Raven's Harbaugh, about face...

In his final conference:

John Harbaugh is still a little baffled by the New England Patriots’ four-offensive lineman formations. The Ravens head coach fell victim to some tricky offensive sets from Patriots coach Bill Belichick in Baltimore’s 35-31 divisional-round playoff loss, and after the game, Harbaugh said the formations were “clearly deception” and that “the (NFL) will look at that type of thing.” But Harbaugh told reporters Tuesday that his issue was with the officiating, not the formations themselves. “My thoughts are the same as they were during the game and after the game,” Harbaugh said, per The Baltimore Sun’s Jon Meoli. “It was about the mechanics of the officiating. I never had an issue with the formation, never even brought that up. It wasn’t about the formation at all. “I had a chance to talk to (referee) Bill Vinovich during the game, and he addressed it. He said that was right. There’s a certain timing that goes with that, in terms of the referee getting back into position to referee the game. The ball was snapped so quickly that he didn’t have a chance to do that. … Bill was great about it. He said he would slow it down.” Harbaugh went on to say that while he did call the league about the officiating, he didn’t believe it had an effect on the game’s outcome. “I thought it was well handled, and talking to the league afterward, since then, (vice president of officiating) Dean (Blandino) has told me it’s being looked at, and the mechanics are being looked at, and some changes will have to be made,” Harbaugh said. “In no way did I think it determined the outcome of the game. I was asked about it, and I answered.”

Read more at: http://nesn.com/2015/01/john-harbaugh-issue-with-patriots-four-ol-plays-was-with-officiating/

Funny thing is Pagano said that "Officials aren’t going to slow the thing down and let you get lined up so to speak. We have to be prepared for everything obviously.”

Yeah, by "clearly deception" he meant the referee not having time to get set.

That's not an about-face, that's a pretend-like-you-never-said-anything-so-stupid-to-begin-with-and-hope-everybody-falls-for-it. Weak. He really ought to be apologizing for giving the impression that his worthy opponent bent the rules.

He still didn't man up. That Ravens D may be all men, but they're coached by a crybaby boy. Without Ray to keep them in check, motivate them, preach to them and lead them down the right path, they lost their leader of men. Actually I take that back, without Ray, they will all turn back into child men. Ray Rice, Steve Smith, Suggs....the list goes on.

I actually have to give Ray even more props now. I thought a lot of that inspirational talk may have been for show, but there was definitely something to it. Suggs won't and can't replace him. He will sooner turn them from a disciplined, smart, fearsome defense into the Lions than take over the reigns. And that showed on Saturday too. We may have not gotten away with 3 of those plays in a row, with Ray Lewis still back there. He would have at least called a freaking time out when he noticed something wasn't right.

Attn: John Harbaugh,
Re: Post-game press conferences


Dear Mr. Harbaugh,

Think. Then speak.


Signed,
Everyone

He clearly said in the post-game conference that he believed it was "illegal".
Now he says he has no issue with the formations.

I generally think we should give players and coaches a little slack for their statements immediately after a loss, particularly a playoff loss. The top guys like BB and yes Harbaugh put a lot into it. A loss in the playoffs it is literally 11 and 1/2 months of work ending in a moment and I think it would be fine to give these guys a day to get it together and then talk to the press, although I know it will never work this way. It is one of the reason I have no problem with BB refusing to talk to a reporter on the field after a loss or when he gives the stock "we have to do everything better - coach , play offense, defense and special teams" . And yes, I think that BB's boilerplate is better than Harbaugh spouting off incorrectly like he did. I am simply willing to give coaches and players the benefit of the doubt when the have to face a bunch of reporters immediately after a tough defeat.

BB4PRez said:

I generally think we should give players and coaches a little slack for their statements immediately after a loss, particularly a playoff loss. The top guys like BB and yes Harbaugh put a lot into it. A loss in the playoffs it is literally 11 and 1/2 months of work ending in a moment and I think it would be fine to give these guys a day to get it together and then talk to the press, although I know it will never work this way. It is one of the reason I have no problem with BB refusing to talk to a reporter on the field after a loss or when he gives the stock "we have to do everything better - coach , play offense, defense and special teams" . And yes, I think that BB's boilerplate is better than Harbaugh spouting off incorrectly like he did. I am simply willing to give coaches and players the benefit of the doubt when the have to face a bunch of reporters immediately after a tough defeat.

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Yeah but it's only in those moments that they can show their true colors. After they calm down and think about it, they get all PC.

PatriotSeven said:

He still didn't man up. That Ravens D may be all men, but they're coached by a crybaby boy. Without Ray to keep them in check, motivate them, preach to them and lead them down the right path, they lost their leader of men. Actually I take that back, without Ray, they will all turn back into child men. I actually have to give Ray even more props now. I thought a lot of that inspirational talk may have been for show, but there was definitely something to it.

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You mean this Ray Lewis?

Tunescribe said:

You mean this Ray Lewis?

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Hey you need a conman to keep the prison in check. It's true. It was that fear that did it in the first place. They knew if they didn't get their **** together, he had the capability...and I think that event for Ray, whatever really happened, really did put the fear of God in him and has walked a damn straight line ever since. Give him credit that he saw the error of his ways and didn't turn into Hernandez. That idiot, never saw the light and ended up killing, quite likely, again.

