142 replies to this topic

[rraayy3]

Blu Exile, on 11 February 2013 - 12:43 PM, said:

Ravens aren't going anywhere; Great owner, great GM, great coach. They were clearly the best team last year, & Flacco was the best QB in the NFL.

Ravens won't let go of Joe Flacco. Yeah it's awesome that Manning & Brady play so well in the regular season vs the Raiders, but they're not in the same league as Joe Flacco in the playoffs.

- Joe Flacco's agent. Or mother.

[DocJ]

Blu Exile, on 11 February 2013 - 12:43 PM, said:

Ravens aren't going anywhere; Great owner, great GM, great coach. They were clearly the best team last year, & Flacco was the best QB in the NFL.

Ravens won't let go of Joe Flacco. Yeah it's awesome that Manning & Brady play so well in the regular season vs the Raiders, but they're not in the same league as Joe Flacco in the playoffs.

Note to self: Never ever be THIS much of a homer.

[baltimore_boy]

RotoRaysfan, on 11 February 2013 - 07:34 AM, said:

nickalero99, on 10 February 2013 - 09:37 PM, said:

dzemens, on 04 February 2013 - 10:11 AM, said:

Pooskay, on 04 February 2013 - 10:03 AM, said:

I think Flacco will dip.....guy was highly motivated ($$$) and played with a chip on his shoulder all season.

now, the expectations will be high and everyone will be kissing his butt.....this will most likely be his first and last SB ring.

If playing with a chip on his shoulder all regular season being motivated for money only resulted in a regular season with a sub 60% completion percentage, 25TD and 18 turnovers thats the reason not to give him the huge money he wants. Like I said, fantastic playoff run, great stretch of four games but if I were in charge (obviously Im not) id be extremely hesitant to make him an elite pay QB based off that sample.

I agree with this.  Unfortunately for the Ravens, it's a very similar situation to when Roy Hibbert of the Pacers (basketball I know) got a huge offer and the Pacers had to match it or basically acknowledge they were going to have to go into a rebuild due to a lack of alternative that's even close to as good.  No QB in the draft is going to step in and keep the Ravens near the level of QB play that Flacco is at.  Give a guy that really isn't worth it top QB in the NFL money or get thrown into a situation where defenses can key on the running game with a declining defense. Personally I'd go the rebuild route, but that's going to be a hard sell to fans.

Obviously, from my prior posts, I agree with all the above.  I do think there is a PR way out of this - simply offer him the 14M tender.  If a team is willing to pay him 20+M/year for multiple years AND give up 2 1st-rounders, then the Ravens can say "we tried" - and then keep the extra $$ to keep their core, AND get 2 1st-rounders.  When an elite talent like Percy Harvin can only get a 2nd-rounder, or potentially the best CB in the game (Revis) can't get 1st-rounders (as been reported heavily), the perceived value of 2 1st-rounders would be huge - especially when you look at the teams that would have to fork over the 1st rounders and pay the $$ (Cards, Bills, Browns, etc. - those are top 10 picks).

The kicker?  The Ravens keep the extra draft picks, and trade a middle-late round pick for a game manager like Alex Smith or Matt Flynn.  Neither one is as good as Flacco - but the gain in $$ kept would allow them to keep the rest of the their core. If they sign Flacco to 20+M and then have to let go of a bunch of their core - I'd argue they have a much worse shot to make the playoffs in 2013-14.

And it's not an implication of Flacco overall - he's better than the FA class, and no rookie this year is ready to take over right away.  But, he's not an elite QB in the Brees/Brady class.   As been covered many times, the Ravens still ask their QB's to manage games - and while you want more than a game manager against elite teams, in this case, the finances & BAL's cap situation, and the ability to get 2 1st-rounders if a team wants to go 20M+, well, there's definitely a justification IMO to take the approach of the 14M tender, and let the chips fall where they may.

I also think if it's a top-10 pick this year (for the Cards or Ravens, or Browns) and a 2014 1st-round pick, the Ravens should simply offer the 14M tender, and see how things shake out - the high pick required plus the 2014 pick and the 20M+ price tag likely scares away many teams (some teams will pay the 20M+, but the top-10 pick is a huge barrier for CLE/ARI/BUF).  I think the Ravens would secretly be happy someone with that high of a pick offered 20M+/year, as it would give them a clear PR out.

This.  I'm not sure why they would give him the 20 million tender when they are right up against the cap and need to find a way to at least keep Ellerbe. They have replacements lined up for the other free agents like Kruger and Cary Williams.

The Ravens don't need much from a QB. All they need is a player that can throw a good deep ball and avoid turnovers. Even if there are no QB's out there in the draft this year, they can still use one of the top picks that they would recieve to fill another need, like the left tackle spot (please don't put Oher back to the left again) or MLB and try for a QB next year.

I just don't see an advantage to giving Flacco an extra $6 million when it could be used to sign a player like Ellerbe, Kruger, Williams, or Reed.