrell Suggs. Inside, he included deodorant so that they "wouldn't sweat."

As everyone gears up for the game on Sunday, major couch potatoes are thriving on the "tension" Ochocinco has just created between him and Lewis, who was fined for a hard hit in their last meet.

What these drama fiends are forgetting, however, is that Ochocinco is an avid admirer and friend to Mr. Lewis.

And that's my two cents...worthless in today's economy.

Not to fear, the Ravens were 2 and 3 last year!

It happens in every sport. On paper, one team is supposed to dominate another. Because of the week before, one team will go on a rampage and leave the other team for dead. One team is supposed to have the physical edge, the didactic experience, and the guidance to bounce back.

The Baltimore Ravens were supposed to be that team on Sunday.

Instead, they oversimplified the situation.

Cincinnati marched 80 miles down M&T Bank turf to reap 7 points and trash the paper, erase the week before, and initiated that overwhelmingly didactic experience.

Suddenly slurs were passed around that screamed “Overrated,” “Underthrow Joe,” “Low-ball Harbaugh,” and that imitated the cooing sounds of the baby-faced defenders shunned by the city. Baltimore had turned.

Its purple wave of enthusiasm blackened, swallowed in the blame of referees, players, coaches.

When Baltimore lost in New England, they were angry. The referees were the culprits. The Patriots had assistance, the advantage, the victory. And Baltimore should have set out on a vengeance as claims of an AFC title preview were calculated into a grand scheme.

The ship sank well before Cincinnati’s bus pulled into Baltimore. Like a good crew, the coaches must have went down with it.

A normally animated, overly aggressive football team, the Baltimore Ravens franchise has become passive. The offense was out of sync without Derrick Mason’s contributions. Long balls were dropped (pun intended) in favor for short, quick screen passes to Ray Rice. Touchdown generating Willis McGahee was absent as was Choo Choo Train LeRon McClain.

In the past, when the offense was down, the defense could always pick it up. This isn’t the case anymore – and it’s not because of the loss of Rex Ryan, Bart Scott, Jim Leohnard…

Baltimore asked for a balanced team, and they received. It’ll breed strong defensive players, assuming the mentality stays the same, and with a couple of deep threats, the offense will be more powerful. Superbowl contention isn’t decided in week five, unless you’re the Redskins.

The Ravens will be strong – not explosive offense strong or top-of-the-line-defense strong; but if the coaches play their cards right, the Ravens will remain a contender.

Long-time, no love...

I realize it's been awhile since I last wrote...ranted...whatever you want to call it.

As a Raven's fan, I'm happy with the first two weeks of the NFL season. McGahee ran through the invisible screen that was the Charger's defense, and Flacco looked pinpoint perfect in the opening drives of week one.

And of course, Ray Lewis has shown that 14 years hasn't worn him down just yet (ask Mr. Sproles).

My original intention was to write a quick blip on the Charger's-Raven's match up, but after seeing facebook updates on Sunday and Monday nights...I've decided to rant instead.

It's week three of the NFL season. The undefeated Titans of last season cannot pull together a win. Cutler threw four interceptions in an opener, and responded with a faultless game the next week. The Jets, under Rex Ryan, have yet to give up an offensive touchdown. And to no surprise, tons of Redskin's fans are already predicting the unemployment of head coach, Jim Zorn.

This is where I, as any other true fan should, get upset at other fans. The Redskins are 1 and 1. That is one win, one loss. A victory at home, a loss on the road against division rival: The Giants.

And here are some of the facebook updates that follow:

bauer that was the most unsatisfying win ever. Why did I have to be born a 'Skins and Terps fan? I essentially watch the same game twice every weekend. Can't wait to lose to the Lions next week.

bauer It's time for Jason Campbell to go....NOW.

berry a wins a win...but come on....9 freakin points and kneeling it with less than 2 min left on the Rams' 2 yd line ...gimme a break

Kinna

We did win but not by skill, we SUCK!

I can see frustration. I understand frustration. When Kyle Boller was starting in purple, I remember Ravens' fans acting this exact same way...just not this early in the season.

But if you're going to be miserable for an entire season, why put yourself through it?

I'll laugh at these jerks when the Skins' offense solidifies and they're contenders for the NFC title.