The Bye Week

[Mr OC]

Does anybody else out there have a problem with the Ravens players being on vacation this week? I do. Here's why:

I'm a GC. I use time off as motivation for my guys all of the time. If a holiday is coming up, say for example Memorial Day, I'll give them a goal to reach, and if they reach it by Thursday, they can have a four day weekend. If not, no four day weekend, and maybe we'll work Saturday too. That's pretty good motivation to get done what needs to get done by Thursday.

If I'm the Ravens organization, I approach the bye like this: beat the Bills on Sunday, and you can have a week off; lose, and it'll be obvious that there's still too much work to do, so shore leave is cancelled.

Now, I understand why the Ravens organization didn't handle it like this—they treat the players like men. I hear them say it all of the time. I appreciate that, and I really think it's laudable. But if you want to be treated like a man, you have to be a man, and take personal responsibility. Are the Ravens players taking personal responsibility?

I mean, have you ever cancelled a vacation because you had too much work to do? I know I have. Not because a boss told you to, but because you knew what you needed to do and knew that you couldn't go on vacation without doing the work.

I wonder if any of the players have done that—knew after Sunday's game that there was too much work to do, and decided to cancel their vacation in order to get their work done? Called up Big Steve and said "leave Winning Drive unlocked, because the boys and I will be working on not jumping offsides until our fingers bleed".

Maybe I'll try to ask Tan Man. I understand he supposed to come to the Greene Turtle tonight.

Sorry for being long winded.

[Rayvens52]

No i don't have a problem with it. We can not compare playing in the NFL to working a 9-5 business job not the same not even close. The bye week is for players to rest, rehab, get healthy and get their minds back in the game. Forcing them to stay at home and practice would never fly. Maybe if we didn't have a winning record I might consider it, but probably not even then. You and I not going on vaction because we have a TPS report due :rolling: and them not going because the season has not played out the way we want it to are 2 different things. I am telling you if you keep them here and work them all week it would only hurt us further. The bye is a good thing, get out of here, clear your head and come back ready to beat some squellers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:hammer: :hammer: :hammer: :hammer: :hammer:

[festivus]

The coaches aren't taking the time off. But the players are, and they surely sorely need it.

[camdenyard]

Think about this for a moment.

These are guys that have one day a week off, and are often under pressure to perform community service or represent the team on those days.

These are guys who really have not had two consecutive days off since July. They physically exert themselves each day beyond limits that few of us can comprehend. They pound on each other in practice and during games.

The bye week is a rest week. Pretty much has been for almost every org, and always will be.

I don't know about you, but sometimes after a hard week all I want to do is relax with friends and the kids, quaff a few beers, and let the hours go by. And once in a while, after a period of months, I like to take a week off and recharge.

My guess is that these players need the rest, whether they be 7-0, 4-3 or 0-7.

[JimBone]

I don't know u personally, but if I worked for u and u told me i had to work a Sat. before a holiday because we didn't reach a goal u set and we didn't all agree on u would be minus 1 employee. That might work w/ the illegals. I work hard and if things don't get finished my boss doesn't punish me. No, I'm not union. I'm sure u get some financial incentive for finishing a job early. Do u share that w/ ur workers? U can't treat grown men like kids.

[Jggjaron]

I want them to take the week off and be 100% when they come back.

[Bez513]

I think its best they take a few days off, clear their minds, get refocused on the tough 2nd half.

[MikeinGlennDale]

Military folks are the fortunate recipients of days off after operations. Sometimes the operations go well, sometimes not.

No...football is not the equivalent of Military operations. There are some parallels though.

[Mista T]

I don't know u personally, but if I worked for u and u told me i had to work a Sat. before a holiday because we didn't reach a goal u set and we didn't all agree on u would be minus 1 employee.

Hey Jim: Did your English teacher ever teach you how to spell the word "you"? :laugh:

[RAVENOUS52]

Time off is what we need... That had better help us limit all these damned penalties...

