This Week’s Pre-Super Bowl Controversy Involves a Ravens Cheerleader Being Left Home — and Fans Are Upset

(Photo: Facebook/Help Us Get Courtney to the Superbowl)
“People want to burn their jerseys and don’t want to support the [Baltimore] Ravens anymore,” one commenter said after the Ravens chose not to invite 23-year-old Courtney Lenz to the Super Bowl.
While not everyone is quite as passionate, thousands of people have signed a petition requesting the Ravens revise their roster and bring the five-year cheerleading veteran to the biggest game of the year, claiming she was unfairly punished for a 2-pound weight gain and announcing her plans to retire after the end of the season.
The petition reads:
Courtney announced she was retiring during the last home game at the end of the season which didn’t go well with the director. She was told she didn’t put in as many appearance hours this season as she did the past 4 yrs while in college. This season she earned her B.S. degree and got a full time job… Bad call. They also stated she struggled with weight on occasion & she had been benched for 2 lb weight gain during a game earlier in the fall, which is a absurd, unhealthy and a complete inaccurate measurement of a woman’s “appearance” and size!
Courtney is beautiful & this organization that is supposedly out there to promote self esteem and healthy body image to millions of young girls and women nationwide has done a big injustice to Courtney & we are outraged! She deserves to be out on the field with her teammates, her family.Β Β β[Emphasis added]

(Photo: Facebook/Help Us Get Courtney to the Superbowl)
Lenz admits she found it difficult to juggle her recently-acquired marketing job and her cheerleading duties, putting in fewer hours this year than in the past.
However, she also thinks her seniority and past accomplishments– including an award for doing the most charity events in one season and ranking 57th among the hottest 100 cheerleaders– should counterbalance that.
“I wouldn’t even have reached out and let fans know if I didn’t think it was clearly wrong,” Lenz told ABCNews.Β “I’m just devastated by the whole situation. …They’ve been really hard on me this year since I told them I was leaving,”
But ABC News also got a statement from the NFL and, unfortunately, you’re simply not “entitled” to go to the Super Bowl:
The Ravens say they had to choose a select number of the 60-member squad to cheer at the Super Bowl, and Lenz did not make the cut.
“As set by the NFL, we are permitted to bring 32 cheerleaders to the Super Bowl. Our selection process was based upon three criteria: seniority, performance ability and personal conduct throughout the season. As much as we would like to take the whole team, we are unable to do so, due to parameters set by the NFL,” spokeswoman Heather Harness, said in a statement to ABCNews.com.Β [Emphasis added]
And even Courtney seems to have accepted the reality of the situation.
“Originally I would have loved to go to the Super Bowl, but at this point it looks like it’s not going to happen,” she concluded. “I received an email on Sunday saying I need to turn in my uniform. I can’t say I didn’t expect it…”
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Related:
In CONTROL, Glenn Beck presents a passionate, fact-based case for guns that reveals why gun control isnβt really about controlling guns at all; itβs about controlling us. Find out more HERE.
















































































































Comments (139)
coalfired
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 9:29amThe ravens have linebackers promoting homosexual marriage, now choose to not invite one of their cheerleaders who served them faithfully for 5 years………this $ucks. This is what happens when the Steelers don’t go to the not so super bowl. I’ll watch the Puppy Bowl!
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civilwarcometh
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 10:11amIf she had been a blonde blue eyed white girl would we even being hearing about this?
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Silvertruth
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 10:48amSadly, this is the way things are today. Ethics is no longer part of our language. Loyalty is reduced to ‘what have you done for me lately’. Courage is staying with the caravan, not blazing your own trail.
We gripe, A LOT, on these boards about stuff like this but in the end, very few of us actually go out and attempt to unify and fix these things. It’s easier to snipe in a text post than it is to actually do something about it. I’m just as guilty as everyone else.
The team should’ve invited the girls that did the most for the fans, not that played the best with the squad. It’s that a cheerleaders job- to involve and get the fans into the game? Clearly this lady did a good job of that, and the fans are upset about the decision.
