Jeff Wolfson

Ravens players give their take on purple towel idea

by Dan Kolko View Comments

If you weren't already aware, the Ravens will be handing out purple towels to fans entering Sunday night's game against the Steelers as part of a "purple-out" throughout M&T Bank Stadium.

Some fans have called in to local talk radio stations poo-pooing the towel idea, claiming that it too closely resembles the Steelers' famed Terrible Towels, which have become a huge part of the team's organizational culture.

While some might be against the purple towels, linebacker Terrell Suggs says he wants to get in on the towel action when gametime rolls around.

"I'm probably going to get one," Suggs said. "I'm going to have one on the sidelines. [I'll] probably wear it like a bandana like Deion [Sanders], but we'll have to see come Sunday night. We'll have to see."

Steelers fans have a tendency to infiltrate opposing teams' stadiums and bring their Terrible Towels with them, which has riled up some players in the past.

Two years ago, members of the Titans stomped on a Terrible Towel on their sideline and pretended to blow their nose in it after beating the Steelers late in the regular season to earn the AFC's top seed in the playoffs.

Don't expect quarterback Joe Flacco to have a similar reaction if the Ravens pull off the win this Sunday.

"Do I not like the Terrible Towel? I don't really care," Flacco said. "We're not going to be Tennessee, stomping on it when we beat them. I have no interest in doing that. All it is is a towel that the fans like."

Running back Ray Rice didn't have much of an opinion when asked about the towels and the "purple-out". To Rice, Ravens fans making noise and getting fired up is all that's important.

"For me, I wouldn't care if they did a white-out, black-out, purple-out," Rice said. "I just think that as long as our fans are into the game, I'm all for it. I'm all for the rivalry. I'm all for everything that the rivalry's about."

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