Baltimore Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti called 2014 his "worst year as an owner," but said the 10-6 season was a success for the franchise, in a season-review press conference held Tuesday.
Ravens owner gives 2014 season high marks despite his ‘absolute crappy year’
Steve Bisciotti said 2014 was his worst season as an owner, but a success for the team.
Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Just one day after a loss in Week 1 to the Cincinnati Bengals, a video surfaced showing Ray Rice knocking his then-fiancee unconscious. Rice, who had served half of his two-game suspension, was released by the team later in the day and Bisciotti was criticized, along with the NFL, for the small punishment originally given to the running back.
Bisciotti, 54, has been an owner of the Ravens since 2000 and took over as the majority owner in 2004, but said 2014 was his career low.
“It was my worst year as an owner,” Bisciotti said. “I had 14 good years, and then I had an absolute crappy year.”
Forced to defend his own integrity as well as the integrity of the franchise and NFL, Bisciotti joked that he considered selling the team to Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer. He assured fans, though, that the rough times of 2014 are now behind him.
“I am off suicide watch,” Bisciotti said. “I’m stable mentally. I’ll probably be your owner for a while.”
Without Rice, the Ravens found success with running back Justin Forsett, who finished the year with 1,266 rushing yards and eight touchdowns, earning a spot in the Pro Bowl. Couple the success of Forsett with a postseason run that included eliminating the Pittsburgh Steelers, and Bisciotti said the 2014 season was a success for the franchise.
"I think it's an A. A-plus is a Super Bowl," Bisciotti said. "I think that what John [Harbaugh] did, and the way he handled the coaches and the players was masterful."
Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome was less generous, and said the team “came up short” of its Super Bowl goals; however, he, too, praised the job done by Harbaugh. Newsome also noted that re-signing Forsett, who is an impending free agent, is a priority for the Ravens.
Even with Rice no longer on the team, Newsome said his situation will still impact the way team evaluates players in free agency and the NFL Draft.
“The one area where we will definitely take a hard look and it will be tough for us to bring a player to Baltimore is someone that has domestic abuse in their background,” Newsome said. “Other than that, we will exhaust every character aspect of a player. But we believe in allowing the information to lead us to a decision.”
The Ravens are slated to pick No. 26 in the 2015 NFL Draft and are projected to take Arizona State wide receiver Jaelen Strong in the latest mock draft from SB Nation’s Dan Kadar.
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