I hope this teaches some kind of lesson to the NFL teams, but as long as they just see the ladies as eye-candy, I doubt it will do anything to change their minds. It’s a shame, because many of these ladies will go on to careers that dwarf what their cheer squad managers have ever put together.
You go girls! (sorry, had to put that in!)
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Rampart
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 11:39amShe must have come out as a Conservative…
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Levinite
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 11:44amWhat does being white have to do with ANY of this? Damn race-baiting trolls.
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sillyfreshness
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 11:56amGotta love corporations and their “business decisions.” To a corporation, you are no different to them than a door or a chair. That’s how Human Resources defines people. You are a “resource” no different than electricity or water or carpet.
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stablepar
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 12:07pmthis smacks of racism
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KidLiberty
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 12:09pmAmen!
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kenboo1
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 12:22pmim going to be watching the lingerie bowl!!!
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John.Galt
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 12:38pmThey are only allowed to bring 32 out of 60 cheerleaders.
She already announced her retirement.
Seems to me that is reason enough not to invite her.
If you don’t like it, go BUY YOUR OWN FOOTBALL TEAM AND RUN IT AS YOU SEE FIT!
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thehawkdr
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 12:41pmI agree 100%. What a messed up organization. Yup The Puppy ball for me.
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StumpyJohnson
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 1:34pmCoal, are you a complete mental midget? Did you even READ the story?
She is one of 60 cheerleaders, they can only take 30 as per NFL rules, she hasn’t been to many of the games this year, she has stated that she was quitting the team at the end OF THE REGULAR SEASON, and she was told WHY she had not been chosen to go to the bowl game, βI received an email on Sunday saying I need to turn in my uniform. I canβt say I didnβt expect itβ¦β. READ the frickin’ story!!
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Wolf
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 3:52pmReally- who cares? It’s a frigging game.
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BuzzardSays
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 4:12pmUh! Its a professional football game why are their cheerleaders at all? It is not as if they lend any value to the game and generally they are not even noticed like in college were the camera crews love the up skirt lift shot. Is it too gratuitous for professional football coverage to focus on the bouncing betties for a half hour whilst the game is going on??? What is so all fired important about getting the over-blown haired, troweled on make-up, 47-year old pole dancing trollops to the Stupour Bowl?
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Fecal_Matters
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 5:05pmI think Senator Menendez offered to fly her to the Dominican Republic to watch the game on his big screen.
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Keatonc333
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 7:06pmthey can only take have the squad, she, along with 27 others, didn’t make the cut. hows this a story?
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PBG
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 10:54pm@Fecal matters -
THREAD WINNER!!!
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mike4400
Posted on February 1, 2013 at 8:16amPoor Girl…….I bet if she had announced that her and her “Partner” wanted to get married at Halftime she would be on the bus….
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grimjack3791
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 9:23amMore cushion, etc.
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RJJinGadsden
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 9:35amDamn WANGO-DANGO if you would just shave that beard, you might just make weigh in! Don’t remove that bib yet, there is the rest of the team to think of now.
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RaydocX
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 9:20amWe may not have all the facts here…
Irregardless, someone or someone’s in ravens admin screwed this up, and barring something big we don’t know should be looking for a job…
Ray Lewis is slower than last year… He’s announced his retirement, so why is he going to the game?!
At this point, management should take her along and put her in the owner’s suite… Treat her right… After all, PR is supposedly so important they can’t have a cheerleader on the field who fits into the norms for size weight proportion…
And here I thought I’d be rooting for Baltimore.
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Jloyoyo
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 9:51amI am rooting for San Fran. I think if the 49ers win, the Bay Area will have been burned to the ground by Monday. I can live with that.
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WOLVERINES56
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 11:15amTo JLOYOLO…..
This really SUCKS. While I enjoyed your comment about SF burning to the ground (as long as Madame Botox was there to enjoy it) it occurred to me, I’m not happy if either team wins. I despise SanFranNan, and I REALLY despise most everything within 50 miles of DC (Baltimore qualifies).
