One day later, no clarity on McAlister situation

Ravens coach John Harbaugh said cornerback Samari Rolle and safety Dawan Landry could return to start Sunday against the Oakland Raiders .

[Jon]

"If we think there's a guy that can do it better, then he'll be out there." Spoken like a coach who wants to win football games. I am sure a lot of the overpriced, under performing players he inherited this season will be gone at the end of this season.

[Boat Rocker]

McAlister got burnt all day against the Colts. He doesn't deserve to start.

[What the F___]

Call it what it is, coach - a benching!

But please don't tell us that Walker is a better option.

[Budafinguz]

"If we think there's a guy that can do it better, then he'll be out there."

...So Walker can do it better?!?!!?! PLEASE. That's some straight up B-U-L-L-S-H-I-T!!!! I can't think of any scenario, no matter how radical and absurd, where Frank Walker gives us a better opportunity to win than C-Mac. I dont care if he got burned every single down last week and single handedly cost us the game, under NO circumstance do you put Walker out there over Mac. Walker wouldn't make most teams' rosters, he gets burned on EVERY SINGLE play, and yet he's starting for the best defensive in the game. Put your ego aside, get your head out of your ass, and coach to WIN, not to show people who's boss. DUMBEST coaching move of the season, and quite frankly, it doesnt get any dumber than replacing a Pro Bowler with a perennial SCRUB. Don't let it happen again!!!!

[Merv]

What the F___ wrote:

Call it what it is, coach - a benching!
But please don't tell us that Walker is a better option.

Exactly. McAlister got lit up like a Christmas tree against the Colts but there is no way Walker is a better player. Actually, Walker is horrible and if left out there, will continually be taken advantage of. My take on the whole thing is that Harbaugh was probably annoyed enough with McAlister's attitude to warrant him being benched. Right from the beginning, he has preached team unity and apparently isn't going to tolerate prima donnas. After getting embarrassed by Peyton Manning & Co., it's possible that McAlister presented a cavalier perspective on how he needs to improve his performance level and Harbaugh acted accordingly. Who knows if we'll ever get the real reason. But whatever it was, it's more than obvious who is in charge and it's refreshing to see.

[Mike B]

McCallister is good when he wants to play, unfirtunaley he doesn't want to play nearly enough to make it worth the while of the Ravens, i agree that a lot of the underperformers will be gone next year , and it is about time!
McCallester will be one of them, I hope this serves notice to the others! Onward & Upward as they say!!!

[BigDaddy]

That is a bunch of crap, our secondary is crap without McAlister. Did he have a bad game last week yes, Frank Walker never had a good one, did you guys see the stats that Miami put up thru the passing game?? I know Haubaugh is trying to make a statement but he better not try that "best player" crap with players who are clearly not the answer. Get soe comnparable talented players then do that.

[BigDaddy]

Budafinguz wrote:

"If we think there's a guy that can do it better, then he'll be out there."
...So Walker can do it better?!?!!?! PLEASE. That's some straight up B-U-L-L-S-H-I-T!!!! I can't think of any scenario, no matter how radical and absurd, where Frank Walker gives us a better opportunity to win than C-Mac. I dont care if he got burned every single down last week and single handedly cost us the game, under NO circumstance do you put Walker out there over Mac. Walker wouldn't make most teams' rosters, he gets burned on EVERY SINGLE play, and yet he's starting for the best defensive in the game. Put your ego aside, get your head out of your ****, and coach to WIN, not to show people who's boss. DUMBEST coaching move of the season, and quite frankly, it doesnt get any dumber than replacing a Pro Bowler with a perennial SCRUB. Don't let it happen again!!!!

GREAT COMMENT!

[Ravens_Flock]

I can agree if what Harbaugh was doing was

A) Resting Chris' knee to keep him fresh down the stretch.

or

B) Sending him a message, to shape up, mentally OR physically, and get on board with his new system or whatever.

