Quoth The Raven: Harbaugh Opens Big Fat Yap
By Brian Miller
Edgar Allen Poe never thought that his time standing poem “The Raven” would eventually lead him to an NFL moniker, but it did. The Baltimore Ravens even named their mascot “Poe”. Maybe they should shut up and quoth the Raven nevermore. Yesterday, head coach Jim Harbaugh opened up his big fat yap and out came the sputtering crude of billboard material that has some Miami Dolphins players seething over the remarks.
It’s obvious that this week brings some extra attention and some extra tension when the Ravens walk out onto the field at Dolphins Stadium. Last season the Ravens were the only club on the Phins schedule to lose.
The final OT toss to Greg Camarillo was replayed most of the remaining weeks and through the off-season and the downturn for Baltimore cost their head coach a job when the season finally ended.
The season ended and Cam Cameron was fired. He would be hired by the Ravens as their new offensive co-ordinator. The remaining members of last years Miami Dolphins have been warned by the coaches to not speak out regarding their former coach or the issues that played out internally last season. A Jason Taylor tiff that lasted all season. A Joey Porter team meeting dress down of Cameron, the Keith Traylor incident that resulted in him being sent home suspended and ultimately quitting football. The list goes on. Now, a year later, Cameron returns to the scene of his one and only head coaching gig. He faces a team that has already doubled their win totals from last season.
Enter Jim Harbaugh.
"”He was an effective coach down in Miami last year, even though the results weren’t what people were hoping for, He did a great job there with what he had to work with.”"
O.k., it’s not some earth shattering remark, but given the tension and onus that played out last season with the remaining team members, and you have to wonder what he was thinking. The last thing you want to do is provide a reeling team with any ammunition as they prepare for you, let alone a group of individuals who sat embarrassed each and every weekend from their coaches fallibilities.
Greg Camarillo said that he took that as a personal slant to himself. Vonnie Holiday laughed and said “what WE had to work with” denying the reporters any opportunity to goad him into opening up that can of worms. RB Ronnie Brown said that he was on the offensive side of the ball and took offense to that, saying, “I will show them what I can do”.
Then there is Joey Porter. Porter stood in the team meaning and ripped into Cameron prior to the last game of the season following the departure and suspension of Keith Traylor. This time around, Joey P. had nothing to say. “You’re looking for me to get mad about that? Not going to happen”.
While Joey took a higher road than he usually travels, it’s obvious that the return of Cam Cameron will not be one met with warmth and hugs at the 50 yard line during warm-ups. Lucky for Cameron he will be in the coaches box and not on the field.
The Baltimore Ravens rank 25th overall in offense. 29th in passing and 7th in rushing. Their defense is the number 1 ranked defense in the league coming it at number 1 in rushing and passing. The Dolphins will have their hands full for sure. However, this is a game the Phins should win and adding any fuel to that fire is not smart…quoth the Raven, nevermore.