I’m not here to defend the job performance of Greg Roman.
The lightning-rod offensive coordinator has authored some tremendous offensive performances during his tenure in Charm City — historic, actually, if you are looking at run-game numbers. And, let’s face it, he’s authored a few offensive performances that have resembled tire fires conjured up by a flatulent demon suffering from masochistic tendencies. This past showing against Denver comes to mind.
But that’s not what this is about. You can call for Roman to be fired. You can hope that he accepts a position at Stanford or wherever else he might land. You can think he’s a brilliant mind who hasn’t been given the weapons necessary to truly make his offense hum. That is all your prerogative in this red, white and blue gem we are fortunate enough to call our nation.
Roman is a big boy. He’s been criticized. He’s been praised.
He can deal with it.
What he shouldn’t have to deal with, however, is the garbage that’s been circulating on social media, like the recent video that showed somebody verbally attacking Roman in a hail of vulgar epithets as he left M&T Bank Stadium following that aforementioned win over Denver. He shouldn’t ever have to deal with vile, profanity-laced tirades as he’s leaving his place of work to go home, and he shouldn’t have to deal with people wishing him ill-well or launching personal attacks at him on a daily basis.
You know who else shouldn’t have to see this garbage?
His wife.
His three kids.
It’s time for you to go Greg Roman #RavensFlock pic.twitter.com/lmPpLlxOA2
— Malcolm🌩 (@Just_do_it_j18) December 4, 2022
Greg Roman is a human being. And he, and his family, should have the same rights as the rest of us to be treated as human beings. It is the absolute bare-minimum we can do for one another — treat each other like we’re human beings.
You want to see the team get a new offensive coordinator? Hey, that’s your right. Things certainly aren’t looking great on that side of the ball right now, and you can make any number of data- or film-driven cases that the team needs to be making a change — sooner, rather than later. You can simply say you don’t like the style of play the Ravens operate with on offense, or feel that the constant rush to beat the time clock puts the Ravens at a disadvantage each snap, while cluing in defenders on when the ball will be snapped.
That’s fair. It’s all fair. Heck, you can wish for the Ravens to replace Roman with an 11-year-old Madden player who you feel will do a better job at play calling. You wouldn’t be right. But you are certainly allowed to feel that way and express it to whoever you choose.
But it doesn’t mean you have to treat a person who does his best to represent your team as something less than a human being. It’s not fair to him. It’s not fair to his family. And it’s not fair to the rest of us who care about this franchise.
This is all part of a disturbing and nauseating trend — and its reach extends via social media through the worlds of politics, sports, entertainment and any other subject that becomes broached by more than one person. Is it a lack of basic civility? A sign of the times that we no longer care about one another? A lack of self-respect in individuals who then lash out at others out of frustration for their own miserable lives?
Probably. There’s probably some of all of that at play.
Look, we’ve seen Twitter creatures attack Lacie DeCosta — the wife of Ravens General Manager Eric DeCosta — because… well, there is no “because.” Not one that holds any water, anyway. It was the behavior of immature mouth-breathers who apparently feel the need to try to lessen the value of other people to bring them down to their own deplorable level. It’s something my 8-year-old would do. You know, when she was 3.
And how many content creators pour their hearts and souls into sharing insights or opinions about their beloved team, only to be disparaged and degraded for their efforts? I’ve seen Russell Street Report writers be labeled as racist because they criticized the performance of a Ravens player, and writers from other sites be dehumanized because they feel the team needs more receivers or because they simply like the direction the team is currently taking.
It’s not only silly behavior — it’s revolting. Disagree? Then disagree. But do it like an intelligent grown-up who can defend or promote an argument, as opposed to a self-entitled brat who feels like the world owes them something. You’re only telling on yourself, and the story you’re telling is one of an individual who lacks intelligence, depth and the ability to engage in proper discourse.
In other words, you look like a tool. Or a Steelers fan. Take your pick.
This guy Greg Roman is such a troll man 😭 pic.twitter.com/JZGBqy29Ty
— Ramey (@HoodieRamey) December 4, 2022
Look, part of the pleasure of being a rabid sports fan is arguing. It’s a time-tested tradition going back to Uga arguing with Muga about soccer — or whatever sport cavemen played. Contrary to popular belief, I wasn’t around then to see it.
We go back and forth on our favorite teams, what coaches should be hired or fired, who is the proverbial GOAT, etc. It’s fun. It’s part of the whole experience of loving sports.
But we can do it without coming off as yahoos who are too intellectually-deficient to pose informed arguments.
We’re better than this.
Be better than this.
9 Responses
All good points! Whatever happened to disagreeing without being disagreeable! Name calling, etc. is what juveniles major in……
Thanks for reading and weighing in!
You hit many nails right on the head Darin. Especially the family related comments. Social media is a dangerous fact of life that emboldens the worst human slugs. The ability for some low life to speak to, threaten, degrade, a person that he/she would never be able to get close to in a conventional setting (and would never have the guts to tell the person face to face), and the ability to create a mob mentality in the wink of an eye, topped off with algorithms and insider tricks that can enhance one group while diminishing the opposition, makes for dangerous times. Many good people suppress their own speech in fear of some nut or group targeting them or their family. How many good people would never run for public office? Who could blame them?
Those are all great insights. Thank you for sharing!
Great article, Darin. Social media showed such early promise as a way to bring people together. I guess it was inevitable that the bottom dwellers among us would find ways to use it for evil. Couple the easy anonymity of social media with the undercurrent of toxic masculinity that infects so many NFL fans, and you’ve got a prescription for abhorrent behavior.
For as many people who just want to discuss and debate football, there seems to be at least as many who simply want to create witches and then try to burn them. I appreciate your effort to try to rein them in.
I really appreciate that, and like your take on the issue a lot. Thanks!
Could not agree more. Insults are the stuff of weak minds who can’t think past the most basic questions. I have lots of gripes, but insults don’t change things, generally always make them worse, and never actually get to the root of the problem (which seldom is what the punk thinks it is).
Well put. I’m not the least bit happy with Roman or the Ravens offense right now, but this display says MUCH more about the clown yelling than it does about Roman. To your point, grow up, it’s a game hopefully the whiner doesn’t have offspring he’s teaching this stuff to.
this