Episode 37: What's up with these Madden ratings?

Ebony Bird Podcast on the Baltimore Ravens

Welcome to the 37’th episode of Ebony Bird, a Baltimore Ravens podcast brought to you by Ebony Bird and FanSided.
On this podcast, contributors Joe Schiller, Jake McDonnell and site expert Chris Schisler go over the latest Ravens headlines one week before the team reports to Owings Mills for training camp. Rookies arrived July 11, and the first full-team practice takes place on the 19th.
The guys kick off the episode by taking a look at Steve Smith Sr.'s recent comments about Lamar Jackson on NFL Network. The former Ravens wideout compared Jackson to Deshaun Watson, who dazzled in his rookie season in 2017 before tearing his ACL during a November practice.
Up next, the Ebony Bird crew challenges the recently-released Madden 19 player ratings. How justified or unjustified was EA Sports in their ratings of key Ravens players? You'll find out, and can pick up a copy of the game when it's released on August 10.
Also on the show, Jake, Joe, and Chris ponder the Ravens' 5-game preseason slate and whether or not playing in the Hall of Fame game will hinder the team in any way this season. The gang closes out the show by questioning if Joe Flacco has actually thrown with his receivers this summer, and whether or not this is a big deal. When addressing the media a few weeks ago during minicamp, Flacco said that he would meet with his receivers prior to the start of training camp. So far there have not been any signs of this actually taking place, but Flacco is not keen to the extra attention.
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