But I really don't like what I'm hearing from some Ravens fans. Again, as has been our history for some "fans" for SO many years......I swear to God, Baltimore fans will willingly just throw some of their best players and greatest heroes under the bus over the smallest s**t. They did it to Jamal Lewis, who is as of right now still the best RB we've ever had, one of the best to ever play the game. They do it to Todd Heap, who in a career spanning 8 seasons now, has spent TWO of those years being hampered by injuries he couldn't help. The rest of the time he's here? He's been a Pro Bowl level performer, and one of the best Tight Ends in the league. They wanted to sell Jon Ogden out, THE best Left Tackle to EVER play the game, because he was having problems with his toe. They wanted to sell Derrick Mason out, even though he's THE single best Wide Receiver we've ever had, and honestly on a level with guys like Marvin Harrison, Tory Holt, and Jerry Rice. They call Willis McGahee "lazy", because he's coming off of a knee surgery, even though he carried the damn load for us against Miami, gaining 152 all purpose yards and a TD, even though he was playing in substantial pain. Even though worked hard and earned his first Pro Bowl in his first year with us, even though he was the biggest reason our offense did so well against the Browns this season, in his first game back from surgery. And don't even get me started on how some of our "fans" have treated Ray Lewis, Number 52, THE single greatest linebacker to ever play in the NFL, and THE single greatest player this franchise will ever have.

And now we're doing it to Chris McAlister, who has been nothing but a marvel for us since we drafted him in 1999. He straight up terrorized opponents in 2000, along with Ray and the rest of the D. He's had his "down" years, but when he's "on", he is one of THE best shut-down cover corners in the league. I mean we're talking about a man who in 9 seasons (he's never missed a season), has amassed 382 tackles, 7 fumble recoveries (1 64 yds. for a TD), and 26 career INTs for 486 yds. and 5 TDs, with a total of 103 career passes defensed. This guy is a three time Pro Bowler, and if he can play most of this season the way he did in the first four games, he will likely go to his 4th. This guy has been a warrior for us, and yet "fans" are throwing him under the bus.

Are you kidding me? Yes, Frank Walker and Fabian Washington are MUCH better depth than what we had last year. I've said myself that Washington, with some improvement, could make a really good starter for us in the future. But while we've still got him and he's healthy, we'd be CRAZY not to play McAlister. If we have the chance to finish the season from this point forward with Rolle, Landry, Reed, and McAlister in the backfield, then we absolutely DO that. Washington, Walker, and Ivy are great for options plays and support, fantastic, so are Leonard, Zbikowski and Nakamura. But you start your STARTERS, when they're healthy. If we really do have all those guys back for Sunday's Raiders game, we are going to totally destroy that team. And remember, Colts game aside (where honestly nobody by Ray really played well), C-Mac has been THE best secondary player we have, with 13 tackles, 1 FR, and 3 INTs.

Go Ravens.

[Ferg]

Somebody get me a glass of the Cool Aid Ravens_Flock has been drinking. Must be some good $h!t. Did you honestly just compare Derrick Mason to Jerry Rice and Marvin Harrison?

I understand your point about CMac, but come on, let's not get carried away.

CMac is a shut-down corner, and has been consistent throughout his career. A little bit of a headcase at times, and almost always just a stupid move from a unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. But overall, he's a guy who shuts down his half of the field.

Yes, he got lit up by the Colts. Benching him this week was probably a planned move, knowing that the Dolphins didn't have anyone to *really* take advantage of a purposefully depleted secondary. Yes, they did move the ball well in CMac's absence, but we won the game and maybe this gets the message thru to CMac that he needs to get his head back in the game.

[Mark]

Do some of you people honestly think McAlister was benched because he got burned a few times vs the Colts?

This was CLEARLY a disciplinary move that Harbaugh wants to try to keep in house.

