Rashod Bateman Slams GM DeCosta: ‘Stop pointing the finger’

Rashod Bateman, a wide receiver with the Baltimore Ravens, responded sharply to Eric DeCosta’s scathing statements about the team’s wide receiver room on Thursday.

Rashod Bateman Slams GM DeCosta: ‘Stop pointing the finger’

When questioned about his struggles selecting wide receivers, DeCosta provided the following statement to reporters on Wednesday at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.

“If I had an answer, that would probably mean I would have some better receivers. … We’re gonna keep swinging. There have been some guys that have been successful players for us that were draft picks. We’ve never really hit on that All-Pro type of guy, which is disappointing, but it’s not for a lack of effort. … It’s one of those anomalies that I really can’t explain, other than to say that we’re not going to stop trying.”

“We’re gonna keep swinging and hopefully at one of these points, we’re gonna hit the ball out of the park.”

Apparently feeling slighted by DeCosta’s comments, Bateman fired back Thursday on Twitter, writing:

“How bout you play to your players’ strength and stop pointing the finger at us and [quarterback Lamar Jackson] … Blame the one you let do this. … We take heat 24/7. And keep us healthy. … Care about US and see what happen. Ain’t no promises tho. … Tired of y’all lyin’ and cap’n on players for no reason.”

The main reason why Bateman, who was selected with the 27th overall choice in the first round of the 2021 NFL draught, hasn’t lived up to expectations is injuries.

The University of Minnesota graduate only made four starts as a rookie and missed five games due to a groyne ailment, but he had lots of potential. In the end, he had 46 catches for 515 yards and a score.

Jackson has been very successful in his five seasons with the Ravens as the starting quarterback, receiving two Pro Bowl selections, one first-team All-Pro selection, and the 2019 NFL MVP title. Although they only have one postseason victory to show for it, the Ravens have also made the playoffs in four of his five seasons.

Wide receiver production from the Ravens hasn’t correlated with Jackson’s performance throughout the regular season. During Jackson’s tenure, Marquise “Hollywood” Brown had the most successful season of any wide receiver for the Ravens in 2021, finishing with 91 catches for 1,008 yards and six touchdowns. Last offseason, Baltimore sent Brown to the Arizona Cardinals.

Jackson’s future with the Ravens is currently up in the air because the two parties were unable to reach a long-term contract agreement. To keep him from becoming a free agency, the Ravens will have to franchise tag him if they can’t reach an agreement by Tuesday.

Jackson and the wide receiver group have occasionally served as scapegoats for Baltimore’s passing game’s underwhelming performance. Yet, the conflicting remarks made by DeCosta and Bateman imply that there is a misunderstanding about who or what is at fault inside the company.

 

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