Baltimore Ravens: John Harbaugh Bending the Rules is Not a Surprise
John Harbaugh bending the rules last week is not a surprise. Football coaches have done it for years. Harbaugh is just the latest.
Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh was fined $137,123 and the Ravens were stripped of a week of OTA practices last week after it was discovered that the Ravens were using pads at practice.
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As someone who has coached football for 21 years, I can’t say that I’m surprised that Harbaugh tried to incorporate pads at practice. Football coaches are always looking to get an edge whether it be at practice or games. To the outside world it’s cheating. In the football world, it’s trying.
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It shouldn’t surprise anyone that Harbaugh tried to hit at practice. The Harbaugh brothers (John and Jim) are always looking for an edge. Both are the sons of a coach. They’ve been well-schooled in doing what ever it takes to gain an edge. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that Jim Harbaugh has become the face of the satellite camp controversy in college football.
My point? The Harbaughs will do what ever it takes to coach up their players.
Harbaugh took responsibility for the violation as he should have. He’s the head coach. He sets the itinerary and practice schedule for the team so he knows what everyone is doing at practice. If something happens that isn’t supposed to, it’s on Harbaugh to correct it not the assistants or the players.
One has to wonder if Harbaugh is feeling the heat a little after a 5-11 season in 2015. Even if that were the case, it’s not grounds for violating the collective bargaining agreement and breaking practice rules. The Ravens are too well run an organization from top to bottom to resort to those types of tactics.
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Remember when Harbaugh made a stink about the Patriots using illegal formations two years ago in the playoffs? I wonder if Bill Belichick will return the favor and complain publicly now about Harbaugh has “cheated.” My guess is, he won’t. After all, all coaches are the same. They all want to find that edge.