OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh said Wednesday that he never insinuated that the St. Louis Rams were a "dirty" team.
On Monday, Harbaugh referenced a skirmish between the teams on a punt return and noted "which is not unusual against the team we're playing." Rams coach Jeff Fisher was irked by the comment and responded Tuesday by saying the Ravens "need to take a look in the mirror."
"It's unfortunate because that insinuation was never made," Harbaugh said Wednesday. "My guess is that when he was informed of it, he was probably a little bit misinformed of the intent of the statement because that's not what I meant to say."
"If he was saying it in a positive way -- in terms of look in the mirror -- it could be construed as a positive, I guess. I'll just take it as a compliment and leave it at that ... Thank you." John Harbaugh, trying to put positive spin Jeff Fisher's comments
Harbaugh said he wasn't criticizing the Rams. According to Harbaugh, the point he was trying to make was how games with St. Louis are always physical and emotional.
"That's the kind of game that you always expect to get with a Jeff Fisher-coached team," Harbaugh said. "It's not meant to insinuate anything negative. If he came back with a negative connotation, then that's too bad."
In the Ravens' 16-13 win over St. Louis, Baltimore was penalized 10 times for a season-high 137 yards. The Rams were flagged six times for 35 yards. The Ravens received four penalties for unnecessary roughness (but only three were accepted).
Harbaugh, who said he didn't hear of Fisher's comments until just before meeting with the media, tried to put a lighthearted spin on things.
"If he was saying it in a positive way -- in terms of look in the mirror -- it could be construed as a positive, I guess," Harbaugh said. "I'll just take it as a compliment and leave it at that."
Harbaugh paused and then added, "Thank you."