As Brian Billick continues to handle the Ravens his way - staying with his belief that the team is not out of control despite mounting criticism to the contrary - the embattled coach is being wise, at least for this week, in staying the course.
That is the opinion of Joel Freeman, who has been a professional counselor, behavior analyst and author for more than 25 years. Freeman, founder of the Freeman Institute (a company that specializes in business and personal development), was also a mentor to the Washington Bullets/Wizards from 1979 to '98.
Billick's insistence to not fine, suspend or publicly sanction any of the players flagged for unsportsmanlike-conduct penalties or ejected in the Ravens' 35-17 loss to the Detroit Lions on Sunday is keeping with the standard he has set since arriving in 1999.
"He knows these guys like very few on the planet, including family and relatives. He knows what it takes to keep things going," said Freeman, a Severn resident. "It's a judgment call. Maybe a decade later, maybe you look back and say, `I should have done this or should have done that.' But you've got to go with your gut, and his gut right now is telling him this is the way to go with it."
Defensive end/linebacker Terrell Suggs and safety B.J. Ward were ejected after making contact with the referee, and Suggs is expected to draw a hefty fine from the league. Neither will have to worry about avoiding the coach's wrath this week.
Cornerback Chris McAlister has drawn a number of personal fouls and unsportsmanlike-conduct penalties in his career, but Billick has generally stood by him, and he is again in the wake of a taunting call against McAlister on Sunday.
Essentially, it is status quo for the Ravens, which means there will be no added rules and fines by Billick to combat the lack of discipline in his team Sunday. Some question that stance, but at a time when the Ravens look as unstable as ever under Billick, stability in the coach is a must, says John F. Murray, a licensed clinical and sports psychologist based out of Palm Beach, Fla.
"It all comes back down to a consistent philosophy that the coach is clearly communicating to his team," said Murray, who has created the Mental Performance Index, a general measure of performance at a high level in sports that includes mental factors. "The team understands and knows what to expect.
