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Dannell Ellerbe is in the mix for extended playing time at inside linebacker, but he might have done some serious damage to his stock with the Ravens' coaching staff tonight.
Mid-way through the second quarter with the Ravens trailing 14-0, Ellerbe, a second-year man out of Georgia, picked off a pass by Rams quarterback Keith Null.
Ellerbe took off down the sideline, and as he got to the 40-yard line, he extended the ball up in the air in celebration.
A little flashy for my liking, but nothing terrible about that move. But what Ellerbe did just prior to crossing the goal line left head coach John Harbaugh absolutely livid.
As Ellerbe got to the one-yard-line, he stopped cold and turned towards the Rams offensive players, taunting them as they ran towards him. After a second or two, he finally extended the ball over the goal line for the touchdown.
It was an embarrassing display, one that certainly does not fit the description of "Playing Like a Raven", an expression that members of the coaching staff love to toss around.
Ellerbe celebrated with his teammates in the end zone, and was clearly pleased with himself about his big play. But all those positive vibes came crashing down just seconds later when head coach John Harbaugh sprinted up to Ellerbe as he got to the sideline.
Harbaugh grabbed Ellerbe's jersey with one hand and started screaming at the linebacker, who stood calmly and didn't appear to say a word.
The coach's lecture went on for about 10 seconds, which must have seemed like an eternity to Ellerbe.
That, kids, is how you end up in a coach's doghouse. Ellerbe might have impressed coaches last year down the stretch, but plays like that will not help him earn any extra playing time this season.
UPDATE: Here's Harbaugh's take on the play, which he gave to WBAL's Stan White as he was coming off the field at halftime: "I like the play, but it's classless, and that's not how we're going to play."
