Ebony Bird
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Joe Flacco’s Upcoming Contract Disaster is Not a Concern

By Brett Foote

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Jan 10, 2015; Foxborough, MA, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) throws the ball prior to the 2014 AFC Divisional playoff football game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports

It’s not exactly new news that Joe Flacco’s contract carries a huge salary cap burden in after the upcoming NFL season.  After enjoying manageable cap numbers in the first three seasons of the deal ($6.8, $14.8, and $14.55 million, respectively in 2013-15), the Ravens are staring ridiculous cap hits of $28.55 million next year and $31.15 million in 2017.

This development has become newsworthy again after Ravens’ owner Steve Bisciotti recently mentioned the team’s desire to resign Flacco to a new, six year deal that would bring those cap numbers back down to a manageable amount.  Though you won’t ever get a room full of people to agree on the whether Flacco is truly worthy of elite quarterback status, he’s going to get paid like one regardless.

The Ravens are in the favorable position of being able to give Flacco more money up front in a new deal while simultaneously lowering his cap hit, which makes this an easy, win-win situation.  Flacco has the leverage of being the winningest quarterback in the NFL since he came in the league in 2008, with a total of ten playoff wins under his belt.  You can debate all day that he has played for a great organization with a great coaching staff and supporting cast, but the same can be said for lots of guys (Eli Manning, Tom Brady, etc.).

Joe Flacco has no compelling reason to stand pat on his current contract and make a stink.  He doesn’t have to worry about the Ravens up and moving to another city, a la Phillip Rivers.  He has a great relationship with the organization.  Flacco also knew when he signed the contract that it would likely have to be reworked in three years.

So why are certain media outlets turning this into a big story, predicting a potential standoff that could boil over and get ugly?  It’s obviously a possibility, but there is absolutely no inkling of evidence that it will.  Call it a good old fashioned stir of the pot, a ruse designed to get you riled up.  But this is one media creation that you shouldn’t be falling for.

Next: Is Matt Schaub an Upgrade for the Ravens?

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