It's Never About the Fall...

This week I'm looking for complete togetherness as a team, bringing everything together...offense, defense, and special teams. We should go take care of the business that we need to take care of. We're playing against some young ball clubs coming up, and the 49ers are a very good team, they're young in a lot of different places and we need to play like the veteran club we are. We need to go establish that we are a team to be reckoned with. And that's getting a win on the road for the first time this year. Message of the Week: It's never about the fall. What is your mindset thru the journey. Character is found thru adversity. Because the season is young, you have to ask yourself as a team, 'What's the big picture?' And the big picture is Arizona [Super Bowl XLII]. When you find yourself in a hole, whatever the hole may be, when you find yourself losing a game like we lost to Cleveland, giving them the game the way we did, you have to understand everybody's going to go through that. Everybody's going to go through a downside. But the bottom line is, what do you do when you come back to practice? Do you worry about what you messed up in Cleveland, or do you say, 'When I come to practice I'm going to get better.' As a team, we've got to understand one thing: OK, we lost. We're 2-2, let's deal with it. And that's why my message is what it was. You can stay stuck in misery, you can stay stuck in doubt, you can stay stuck in fear. But, when you've got your eye on the prize, there's only one thing that matters, and that's the next week...win, lose or draw. So that's why it is what it is. What is your mindset? Do I come back to work and get better, to understand that this is a 16-game season? And in the first-quarter of this season, we're at .500. Here we go. Same thing last year, [after] we started off 4-0, we lost 2 in a row and it was perceived that everything was wrong with us. We couldn't score, defense couldn't get anything done -- we finished 13-3. I have been on both sides of things... I've started off hot, I've started off cold...but, the thing is to get the kinks out now. Because late in November and December, that's when you need everything clicking. So, if I had to do it all over again, I wouldn't change anything. Of course you want to win, but if you do lose and you find yourself in a difficult position, how encouraged are you in your mind? What makes you come back? And for me, that's why my message is what it is.

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• Dewey said October 05, 2007

  Make it happen, Ray!

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• Valencia said October 05, 2007

  Have a good game Ray!

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• jubril58 said October 05, 2007

  have a good game, You guys are BEasts in madden. I love the message.

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• ptowncboy said October 05, 2007

  I'm a Dallas fan,but i really think you are a hog.
  

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• rayrayfan said October 05, 2007

  "WHAT TIME IS IT!!!" Can't wait to be back in the stands and see yo dance after this big win this weekend!

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• allmadden said October 05, 2007

  Thats how it is, man. You just got to take the season one game at a time and prepare yourself the best you can. Keep working hard and playing with that intensity! Try and get on mic'ed up for NFL Live it's fun to hear you and Ed talk a little smack on the field. Good luck.

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• number1fanof89 said October 05, 2007

  You are completely right Ray.... I just really hope you pull out a win this week because if you don't then you'll already have the same record as you did last year and i know you guys have to big of hearts and you deserve better! I really hope clayton gets some yardage and you get some sacks! I miss seeing those lol

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• bmore_truth said October 06, 2007

  "CHARACTER IS FOUND THRU ADVERSITY." i hope some of the young guys and even the vets can benefit from this wisdom, so the ravens can have ONE vision throughout the rest of the season. i hope we can get things clickin again soon.. this game at san fran on sunday might be one of those make-or-break type games.. let's show 'em we can win at the farthest away game of the season.. and that the purple-n-black is a force to be reckoned with.. keep doing what you do, ray.. the team needs you on the field.. and on that sideline. LET'S GO BMORE!!!

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• old19fan said October 06, 2007

  I love the fact you don't make excuses. Keep the faith Ray. The real Ravens are going to show up sometime soon. Hopefully against the 49ers!

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• FIOMattyH said October 06, 2007

  That's right, Ray-Ray! RIGHT THIS SHIP! Make it happen.

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• TSylvester said October 06, 2007

  Ray, keep up the good fight, you know, I know, the team knows, they are better than the 2-2 record. One question, how do you deal with reporters who read too much into your statements or take them out of contex just to sell papers? I speak of this head line-Notebook: R. Lewis critical of McAlister - Thanks, Tim

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• FatMoon said October 06, 2007

  San Francisco is weak and overhyped. This is a must win for your guys. Time to bring the pain.

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• pyite32 said October 06, 2007

  Ray I want to thank you for your candid comments. I have been waiting for ANY of the players or coaches to admit that there has been a problem that needs to be corrected. I like your take and I know if anyone can get this team especially the defense corrected it is you (our on field coach/general).
  Make us proud Ray Ray!!! Go Ravens!!!

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• TheTruthSeeker said October 06, 2007

  After the loss to Cincy you almost tore the doors off the locker room because you didn't like Billick's play calling. Then you chewed out Rex Ryan for his defensive scheming. Then you pointed the finger at C-Mac for biting on the move by Edwards and getting burnt for the 78 yard TD. Dude...with all due respect...take your own advice about character, STFU, and make your statements on the field, not to the press.

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• Mizzo89 said October 06, 2007

  Here's what you need to do Ray. First off, I kind of agree with the TruthSeeker, but also, bring back the 52 bandana!
  
  

  

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• Jas_Chin007 said October 07, 2007

  WOW.......how can one knock Ray for being opinionated? That makes no sense, seeing as how everyone has their own......Lewis is entitled to gripe if he feels cheated. I think everyone should at least have some respect for the players and not read into their statements too much.......it's sad that all of this hype off the field seems to take center stage. Ray is THE BEST ever.....i dont think there has been a backer that has displayed such dominance, so respect the man's game!!!!!

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• TylerBoss said October 11, 2007

  I don't think anyone would argue with Ray being the best ever at his position. And nobody should be knocking him for being opinionated. The man has the power to take a stab at any topic he wants, and come out smelling like roses. Such is the Way of Ray.

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• TheTruthSeeker said October 25, 2007

  I see you didn't waste any time blasting away at AD. I could be waaaaay off here, Ray -- but honestly, you should just stick to playing football. You're no preacher. You're no scholar. You're no radio talk show host. You're no dancer either. Just play football. Amen.

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• FanProphet said November 04, 2007

  "You can stay stuck in misery, you can stay stuck in doubt, you can stay stuck in fear. But, when you've got your eye on the prize, there's only one thing that matters, and that's the next week...win, lose or draw".
  
  I love what you have to say here, however, the one thing that matters is not next week...win, lose or draw, The one thing that matters is NOW!
  
  You kinda contradicted yourself, but I feel you.
  

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• Ollie79 said December 16, 2007

  Hey Ray I'd love to hear your comments on this, because I'm a diehard Raven and for the first team ever I'm sick to my stomach watching you guys this season. It's obvious to me (and pretty much every other Ravens fan I've spoken to) that the team threw in the towel for the year after the bye week and have basically phoned it in every game since then. Where is this pride, intensity and desire of which you always preach? It made me sick to watch the way you played against the Pats - the emotion intensity and workrate was back for a big Monday night game where you could look good on TV if you stopped the Pats run! Where was the effort in Buffalo, against the Bengals, against the Browns. You guys are pro athletes and have basically stolen your paychecks from the fans this year as everyone has been putting in the minimum effort possible each week.
  
  It makes me sick especially watching the team laughing on the bench as the clock runs down in another blowout loss like I saw in San Diego.
  
  I'm very disappointed this year. Sort this shit out please.

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