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          NFL Nation

          John Harbaugh's comments about Steelers are no big deal

          • Jamison Hensley, ESPN Staff WriterNov 9, 2014, 10:25 PM ET
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              Jamison Hensley is a reporter covering the Baltimore Ravens for ESPN. Jamison joined ESPN in 2011, covering the AFC North before focusing exclusively on the Ravens beginning in 2013. Jamison won the National Sports Media Association Maryland Sportswriter of the Year award in 2018, and he authored a book titled: Flying High: Stories of the Baltimore Ravens. He was the Ravens beat writer for the Baltimore Sun from 2000-2011.
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          CBS cameras captured (and mistakenly aired) Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh talking about how the Pittsburgh Steelers got their posterior kicked by the New York Jets.

          The Ravens issued a release about how that postgame locker room footage wasn't supposed to be broadcast, and CBS issued a statement apologizing for putting it on the air.

          Here's my announcement: What's the big deal?

          It shouldn't be a surprise that there is bad blood between two of the NFL's biggest rivals. The Ravens totaled $45,000 in fines from their 43-23 Week 9 loss in Pittsburgh, which may be a bigger hint that they don't like the Steelers.

          Harbaugh telling his players "that team beat us last week and then went and got their ass kicked this week," doesn't crack the top 20 on the list of classless transgressions in this rivalry. Remember, this is a series in which players reportedly had placed bounties, Ravens cornerback James Trapp stomped the abdomen of Plaxico Burress in 2002, and Steelers linebacker Joey Porter went out to the Ravens' bus after a 2003 game to challenge Ray Lewis to a fight.

          Harbaugh merely took pleasure in his team's biggest AFC North rival losing. It's not as if he burned a Terrible Towel or stepped onto the field to get in the way of a Steelers player. (OK, bad example.)

          Plus, when you put it in context, Harbaugh's intent is sending a message to his players and not delivering a shot at the Steelers. A week after his team was embarrassed in Pittsburgh, he was complimenting his players on taking care of business against a lesser opponent on the same day the Steelers could not.

          At this point, Harbaugh should just own it. Back in 2000, Ravens coach Brian Billick was filmed in the locker room boasting about the team's win over the Titans. There were no statements or apologies in those days. Billick simply told his players to have his back, and Harbaugh should do the same.

          The Ravens and Steelers won't play again this season unless they meet in the playoffs. If they do, you'll hear about how Harbaugh "disrespected" the Steelers. But my guess is Harbaugh hasn't bumped linebacker Terrell Suggs from being Public Enemy No. 1 in western Pennsylvania.