I think I’m gonna find a hockey game to watch. Since the NHL players basically told their parasitic union to phuggoff, I now LOVE the “scab” league, as well as ANY business that employs people who tell unions to similarly phuggoff.
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Slack-Jawed-Yokel
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 11:34am“Irregarless” Really!? Come on man, that is not even a word.
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Budrow
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 1:21pm“Irregardless”
There goes all of your respect and credibility!
“Irregardless” isn’t a real word, but maybe Obama can change that too!
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iampraying4u
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 5:27pmmust be a slow news day
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AbrahamsSheepdog
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 9:13amThey do that to people when they quit at times. Don’t end up on the biggest loser Courtney. You can’t please all the bastards. The way the NFL is headed your daughter could be a QB someday. Cheer up.
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pragmaticpatriot
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 2:21pmCould be? liberals will see this league undone, if our daughters can serve in combat, her daughter can QB for the Ravens. Thats as long as she doesnt gain 2lbs
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Biginshorts
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 9:07amShe is definitely thick in the hips. She should give up cheer leading
and try out as defensive tackle. This chick looks like former
Ravens great Tony Saragusa in drag.
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ExtremeRight
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 9:25amFunny
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ExtremeRight
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 9:28amA little coke and sex binge and WALA ! 10 pounds gone.
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AbrahamsSheepdog
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 9:44amYup she’s got a little beef on her. They sound kinda crappy all the way around, the Ravens. Crows. Then again with ghetto Ray Lewis. Heck Im gonna root 9ers for 1st time since MackDaddy1 Jerry Rice. The best hands down.
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GhostOfJefferson
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 1:43pm107@5’5″is “a little beef”?
You guys into 82 pound adolescent death camp survivor looking boys or something? Geesh, the girl is quite fetching. I could quite readily be talked into helping her lose the weight. ;)
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SckTwstdFrk
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 9:06amThere are several variables here. Yes, there is the 2 pounds and her retirement announcement, but there is also the fact that she took a full time job which hindered her ability to invest in her cheerleading responsibilities. Like it should be with any job in life, those who put in the most effort and do the best job are rewarded at work. Only half of the cheerleaders on the squad made the cut. If it hadn’t been her upset, it would have been one of the other 28 cut cheerleaders with their own sad story of how the Raven’s wronged them by not choosing them to go to the Superbowl.
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myptofvu
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 10:44amYep its hard to say without all the details but if she was in fact overlooked for lets say, some eye candy that is brand new to the team, them I think the outrage is justified.
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omega309
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 9:06amI don’t care who does the jig in the end zone anymore. Id rather watch the puppy bowl. There is more diversity.lol
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MAULEMALL
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 8:56amTake that POS ray lewis and keep her home for 2 pds…
baltimo is a ghetto
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jcldwl
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 8:39amI certainly feel sorry for the young lady. 2lbs and no superbowl for her after 5 years on the team. Too bad but what do you expect form a lame organization. I gave up the NFL because of the ridiculous type of drama we are being exposed to this week. The announcers and more so, the lame analysts are nothing but a bunch of drama queens. Who needs it?
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The_Jerk
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 9:08amI’m with you one this one. The NFL sucks.
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SpankDaMonkey
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 8:24am.
Go make a Porn Video “Courtney does Baltimore” you’ll get your 15 minutes of fame, and then some……
You are not Entitled……..
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The_Jerk
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 8:42amTwo pounds, 2 lbs? If she can’t lose 2 pounds she’s a slug that deserves to be left at home. I wish we could send a lot of these other fat, lazy slobs, back home too. There needs to be an anti-Fatazz crusade.
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RJJinGadsden
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 9:47amDAZ JERK, obviously never served a day in the military? Even one pound will segregate you from the rest. Or, maybe you didn’t agree then either?
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GhostOfJefferson
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 1:53pm5’5″ and 107 is a “fatazz”?
I fear for the daughter of any man who thinks like that.
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freenj
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 8:20amGood looking young lady, should have kept her plans of leaving the squad, till after the last game. Obviously she didn’t think the Ravens had a snowball chance in hades to making the big game.
Have fun at home, and remember lose lips sink ships! Your ship was sunk now shut up.
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SamIamTwo
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 8:07amAnd I thought it would be about the guy having an affair back in 2005…
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piper60
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 8:07amLet this be a lesson to all professional cheerleaders.
