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Biggs: Ray Rice calls Lambeau Field `terrible'

Ravens running back not happy with whole Green Bay experience Brad Biggs

Print This December 08, 2009, 11:31 AM EST
34 Comments

Last night marked the first time in Lambeau Field history that the Green Bay Packers have hosted a “Monday Night Football” game in December.

For Ray Rice’s purposes, he’d prefer it’s his last trip to Brown County, Wis., for a game at, say, any time of the year.

The Baltimore Ravens running back wasn’t impressed with any element of what is truly one of the unique sporting treasures in America—a massive football stadium in the middle of a neighborhood in a small town.

“To be honest with you, it was just Lambeau Field,” Rice told Drew Olson of OnMilwaukke.com. “I didn't see anything special. They put us in the middle of nowhere and it's not a real exciting place.

“Everything about this place is terrible, to be honest with you.”

Maybe that terrible feeling began to creep over Rice when he fumbled on the Ravens’ opening possession in the loss. Could that have had something to do with it?

The Ravens were put up on Sunday night in nearby Appleton. As we detailed back in October, Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle signed into law a bill that allows police escorts to lead team buses through red lights en route from Appleton (or Fond du Lac or wherever) en route to Lambeau Field. So, surely that wide open roadway had to be to Rice’s liking, right? As the Minnesota Vikings displayed last week, NFL players have the need for speed.

We look forward to Rice’s commentary on Oakland, where the Ravens close out the regular season on Jan. 3. Perhaps he can recommend a good spot for a sandwich near the stadium.

Follow me at Twitter: BradBiggs

Comments

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Rich B
Dec 08, 2009
11:46 AM

This guy is a joke with those comments, my guess he didn't like the scoreboard and early game fumble. Check the crime rate in Baltimore. Everyone that drives into downtown Baltimore has to roll up the windows and lock the doors.

Rich B
Dec 08, 2009
11:47 AM

This guy is a joke with those comments, my guess he didn't like the scoreboard and early game fumble. Check the crime rate in Baltimore. Everyone that drives into downtown Baltimore has to roll up the windows and lock the doors.

Avon Barksdale
Dec 08, 2009
11:49 AM

A terrible place? Has Ray Rice seen The Wire?

Next time you get served up a bowl of humiliation like last night's entree bring a bigger spoon. That way Raji and Mathews won't have to fight over who gets to eat your lunch, pal.

HRMLSS
Dec 08, 2009
11:50 AM

The Packers would LOVE for him to show up more often! What an overrated crybaby! lol

lebowski
Dec 08, 2009
11:51 AM

Green Bay is obviously not for everybody. Probably three fourths of the players in the league feel that way after playing a December game there. But if you are serious about football and not about going out and getting in trouble, it's not a bad place at all. Most Americans live in small towns, and Green Bay is a nice one with an NFL team to love, which puts it in rare company. Ray was just really cold and really frustrated, I'm sure.

mack
Dec 08, 2009
11:56 AM

Then you have the guys who love coming there.

It is a total football experience Ray, that is what the place is about.
Sorry there isn't enough nightlife for you.

Next time try Chili John's where people have been going for generations.

Rogue420
Dec 08, 2009
12:12 PM

Ray,
The only terrible thing in Lambeau last night was the weather, and the Baltimore Ravens offense. Great win for the Pack. Keep up the intensity boys.

Snake Plissken
Dec 08, 2009
12:23 PM

Rice served cold
Disappoints
Crying Children

Snake Plissken
Dec 08, 2009
12:27 PM

Rice served cold
Disappoints
Crying Children

Dayne
Dec 08, 2009
12:27 PM

Who is Ray Rice?

Bob
Dec 08, 2009
12:40 PM

Ray:

Don't let the door hit ya...

Peter
Dec 08, 2009
12:46 PM

Must be a hall of famer. 54 yards in 14 carries, whow what a fantastic outing. I lived in a Baltimore suburb for a few months, and Baltimore inner city is nothing but a bunch of housing projects, crimes, drugs, and guns all over. Aside of Baltimore harbor, which is real nice, but everything else is a dump. So I am glad Green Bay is terrible, at least you won't have to run for your life just eating out or buying your groceries.

Packer Pete
Dec 08, 2009
12:50 PM

Loved the joke about getting a sandwich outside Oakland' Coliseum. I saw a Raider Chief game there once, and that is one spooky neighborhood to walk through to the stadium.

Rice didn't see anything special about Lambeau because he spent his evening face down in the grass.

marcopo
Dec 08, 2009
01:22 PM

C'mon Rich, downtown Baltimore is one of the best downtown districts on the east coast. And they have an ESPN sports zone! You are just not into culture, lol.

VinnyMac
Dec 08, 2009
01:27 PM

Ray Rice looked more like Ray from "Everybody Loves Raymond" against the Packer D.
I guess he didn't like getting pulled down behind the line of scrimmage and getting squat for yardage in the 1st half, either.

Corey
Dec 08, 2009
01:33 PM

I love The Wire comment earlier...classic.

