Team supports Ricard
Ravens accept apology; Harbaugh says Jefferson ‘close’ to return to lineup
Several Ravens players said Wednesday that backup defensive tackle Patrick Ricard has not lost their friendship and trust after several racist and homophobic tweets he wrote years ago began trending the night before the team’s overtime loss at the Kansas City Chiefs.
“I was shocked honestly,” nose tackle Michael Pierce said of his reaction to reading the tweets. “But Pat’s family, we actually went to dinner last Monday. So I never would have expected it. That’s not the guy I know. It’s unfortunate he said it, but he’s still a brother to me and a brother to us on this team. So we’re going to stand behind him, and that’s something we just never expected.”
Ricard, 24, who is white, said he addressed the defense Tuesday and the offense Wednesday. He said he was heartened by his teammates’ support.
“It just shows that they believe that I am the person that I am today and that those were words that I said back seven years ago,” he said. “They understand everyone makes mistakes, and it’s been great. I’m not going to lie. It did take a toll on me just because I don’t believe in that, and when I did read what I tweeted, it made me sick. But everybody’s support has made it a lot easier, and I’m starting to move on from this.”
Although the tweets were deleted, users captured some of them, which included at least five uses of a racial slur. “‘My phone spins like a [expletive] at a disco’ — me!” he wrote in 2011
Healso used a homophobic remark. “I don’t even want to see that [expletive] wearing a patriots uniform,” he wrote in 2013.
Coach John Harbaugh, who had l abeled Ricard’s comments “unacceptable,” said Ricard will remain with the Ravens.
“The best way to describe that is it’s been handled internally, and it’s been handled by the leaders on the team,” he said.
Jefferson ‘close’ to returning: Tony Jefferson missed his seventh consecutive practice Wednesday, but Ravens coach John Harbaugh said the starting safety has made progress in overcoming his injured left ankle.
“He’s close,” Harbaugh said before Wednesday afternoon’s session. “He tells me he’s going to play, and [head athletic trainer] Ron [Medlin] says we need to see him run at full speed. So we’ll be looking for that this week. He told he was going to play last week. He told me he was going to play the week before that. So that’s Tony. But I’ve got my fingers crossed.”
Jefferson has not been on the field since suffering his injury in the second quarter of a 34-17 victory over the Oakland Raiders on Nov. 25. Jefferson, who wore a walking boot after the game, did not appear to limp while walking through the locker room Wednesday, but declined to talk to media because he had to get treatment.
In addition to Jefferson, the secondary practiced Wednesday without cornerbacks Marlon Humphrey (groin) and Tavon Young ( groin), free safety Eric Weddle (not injury related) and defensive back Anthony Levine Sr. (ankle).
Wide receiver Michael Crabtree and right guard Marshal Yanda also did not participate, but they likely benefitted from veteran days.
Left guard Alex Lewis was limited by a left shoulder injury, while quarterbacks Joe Flacco (right hip) and rookie Lamar Jackson (ankle) and outside linebacker Tim Williams (right ankle) were full participants.
Extra points: The Buccaneers practiced without a pair of starters in safety Justin Evans (toe) and wide receiver DeSean Jackson (thumb). Four other starters in rookie cornerback Carlton Davis III (knee), right tackle Demar Dotson (knee), defensive tackle Gerald McCoy (shoulder) and defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul (knee/hip) were limited. … The Ravens announced Wednesday morning they had added offensive tackle Jake Rodgers to the practice squad.