Maybe it’s all this talk about Derrick Henry in a Ravens uniform that has me fired up here in Nashville, but I’m just feeling particularly ornery towards the Baltimore Ravens this week. You don’t need me to tell you that there is some weird energy in that Harbaugh clan. Man, I tell you what. Yesterday in a press conference, head man (who is one of the best in the game – I’m not trying to take that away from him) John Harbaugh threw a big time hot take down on 4th-year wide receiver Rashod Bateman.
Harbs on @R_bateman2's performance at practice pic.twitter.com/tJzNjd5VaR
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) July 22, 2024
“He’s expected to be a top receiver in the league for us.” What a strange thing to say and an unnecessary way to put pressure on a guy who has struggled to stay healthy enough to see the field. I get it in the sense that “oh if you take the field in the NFL, you need to think you’re the best in the world at what you do!” But, come on…let’s have some fair expectations for the guy. I really liked him coming out of his draft class. He seemed to fit the mold of a Raven, too. Tough guy, good frame, willing to go to work. He even had a somewhat promising rookie season in 2021, posting 515 yards and a touchdown. In that Ravens offense, that’s practically a thousand receiving yards.
But, he only played in six games in 2022, and his star has burned out. I wouldn’t call him a bust yet or anything. He just hasn’t lived up to expectations yet. To me, he’s been surpassed by Zay Flowers on the depth chart. Flowers is a dawg. D-A-W-G! They drafted Tez Walker this year too. I’m not saying they’ve given up on Bateman. But, they need to be focused on getting what juice they can out of the squeeze…not framing him as a top receiver in the league. Maybe that was just a misstep by the head coach, and what he’s really saying is that the mindset is to play like a top receiver in the league. But, even then, I call bullshit. John Harbaugh knows the Ravens simply won’t throw the ball enough for any of their receivers to be a “top receiver” in the NFL. You don’t fool me! We could use this idea to spin cycle this quote though. If Bateman has 400 yards, it might be enough to be the team’s top receiver, and maybe that’s what Harbaugh meant by it. There you go, John. Hire me to be your PR guy.
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network, and a Dogs Playing Poker on velvet connoisseur. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD, #BeBetter, and ‘Minds right, asses tight.’ “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, Yankee Candle, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley.
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