Baltimore Ravens: 5 Reasons To Appreciate Joe Flacco

Nov 1, 2015; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) celebrates with his teammates after scoring a fourth quarter touchdown against the San Diego Chargers at M&T Bank Stadium. Baltimore Ravens defeated San Diego Chargers 29-26. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Joe Flacco is the most controversial player in the Ravens history, and that includes Ray Lewis. If you don’t know what I am talking about than you have successfully tuned out the loud minority of Ravens fans who cannot stand good old number five. Too much of Ravens Nation has taken for granted their franchise quarterback which is mind boggling when you consider that Flacco’s predecessors were awful. So I thought I would list out the five reasons we should appreciate our Super Bowl MVP, franchise quarterback.

Before somebody gets into the “he bankrupted the team” mantra that the loud minority loves to spew, let me shoot this idea down. Flacco’s yearly cap figures haven’t hindered the Ravens at all. He got his market value. Flacco’s contract will be restructured in the offseason as his cap figure is huge for the first time. He did not just get the $120.6 million in one transaction. He is highly paid because franchise quarterbacks are highly paid, especially those who have won a Super Bowl in the passing age of football. This is life with a quarterback worth keeping in the NFL.

Now that that argument is rendered ridiculous we can have an intelligent conversation about Flacco. I would also like to say that this conversation will be free of the label elite. I don’t care what tier you place Flacco in. The entire point of this discussion is informing you why Flacco should be appreciated for what he is. Flacco is a franchise quarterback who gives the Ravens a chance at Super Bowl glory.

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