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Baltimore Ravens: Stop criticizing Joe Flacco’s contract

By Joe Schiller

Jan 1, 2017; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) reacts against the Cincinnati Bengals in the second half at Paul Brown Stadium. The Bengals won 27-10. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2017; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) reacts against the Cincinnati Bengals in the second half at Paul Brown Stadium. The Bengals won 27-10. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /
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With Derrick Carr being the latest QB to get a big money contract, should Joe Flacco really continue to get criticism for his deal?

If you are a solid starting quarterback in the NFL, you are gonna get paid some big money. Oakland Raiders quarterback Derrick Carr is the latest QB to get a monster deal. Today he signed a 5-year, $125 million contract extension. It now makes him the highest paid quarterback and player in the NFL.

Going into this season Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco will be the highest paid quarterback in the NFL with a $24.55 million salary. The criticism comes at home from all angles for Joe, but he earned the money when he got it.

With the Carr’s new deal, Flacco’s contract is now the 4th highest overall in the NFL. The higher salaries above him are Kirk Cousins, Drew Brees, Andrew Luck and Carr. Other than Brees, are the rest of these guys proven? You could make the argument for Luck, but Carr has had two good seasons, but hasn’t won a playoff game. The same exact thing can be said about Cousins.

I will agree with a lot of the criticism about Flacco, but I will stand by him getting his money. The man threw 12 TDs and O INTs to lead the Ravens to a Super Bowl. You can argue the defense did most of the work but that’s a lie. They were good, but weren’t anything out of this world. After Flacco’s performance how can you not expect him to get paid big money? That’s something I will never understand why people don’t get.

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I just don’t see how you can justify criticism for Flacco when guys like Ryan Tannehill and Brock Osweiler are getting paid $18-$19 million a year. It’s just ridiculous.

The Bottom Line

Today’s quarterbacks get paid on their potential, not what they’ve done. Have Flacco’s stats been mediocre since he signed his contract? Absolutely. Like I said, I’m not here to argue that. Other than the 2014 season he’s been average at best for the Ravens offense.

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However, when he got paid is certainly justified. He balled out in the playoffs in a contract year and led the Ravens to a Super Bowl. During the 2013 offseason it was a peak for the QB market. This was the same time players like Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers signed $100 million contract extensions. The Ravens really had no choice but to compete with this. Flacco got paid and it’s done with. With some real weapons finally around him, we can only hope he improves his play and helps lead the Ravens back to the playoffs this season.

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