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GRAPEVINE - THE GRAPEVINE: News, notes & innuendo from 1 Winning Drive

Plus a bit on sports talk radio Hee Haw on 105.7 The Fan
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THE GRAPEVINE: News, notes & innuendo from 1 Winning Drive

Le’Ron McClain apparently took exception to some fan criticism on his Twitter account after the game in New England this past Sunday and lost his cool, firing back some not-so-flattering commentary about the football IQ of fans. The comments were quickly deleted.

Twitter followers of McClain allegedly blamed the Ravens’ fullback for the loss to the Patriots citing his unsportsmanlike conduct penalty in overtime and its subsequent affect on field position.

“That was a selfish play by me,” McClain said. “I put us in a predicament. I ain’t going to put that game on that one call. Stuff happens.”

McClain hasn’t exactly been a model player when it comes to maturity. Besides the mental breakdown in overtime, this summer McClain waged a silly campaign to be featured more as a running back with the hope of a bigger pay day down the road. There have been some whispers in Ravens’ circles that he’s been a bit envious of the carries given to Willis McGahee (clearly this Sunday excluded).

McClain has also been a bit of a trash talker and self-promoter.

“[Rookie Jermaine Cunningham] got a little cheap shot on me,” McClain said. “I was killing dude, all day. I guess he got frustrated and took a little shove, and they saw my shove on him. He was talking all game.”

A rookie got in the head of a two-time Pro Bowler. Think about that…

Hopefully John Harbaugh can reel McClain in but that said, it’s something to keep an eye on and it wouldn’t surprise me if this is McClain’s last season in B’more.

The name of Shawne Merriman has been kicked around a lot recently for obvious reasons. The Ravens need to improve their pass rush, Merriman is from nearby Washington, DC, played for Ralph Friedgen at the University of Maryland and he shares a bond with Ray Lewis.

But does he have game anymore?

Word is the Ravens are interested if he passes their physical and if Merriman is willing to make some financial concessions. The bigger hurdle for both parties however is likely to be Merriman’s inability to pass through waivers. Teams with a worse record than the Ravens 4-2 mark have the option of claiming the former sack master before Ozzie Newsome can even get to the point of contractual discussions and pending physical.

Clearly the Ravens need to do something. The roster is dangerously devoid of pass rushers and the absence of Sergio Kindle is now even more daunting.

It must be a bit frustrating for Eric DeCosta, Joe Hortiz and the Ravens’ scouts not to see any player from the Draft Class of ’10 making an impact, particularly when they look across the field this past Sunday and see Patriots’ rookies Devin McCourty, Jermaine Cunningham, Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski on the field contributing for the Patriots.

Kindle is out for the season, perhaps for the rest of his life while fellow second rounder Terrence Cody has only hit the field for about a dozen or so snaps all season. Ed Dickson has made marginal contributions as a second tight end (he really needs some work as a blocker); Dennis Pitta has been pretty stealth; David Reed has contributed on special teams as a gunner; Art Jones has done next to nothing while Ramon Harewood sits on IR.

Cody’s inactivity is somewhat surprising, particularly after a fairly productive camp and preseason. He’s not being worked into the defensive line rotation and you have to wonder why the Ravens are even carrying Art Jones and Lamar Divens on the active roster and/or 53 man roster for that matter. Might their collective inactivity run the tread thin on the proverbial tires of Haloti Ngata, Kelly Gregg, and Brandon McKinney?

Turning the dial…I’ve never been a fan of 105.7 The Fan’s Bruce Cunningham. Even back in a day when he was on WNST it was solely Aaron Wilson who gave his Saturday Football Show street cred.

That’s not to say Cunningham doesn’t have his loyal following and I suppose that’s good for CBS Radio in Baltimore. I’ve likened Cunningham’s gig to sports radio Hee Haw. I was never a fan of that show either but Hee Haw did have a 10 year run (also on CBS) and an even longer run in syndication.

Cunningham isn’t a flavor for the real sports aficionado. He’s for the casual listener who doesn’t mind him eating his lunch on air and one who is more interested in silly little anecdote’s, Ray Lewis’ favorite color and Motown trivia than real sports talk. The only time that you get any of that weekdays between Noon and 2PM, is when sidekick Mark Zinno interviews an interesting guest or when Mike Preston is actually allowed to talk in between Cunningham’s man-crush schoolgirl giggling over The Sun’s controversial columnist.

Consequently I’ll often pass on the show, opting instead for well, just about anything else.

What might keep me listening to 105.7 between Noon and 2PM?

Two words – Bob Haynie.

Relegating Haynie to pinch hitting and the player shows is a crime. Opting for Cunningham over Haynie in this desirable time slot is the equivalent of playing Marcus Smith over Anquan Boldin; Marty Domres over Bert Jones; Glen Gulliver over Cal Ripken; Wally Pipp over Lou Gehrig.

Have I made my point?
 
 

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charlie
Posted On: 10/21/10 11:41 pm
the "viv and bulldog" joke could go away any time now, also
Barry
Posted On: 10/21/10 8:33 am
Get article Tony.Could not agree more regarding Bob Haynie.I can not stand the B.C show.It brings nothing to the table for me as a fan and frankly I think both hosts have an arrogant, condensending attitute to the listeners.

IMHO, Bob Haynie is the best.He is the only guy I feel that can carry a 2-3 hour show by himself, no side kick.No pretension, no ego to speak of, just a knowledgeable sports guy. They need to get him in drive time.

thanks again TL
Eddie, Owings Mills
Posted On: 10/20/10 11:24 am
I can always count on an entertaining twist to the best presentation of Ravens info on the net. Keep up the great work!
Q, Baltimore
Posted On: 10/20/10 10:24 am
TL,

You asked for it. I'm sure you will get the email from Bruce calling you all kinds of names. I know many of The Sun's message board members have received PMs in the past with colorful language and even challenges for a fight.

Are you ready to rumble, LOL?
Jim M
Posted On: 10/20/10 9:40 am
McClain needs to stop worrying about what a rookie LB is saying to him and think about what his actions are causing his team. He got a big head after a decent year when his team needed him because of injuries. That year is done and gone and he needs to get back to why he was drafted in the first place, as a run blocking Fullback. But he's the type to say "there's no I in team, but there is an M ans an E." Besides Le'Ron that rookie Cunningham had a talk up on ESPN about how good of a game he had. Just shut your mouth, keep your hands off people after the whistle, and do your job correctly with out a noname rookie making you look foolish in front of millions of people. If I were coach and I had a decent enough backup I'd cut your but just to make an example of you. I'm sure coach "hoody" on the other sideline wouldn't take it, He'd be on the waiver wire looking for someone else who knows what the word "TEAM" means.
John, Canton
Posted On: 10/20/10 9:21 am
I've thought the same about McClain and those are some interesting observations regarding the 2010 draft class. It's early but it's not looking too good at the moment.

The season is shaping up well though. 5-2 at the break isn't bad
Mrs. C
Posted On: 10/20/10 9:15 am
Bruce is a boob. Always has been and always will be.



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