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Ravens Linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo Rips Patriots for ‘Gimmick’ Offense, Stokes AFC Championship Fire

The fighting words are already being tossed around.

The Patriots weren’t even done finishing off the Texans on Sunday, and Ravens linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo was already taking some shots at New England via Twitter.

Ayanbadejo, who has spent the last five seasons with Baltimore, lashed out at the Patriots for what he calls a “gimmick” offense. He said that it’s something he can’t respect, and he even compared the Pats’ no-huddle, hurry-up approach to a cheap shot before a fight.

It looked briefly like Ayanbadejo might save himself by saying that the Patriots’ offense is good enough to be successful without such a gameplan, but any sliver of goodwill he might have gained among Pats fans with that comment quickly vanished when he started making references to Spygate and New England’s 18-1 season.

Oh yeah, and Ayanbadejo tweeted out the video of Bart Scott‘s famous “Can’t wait!” comment following the Jets’ 2010 playoff victory over the Pats. It’s probably safe to say the boys down in Foxboro “can’t wait” to get on the field and square off with Ayanbadejo and the Ravens with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line next Sunday. And although the Patriots probably didn’t need any extra motivation, trying to shut someone up never hurts.

Get ready for a fun week.

Check out some of Ayanbadejo’s controversial tweets below.

New England does some suspect stuff on offense. Can’t really respect it. Comparable to a cheap shot b4 a fight

— Brendon Ayanbadejo (@brendon310) January 13, 2013

Are you watching the game pats vs texans? If so you see the hurry snap offense catch em b4 they set up. It’s a gimmick.

— Brendon Ayanbadejo (@brendon310) January 13, 2013

Their offense is good enough to be successful with out that

— Brendon Ayanbadejo (@brendon310) January 13, 2013

You know the same organization that did spygate and cut a guy the day b4 the Super Bowl

— Brendon Ayanbadejo (@brendon310) January 13, 2013

18-1

— Brendon Ayanbadejo (@brendon310) January 13, 2013

In a sport that is predicated on mano y mano, ” lets hurry up n snap it ” = bitchassness

— Brendon Ayanbadejo (@brendon310) January 13, 2013

@bigpeteward after physical smartness is key. It’s a pride sport. NE is good enough to play straight up against any one. Sneakiness no bueno

— Brendon Ayanbadejo (@brendon310) January 13, 2013

Bart Scott – Can’t Wait! youtu.be/D7KSkZxt_zo

— Brendon Ayanbadejo (@brendon310) January 13, 2013

Click here to read Ayanbadejo’s apology >>

Click here to read the Patriots’ response >>

Thumbnail photo via Flickr/Keith Allison

Photo of the Day

Get ready!

Photo via Twitter/@Patriots

Quote of the Day

“The guys who took steroids disrespected the game, and disrespected the history. Our history relies so much on the numbers, and the numbers have been destroyed.”
– Hall of Famer Andre Dawson

Tweet of the Day

Anyone have an answer for Jose?

Why are scientist’s saying that we are born evil.

— Jose Canseco (@JoseCanseco) January 14, 2013

Video of the Day

This has nothing to do with sports. But it’s fantastic.