Mike Freeman's 10-Point Stance: It's Time for the Ravens to Clean Up Their Act

1. Ravens' dance with the devil

Ray Rice isn't the first time the Ravens have dealt with domestic violence allegations. 

Flash back to 2009, when linebacker Terrell Suggs' then-fiancee accused him of throwing a soap dispenser at her head, hitting her in the chest with his hand and threatening to pour a bottle of bleach on her.

Three years later, Suggs had to turn in several weapons to police after another domestic altercation.

The Ravens are no different than many teams. They sign bad dudes. They've had woman-beaters, druggies and thugs. Yet they are like only a handful of teams in another way: When their troubled players go bad, they really go bad.

This past offseason, the Ravens had two running backs arrested: Rice and another guy, Lorenzo Taliaferro. Also this offseason, while overall player arrests were down, Baltimore had a spike.

From the day after the Super Bowl, Feb. 3, through the first day of the 2014 regular season, Sept. 4, there were 30 player arrests—down from 39 during the 2013 offseason—according to the database U-T San Diego keeps. Five of the 30 arrests this offseason were Ravens players.

Historically, there was the Ray Lewis accusation. Then there was the stunning accusation against former running back Jamal Lewis.

KIM SMITH/Associated Press

Again, the Ravens aren't alone in harboring questionable players, but there is a definite track record—a substantial one—of the team straddling the line.

The Bengals once did this. They changed. What's going to have to happen in Baltimore is a serious self-examination of the players the franchise signs. Why they sign them. How they sign them. Whether they can stay away from signing them in the future.

No, the Ravens aren't alone, but when it comes to having bad guys on the roster, they are among the best.

While Baltimore fans and even Rice's wife herself have chastised media for writing on their situation, there was a time when Rice had no issue with passing judgment on other players who allegedly broke the law.

Consider this Rice tweet from several years ago, speaking of Hines Ward:

2. Teachable moment

Patrick Semansky/Associated Press

One thing I'm hearing relating to the Rice fiasco is that more than a few teams are reminding their players that domestic violence won't be tolerated.

This is a message the NFL and teams have said many times before, but they are using this case as a point of emphasis.

3. Time to think of Russell Wilson as elite

Scott Eklund/Associated Press

This statistic absolutely, positively floored me:

I mean, wow. Wow.

"That's a great stat," coach Pete Carroll said on his radio show recently, via ESPN.com's Terry Blount. "I love that. I've gotta tell Russell. He'll love that one, too. We wouldn't want anybody else playing for us. He's got our game down and knows exactly what we want. He's our guy. We'll win with Russell."

I knew Wilson had beaten all of them; I just didn't put it all together in that kind of starkness. Yes, I know, Wilson plays with a potentially historic defense. Yes, I know he has a terrific running back. But still...wow.

Combined head-to-head stats from six games	Cmp%	Yards	TD	INT	W-L
Wilson	63.1%	1,233	12	0	6-0
Brady, Manning, Brees, Rodgers	63.8%	1,543	6	5	0-6

What I'm certain of is it's time to start thinking of Wilson in an entirely different way, because he is also, you know, playing in those games where he beats the best quarterbacks in the sport.

It's time to think of Wilson in the same way we think of the top quarterbacks. And we don't. Or few of us do. I'm just as guilty. When I did a Bleacher Report video with the outstanding Chris Simms where we ranked our top five quarterbacks, I didn't list Wilson. That was a mistake. A dumb mistake.

What's happened with Wilson is that we've given credit to almost everyone and everything else associated with the team. The Seahawks win because of the defense. Or Marshawn Lynch. Or Percy Harvin. Or Pete Carroll. Or the loud stadium. Or vitamin supplements. Or the clean Seattle air.

What I'm beginning to see is that Wilson wins because he's special. He's as special as any pass-thrower in today's game. Despite winning a Super Bowl, that has crept up on us all.

Sure, some of you will now say you knew it all along. You saw it all along. But you're full of it.

We need to see Wilson as being as good as any of those elite quarterbacks he beat.

He throws an accurate ball. He's an excellent athlete. He's smart. He studies. He studies a lot.

