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Baltimore Ravens: John Harbaugh Did Not Run Leaders Out Of Town

By Chris Schisler

Sep 7, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh walks down the sidelines during the first quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 7, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh walks down the sidelines during the first quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 7, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh walks down the sidelines during the first quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 7, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh walks down the sidelines during the first quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /

John Harbaugh did not run leaders out of town. Many fans think he did, but that argument doesn’t check out:

John Harbaugh didn’t seem to mind when the Ravens brought in Steve Smith Sr. or Eric Weddle. These are two of the strongest leaders in the game. There seems to be the perception that Harbaugh needs to be the strongest voice in the locker room. There is evidence that this isn’t true. People are confusing the exit of fan favorite players with an exodus led by the head coach.

Ray Lewis and Matt Birk retired. Ed Reed wanted more money than the Ravens felt comfortable with. Reed is the greatest of all time, but he was an aging veteran on his last legs. Harbaugh had nothing to do with their departure from the team.

Anquan Boldin was traded by Ozzie Newsome to the San Francisco 49ers. Harbaugh did not run Boldin out of town; it’s hard to imagine a coach thrilled about losing his quarterback’s favorite weapon. Without the Boldin trade, Elvis Dumervil would have never come to Baltimore. While Boldin was productive so was Dumervil had a 17 sack season in 2014. It was a business decision made by Ozzie Newsome. It may have been a mistake, but it was Newsome’s decision.

Bernard Pollard hit really hard, and because of that he won the allegiance of the fans. Pollard had four short stints with four different teams. He signed with the Tennessee Titans in 2013, after 2014 he was done. Pollard was not really a leader. He had an attitude problem and Harbaugh wasn’t having it. You can blame Harbaugh for that one, but his willingness to see Pollard play elsewhere seems justified.

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