11:12 PM ET — Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley’s pass is intercepted by Steelers defensive back Minka Fitzpatrick. The Steelers win the ball game 16-13. Fans exit the stadium, beat up the writers, and make their way to the elevators to their respective post-match press conferences.
11:20 — Ravens head coach Jon Harbaugh addresses the media.
“We have to do a better job across the board in terms of attacking what they did,” Harbaugh says. “They did a good job. It was nothing we hadn’t seen. [It was] Exactly what I saw on tape the last 3 weeks, very disappointing. Not one of our better performances. Coaching staff, start with that, start with me. It starts with the coaching staff, the game plan, it all. Not enough Disappointing. we have to get back on our feet. ”
11:23 — Chuck Clark addresses the media. He talks about how the run game consistently made the Steelers offense short yards on third downs and how that affected defense.
“Obviously, we would love to have it longer than two seconds, but they were playing a run game, so we got into that situation,” says Clark. “If it was a little longer, it would definitely be a little more exotic, but to be honest, it was a little tough for us.”
Shortly after, Huntley tells the media about what he saw on the interception. What the Steelers did to bottle them up. He talks about his 3 and 4 outs. He is ejected and the media follow him near the locker room.
Once inside, it’s almost silent. Player excluded. Others walk in and out of the shower. The bag is moved and zipped by Trainor as the media fills the center of his locker room. He has his one player left in his pad.
11:30 — Broderick Washington, still in his number 96 jersey, looks down at the floor with a dejected look. Three minutes later he tried to unbuckle his shoulder pads, but doing so took him out of the game and he was unprepared.
11:35 — The media began noticing whether Washington was resting his head on his hands or repeating a 1,000-yard stare as he looked ahead. I get up and ask him if he’s willing to talk.
“I… wait a minute, man. I…” nods. Tell him what I understand and take his time.
On the other side of the locker room, honored veteran offensive lineman Kevin Seitler welcomes the first wave of media.
11:38 — Patrick Queen goes to each member of the wall where Washington remains and pats each. Washington reluctantly accepts.
11:40 — Washington nods and looks up, finally ready to speak. He nods to the media, still frustrated, and offers a sober session.
“Broderick, it’s almost midnight and you’re still in the pad,” I ask. “But where are your thoughts now? What are you thinking?”
“To be honest…it’s just really embarrassing,” says Washington.
He looks to his left as veteran defensive end Curry Campbell, who missed tonight’s game due to a knee injury, signals with his hand to the younger players to calm down. A deranged Washington is obliged. He has an 8 second gap between his next answer and he collects himself.
“Personally, I feel that I didn’t play to our standards. [I] We need to go back to the drawing board and improve. ”
“What was the offense doing that gave the Steelers so much success or hurt you?” I ask.
It’s an eight-second pause, and it’s what I’ve come to admire about Washington. He was never given a canned answer. I’m thinking through each one. He does it every time during post-practice pressers, but he’s noble enough to do so even after a painful defeat.
“It has to get better,” says Washington. “They came out — they came out on fire, and they really wanted to win the game and — just have to get better.”
Washington has a few more answers, but he’s still open to tonight’s results. He was the fastest to answer questions while wearing a Ravens uniform.
“I hate to lose,” Washington replies. “I don’t care what it is. I don’t want to lose. Shoot, I expect more from myself. But you know, I hate losing.”
Media personnel looked at each other, they nodded and thanked Washington for two minutes. They will be kind to you.
“Thank you,” Washington told media. He sits back and goes back to mental self-flagellation. Reporter, audio his recorder, microphone and camera peel off and off to the next raven. Then next.
11:45 — Nodding to myself again, Washington stands up to meet his trainer and help him remove his sweat-soaked jersey. After ripping off the pads, Washington was back in the locker one last time as the Steelers rushed his 198 yards and threw the traditionally stout defensive line sideways, with Washington towing and possibly his AFC. Accepting tonight’s loss, North came out of contention and nodded his one last time.
