Dumervil: Ravens were ‘taken advantage of’
Linebacker bemoans lack of holding penalties in team’s ‘bizarre’ season
Outside linebacker Elvis Dumervil has emerged as a leader this year for the Ravens, and on Wednesday said what many people inside and outside the locker room probably believe about the team’s rotten luck in close games this year.
Dumervil said the injuries that have forced reserves and midseason free-agent signings into the Ravens offense can happen to anyone, but shifted without prompting to the string of bad calls that have gone against the team.
“I will say one thing — it’s the referees, for sure,” Dumervil said. “This has been one of the most bizarre seasons that I’ve seen. For us to not get no holding calls, there’s a lot of things that I’ve felt like we’ve been taken advantage of, for sure.”
Dumervil experienced at least one officiating issue firsthand. He was called for a 15-yard face-mask penalty that set up the Jacksonville Jaguars’ game-winning field goal on a play that never should have happened; the Jaguars should have been called for a false start. But there are other examples of officiating that has hurt the 4-8 Ravens this season.
The first-quarter pass-interference call on Ravens wide receiver Daniel Brown, who had made only incidental contact, nullified a 52-yard touchdown Sunday in a 15-13 loss to the Miami Dolphins. Coach John Harbaugh said he hadn’t gotten an official ruling from the NFL on that play, but indications are that it wasn’t the correct call.
Dumervil has real gripes about offensive-holding penalties as well. The Ravens have accepted seven holding penalties on opposing offenses, with two declined, meaning their opponents have committed a league-low nine offensive-holding penalties. Only one was on a pass play.
Tonight’s picks
“I don’t have no reason,” Dumervil said. “It’s just not going our way this year.”
Renner glad to be back
Quarterback Bryn Renner said he helped out on the scout team and with the first-team offense Wednesday, his first day back on the practice squad since September.
“It feels like I haven’t missed a beat,” Renner said. “It’s a great opportunity to come in and help the guys any way I can. I’m just happy to be here again.”
Renner, a preseason fan favorite, won the preseason opener against the New Orleans Saints with a leaping late touchdown run, and completed 43 of 65 passes for 409 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions.
He began the regular season on the practice squad but was cut before the Week 2 game against the Oakland Raiders so that the Ravens could add a practice squad offensive lineman, Tony Hills.
They didn’t need to summon Renner back until now, after Joe Flacco’s season-ending knee injury and a host of minor injuries to new starter Matt Schaub. In the interim, Renner said, he has had a lot of workouts.
“I’ve been going to throw different places with different teams, just staying in shape, trying to do the best I can to stay ready for this call,” he said.
No Pro Bowl leaders
With one week of fan voting left, no Ravens lead their position group in the online balloting for the Pro Bowl. Punter Sam Koch led his group two weeks ago but was overtaken by the New England Patriots’ Ryan Allen and Indianapolis Colts’ Pat McAfee.
Kicker Justin Tucker is the only Raven in the top two of his position, more than 95,000 votes behind the Patriots’ Stephen Gostkowski.
Kyle Juszczyk is the third-ranking fullback, and Albert McClellan is third among special teams players, Marshal Yanda is eighth among guards, and Brandon Williams is ninth among defensive tackles. Voting ends at midnight Monday.
Injury report
Tight end Crockett Gillmore (back), starting right tackle Rick Wagner (ankle) and Williams (shoulder) missed practice Wednesday with injuries that cost them at least part of Sunday’s game.
Williams and Wagner returned and finished the game against Miami, but Gillmore did not. Left tackle Eugene Monroe (shoulder), wide receiver Marlon Brown (back) and Dumervil (noninjury related) and Schaub (chest) also did not practice.
Tight end Maxx Williams was limited with a concussion.
End zone
Safety Nick Perry was released from the practice squad to clear a spot for Renner. … Cornerback Cassius Vaughn, released Tuesday to make room for the Ravens’ tight end additions, cleared waivers. Former Ravens cornerback Rashaan Melvin, released by the Patriots, also cleared waivers.