With a Super Bowl title and consistent success, the Ravens are often held up as a model NFL organization.
But this offseason, the most consistent thing they’ve done is gather information about their latest arrest.
Last weekend, cornerback Jimmy Smith became the fifth Ravens player to be arrested this offseason, his on disorderly conduct charges.
That flies in the face of the message coach John Harbaugh was stressing at the end of OTAs, when he said the team has the same standard for dealing with players now.
“It’s always the same high standard,” Harbaugh said, via Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. “We will always have the same high standard for our guys, and it’s the same message. . . .
“And we’ve emphasized what we need to with our guys. We have good, really good guys. Football matters to them. The more it matters to you, the less inclined you are to do anything to jeopardize that.”
Somebody should tell that to the players.
The most embarrassing case was the assault charges against running back Ray Rice for knocking his now-wife unconscious (for which she apologized at a press conference and the team ridiculously tweeted from the official account).
But one arrest can happen to any team.
The Ravens have also had Lorenzo Taliaferro arrested for destruction of property (going Ray Rice on a cab), and public intoxication, Jah Reid for two counts of battery and Deonte Thompson for suspicion of possession of marijuana.
When Smith was asked for identification by the police this weekend, he replied with the classic: “I’m Jimmy Smith, I play for the Ravens.”
Since their five arrests are more than any other team in the league (the other 31 clubs have combined for 14), the cops probably should have known that already.