BB4PRez said:

I generally think we should give players and coaches a little slack for their statements immediately after a loss, particularly a playoff loss. The top guys like BB and yes Harbaugh put a lot into it. A loss in the playoffs it is literally 11 and 1/2 months of work ending in a moment and I think it would be fine to give these guys a day to get it together and then talk to the press, although I know it will never work this way. It is one of the reason I have no problem with BB refusing to talk to a reporter on the field after a loss or when he gives the stock "we have to do everything better - coach , play offense, defense and special teams" . And yes, I think that BB's boilerplate is better than Harbaugh spouting off incorrectly like he did. I am simply willing to give coaches and players the benefit of the doubt when the have to face a bunch of reporters immediately after a tough defeat.

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I can understand your statement, and, sure, it can be forgiven.
But, Harbaugh never said he "misspoke", days later, and he modified his arguments to fit his "I am always right" attitude.

BB4PRez said:

I generally think we should give players and coaches a little slack for their statements immediately after a loss, particularly a playoff loss.

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I would be cutting him plenty of slack if his statement today apologized for giving the wrong impression in the heat of the moment, and made it clear that the Patriots formation was perfectly legit. Instead he weaseled and insisted that he never said anything wrong when he falsely accused his opponent of ILLEGAL play. He's deliberately leaving that slanderous impression.

When Patriots lose, BillB will always say "we got outplayed and outcoached".

PatriotSeven said:

Hey you need a conman to keep the prison in check. It's true. It was that fear that did it in the first place. They knew if they didn't get their **** together, he had the capability...and I think that event for Ray, whatever really happened, really did put the fear of God in him and has walked a damn straight line ever since. Give him credit that he saw the error of his ways and didn't turn into Hernandez. That idiot, never saw the light and ended up killing, quite likely, again.

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Yeah. Give Ray credit for seeing the error of his ways after getting away with brutally killing two guys.

Harbaugh implied cheating by the Pats. He is dead to me.

Tunescribe said:

Yeah. Give Ray credit for seeing the error of his ways after getting away with brutally killing two guys.

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Yeah repentance, if you believe in that. If you don't then you might as well fry every single person on earth that ever does it, no questions asked, and never offer second chances.

Either way, I don't think that undermines his ability to lead the Ravens defense. Like I said, if anything, it probably bolstered his chances and gave him legitimacy.

PatriotSeven said:

Yeah repentance, if you believe in that. If you don't then you might as well fry every single person on earth that ever does it, no questions asked, and never offer second chances.

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For murderers that's pretty much how it goes, isn't it? I saw a report a while back about the mother of one of the victims who believes Ray did it and hasn't found closure. I doubt Ray's getting religion was of any solace to her.

But I suppose that since he walked, there's not much more you could hope for from him than walking a straight line.

He clearly stated that he believed the Pats were trying to bend the rules. In reality, he just didn't know what to do when it comes down to it. He was panicked and he could have called a time out to talk to the refs. Instead, he gets a penalty after walking onto the field that furthered the Patriots field position... he clearly got outcoached and is trying to save face. What was the point of taking the penalty? He said it was to get the refs attention... so you cost your team a penalty?

Tunescribe said:

For murderers that's pretty much how it goes, isn't it? I saw a report a while back about the mother of one of the victims who believes Ray did it and hasn't found closure. I doubt Ray's getting religion was of any solace to her.

But I suppose that since he walked, there's not much more you could hope for from him than walking a straight line.

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I don't know about that. Depends where you are. Here sure, but had something like that happened in some countries, like in Europe he could have gotten as little as 8 years...and I doubt that would have turned him into a better man than whatever it is he found inside himself.

Killers and criminals deserve to be placed in jail, and we do it in the hopes of them seeing the error of their ways. But let's be honest, very few come out better than when they go in if they ever get out, and even fewer see the error of their ways, and only the smallest of fraction ever turn into becoming productive members of societies. But I think for a few, the fear of losing everything in the aftermath of something like that, makes them change their life, realize they have broken their own principles or beliefs, and scares the living **** into staying that way, especially if they get away with it, feeling ever remorseful, and wanting to make up for it by thinking God(they do often get religious) gave them a second chance. Not everyone has those self-regulating principles, but I think for a special few that can be a bigger motivator than any number of years in prison you could give them. I think if you believe he did it, you could still make an argument that was the case, at least so far, with Lewis. The rest who get away with it, just end up there sooner or later anyway. So if he's not for real, chances are he'll end up there like O.J. eventually did anyway. Hopefully it won't cost anyone else a life. And yes, I understand that is the biggest problem, but it is what it is I guess.

BB4PRez said:

I generally think we should give players and coaches a little slack for their statements immediately after a loss, particularly a playoff loss. The top guys like BB and yes Harbaugh put a lot into it. A loss in the playoffs it is literally 11 and 1/2 months of work ending in a moment and I think it would be fine to give these guys a day to get it together and then talk to the press, although I know it will never work this way. It is one of the reason I have no problem with BB refusing to talk to a reporter on the field after a loss or when he gives the stock "we have to do everything better - coach , play offense, defense and special teams" . And yes, I think that BB's boilerplate is better than Harbaugh spouting off incorrectly like he did. I am simply willing to give coaches and players the benefit of the doubt when the have to face a bunch of reporters immediately after a tough defeat.

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People need to be held responsible for what they say. I'm tired of people being held to one standard and some another. If BB said something like that he'd be murdered in the press. Period.

Harbaugh is a highly successful, educated man. Quite frankly, I give him even less slack b/c he damn well knows better than to blurt out rubbish one day and have amnesia the next.

robertweathers said:

Harbaugh is a highly successful, educated man. Quite frankly, I give him even less slack b/c he damn well knows better than to blurt out rubbish one day and have amnesia the next.

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I must respond to "highly successful, educated man" using a video by DEVO....