Titans D-Coordinator: We’re Going To Hurt Ravens

The Steelers are wrongfully accusing the Ravens of committing illegal chop blocks in last Sunday’s 35-7 win.



Pittsburgh players apparently don’t understand the rule.

But, Titans defensive coordinator Jerry Gray didn’t get that message. He seems to be under the impression that the Steelers’ accusations are accurate.

Under that assumption, he is ready to fight back.

“They’re trying to cut you and do those things,” Gray said, per John Glennon of The Tennessean. “You’ve got to make sure you’re doing something that’s hopefully going to hurt them, too.

“You can’t just be the recipient of everything. You’ve got to start doing something that’s going to get you back on track and hopefully they’ll tone that stuff down when you do something else.”

Yikes.

Hopefully things don’t get out of control. And the league will likely make it clear that they had better not.

“The NFL surely won’t be happy with that kind of candor,” wrote PFT.com’s Mike Florio. ”Legal tactics that may injure an opponent is one thing. Deliberately trying to injure an opponent is another.

“Look for the NFL to let the Titans know — swiftly — that any evidence of attempts to injure other players will be met with significant discipline.”

Big Ben Gives Suggs Pre-Snap Winks

While a guest on The Rich Eisen podcast, Terrell Suggs confirmed what we all expect from a Ravens-Steelers clash: there’s a lot of trash talk going on between plays.

But in Sunday’s smack down, Suggs said the chatter only lasted for so long.

“Once we started to pull away, the chirping stopped,” he said. “They were just trying to get out of there healthy.”

When asked with whom he chirps the most, Suggs first identified “Big Willie” Colon, the Steelers right tackle who underwent surgery this week to repair a torn right triceps muscle sustained while battling Suggs and Co. in a losing effort.

But then Suggs took his answer back.

“Oh, no. That’s a lie,” he said.

“I chirp with Ben [Roethlisberger] the most. Me and him, we definitely talk all the time before the snap. If you look on film, on some film you can see me tell him, ‘I’m coming!’

“And he’ll just wink back.”

“Is that right?” a laughing and surprised Eisen asked. “He’ll give you a wink? A pre-snap wink?”

(We need that film, Suggs. If you could post it on your Twitter account or on YouTube, it’d be much appreciated.)

That wasn’t all T-Sizzle revealed.

Just like everyone else, Suggs heard Steelers linebacker LaMarr Woodley’s infamous prediction that quarterback Joe Flacco will never win a Super Bowl “in this lifetime.”

Suggs was ready to confront Woodley, but “we couldn’t find him. I think he got out of there too quick.”

Here’s the link to the entire podcast, it’s definitely worth your time if you’re looking for a chuckle or two.

I don’t want to spoil too much of the ending, but there was talk of “rap beefs” for Tom Brady, snakes, tea cup amusement park rides, and the 6-foot-3, 260-pound linebacker being afraid of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.”

Oh and you have to listen to Suggs actually get Eisen to rub his bald head – pretending it is a crystal ball – while repeating, ”Sizzle need to ball out,” and “Sizzle got to get some stats.”

Polamalu $15,000 Fine Excessive?

The NFL fined Steelers safety Troy Polamalu $15,000, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, but apparently it wasn’t for Polamalu’s scuffle with Ray Rice and several other Ravens, as one might expect.

Instead it was for his horse-collar tackle on Ravens running back Ricky Williams at the end of a 36-yard run late in the third quarter.

“It definitely wasn’t on purpose,” Polamalu told the Tribune-Review. “I’ve never intentionally tried to horse collar anybody.”

ESPN’s Jamison Hensley said the penalty seemed excessive.

“Yes, a horse-collar tackle can potentially end a player’s career,” he wrote. “But many times, it’s the result of a defender desperately trying to grab onto anything to bring down the ball-carrier.”

Hensley pointed out that Polamalu doesn’t have a history of making horse-collar tackles and past offenders only received $5,000 to $7,500 fines for making the same illegal tackle. Packers cornerback Charles Woodson was fined $5,000 less for throwing a punch.

“Perhaps Polamalu’s fine is for a combination of actions and not solely for the horse-collar tackle. Polamalu got into a scuffle during the game with Ravens running back Ray Rice, and both players ended up on the ground. The NFL announces its fines on Friday, so this matter should be cleared up in the afternoon.”

That also means we will find out if anyone else from Sunday’s matchup will be fined for their involvement in the fracas or any other illegal plays.

UPDATE: We now have the news on all the fines assessed for Sunday’s game. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Steelers cornerback Ike Taylor was fined $15,000 for head butting tackle Michael Oher. Polamalu’s fine was just for the horse-collar tackle; the scrum did not play a part in his fine. In fact, Ravens linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo was fined for the same amount of money for the same penalty.

Suggs and Flacco on ESPN’s MVP Watch

Mike Sando published a list of 10 players he believes made early bids to become the league’s MVP.

Both Flacco (No. 4) and Suggs (No. 9) made a case for the honor, says Sando.

Flacco threw three touchdowns passes without turning the ball over, and completed third-down passes of 13, 25 and 11 yards.

“This spot is arguably too high for Flacco given his overall credentials, but beating the division-rival Steelers so convincingly in the opener had the potential to become a watershed moment,” Sando wrote.

Suggs became the Ravens’ all-time sack leader after taking down Roethlisberger three times. He also caused two fumbles.

“No defensive player has won MVP honors since Lawrence Taylor back in 1986,” Sando noted. “Suggs’ three sacks were instrumental in the Ravens’ victory over the Steelers in Week 1. Suggs reached double-digit sacks last season for the first time since 2004. Collecting three in the opener gives him a very good shot at reaching that milestone in back-to-back seasons for the second time in his career. ”

Ravens Sweep Week 2 Picks

What statement can the Ravens make after such a dominant victory last week?

“That they are a mature enough team to avoid a major letdown,” says The Baltimore Sun’s Jeff Zrebiec.

Here is a roundup of experts’ predictions for this Week 2 matchup. I couldn’t find anybody who would take the Titans.

Baltimore Sun: Seven of seven pick the Ravens over the Titans

ESPN: Eight of eight pick the Ravens over the Titans

SI.com’s Peter King: Ravens 30, Titans 20

USA Today: Eight of eight pick the Ravens over the Titans

Yahoo! Sports: Three of three pick the Ravens over the Titans

PFT.com: Two out of two pick the Ravens over the Titans

CBSSports.com: Five out of five pick the Ravens over the Titans

Picks total: Ravens 34, Titans 0

Lewis, Reed Deliver Motivational Speeches To Hurricanes

Ray Lewis and Ed Reed went back to their alma mater to motivate young football players. Reed talks about the importance of team here, while Lewis talks about the power of respect below:

Quick Hits