1. Never let the organization know you are retiring ahead of time.
2. Never gain an ounce of weight while working for these ******** organizations.
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jakartaman
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 8:04amBS politics in football – great!
Hope the 49′s win – maybe they have more class.
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NachtundNebel
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 8:03amHmmm, so the two blond haggard hookers in the photo are going? Well, that’s “Charm City” for you…
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CABERNETQHS
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 8:46amI thought the blonde in the background needed a twinkie. She looks a little sickly. Nothing wrong with a few curves, at least that’s how I defend my weight gain.
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RJJinGadsden
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 9:52amNACHTUNDNEBEL, I left Germany for the last time December 1993 and must confess that your site name caught my attention for a moment, then it finally penetrated this thick skull. LOL, I salute your choice, and look forward to reading more of your comments.
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Dismayed Veteran
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 9:59amActually, I think the blond in the background is doing a good job for someone in their 60′s.
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jackact
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 8:02amIt’s truly amazing that the American public still has the time to absorb ‘professional’ sports.
In this day and age, under the continual suspicion of steroid abuse or even worse, the sport of footba and baseball have sunk to a state of perpetual depravity. For this we dedicate 3 or 4 hours of our valuable time even with the knowledge that the lure of today’s ‘super heros’ lasts about 5 minutes before some sordid revelation surfaces and diminishes the ‘hero’ worship that your unsuspecting 10 year old child had towards their idol(s).
We don’t have Babe Ruth’s, Joe Dimaggio’s, Muhammed Ali’s, Roberto Clemente’s or Larry Bird’s anymore. Just a sack of poor imitations the likes of Tiger Woods, Lance Armstrong, Alex Rodriguez, Roger Clemmens and Jerry Sandusky (and enabler Joe Paterno).
Enjoy the lip-synching, chicken wings and stupid TV commercials.
Oh, and get a life.
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autoowned
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 8:50amWhat I find truly amazing is that you list folks like Babe Ruth, a man who was a known alcoholic and narcotic user, Joe Dimaggio who was just as well known as a star crossed lover and home wrecker as he was a ball player, and Muhammed Ali who was a draft dodger. Those are your idols? These men are better than Roger Clemmens, who was never convicted or Tiger Woods who was as equally promiscuous as Ruth or Dimaggio ever were.
I agree that many in the NBA and NFL are “thugs”, not worthy of our time but there are some amazing athletes who are worthy of our time. Guys like Albert Pujols, Derek Jeter, and Payton Manning have done incredible things both on and off the field. Not to support athletes like them would be a disservice to the thousands they help.
One doesn’t have to “hero worship” an athlete to enjoy the game nor does one have to even like the teams or sport in order to enjoy it. Games are now events that bring people together which is probably why you’re so bitter. As hurt as you were in grade school getting picked last daily, you’re probably as equally hurt now that you don’t get invited to these events. It explains your animosity.
I feel sorry for people like yourself. Someone who so obviously thinks he’s better then everyone else and who feels it necessary to rain on everyone else’s parade. I would similarly tell you to get a life but I wont. I wouldn’t want to offend you.
Stay bitter my friend.
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jackact
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 9:53am@autoowned-
Bitter? No sir, that would be the blue cheese dressing that you dip your discounted chicken wings in.
You missed the point.
No athlete is really worthy of the smothered adulation that todays fans provide. Much like ‘American Idol’ worship. Much like the pathetic idolization that the MSM demonstrates toward Obama.
Maybe my choices of athletes were anacharistic but the point is that the concept of ‘CELEBRITY’ is killing this country as quickly as political correctness
Enjoy the game – if you can separate reality from fantasy.
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Hank919
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 10:13amIs it jackact or *******…guess that is your favorite sport.
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jackact
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 10:18am@autoowned-
I forgot – Albert Pujols will be found guilty of steroid abuse.
Eventually. You betcha! Remember this post when it happens.
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jackact
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 10:40am@hank919,
Wrongo. My favorite sport does not involve sitting on my a** for 4 hours or longer
Enjoy the lip synching. Sucker.
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andrew36
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 8:00amWell, if the 2 blondes in the picture are part of the 32 then they defferently got the seniority part right.
