Sports Radio Interviews

Derrick Mason Can Still Talk With The Best Of Them Heading Into His 14th NFL Season

All 32 teams in the NFL have competed at least two preseason games after this weekend’s action. Usually teams the third preseason game is when the first team guys see the most action, so if there ever was a week to pay attention to what’s going on in the world of preseason NFL football, this coming week would be the one. For the Baltimore Ravens, the week or practice and the upcoming game will be used to get the offense more in sync, shore up some of the fumbling problems that plagued them this past weekend against the Washington Redskins, and of course, to look at some of the team’s younger talent vying for the final few previous roster spots. One guy who’s job is safe is veteran wide receiver Derrick Mason, who somehow is still going strong at 36 years of age.

Mason joined 105.7 The Fan in Baltimore to talk about the development of the offense this preseason, how he’s not yet concerned about its general lack of productivity thus far, his verbal altercation with ‘Skins safety LaRon Landry Saturday night, what he thinks the Ravens’ coaching staff will be harping on all week in preparation of the team’s third preseason game, and to share some interesting and candid thoughts on the never-ending Brett Favre soap opera in Minnesota.

On how he thinks the offense is progressing:

“We’re making strides as an offense. I think each game we’re adding more to the offense and we’re doing a little bit more. I think the first game we moved the ball pretty well down the field, and the second game we kind of, you know, we were stagnant there for a minute then we were able to get some things going. We didn’t convert on some third downs that we should have; the one in the red zone was my fault because as a player I’ve got to know the down and distance. I easily could have gotten the first down, but I decided to try to get around the corner and try to get in the end zone. I thought it was 3rd and goal, so that was my fault. It’s just being aware of where you are on the field, I just wasn’t at the time. But there are some things we need to get better at as an offense. I’m not too worried about it. I don’t think anyone else is, because when we had to move the ball down the field, we did just that, we moved the ball down the field. ‘Quan had a big catch, we had some big runs here and there, so I’m not too concerned about the way the offense played, but obviously we’ve got to get better.”

On his verbal spat with LaRon Landry:

I always take it as fun. It gets me really into the game. I felt a lot better this game than I did the first game, and it’s always fun when you have someone you can jaw with for a play or two, and Landry threw a big hit on me on the sideline and decided he wanted to start talking. And me, I’m never going to back down from a verbal shouting match, so I kind of went in with him as well. But it was all in fun. He came back to me, we talked a bit three or four plays later. So when you’re on the field, you get heated a little bit, but other than that, you try to leave everything on the field.”

On what he thinks the one or two areas will be that the Ravens coaching staff fixates on leading up to their third preseason game:

“I think we’re going to have to focus on holding onto the football. That can be an Achilles heel for us if we don’t hold onto the football. We’re not a team that’s accustomed to fumbling, and we put two or three I think on the carpet this last Saturday. We lost one. So that’s a big concern not just for the coaches, but for the players because we want to be one of the top teams, if not the top team in the NFL in giveaways. So that’s going to be an area that I know coach will stress this week. Then also, just the offense getting more rhythm and being the prolific offense that we’re capable of being. So there are a few things that we’re going to stress this week, and hopefully coming into this next game the starters will play a little bit more and we can address those issues.”

Mason gives a veteran’s opinion on Brett Favre:

“I don’t have a problem with Brett sitting out training camp. He’s earned that right I think after you know, 40 years of playing in the NFl, [laughs], and playing the way he has. I mean, he’s earned that right to sit out and not join the guys in training camp because he proved last year that he doesn’t have to be there for the duration of training camp to go out and be very consistent in this league. I think the problem that I have is sending guys to go get him. He was going to play. Brett’s not going anywhere. Brett – I think he adores the limelight, he adores when people are talking about him. When people are not talking about him, that’s when he gets a little agitated I think. But he loves being in the limelight, so for you to send three guys to go get him, I don’t think that was something that was necessary. Now what are you saying to the rest of the guys that are going be in that position – very good players that are going to be in that position? Do you not go get them in a private jet with three other guys? So you know, that whole fiasco that they’re going through, it might bite them in the butt. It did last year. They were picked to go to the Super Bowl and they ended up losing to the Saints. People got to remember, as great as Brett Favre is, he’s only won one Super Bowl and that was when Reggie White was there, and they had that great defense, a great running game, and some great receivers. So people act like Brett has won four or five Super Bowls. He’s not Tom Brady by no means, meaning as far as winning championships. He is probably going to go down as one of the greatest, if not the greatest quarterback to play the game. But when you look at it, he’s only won one Super Bowl and that was over ten years ago. So has he earned the right to not join the guys at mini-camp and training camp? Yes, but this other stuff that’s going on? I mean come on. It’s time to play football, and I think that put a shadow over the whole Minnesota Vikings organization.”

Listen here to Mason on 105.7 the Fan in Baltimore on the Norris and Davis Show

Tags: Baltimore Ravens, Baltimore Ravens preseason, Baltimore Ravens training camp, best veteran wide receivers, Derrick Mason, when will Derrick Mason retire?, who will win the AFC North