Yanda dismisses spitting allegations
Guard says, ‘That’s not the way I was raised’
Ravens guard Marshal Yanda stridently defended himself Wednesday against accusations that he spat on a Cincinnati Bengals player Sunday, saying that it “would never be anything that would ever even be fathomed in my mind.”
In his first public comments since video emerged of a wad of spit falling from Yanda’s mouth as he stood over Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict, the Ravens veteran acknowledged that he was spitting, but that it landed on the ground. He said he’d raised his left hand afterward to make sure it hadn’t fallen on anyone.
“I take a lot of pride in my character and how I was raised and the things that I do, day in and day out,” Yanda said. “I would never, ever spit on another man, another person, individual, ever. On the field, off the field, never. That’s not the the way I was raised. That’s not the way I raise my kids. ...
“It’s just unfortunate that [the video] got twisted, and my integrity and my character is being called into question, because that doesn’t really matter to me. It’s really unfortunate, but that’s what went down. Just want to put that out there. That would never be anything that would ever even be fathomed in my mind. That’s just not the player that I am.”
Yanda called himself a “heavy spitter” during games — “The adrenaline’s fired up, and I’m always spitting all the time” — but said that if he had earned a reputation over his 12 years in the NFL for misbehavior, “that would’ve come out by now, right, if I was that type of guy.” He also pointed to the Bengals’ inaction after his alleged spitting: “You would think that there would’ve been an eruption or a fight if that happened.”
“Most people probably aren’t even going to see me talking about it right now,” he said. “They’re just going to think that, ‘Oh, Marshal Yanda, I’ve heard that guy spit on somebody.’ Badie: Bears, Cowboys, Saints Lee: Lions, Redskins, Saints Preston: Bears, Cowboys, Saints Schmuck: Lions, Cowboys, Saints Shaffer: Lions, Redskins, Saints Walker: Bears, Cowboys, Saints Obviously, that fires me up, for sure. Like I said, that’s my character, that’s my integrity, that’s everything that I live for, day in and day out, as a person, as a father, everything. So, yeah, that’s wrong. That’s 110 percent wrong. They shouldn’t be able to have that much power.”
As of Wednesday afternoon, Burfict had not talked to reporters about the incident. Flacco misses practice: Joe Flacco did not practice Wednesday, an ominous sign about the Ravens quarterback’s ability to start Sunday’s home game against the Oakland Raiders.
OnMonday, coach JohnHarbaugh said Flacco — who missed Sunday’s 24-21 win over the Cincinnati Bengals because of an injured right hip sustained in a 23-16 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Nov. 4 — “has a chance” to play, but he missed his fourth consecutive practice.
If Flacco can’t play for the second straight week, rookie Lamar Jackson is expected to make his second consecutive start. Stanley’s special shoe: Left tackle Ronnie Stanley returned from a one-game absence to make his customary start Sunday, and he wore a modified shoe — which he likened to a boot — to protect his injured left ankle.
But the ankle flared up during the game, forcing him to the sideline at least three times and bringing Jermaine Eluemunor to replace him for nine of 79 snaps on offense. Before taking part in Wednesday afternoon’s practice, Stanley acknowledged the Guard Marshal Yanda denied he spit on linebacker Vontaze Burfict. toll the injury has taken.
“It definitely hasn’t been easy,” he said. “I’m definitely thinking about what could happen. You’ve just got to be out there, and if you can play, just play for your team and give all you have. That’s the mindset I’ve had all week, and that’s what I’m going to continue to do.” Extra points: Cornerback Maurice Canady is remaining patient with the team’s timetable for his return from injured reserve because of a hamstring injury and said he was not disappointed about being left off the active roster for Sunday’s win. “This thing is bigger than me,” he said. “I would never be mad that I wouldn’t be up. I’m here for the long haul. So that’s not a concern.” … Outside linebacker Terrell Suggs said he did not watch the offensive fireworks in the Los Angeles Rams’ 54-51 win against the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday night. “It must have been a high-flying, explosive game, really fun to watch, but I was probably asleep, to be completely honest with you,” he said.