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NoMoMrNiceGuy
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 7:44amWe need an Executive Order allowing her to go ! Get busy O’Bummer
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Southerner01
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 7:42amLeave the pretty girl at home and take the fake blondes that look like they’ve seen better days. That sounds like a plan!
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GotMullet
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 7:30amI think Pres. Obama should get involved.
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Gonzo
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 7:40amMaybe he will force the Ravens to hire Sandra Fluke as a cheerleader with an Executive Order.
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Calamity Jane
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 9:04amUh-OHHHH! I can see a cheerleader summit on the White House schedule.
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M13
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 1:57pmWill there be cigars at this White House summit?
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mikefromaltoona
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 7:29amThe two blonds in the first photo must be holdovers from the Colts.
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biohazard23
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 7:44amTrue that. Ugh…
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Rickfromillinois
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 7:23amShe gave them notice that she was quitting after the final home game. Now that they are going to the Super Bowl she is whining that they aren’t taking her. They can take 32 out of 60 cheerleaders. All of the stories of how badly they are treating her are coming from her. She gave them notice of when she was leaving and now she is upset that they are not going to let her stay longer and pay for her to go to the Super Bowl on the team’s dime. Maybe instead of crying about how much of a victim she is, she should take responsibility for her own actions. You told them you were leaving, now shut up and don’t let the door hit you on the butt on your way out.
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kaydeebeau
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 7:37amUh – Rick – she is not the one making the fuss – that would be a group of fans doing the whining – Reading is FUNdemental……
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Relic61
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 7:38amThis is exactly correct. The nerve of this entitled bitch is amazing. Oh and don’t believe a word of that people in Bmore are not supporting the team. That’s some made up crap from her.
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biohazard23
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 7:46am@Relic, I was listening to 98 rock morning show and by all accounts, everyone is supporting the team. Don’t know why someone would say that Baltimore isn’t pumped up for the SB.
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Relic61
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 8:04am@BIOHAZARD23 Yeah, I’m in Glen Burnie and I didn’t even know about this story until now. I hope they send her a post card from New Orleans lol signed “Wish you were here….nah”
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Rickfromillinois
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 8:16amKaydeebau – I have read other stories about this and she is complaining. Some of the fans, a minority, are complaining because of what SHE has said is going on. She made the decision to leave after the last home game and now she doesn’t want to responsibility for her own actions. Sometimes it’s tough to be an adult.
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biohazard23
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 8:43am@Relic, I’m listening online. I found your 98 rock by accident (I was looking for the online stream for the Tampa area’s 98 rock) over a year ago and I’ve been listening ever since. Bmore’s station is much better than ours, IMO. My hubby’s from Baltimore and was a little surprised when I told him that I was listening to the station he had grown up with. :)
Anyhoo, I hadn’t heard anything about this until I read about it here. I keep hearing a lot of talk about Ray Lewis and Joe Flacco and nothing else, really. She’s a pretty girl but if she didn’t make the cut, then she didn’t make the cut. Life goes on – deal with it.
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13th Imam
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 8:49amHope the murdering thug doesn’t tell the birds that he is leaving at the end of this season. Or put a couple of pounds on. Or performance enhance by munching some antler velvet. Or get a real job when he’s retired from football. The City of RATS (I’ve only seen more rats in NYC) is also the city of treason during the Civil War.
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toiletclogga
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 7:22amShe knew the rules, she has to accept the consequences! Good luck to her in her future endeavors.
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Smokey_Bojangles
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 7:20amNot a Ravens fan but they are permitted to bring 32 cheerleaders to the Super Bowl. Their selection process is based upon three criteria: seniority, performance ability and personal conduct throughout the season. Maybe she did not measure up? Just like the team,you want your best on the field.Look at Alex Smith. He went from Starter to second string.
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redfish52
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 7:12amAll I can say is if they think she’s fat there’s an opening on Redfish52′s squad…..dang…..she so fine.
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loriann12
Posted on January 31, 2013 at 7:54amI don’t see where she’s stuggling with her weight…..I’m 5’5, 169 pounds – I struggle with my weight. They punished her for gaining 2 POUNDS?! I could gain 2 pounds by opening the fridge.
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