risk, bought the teams and can run their organization pretty much any way they wish. I know many of their employees and have for much of my adult life.
When they want something done – like taking my press pass for example – it’s done. No one questions the ethics, integrity or ranking of an ownership decision. It is decreed, therefore it is exerted. And if you question it, you’ll be fired.
If you doubt me, here’s Peter Angelos in his own words…
I’m not really sure that Peter Angelos and Steve Bisciotti have a whole lot in common beyond the fact that they’re both universally feared all along the fences of their franchises and their wish is everyone in the organization’s command. They own the teams. They can hire whom they want, set their own rules, create their own goals and line their pockets as they see fit.
But it’s been a case study for me over the past 29 years as a sports journalist and fellow business owner and C.E.O. in Baltimore to see how they operate and the past 10 days has been alarming and educational in a lot of ways.
As a fan, I don’t want to think that Steve Bisciotti would meddle in the offensive game plan in Week 14 and fire the head coach’s pal after a hideous loss to the Washington Redskins. (As an aside, Peter Angelos fired Sam Perlozzo, Mike Flanagan and Jim Duquette on the backside of a three-game Washington Nationals sweep of the Orioles back in June 2007. And there’s something deep inside of me that takes a loss to the Redskins very hard myself.)
8
But, the last time Bisciotti “meddled” in the affairs of the Baltimore Ravens coaching hierarchy, he walked into the building on New Year’s Eve 2007, gathered Ozzie Newsome and told him he was firing Brian Billick and that he wouldn’t be talked out of it. And so it was done.
He also hired John Harbaugh and the team is on the verge of going to the playoffs for the fifth straight season and has twice been one drive away from going to the Super Bowl. He was also more than semi-involved in the first-round drafting and maneuvering to obtain Joe Flacco, the one time he has seemingly pulled rank on Ozzie Newsome in the draft war room.
So, on track record alone, you have to give Bisciotti the benefit of the doubt for driving the car in the proper lane and in the right way for nearly a decade now. Bisciotti has heard rumblings for Cam Cameron’s head from throughout the organization and he has the ear of all of his star players. And even with all of the static, I don’t think firing an offensive coordinator in Week 14 is an “ideal” situation for anyone but I’m sure Bisciotti is using this as a motivational tool and challenge for Harbaugh, Flacco and many others around the building in stating the obvious: “We haven’t won anything yet. And I want to win. And I want to W.I.N. NOW!”
For the Ravens, a 9-2 start and making the playoffs isn’t good enough. Bisciotti said so with his “recommendation” to Harbaugh to fire Cameron.
Meanwhile, there’s a short, angry, 83-year-old man in the other parking lot who is too busy trying to make sure his profit