Elaine Thompson/Associated Press

"He's a really good point man out there delivering the rock where it needs to go," Carroll said. "We don’t care about throwing for 400 yards. That's not our style of playing."

I think Wilson is evolving to the point where if he wanted to throw for 300 yards a game, he could, easily.

One of the things that happened to Eli Manning was after he beat Bill Belichick and Tom Brady twice, he was given credit as being clutch, and great. Manning has taken some steps back, but the point is he got the credit for beating Brady.

Now, it's Wilson's turn.

4. The angry Lynch

Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

This, from a Seahawks player on Marshawn Lynch: "I've never seen a player with a chip on his shoulder like the one Marshawn has now. He's pissed about his contract situation, and he's pissed that people view him as declining."

Lynch may deny this. Or not. I don't know. But he's playing furious right now, and that's a good thing for the Seahawks.

What's clear is that, so far at least, there's been no loss of anything when it comes to Lynch, except maybe a few Skittles. It's a long season, but it's possible that Lynch can beat back time and the team can still put its running game on his back just fine.

5. The hands-off era

Stephen Brashear/Associated Press

One last thing on the Seahawks. I've nicknamed this era of football the hands-off era. Defensive backs basically can't touch a receiver. Some of the strict rules against defensive players are good ones, designed to keep players from developing into concussed zombies. I like that.

Other rules are less altruistic. They're designed to increase offensive production so your sorry fantasy team can score more points.

What makes the Seattle defense so stunningly good is how it works within the confines of this new era. The Seahawks are handsy in coverage—but not too handsy. They beat teams up but never cross the line. They hit hard without cheap-shotting. While other players and teams have fought the rules and complained about them, the Seahawks simply adapted.

This isn't just a testament to a smart group of players; it is also a testament to a brilliant coaching staff.

6. Unbelievable

Charlie Riedel/Associated Press

I'm just going to put this here and let it breathe a little...

That's quite the impressive group at the bottom.

7. Apology

Nam Y. Huh/Associated Press

I would like to officially apologize for saying that the Bills would be horrible and their quarterback situation resembles that of an intense dumpster fire. EJ Manuel and the Bills beat the Bears, showing promise almost no one outside of Buffalo thought would exist.

So, I'm sorry, Bills. Please forgive me.

8. 100-plus

John Bazemore/Associated Press

More proof that the NFL isn't just an offense league but is also tilted so far toward offense that it's getting insane. There were 11 quarterbacks in the opening week who recorded a passer rating of at least 100 (minimum 20 attempts), according to the NFL.

Quarterback, Team	Rating
Matt Ryan, Falcons	128.8
Colin Kaepernick, 49ers	125.5
Matthew Stafford, Lions	125.3
Matt Cassel, Vikings	113.8
Peyton Manning, Broncos	111.9
Jake Locker, Titans	111.4
Russell Wilson, Seahawks	110.9
Ryan Fitzpatrick, Texans	109.3
Derek Anderson, Panthers	108.7
Carson Palmer, Cardinals	108.4
Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers	100.7

Eleven is the second most since the 1970 merger. In 2012, there were 12, and 2013 there were 11. So over the past three years, 34 total on opening weekend.

That number has slowly but steadily been tracking upward. In 1999, there were 10. Not a great leap, to be sure, but in a few years that number will be 15 and then 17 and then 20, because that's the direction the NFL continues to head.

9. The Lions could be great, except ...

Rick Osentoski/Associated Press

Detroit's offense, as many expected, will be impressive. It destroyed the Giants. The defense, as many expected, will be improved. There are signs the team could rapidly improve and shock the NFL with a 12- or 13-win season. The new coaching staff has made things better already.

But one problem remains: the penalties. Against the Giants on Monday, as Kyle Meinke of MLive.com wrote, "The Lions committed a staggering eight for 85 yards—and that was just in the first half."

If Detroit can stop making mental errors, it will be one of the toughest outs in football.

10. Good news for Buffalo

Gary Wiepert/Associated Press

With the Pegula family reaching an agreement to purchase the Bills, it's all but certain the team will stay in Buffalo. That's one piece of good news in a week that's been, well, bleak.

The city of Buffalo deserves a franchise. It's easily one of the best fanbases I've ever been around.

Mike Freeman covers the NFL for Bleacher Report.