Qadry Ismail

Former Ravens receiver Qadry Ismail, now a TV/radio host in Baltimore, joined Mut & Merloni on Tuesday to preview Sunday’s AFC championship matchup.

Ismail said the Ravens defense won’t be intimated by New England’s high-powered offense, especially considering the teams’ recent history of games against each other. And the key to the Ravens’ offensive success is how Baltimore handles Vince Wilfork.

“Offensively, Joe Flacco and the offense, they’re churning, they’re doing things, they’re feeling pretty good,” Ismail said. “I think that’s something that you take into consideration. I know one thing, offensively, you’re going to have to find a way to stop Vince Wilfork. You stop Vince Wilfork, you give yourself a chance. You don’t stop Vince, it’s going to be a long day.”

Ravens linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo took to Twitter on Sunday night to sound off on the Patriots’ hurry-up offense, accusing New England of borderline cheating. He apologized on Monday for embarrassing himself and the organization.

“I absolutely am shaking my head, like, ‘What are you thinking?’ He’s normally spot-on in regards to just his measure and understanding what’s the right thing to say and what’s the incorrect thing to say, and don’t say that incorrect thing,” Ismail said. “When you’re looking at the Patriots offense … you’re absolutely right, it’s about situational football. If you ain’t ready on defense and we are, and that referee says, ‘OK, the play clock is started,’ what am I supposed to do, wait for you?”

Added Ismail: “That’s what you look at when you’re talking about a veteran like Tom Brady. He’s figured out another way to enhance the probability of a play working. You as a defense, you have to be honed in and ready to perform or he will make you pay. It’s that simple.”

Read the rest of this entry »

Deion Branch

Patriots receiver Deion Branch joined Mut & Merloni on Monday, a day after an impressive 41-28 victory over the Texans set up an AFC championship matchup against the Ravens next Sunday.

Ravens linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo sent out a few tweets Sunday night critical of the Patriots’ hurry-up offense (he apologized Monday). Branch said it’s nothing new for the Pats.

“It’s always a problem, the Patriots are doing something, it’s always an issue, if you notice,” Branch said. “The Patriots are always coming up with something very controversial in everything that we do. Success brings that.”

Added Branch: “Once the ball is in play, anything goes. … Once the referee spots the ball down and he moves, anything goes from there.”

Branch said he doesn’t expect that Bill Belichick will use Ayanbadejo’s comments for inspiration, as the Patriots won’t need it.

“I doubt if he’ll use it, because this isn’t the first time we’ve heard something like this,” Branch said. “I doubt if he’ll use it. But then again, who knows? He may bring it up. I don’t think we need any motivational speeches for this type of game, for this team. This is a team that we’re very familiar with, who deserves to be here. We deserve to be in this game as well. There’s no more speeches that need to be made for this game.”

Read the rest of this entry »

Brendon Ayanbadejo

Ravens linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo, who sent out a series of incendiary tweets Sunday night about the Patriots and their hurry-up offense, apologized on Monday morning as the teams prepare to meet in next Sunday’s AFC championship game.

Tweeted Ayanbadejo: I made selfish comments on twitter last night that reflected poorly upon myself, my teammates, and the organization. For that I apologize.

On Sunday, Ayanbadejo started his rant by tweeting: New England does some suspect stuff on offense. Can’t really respect it. Comparable to a cheap shot b4 a fight.

He eventually started taking shots at the Patriots organization with tweets such as: You know the same organization that did spygate and cut a guy the day b4 the Super Bowl.

Added Ayanbadejo: In a sport that is predicated on mano y mano, “lets hurry up n snap it ” = bitchassness.

Ravens linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo fired the first salvo heading into the AFC championship game, calling out the Patriots for what he deemed some “suspect stuff” on offense. The Ravens will be taking on the Patriots next Sunday in a rematch of last year’s AFC championship game in Foxboro.

Ayanbadejo sent out a series of tweets about the Patriots, including:

New England does some suspect stuff on offense. Can’t really respect it. Comparable to a cheap shot b4 a fight

— Brendon Ayanbadejo (@brendon310) January 13, 2013

Are you watching the game pats vs texans? If so you see the hurry snap offense catch em b4 they set up. It’s a gimmick.

— Brendon Ayanbadejo (@brendon310) January 13, 2013

Their offense is good enough to be successful with out that

— Brendon Ayanbadejo (@brendon310) January 13, 2013

You know the same organization that did spygate and cut a guy the day b4 the Super Bowl

— Brendon Ayanbadejo (@brendon310) January 13, 2013

18-1

— Brendon Ayanbadejo (@brendon310) January 13, 2013

In a sport that is predicated on mano y mano, ” lets hurry up n snap it ” = bitchassness

— Brendon Ayanbadejo (@brendon310) January 13, 2013

Bart Scott – Can’t Wait! youtu.be/D7KSkZxt_zo

— Brendon Ayanbadejo (@brendon310) January 13, 2013