Ravens ‘Hard Knocks’ Rumors Swirling

HBO “Hard Knocks” rumors are swirling again.



And the Ravens are caught up in the storm.

The network may be interested in Baltimore as a two-team documentary featuring John Harbaugh and his brother, Jim, with the San Francisco 49ers, according to FOXSports.com.

Neither HBO nor the Ravens have confirmed the rumors.

“I am not aware of any request in regards to ‘Hard Knocks,’” Ravens Director of Media Relations Chad Steele told The Baltimore Sun yesterday. “That decision would be made at the ownership level.”

The Ravens may not have been contacted yet because the “Harbros” pitch doesn’t appear to be the network’s first choice.

Apparently the Denver Broncos, with newly signed quarterback Peyton Manning, already turned down an offer to be featured on the show. And it looks like the New York Jets and HBO have mutual interest in teaming up … well, the franchise has interest, but Head Coach Rex Ryan reportedly does not.

The FoxSports.com story did not mention the Atlanta Falcons as a possibility for the reality show, but late last night, Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com reported that HBO offered the Falcons the starring role this season.

An HBO spokesman declined to comment on the report, and it is unknown whether the Falcons are interested.

The Ravens were the first team to ever appear on “Hard Knocks.” They were featured in 2001, the season following their Super Bowl XXXV victory. (You can still watch full episodes on hulu.com.)

That was more than a decade ago, and Harbaugh was not the head coach at the time.

The question remains whether he and his brother would be interested in opening up their facility doors for cameras to get an exclusive look as they prepare for another Super Bowl run.

“I would be shocked if the Ravens agreed to be on the show,” wrote ESPN’s Jamison Hensley. “When the Ravens were on ‘Hard Knocks’ 11 years ago, their head coach was Brian Billick, who never minded the media attention and actually seemed to enjoy it.

“The same can’t be said for John Harbaugh, who seems uncomfortable when the local media shoot parts of the open media viewing of practice. That’s why I can’t see Harbaugh signing off on cameras in meeting rooms and having it broadcast on national TV.”

Harbaugh: Our Job Is To Prove Flacco’s No. 1

Harbaugh believes Joe Flacco’s comments last week about being the best quarterback in the league were taken out of context (and they were – he was speaking theoretically that all players should believe they are the best).

Despite all that, Harbaugh said he stands by his quarterback and believes it’s his job to help Flacco prove he is the best.

“I will stand behind him and I think I understood what he was saying but sometimes you shrug your shoulders and you just have to laugh and say ‘all right let’s go prove it then,’” Harbaugh told 105.7 The Fan yesterday, as transcribed by SportsRadioInterviews.com. “If that’s how we feel about it, then let’s go prove it. Let’s make them acknowledge that.

“We have not obviously done that yet, and I think that’s what Joe is saying, so I’m going to work as hard as I can so that a year or two or three from now the rest of the world can actually say ‘you know what maybe he was right, maybe he is the best quarterback out there.’ That’s our job, that’s Joe’s job and that’s what we need to work on doing.”

Until the Ravens are able to prove Flacco’s the best, Harbaugh acknowledged that while his quarterback could find a way to dodge media questions about where he ranks, he admires his confidence and honesty.

“He’s not really interested, I don’t think, in finessing an answer in a way that we all [want], we know what he was saying but then they parse it and take the part and say ‘Joe Flacco thinks he’s the best quarterback in football,’” Harbaugh said. “Joe Flacco is working to be the best quarterback in football and in his mind he’s capable of being that. That’s what he is saying.

“Joe is Joe, we do talk to him about [answering questions], but you have to love Joe, you have to love his mindset, his attitude, he’s a fierce competitor, I’ve always said that and he’s our quarterback and I love the guy.”

Harbaugh Believes Reed Can Play Many More Years

Ed Reed made headlines last week when he said he wasn’t getting the respect he deserves and would like a new contract. He is heading into the final year (reportedly worth $7.2 million) of his current deal.

Harbaugh was asked whether he was concerned about Reed’s comments.

“Obviously we have utmost respect for Ed. He and I have a tremendous relationship,” Harbaugh said. “We’ve been texting back and forth, it’s been really positive, I know he is working really hard because he always does and last year I thought he was in the best shape of his whole career, at least the career I’ve seen, the last four years let me say that.”

Given his recent injury history (neck, shoulder, hip) and flirting with retirement in recent years, Reed surprised media and fans when he told journalists in Miami that he can play another four or five years.

Harbaugh believes that is a realistic option and the business side of it will fall into place.

“He was in tremendous shape, he played very, very well, and I agree with him, I think he has plenty of years left to play and the rest of it is part of the business and that’s part of the way it goes,” Harbaugh said. “That stuff has a way of working itself out so I’m not worried about it that way.”

Webb Believes He’s A Top-5 CB

Lardarius Webb, who recently signed a five-year extension (six years total) reportedly worth $50 million, told Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun that he considers himself one of the top five corners in the NFL.

And while the former third-round pick out of Nicholls State recognizes he needs to be consistent over an extended period of time to be considered among the elite, Webb has his sights set high.

“There are plenty of things that I can do better,” Webb told The Sun. “I can be an All Pro. I can make the Pro Bowl. I can get nine [interceptions]. There are a lot of things that I can do to improve my game. Money doesn’t change what I want to be in life. I want to go to Canton. I want to be the best to ever play cornerback for the Baltimore Ravens.”

Webb added that the Ravens starting secondary, featuring Ed Reed, Bernard Pollard, Jimmy Smith and Cary Williams, is the best in the league.

Analysts aren’t quite ready to crown Webb as top-5 talent or the Ravens secondary as the best, but they aren’t arguing against it either.

“Opinions will vary on whether Webb’s correct, although the Ravens certainly belong in the discussion based on their play in 2011,” wrote PFT.com’s Josh Alper. “Credit for some of the secondary’s success must be given to the front seven, since rushing the passer and stopping the run combine to make life easier for defensive backs, but it was a very good unit on its own merits.

“If Smith and Williams do take the step forward that Webb presumes they will, it is going to be very tough although that growth isn’t set in stone. We’ve seen players regress after strong seasons in the past, and even Webb has just one full year as a starter under his belt. It was an excellent season, but the key to success in the NFL is repetition and the Ravens need to do that in order to be the best.”

Rice Knocked Out Of ‘Madden 13′ Vote

Ravens fans no longer have to worry about a potential “Madden Curse” on Ravens running back Ray Rice.

He was knocked out of the “Madden 13″ cover vote by Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who earned 55 percent of the vote. Rodgers moves on to the semi-finals of the tournament, taking on Lions receiver Calvin Johnson. The other semi-finalists are Panthers quarterback Cam Newton and 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis.

Rice outperformed expectations, beating Bengals receiver A.J. Green in Round 1 and then Saints quarterback Drew Brees by two percentage points.

“So there goes the dream of the AFC North repeating on the Madden cover,” wrote Hensley. “Cleveland’s Peyton Hillis was the face of Madden last year.

“Wait, considering what happened to Hillis, maybe it’s good news for Rice that he didn’t advance. Like Hillis, he could’ve ended up with strep throat or getting married in Arkansas. For all of my Razorback readers, you know I was joking about the last part.”

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