John Harbaugh Press Conference (12/26)

Featuring Head Coach John Harbaugh


Opening statement:

“Thanks for coming over – obviously, the few, the proud. It’s good to have you here. I think our guys had a good day yesterday. The thing that was most important, from a business perspective, was they came back focused, ready to go to work. And we had good morning meetings and a good practice.”


On WR Derrick Mason being held out of practice today:

“We pretty much had planned not to work him this week. We were going to try to keep the cramping out of it as much as we can, so it’s working the mental part of it.”


On if the banged up players are pushing to play in this game:

“You know, I think they’re all going to do everything they can to get out there. Some guys… We think they’re all going to be out there, but that’s not something we’re going to know until Sunday for certain guys. So we’ll just see how it goes. They all do want to play, no question about it.”


On if T Willie Anderson and RB Ray Rice will be game-time decisions:

“They’re probably both game-time decisions. They’re both pushing to get ready, and you can’t really predict it right now. Just, we’re hopeful.”


On if LB Antwan Barnes will be out for the remainder of the season, including possible playoffs:

“I don’t know for sure if he’s out for the remainder of the season. There’s a couple of weeks issue in there, and we’ll have to make a decision about whether we’ll have an opportunity to try to bring him back, whether it’s worth trying to wait, taking the risk that he wouldn’t be back. We should know more about that Monday.”


On if Barnes has a triceps issue:

“It’s a ‘pec’ issue. It’s pectoralis major. Human physiology… The chest, right?”


On if he has gone over playoff scenarios with the players:

“We have not. I think our guys understand that. You guys have written about it. They read. The most important thing to understand is that our responsibility is to play our game, and it’s our job to get ourselves in the playoffs. We’re not going to know early enough on that first game anyway, so it’s all about preparation, and our guys’ mindset isn’t to go not win a game anyway. So, we know New England’s going to win, and if for some reason the Bills pull of an upset, it doesn’t matter to us, we’re going to play the game to win anyway. And that’s going to be our mindset first half, second half, it doesn’t matter. That’s our objective.”


On LB Bart Scott not having emotional outbursts this year:

“I haven’t thought about that. I don’t know. We might have to take that up after the season. I think our guys, generally speaking, have done a really good job of channeling their emotions toward winning football games, and that’s something that’s helped us be successful.”


On Scott’s performance this season:

“Bart Scott has played really well. You know, Bart Scott, to me, has improved every week of the season, and if you watch him compared to tape in the past, I think he’s even better than he was before. Greg Mattison [linebackers coach] has done a great job, just as far as the fundamental aspect of his game. He understands the game as well as anybody we’ve got. He’s just playing at a really high level.”


On the team channeling their energy positively:

“Our guys understand how important it is and how hard it is to win a game in this league. Every bit of emotion, every bit of passion you have, has got to be channeled toward the next play. And I just think our guys have done a great job of that this year, and we’ve gotten better at it as the year has gone on.”


On if it takes a win against Jacksonville to consider the season a success:

“We’ll take the win against Jacksonville to consider the week a success, that’s for sure. That’s what we’re focused on this week.”


On this week’s game being the 50th Anniversary of “The Greatest Game Ever Played”:

“You know, you’re right. My dad has given me a little history lesson on the ’58 Colts. And, I got a book on the Baltimore Colts history just yesterday for Christmas, so I’m looking forward to digging into that one. But, those guys are going to be in our hotel for a reception before we start meetings on Saturday night. I know a lot of our players, and we’re encouraging our guys to go back through there, stop by, talk to the guys, get to know a little bit about the history of football in Baltimore. I think a lot of our guys will do it. We’re excited about that.”