Ravens fined for comments
Four Ravens players were fined by the NFL for their actions and comments regarding the officiating in Monday night's game against the Patriots.
The league announced today that LB Bart Scott was fined $25,000 for verbally abusing an official and throwing a penalty flag into the stands. Meanwhile, CB Samari Rolle, CB Chris McAlister, and WR Derrick Mason were fined $15,000 each for publicly questioning the integrity of the officiating.
“This is about the importance of sportsmanship and respecting the integrity of our game,” NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations Ray Anderson said in a statement released by the league. “We do not tolerate inappropriate conduct between teams and game officials. This includes reminding game officials that they are to conduct themselves at all times as professionals in their dealings with players, coaches, and other club personnel.”
Anderson met with Scott and Rolle in Baltimore before issuing the fines.
“Last Monday night’s game was well officiated,” Anderson said, “and it is the obligation of both players and coaches to maintain proper respect for game officials at all times.”
Ravens coach Brian Billick also commented in a statement:
"As I said earlier this week, our actions were not appropriate near the end of our game against the Patriots. We, our players and coaches, understand and accept the fines levied by Commissioner Goodell. We believe in the integrity of NFL officials and don't believe they, in any way, favored the Patriots with their calls.
"As a team, we've discussed a number of times about not speaking publicly about any unhappiness we have with the officials. As emotional as the end of Monday's game was, I should have reminded the players of that in our post-game meeting. That's my mistake. We do appreciate the extra step taken by the Commissioner's Office when Ray Anderson came here yesterday to talk with some of our players."
“Last Monday night’s game was well officiated,” Anderson said, “and it is the obligation of both players and coaches to maintain proper respect for game officials at all times.”
Well that's not true, there were lots of uncalled penalties. Still, I'm glad those idiots were fined.
I could not disagree more with the way some of the Ravens players behaved after that game. The only problem I have with the league's rationale for the fines is that it made it seem like the fines were at least partially the result of post-game comments made by the players to the press. Even if they are completely wrong and unprofessional, shouldn't they be able to speak their minds in a public forum without getting penalized?
I thought they should have suspended Bart Scott for 1 game for throwing the refs flag in the stands. Completely unacceptable and slightly dangerous to the fans attending. A very bad precedent to allow that type of behavior.
Remember when the Cleveland O Lineman hurt his eye from a flag hitting it.
It's probably remote that someone would actually get hurt but it's clearly unacceptable and rare behavior.
If a New England Patriot had done the same thing I guarantee Goodell would have suspended that player.
Bart Scott should be suspended for a game.
Fines are not going to do nothing with these guys. $25k/15k is just a little piece of bling bling ear ring to them.
In the heat of the moment it;s easy to make mistakes. Everyone loves to win and it's great that we won the game and the battle of the flags.
What does a player have to do to get ejected from a N.F.L. game? Bart Scott verbally abuses an official and throws a penalty flag into the stands and not only doesn't get suspended but doesn't even get tossed from the game. $25,000? Pocket change. He wins.
Fact is that there were so many missed calls by the officials that when they finial y started getting them right the Raven's thought they were entitled to get away with blatant penalties.
hahah...You're and idiot, you don't think they looked over that game noticed a bunch of missed calls and then said, this was a well-officiated game?? You make no sense. I'm guessing you are one of the recliner referees right?
Well officiated? I can only imagine what the game would have looked like if it was badly officiated.
As always there was penalties, for both teams, called and not called. This happens every week all over the nfl, not just pats games. The problem is, right now, those are the only games anyone wants to talk about. And the calls everyone seemed to be complaining about were spot on.
MONDAY'S GAME WAS POORLY OFFCIATED THAT THEY COULD HAVE CALLED ANOTHER 25 PENALTIES..IT WAS THE DIRTIEST PLAYED GAME ALL YEAR AND THE OFFICIALS LET IT GET OUT OF HAND.SOMETIMES YOU JUST CAN'T LET THE BOYS PLAY...BOB
Before the fines were handed out. The Ravens players said the coach told them all calls would be for the Patriots. I don’t know where they get info like this. Bill must have stolen the Indy game tape before they saw it. Look around at anything NFL related. The biggest story since spygate was the blue print of how to beat us. Everyone wants to see this team lose. It’s not a delusion of mine listen to the guys in the booth on game day.
The ravens had that game won. Anyboby who thinks the officiating didnt go in favor of tha pats (especially in the last minute or so) probabley gets a woody just watching brady play. Im glad the ravens players decided to step up, unlike so many other players fed up with the terrible ref jobs this year, and speak their minds. I am not a pats fan or a ravens fan, just someone who expects to see a fairly called game. On another note i hope the defensive cordinator who called the time out heard around the world was fired shortly after the game.
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