I have to disagree w/fat fred and anybody else believing that the players hate each other. Most NFL players have r.e.s.p.e.ct. for each other and their common gig earning big $$ playing football. They let the fans handle the silly stuff.

As for the rivalry, I’m surprised that nobody, especially b&g4life, has recalled that the original Cleveland Browns are now the Baltimore Ravens. I’m sure that the old Browns rivalry forms the base upon which the present Steeler/Ravens rivalry has evolved.

Most neutral fans with real football knowledge have agreed that the two games played between them are the most entertaining of the year.

I went cuckoo over the Anthony Smith thing. I’m very tolerant and can forgive players a lot, but that kind of stuff just makes me nuts because it is so disrespectful. Very good way to describe Ryan’s comments. That’s one thing I like about Belichick–he doesn’t let his players go around mouthing off. I’ve always liked James, too, but he really upset me with this. That photo is horrible. For all his faults (and there are many), I appreciate Ben for keeping quiet on this.

Nearly broke the key giving that comment a thumbs up. Whatever happened to the Steeler tradition of doing your talking on the field???

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No question Deb – what was cooler than having the Black and Gold let their ass-kicking play do all the talking?????

(there, i did an emoticon!)

So many times, mouthy teams would talk sass about how they were going to beat Pittsburgh – and in a substantial majority of those occasions, the Steelers would punish them relentlessly.

Talk is cheap. And Clark’s comments were just disrespectful. He didn’t need to go there.

I won’t even get started on Silverback. Love Harrison – but ohhhhhh man James.

Anthony Smith ran his gums too. Didn’t that sound classy for a nickel or dime back trying to rip into Tom Brady? (eye roll)

Not digging this trend.

We have so many solid humble players, some great ones at that: Troy, Aaron Smith, and others come to mind – but when they strap it on, it’s game on.

Let’s hope Tomlin and the Rooneys plus some team leaders can right the ship — because the current flavah is quite unbecoming.

He wasn’t even freakin borne when Tomlin was jammin “In the air tonight” in his dorm

I’d contend that while the Steelers clearly have won more games against the Ravens, it’s not like either team has consistently blown out the opponent. The largest margin of victory in any game going back to 2007 was 9 points (AFC Championship Game in 2009). The last time either team really dominated in a game was in November of that year when the Steelers blew the Ravens’ doors off in a Monday Night Football game in Pittsburgh. I’d say that considering virtually every game since has come down to a final possession leading to a score (including a couple overtimes) it’s a pretty healthy rivalry.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how the players view the paying saps known as fans.

Keep cheering!

They are not…Cleveland long has been the main rival, separated by less than two hours travel time and having played each other since the 1940′s.

Oh yeah, lets not forget the record 21-12. Rationalize all you want but the win loss record speaks for itself.

Nearly broke the key giving that comment a thumbs up. Whatever happened to the Steeler tradition of doing your talking on the field???

Regardless of who wins more, the Steelers and Ravens HATE each other. One of the beefs of some fans in sports today is that they care more than the players (i don’t necessarily agree with that, but it’s a perception). You can’t say that about Steelers/Ravens games.

Two last comments 1). Ravens fans stop whining about refs it looks bad 2.) Can some better Steelers start being talking trash please? Ryan Clark and Woodley? They’re both sidekicks to elite players, but do the ravens need Jarret Johnson and Dawan Landry to start talking for them?

So yes I would say its a rivalry. A one sided rivalry with of course the steelers taking the upper edge most of the time. And we dont even have to talk about playoffs.

According to- http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/rav/head-to-head.htm

Steelers lead all time series 18 – 12 and are 3 -0 in playoffs vs Ravens. If you don’t want to call it a rivalry, you don’t have to, but it puts butts in seats, packs bars, gets people around the TV. Fans want to watch the game because what both teams bring to the game.

One would think breakin shoulders and noses makes it’s a rivalry in today’s NFL! Clark’s hit on Mcgahee in the AFC Championship makes it a rivalry as you remember those for years to come…

However, we have to have enormous respect for the Ravens. We might want to beat the Ravens’ asses like no one else, but they have earned and deserve our respect.

WTF?

Mean Joe rarely made a peep – but his presence on the field was legendary. Lambert at his most loquacious would only bust out with something like, “That’ll cool yer ass off.” Blount just destroyed people – a silent assassin.

Even Lloyd, Greene, Hardy, Captain Kirk, Lake, Woodson and the whole list of past generation Steelers had plenty of nasty — but
what ever happened to the Steelers’ tradition of speaking softly and carry a big stick?

Tomlin and Harbaugh seem to have an annoying mutual respect…..

It trumps Red Sox/Yankees, Jets/Pats, Lakers/Celtics, Cubs/Cards, Celtics/Heat, Lakers/Spurs by a LOT.