Harbaugh explains decision in running up the score

The Ravens' 31-13 preseason win over the Kansas City Chiefs ended with some drama when the Ravens chose to throw deep against the Chiefs and then elected to use two timeouts in the final 34 seconds despite leading by 11 points.

The Ravens’ final touchdown came with five seconds.

After the game, Ravens coach John Harbaugh shook hands with Kansas City coach Todd Haley and explained his reasoning behind the final touchdown. According to Harbaugh, Haley said, “I don’t know about that.” Harbaugh then reiterated his decision to get his young players as much work in the preseason as possible.

Harbaugh began his post-game news conference by apologizing to the Chiefs and saying the Ravens would have taken a knee in a regular-season game.

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http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/spor...the_score.html

It's preseason...try everything...

fuck the Steelers were running raze dazzle plays yesterday.

Who cares.

What a putz. :Cry:

You don't practice class, you either have it or you don't. You don't.

I've got ten bucks that says Harbaugh would be whining and crying about it if the shoe were on the other foot.

Todd Haley Berates John Harbaugh
August 19th, 2011 Chris Bach Posted in Baltimore Ravens, Kansas City Chiefs

After John Harbaugh called a timeout with 5 seconds left,the Ravens scored another touchdown to beat the Chiefs 34-13.

Walking off the field, Haley angrily scolded Harbaugh for his perceived bush league move. Harbaugh said to him “those guys are trying to make my team and the game is 60 minutes long.” Harbs then waved his hand at him like “whatever” (WNST).

agree with Haley

classless

It's PRESEASON, guys! It's not like they did this to a 3 win team near the end of the regular season.

For a sport that's supposedly played by tough guys, it's amazing how easily feelings get hurt. :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by The Patriot

It's PRESEASON, guys! It's not like they did this to a 3 win team near the end of the regular season.

For a sport that's supposedly played by tough guys, it's amazing how easily feelings get hurt. :rolleyes:

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Doesn't matter harbaugh will always be classless.....

I don't see the issue. Young guys already lost a lot of time. Don't learn anything by taking a knee.

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Originally Posted by Chidi29

Don't learn anything by taking a knee.

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How about sportsmanship at a higher level?

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Originally Posted by Shoes

How about sportsmanship at a higher level?

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When the evaluations are on the line, when you're trying to learn as much as possible and do something that'll help your team, that goes to the backburner.

If the Chiefs don't like it, stop it. As simple as that.

My, times have changed.......

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Originally Posted by Shoes

My, times have changed.......

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Again, this move had purpose. Like the article said, Cantwell had barely played. He likel wasn't to get much reps next game either. This is when he was going to get a chance to play and you have to take advantage of it.

I suppose every team has players that barely get a chance to play....but I don't recall them playing harbaugh.

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Originally Posted by Shoes

I suppose every team has players that barely get a chance to play....but I don't recall them playing harbaugh.

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And it's their choice to play them or not. If they decide not to, it's on them.

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Originally Posted by Chidi29

And it's their choice to play them or not. If they decide not to, it's on them.

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Indeed....but every coach in the league except harbaugh would have taken the high road......

Because you can certainly learn things by scoring a touchdown in the last 34 seconds by blowing two timeouts against some scrubs that will likely be on the Practice Squad or cut by Week 1. I've certainly learned a lot from this.

Harbaugh reeking of desperation for style points is what I take from it. But complaining about what Harbaugh did is no better. Just take the loss and move on, Haley. It's preseason. As for Harbitch's apology, I don't buy it. If Harbitch wants to play more players, then play them. If this Cantwell dude wants more playing time, put him late in the third quarter or something. That's essentially what preseason is for. Studying who you have coming up the pike. Not everyone is going to get their fair amount of reps.

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Originally Posted by Shoes

Indeed....but every coach in the league except harbaugh would have taken the high road......

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Belichick has run up the score a bunch. And that was in the regular season where he had little to nothing gained.

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Originally Posted by Edman

Because you can certainly learn things by scoring a touchdown in the last 34 seconds by blowing two timeouts. I've certainly learned a lot from this.

Harbaugh reeking of desperation for style points is what I take from it. But complaining about what Harbaugh did is no better. Just take the loss and move on, Haley. It's preseason. As for Harbitch's apology, I don't buy it. If Harbitch wants to play more players, then play them. If this Cantwell dude wants more playing time, put him late in the third quarter or something. That's essentially what preseason is for. Studying who you have coming up the pike. Not everyone is going to get their fair amount of reps.

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It's tough to get fair reps because there are just so many guys. If you have the time and feel like you want to see more, he is well within his right to use it.