Tom
Dec 08, 2009
01:48 PM

I'm sure he'd rather go to night clubs with Ray Lewis.

balistics
Dec 08, 2009
02:37 PM

ray who?

sorry there weren't any gang bangers around the stadium. my guess is the police escort should have made him feel like he was RIGHT at home in baltimore!

dan
Dec 08, 2009
02:40 PM

I'm from Fond du Lac, but I actually don't mind Rice saying this. Worshipping Lambeau is one of those mandatory things that every athlete and writer is expected to do. It's like when a politician says he's strongly for education, like, what's he gonna' say? Not fawning over Lambeau is like kicking a puppy.

Don't get me wrong, I absolutely do not hesitate to personally bow down to Lambeau and think that walking in there for the first time is one of the cooler experiences of life. Then again, I'm a Packer fan. Of course I love it. What I DON'T like is fake orthodoxies, and, if Rice isn't in the mood to praise Lambeau like he's "supposed to," then I'm fine with it. Whatever. It's awesome, and it will continue to be awesome no matter what Ray Rice thinks.

AngryPackerFan
Dec 08, 2009
03:10 PM

Ray, you just earned your own Voo-Doo doll.

ppabich
Dec 08, 2009
04:34 PM

Dan - I agree with what you said, nobody is required to worship some place. He is a city guy and it wasn't his thing. that being said why this is a big issue is because he had 19 carries for only 50 yards and a fumble.

You got to put up or shut up.

scott
Dec 08, 2009
04:43 PM

it looks like these quotes are completely out of context. the journalist/blogger just has quotes without putting the question first or showing what else ray rice had to say. very poor reporting ray rice is actually a very good person and this makes him look like a sore loser. hey biggs- why dont you put the full transcript of the interview and not just things that make ray rice look bad?

MLC
Dec 08, 2009
04:51 PM

You people are hypocritical morons. You condemn him for having an opinion and speaking his mind, comments which, in this case, happened to be negative. Then you make comments about Baltimore or Rice himself that are worse than what he said. The bad areas of Baltimore (I'm not from there) are as bad as any in the country but guess what? There are nice areas too. I'm sure Green Bay is fine but for a guy who lives in Maryland, visiting GB in December is probably a nightmare and I'd bet 95% of NFL'ers who visit GB in the winter would agree. There is a reason free agents in any sport would choose Miami or LA over Milwaukee or Green Bay or Minnesota. Its time to accept the fact that while you may love where you are from, its not exactly ideal.

Ryan R
Dec 08, 2009
04:57 PM

He also said "There were a lot of running lanes, and we could have run the ball a lot against them,"
, then why didn't you?
Idiot, but I love the Wire references!

Nitschke
Dec 08, 2009
07:03 PM

To be honest with you, Roy Rice is just a running back. I didn't see anything special. Actually he is terrible.

Fuerte
Dec 08, 2009
08:51 PM

@Lebowski: According to the 2000 U.S. Census, 58.274% of the U.S. population lives in urbanized areas over 200,000 people. Your statement that "most Americans live in small towns" is false.

Lars1459
Dec 08, 2009
09:51 PM

I am a season ticket holder for Packer games and look forward to the day they put a retractable dome over Lambeau Field. I know that will never happen and my Packer brothers and sisters will disagree with me, but I don't think the cold weather offers the Pack an advantage.

lars1459
Dec 08, 2009
10:18 PM

I am a Packer season ticket holder and I suggest a retractable dome over the stadium. The days of the Packers having a home field advantage because of the cold are a myth. Those guys hate the cold just as much as any other team. I know my recommendation is heresy to Packer fans, but I bet most would enjoy watching the Pack win the NFC in the comfort of 68 degrees as much as I would!

Chris
Dec 08, 2009
10:27 PM

"A terrible place? Has Ray Rice seen The Wire? "

Pretty truthful series too by the way. I suppose it may have changed but I know about two years ago Baltimore was the heroin capital of the U.S.

Guy was frustrated I imagine and probably feels a bit silly today.

Chris
Dec 08, 2009
10:41 PM

"You people are hypocritical morons. You condemn him for having an opinion and speaking his mind, comments which, in this case, happened to be negative. Then you make comments about Baltimore or Rice himself that are worse than what he said."

I find this comment a bit strange in a way. Pointing out Baltimore's problems wasn't being done to deny that it has positive attributes but rather to point at that Rice was being a bit of a hypocrite himself of the "pot, kettle" variety. So if one points out another's hypocrisy that makes them a hypocrite in turn? Seems to me it's just calling somebody on their B.S. -- and I don't mean bachelors of science.

Zach H
Dec 09, 2009
05:52 PM

Whoever cares about this story and is offended that he doesn't like it is pathetic. Of course he didn't like it. He played bad and he lost. No one would. If he did like it i would question his competitiveness. So get over it he doesn't like the field, big frickin deal. I'm sure no one likes it who gets beat there. which happens a lot so being mad and offended he doesn't like it it useless. I cant believe I read this aritcle, what a waste of time and now I am responding.

jesse
Jan 10, 2010
10:51 AM

ray rice is not a joke. he probably just doesn't like the countryside. and if you have ever been to any big city, you need to lock your doors and role up windows, baltimore isnt the only place. i live in maryland and baltimore is getting better. i can say from experience that washington is worse than baltimore.

replica rolex
Aug 19, 2010
01:06 AM

. Ocho is just having fun. He is a good player, backs it up on the field and is a good teammate. He may be a loud mouth, but a jerk? I'm sure there are plenty of NFLers with questionable character...some probably flat out bad guys. But Ocho is not one of them. Find something else to complain about.

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