[Henry]

Ravens_Flock wrote:

I can agree if what Harbaugh was doing was
A) Resting Chris' knee to keep him fresh down the stretch.
or
B) Sending him a message, to shape up, mentally OR physically, and get on board with his new system or whatever.
But I really don't like what I'm hearing from some Ravens fans. Again, as has been our history for some "fans" for SO many years......I swear to God, Baltimore fans will willingly just throw some of their best players and greatest heroes under the bus over the smallest s**t. They did it to Jamal Lewis, who is as of right now still the best RB we've ever had, one of the best to ever play the game. They do it to Todd Heap, who in a career spanning 8 seasons now, has spent TWO of those years being hampered by injuries he couldn't help. The rest of the time he's here? He's been a Pro Bowl level performer, and one of the best Tight Ends in the league. They wanted to sell Jon Ogden out, THE best Left Tackle to EVER play the game, because he was having problems with his toe. They wanted to sell Derrick Mason out, even though he's THE single best Wide Receiver we've ever had, and honestly on a level with guys like Marvin Harrison, Tory Holt, and Jerry Rice. They call Willis McGahee "lazy", because he's coming off of a knee surgery, even though he carried the damn load for us against Miami, gaining 152 all purpose yards and a TD, even though he was playing in substantial pain. Even though worked hard and earned his first Pro Bowl in his first year with us, even though he was the biggest reason our offense did so well against the Browns this season, in his first game back from surgery. And don't even get me started on how some of our "fans" have treated Ray Lewis, Number 52, THE single greatest linebacker to ever play in the NFL, and THE single greatest player this franchise will ever have.
And now we're doing it to Chris McAlister, who has been nothing but a marvel for us since we drafted him in 1999. He straight up terrorized opponents in 2000, along with Ray and the rest of the D. He's had his "down" years, but when he's "on", he is one of THE best shut-down cover corners in the league. I mean we're talking about a man who in 9 seasons (he's never missed a season), has amassed 382 tackles, 7 fumble recoveries (1 64 yds. for a TD), and 26 career INTs for 486 yds. and 5 TDs, with a total of 103 career passes defensed. This guy is a three time Pro Bowler, and if he can play most of this season the way he did in the first four games, he will likely go to his 4th. This guy has been a warrior for us, and yet "fans" are throwing him under the bus.
Are you kidding me? Yes, Frank Walker and Fabian Washington are MUCH better depth than what we had last year. I've said myself that Washington, with some improvement, could make a really good starter for us in the future. But while we've still got him and he's healthy, we'd be CRAZY not to play McAlister. If we have the chance to finish the season from this point forward with Rolle, Landry, Reed, and McAlister in the backfield, then we absolutely DO that. Washington, Walker, and Ivy are great for options plays and support, fantastic, so are Leonard, Zbikowski and Nakamura. But you start your STARTERS, when they're healthy. If we really do have all those guys back for Sunday's Raiders game, we are going to totally destroy that team. And remember, Colts game aside (where honestly nobody by Ray really played well), C-Mac has been THE best secondary player we have, with 13 tackles, 1 FR, and 3 INTs.
Go Ravens.

I can agree with a lot of what you just had to say, but the statement about Willis being the reason the Ravens won against the Browns, not sure what game you watched, but there was a guy named McClaine out there that was equal to the task. Give credit where it is due

[Mike]

OMG....Frank Walker coldnt cover himeself if he was streaking naked across Camden Yards....

C-Mac may have been burned in that Colts game....but so was the rest of the D.

The Colts have our number...thats the plain and simple truth of it...but my God...it goes A LOT deeper than C-Mac.

[Richard H]

Just got back from Miami. Go Ravens nice win!

Benching Mcalister is a good idea!! Nice Job coach maybe he will learn to hustle a little bit more or maybe not. I like the approach of lets see who gives us the best opportunity. Nothing is a given in life.

[Jeff]

Frank Walker is the worst player in the NFL.

[Dutch]

Harbaugh is not doing anything other than insulting the intelligence of the fans. He actually expects us to believe that from a total football standpoint that Frank Walker gives us a better chance to win than C-Mac. Is he the only one who hasn't noticed that opppsing teams throw at Walker anytime he is on the field.

[Dubby]

I have been a C-Mac fan through all these years. After Ray Lewis, he has been the most important Ravens defensive player. But, in this situation, I am firmly behind the Coach -- whatever his reasons. There are plenty of football reasons to bench C-Mac for performance. His tackling has been terrible! See the Pittsburgh game, for example. His coverage has been bad too. Again see Steelers and Colts game. And he apparently is not 100% physically. If this was a disciplinary thing, I am OK with that too. This teams still needs lots of discipline. I support Harbaugh on this one all the way.