[Greg]

I don't know u personally, but if I worked for u and u told me i had to work a Sat. before a holiday because we didn't reach a goal u set and we didn't all agree on u would be minus 1 employee. That might work w/ the illegals. I work hard and if things don't get finished my boss doesn't punish me. No, I'm not union. I'm sure u get some financial incentive for finishing a job early. Do u share that w/ ur workers? U can't treat grown men like kids.
I agree with your sentiment, assuming it continued through the whole post like it started, but I didn't get through the take.

PLEASE, spell words out. This isn't 12 year olds texting each other.

[Mwjergs]

No big deal.
Football is a marathon, not a sprint. It's incredibly physical and the team needs to get healthy.

[Rochardrik]

I agree with your sentiment, assuming it continued through the whole post like it started, but I didn't get through the take.

PLEASE, spell words out. This isn't 12 year olds texting each other.

Finally!!!! Someone who agrees with me that texting is an immature past-time!!!:hammer:

[JimBone]

Okay I will spell everything out for you " Mister T".

[RavenScallywag]

We need this bye week now, possibly more than ever...I agree with the thinking of "we stunk it up, so why do they deserve a break", but I wouldn't say "Ok, your break is cancelled, we're going to three a days for two weeks". We need time for players to clear their heads, re-think their place on this team, and come back hungry. Plus, you give this week off to give Heap, McNair, Ogden, Terry, Pryce, CMac, Wilcox, Flynn, even Clayton a chance to get fully healed and ready to make a tough second half run.

[ravenwoman]

I think the break is necessary, even if it isn't deserved. Believe me, after the bye, the players will be under more pressure than ever to win. And when they don't, all hell will be breaking loose here, the newspaper, and every media outlet in town.

[HoustonRaven]

A GC in the Baltimore area, huh? That wont score you brownie points simply because of your profession! ;-)

Having hired numerous GC's to restore my Fells row home and then finally firing all of them and doing the work myself, I can speak from experience as to how hard the work is. Contractor's work their asses off (when they actually show up). But I dont think it ranks up there with football players and the toll their bodies take. Besides fearing a power tool accident or tools falling from the 3rd floor, the damnger and risk to ones body is far greater to football players.

I mean seriously, when was the last time you heard a GC tearing his ACL putting up dry wall or tiling a kitchen????

[Mista T]

I mean seriously, when was the last time you heard a GC tearing his ACL putting up dry wall or tiling a kitchen????

Still don't know what he's referring to as a "GC". I had thought that he meant gynecologist.:grbac:

[HoustonRaven]

Still don't know what he's referring to as a "GC". I had thought that he meant gynecologist.:grbac:

Hahahahahah!

GC is a general contractor. ;)

[bmore finest]

I want them to take the week off and be 100% when they come back.

Can't say it any better. 100% HEALTHY

[highwater]

I mean, have you ever cancelled a vacation because you had too much work to do?

Nope, not that I can recall -- but then again, I'm not a GC.

I don't have a problem with the players taking the week off, because that's what the bye week is for. And it's coming at a good time for us, because we have some banged-up players that could use a week off. Hopefully they'll be back for the Steelers, because we could obviously use them. We especially need Pryce back, because, as many have noted in various threads, we have had no pass rush since he went out. That has made the secondary look bad, and they've had players out as well.

So although I generally hate the bye week, it's coming at the right time for us. Don't punish them for losing to the Bills, give them some time off. Maybe they'll come back recharged.

[Mr OC]

That might work w/ the illegals. I work hard and if things don't get finished my boss doesn't punish me.

I don't how illegals or unions got into the conversation - neither applies to me.


A GC in the Baltimore area, huh? That wont score you brownie points simply because of your profession! ;-)

Actually, I live in Ocean City, hon.


But I dont think it ranks up there with football players and the toll their bodies take. Besides fearing a power tool accident or tools falling from the 3rd floor, the damnger and risk to ones body is far greater to football players.

I mean seriously, when was the last time you heard a GC tearing his ACL putting up dry wall or tiling a kitchen????

Well, I won't argue the physical demands of construction, but speaking from personal experience, I'd rather played football; at least the money's better.

Nevertheless, it appears that I am in the extreme minority in feeling that the Ravens need practice to cure their mistakes. Sounds like everyone feels that resting their fatigued minds and body will help more. I understand your point of view. I hope you all are right.

Appriciate the feedback.