A few weeks ago Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh and quarterback Joe Flacco had a media love fest each claiming one another was the best or going to be the best to ever step between the sidelines.  Now what happens when Flacco tosses passes only the Buffalo Bills' secondary can catch, you criticize your tight end.  As Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun reports, that is exactly what head coach Harbaugh did.

Baltimore Ravens tight end, Ed Dickson, did allow an accurate Flacco pass to bounce off his hands for one of Flacco's five interceptions against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, but by no means is he the only reason the Ravens' offense is faltering.

In 2011, Dickson caught a career-high 54 passes for 528 yards and five touchdowns but Harbaugh wants results now, telling reporters: 

That’s a long time ago, so I’m hard pressed to make that direct comparison.  The stats kind of speak for themselves as you’re alluding to. He’s not the same player right now than he was then obviously. Ed just needs to go catch the ball. Make it easy: Run fast, get open and catch the football, put it away and get upfield.  That’s all he needs to do. And if he’s thinking about anything besides that, he’s doing himself a disservice. And if he’s lacking confidence for some reason, that’s on him. When you have that kind of talent, those kinds of gifts, go play ball, go show everybody what you’re capable of doing. That’s what I expect to see from Ed.

Those are harsh words and though Dickson has not played all that well so far this season, dropping a handful of passes, he is not the only reason the Ravens are struggling.

To single out one player does the whole team a disservice and puts unnecessary pressure on Dickson.  Harbaugh might have been just answering questions or may have been trying to motivate his TE.  Conversely, he could have just said Dickson needs to play better and left it at that. 

For whatever the reason Harbaugh said what he said, his comments are for the locker room and you and I should never hear about them. 

Harbaugh made a mistake but it is not his fault, and it sure is not Flacco’s fault.  Maybe it is one of the running backs.


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