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Originally Posted by Chidi29

Belichick has run up the score a bunch. And that was in the regular season where he had little to nothing gained.

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:chuckle: ......I was going to add his name to my above statement but didn't. harbaugh is at the bottom of the stairs....belichick is one step above him.

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Originally Posted by Chidi29

It's tough to get fair reps because there are just so many guys. If you have the time and feel like you want to see more, he is well within his right to use it.

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Yep. And it's well within my right to express my opinion on it, and I think Harbaugh is a douchebag. It's not worth expounding energy, though. It's the damn preseason and Haley is making himself look like a fool.

Plus, Baltimore took over in Kansas City territory. If they started on their own 20, maybe it'd be a different story. Cantwell hadn't thrown a pass yet either. Now Harbaugh has at least something to go off of.

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Originally Posted by polamalubeast

Todd Haley Berates John Harbaugh
August 19th, 2011 Chris Bach Posted in Baltimore Ravens, Kansas City Chiefs

After John Harbaugh called a timeout with 5 seconds left,the Ravens scored another touchdown to beat the Chiefs 34-13.

Walking off the field, Haley angrily scolded Harbaugh for his perceived bush league move. Harbaugh said to him “those guys are trying to make my team and the game is 60 minutes long.” Harbs then waved his hand at him like “whatever” (WNST).

agree with Haley

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That story is total fiction made up by a Baltimore radio station. For starters, it was Harbaugh who went up to Haley trying to explain himself, because he knew what he did was a dick move. Haley didn't seem terribly pleased, but he never came close to "berating" him. All Haley said was "I don't know about that". They kept talking and it seemed fine. The "whatever" handwaving bit is also completely made up.

It's hardly a big deal, but the fact that some in Baltimore are resorting to lying says everything you need to know. Harbaugh made a bush league move, plain and simple.

(For the record, Baltimore was up 2 scores with slightly over a minute to play. The Chiefs failed on 4th down. Baltimore came out and everyone expected a kneel down. Instead, they ran a play action fake and threw a bomb towards the endzone. The receiver caught it but didn't score, so Harbaugh called his timeouts until they ran it in. Harbaugh can talk about needing to evaluate players all day, but the QB in question had just come into the game on that play. If evaluating him was such a concern, wouldn't he have been in the game a bit sooner? And if someone had gotten injured, Harbaugh would have looked like a total fool.

And it may or may not be related, but Harbaugh kept his starters in WELL after the Chiefs' had left and even had Flacco playing into the third quarter against the KC third team defense. It came off like he wanted to get some seperation in the score, which was tied at halftime. And that was before the bit at the end of the game. The funny part is that Flacco couldn't score against the Chiefs' backups.)

I never understood this arguement, I personally think the kneel down is more insulting. Basically your telling a team stop doing your job because we cant stop you, so just come out and kneel down. I have no problem with what harbaugh did, with camp being short and limited practice time due to the new agreement, coaches have limited time to review all these young players while trying to get your starters the number of reps to get them ready. This is not highschool or college football where the talent gap between some teams is huge, this is the nfl , these guys are paid professionals.

I agree with Chidi. For Harbaugh and the Ravens it's the perfect time to practice a 2-minute drill and some
situational live action. Preseason...time to work out all the kinks. If the Chiefs don't like it, stop 'em.

It'd be different if it was the regular season...and trust me...I dislike Harbaugh's whiney ass as much as the next guy.

It's PROFESSIONAL football... a business. The players are paid to do a job. The "high road" is out the window when money and results are involved.

If it was high school or college ball I'd agree with taking a knee and not running up the score. Every player and every team makes money... it isn't about being "polite" anymore. If you don't like the score being run up on you, do your job better and prevent it... don't whine about it.

Eh, Harbaugh is still a jackhole.

tRUE.

No issue here. Its preseason, which is for getting looks at young players. He wanted to get more looks at certain players, so he did. No big deal people.

To be honest I was upset that we took a knee at the end of our last game. Why not keep playing to get looks at guys?

With this being said, if the Chiefs had been in the Rats shoes and done that, Harbaugh would be whining like a bitch...

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Originally Posted by 86WARD

I agree with Chidi. For Harbaugh and the Ravens it's the perfect time to practice a 2-minute drill and some
situational live action. Preseason...time to work out all the kinks. If the Chiefs don't like it, stop 'em.

It'd be different if it was the regular season...and trust me...I dislike Harbaugh's whiney ass as much as the next guy.

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Agree 100 percent. Even if its Hardouchebag on the sidelines. Your bosses dont tell you to do nothing when youre almost out of work. Pre season is work, its never about the score, all about situations and increasing depth. Haley somehow seems to be the victim of the score being ran on him, but whatever.