There’s very little I’ll ever agree upon with Baltimore Sun columnist Mike Preston. You don’t need formal training in journalism to know that the majority of his takes and opinions on the Ravens are constructed out of a nagging envy of the star defensive players on the Ravens team.
But there is one compliment that I will always afford him. He has access.
His latest revelations on the number of veterans that will be out of Charm City next year as a result of head coach John Harbaugh’s tough coaching style are not surprising to say the least. Some are well known in the area, and show on game day. Chris McAlister is inactive for the season, and Willis McGahee makes an appearance about every three weeks.
But others like Ed Reed, Todd Heap and Samari Rolle are indeed surprising, because it seems like they are the players who would be most receptive to a style that so far, has yielded positive results on the field. The Ravens are challenging for a division title, are the favorite for the AFC Wild Card, and have reinvented themselves as an offensive unit.
And, the defense is still pretty good.
Yet, there are reports that several members of the team feel disrespected by Harbaugh’s approach, and have publicly and privately said as much. I’ll leave any charges of “the players should get over it and man up,” to grumpy old white men who moonlight a sports psychologists, because elite level players who have proven their dedication and ability don’t need a hard-nosed approach.
At the same time, there is a benefit to Harbaugh running the show like a college program. Accountability, especially in front of teammates and coaches, can produce desirable results. And that’s what this season has yielded. If the Ravens were 4-8, there would have been at least two deactivations and possibly a trade. Instead, there is real talk about playoff contention and beyond.
Besides, the last time we heard about strained relationships between players and a new head coach, it turned out pretty well after a couple of seasons. And with this blend of veterans and new leadership, it could happen even quicker in Baltimore.
Ultimately, both sides will even each other out. Every press conference, every game and every headline is another scene in Harbaugh’s audition for his next coaching job. For the Ravens’ vets, they are fully aware that the window of opportunity is being pried open with every big play. The two sides will get it right, and will emerge with the look of professionalism draped all around them for it.
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