Bruce Laird, 58, is a former safety for Baltimore Colts who played in the NFL from 1972-83. But he’s still very much involved in the game as he tries to improve the lives of retired players who need financial assistance to deal with debilitating injuries suffered during their careers. Laird also is an NFL analyst, who can be heard locally on 105.7 FM on radio and on television on MASN.
Did you expect the Ravens to compete for the playoffs?
Not at all. First, you look at the injuries they had in training camp to the defensive backs and the offensive line. Then, the Ravens were forced to throw quarterback Joe Flacco out there instead of bringing him along slowly when Kyle Boller got hurt and Troy Smith got sick.
How impressed are you with Flacco?
Some people are just gifted and able to step into a pressure situation right away. It’s not often that a quarterback can step in right away and be successful like Flacco has so far. He is playing about as well as any first-year quarterback I have seen.
Should Ravens coach John Harbaugh be considered for coach of the year?
I think it should be between him and Tony Sparano from the Miami Dolphins. Plus, you obviously have to throw Atlanta coach Mike Smith into that equation. The final decision on who wins will come down the final two weeks of the season. Still, all three of those coaches have done an outstanding job turning those teams around in just one season.
What has been the biggest reason for the Ravens’ turnaround after going 5-11 last year?
Team chemistry. You can argue what comes first — winning or chemistry — but there is no denying the team is playing well together. Flacco is getting better every week, the offensive line is gelling and they are running the ball. Plus, the defense can play pretty well, too.
Has this been an unusual year in the NFL with so many surprising teams, including the Ravens and the Dolphins, who are 9-5 after winning one game last season?
No doubt. All of the talk early in the season was how good the Dallas Cowboys were going to be, and now, they might not even make the playoffs. But that’s just the way the NFL is today where teams can win 10 games after winning just a few games the year before.
