Ravens’ Rashod Bateman CALLS OUT Baltimore GM Eric DeCosta for ‘lyin on players’
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Ravens’ Rashod Bateman CALLS out Baltimore GM Eric DeCosta for ‘lying to players’ after he said the team has ‘never hit’ an All-Pro-caliber receiver
Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta told reporters Wednesday from the NFL combine that his franchise hadn’t “matched” an All-Pro-caliber receiver, and one of his current Wide receivers Rashod Bateman didn’t appreciate the sentiment.
Since being drafted by Baltimore in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft, Bateman has struggled with injuries, playing just 18 of a possible 34 regular-season games.
But he didn’t hold back when he learned that DeCosta had criticized the team’s receivers.
“How about you play on your player strength and stop pointing fingers at us and #8?” he said Thursday, referring to quarterback Lamar Jackson.
‘Blame whoever you let do this… we take heat 24/7. And keep us healthy… worry about us and see what happens… no promises though.
Rashod Bateman did not appreciate Baltimore GM Eric DeCosta’s comments
“Tired of all of you lying and cheating on players for no reason,” the now-deleted tweet concluded.
He later apologized on Twitter for the comments.
Bateman was responding to DeCosta’s comments Wednesday in Indianapolis, where the 51-year-old executive expanded on the narrative that Jackson doesn’t have enough guns to get by.
While Jackson is a former All-Pro and MVP, his favorite passing option is tight end Mark Andrews and the quarterback has never had a Pro Bowl receiver.
“There have been some guys who have been successful players for us who were draft picks,” DeCosta saying.
“We’ve never really had success with that type of All-Pro guy, which is disappointing, but it’s not for lack of effort. … It’s one of those anomalies that I can’t really explain, other than to say we’re not going to stop trying.
“We’re going to keep swinging and hopefully at one of these points, we’re going to hit the ball out of the park.”
Meanwhile, DeCosta said earlier in the week that he wanted to keep Jackson and was not considering trading the star.
Eric DeCosta has been the team’s general manager since 2019.
The future of Lamar Jackson’s Ravens is in limbo as the parties try to agree on a new contract.
And the GM’s comments aren’t the only thing apparently bothering Bateman.
After NFLPA ratings (voted on by players) from each organization showed the Ravens receiving an F-minus for strength coaches, Bateman and other former Ravens got involved in the discussion.
Defensive tackle Carl Davis Jr. said he was a “victim of strength coaches,” Quincy Adeboyejo said they “ruined my career” and Bateman retweeted a message about his injury issues.
“Dude was healthy in college coming to Baltimore and still not done a season,” the tweet read. “Let’s hope the new changes lead to a healthy new success.”