Earlier this week a Baltimore Sun / Ravens Insider piece (http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/blog/2011/04/flacco_disappointed_about_year_wait_for_extension.html ) caused a stir as Joe Flacco spoke candidly about his disappointment on having to wait a year for a contract extension.
“I think I’ve established myself,” Flacco said at Haruki Nakamura’s Japan relief charity event at Ripken Stadium Saturday. “If you’re not confident with who I am, I’m not sure what a year is going to make.”
Flacco added, “Ideally for me, I would like to start talks this year. Next year, I feel like they would have to throw something in front of me that’s going to be pretty legit in order for me to not play out my fifth year. If you don’t sign me this year, you’re making me play a whole year of my contract with no security. If you want to sign me after next year, what’s playing six more months.”
Everyone understands that negotiations are not possible with the current labor situation. In January Baltimore Sports and Life broached the subject of a contract extension for Flacco to several National writers:
http://baltimoresportsandlife.com/?p=2104
In part to the current labor issues, those four writers (Posnanski, Schrager, Prisco, Wilkening) were in collective agreement that an extension this off-season would not (and perhaps should not) happen this off-season.
With all appropriate respect to those writers, I am in agreement with the young Ravens QB. When the CBA gets addressed, Baltimore should take advantage of the opportunity to address the contract. Nothing is more unsettling to a football team than uncertainty at the QB position. An extension as soon as possible eliminates any question marks.
By the way, those question marks are not just from fans, media, or other players. Those question marks are also Flacco’s. An extension tangibly tells Flacco that the organization believes in him as the long-term answer.
There are a number of things the organization would like Flacco do better. The Ravens would like to see Flacco improve over the middle of the field. They would like to see him get rid of the ball quicker, and lose his propensity for checking down. They would like to see him improve against Cover 2 zones.
The biggest thing the Ravens would like to see Flacco improve is his leadership abilities. Coach Harbaugh has stated this off-season they will give Flacco greater flexibility at the line to audible, and call his own plays. Those additional responsibilities should help Flacco assert himself further amongst his teammates. I think an extension now would also help. If Flacco knows he has the full-backing of the organization, it should be easier to lead his peers.
What is the downside to an extension now (again, once the CBA is addressed)? If he never improves at-all, he is still a guy that is durable, and has won 4 road playoff games in his career. Still a guy that has thrown for 3,600+ yards in back-to-back seasons. He had a QB Rating of 93.6% this past year with 25 TD’s, and 10 picks.
If you can write a check and lock in that production for most of the next decade, you do that. If anything, waiting can only hurt things. If his production improves at-all the cost of retention will only increase. If he goes into the ’12 without the extension, he very well may test Free Agency. If that lame-duck status occurs, that will be a constant distraction for the Ravens.
If you would prefer the Ravens wait before extending him, I’d like to hear from you in the comments below.
Owner
Chris Stoner founded Baltimore Sports and Life in 2009. He has appeared as a radio guest with 1090 WBAL, 105.7 The Fan, CBS 1300, Q1370, WOYK 1350, WKAV 1400, and WNST 1570. He has also been interviewed by The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Business Journal, and PressBox (TV). As Owner, his responsibilities include serving as the Managing Editor, Publicist, & Sales Director.