The Baltimore Ravens are doing their best to brush off the media-created firestorm following safety Ed Reed's criticism of quarterback Joe Flacco during a Monday radio interview.
Reed was critical of the Baltimore offense and Flacco in particular, telling SiriusXM NFL Radio the quarterback was "rattled" by the Houston Texans' defense during a 20-13 divisional playoff win.
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Ravens coach John Harbaugh said Wednesday that he spoke to the team and, as far as he and Flacco are concerned, it's no big deal.
"I understand where Ed's heart is at," Harbaugh said during a news conference. "All of our guys, they say things and we get a chance to talk about it. We're together all the time. We know each other. We understand where each other is coming from.
"I'm sure there are some things he would have liked to have said a little better. If you look at the whole context and hear the tone of his voice, the message he was trying to communicate is a good message. But obviously, things could have been ... the way you read them, and stuff like that, I'm sure he's not real happy about that."
Even-keeled Flacco admitted he was at first caught off guard by Reed's comments, but he laughed off the questions by reporters Wednesday.
"It is what it is," Flacco said with a smile. "We talked about it. It's not really that big of a deal."
Flacco has come under fire throughout the season, from everything from not being emotional enough to questions over whether or not he's anything more than a game manager in the Ravens' run-heavy offense. Reed's interview prompted linebacker Terrell Suggs to defend Flacco, saying he didn't doubt the quarterback can carry the Ravens to Super Bowl XLVI.
Flacco wishes the defense wasn't necessary.
"I think that's the kind of team we are," Flacco said of Suggs. "I wish these guys didn't have to come to my defense on all kinds of things. I don't really think they have to, but the way things are talked about, it just makes it so somebody has to come out and say something. Terrell, all along, he knows how to go out there and stick up for all of us."
Harbaugh wouldn't directly answer whether or not he had a problem with Reed's comments, but he said he understood the safety's message and critical approach to making each other better.
"We know each other," Harbaugh said of the Ravens. "We understand each other."
