Joe Flacco Wants A Top 5 Quarterback Pay Day

Is Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco a top-five quarterback in the league? Absolutely not. Does Flacco want to be paid like a top-five quarterback in the league? He sure does.

Flacco’s agent, Joe Linta, said, “If the game is about wins and losses, he has to be in the top five … And he’s done something that no one has ever done. In his four years in the league, he has never missed a game and has more wins than any other quarterback.”

Flacco has thrown for at least 3,600 yards and 20 touchdowns in the past three seasons and the Ravens have definitely been near the top of the league. However, does that mean the Ravens should pull out the checkbooks and pay Flacco a boatload of money? This would be a huge mistake.

Let’s forget the fact that Flacco isn’t even a top 15 quarterback in the league. There is still no reason to give Flacco top-five quarterback money.

The Ravens would be just as good, if not better, if they had a reliable quarterback who has shown improvement over his career. The harsh reality is this — Flacco hasn’t improved since he has been in the league. He has the same fumble issues, the same bad reads and the same lackadaisical attitude.

Flacco is an effective quarterback, but he isn’t a franchise signal-caller. If the Ravens had a better quarterback, they would certainly get to the next level and get their hands on the coveted prize. Unfortunately, they’ve been stuck with Flacco.

But now is their chance to get out.

The two sides are set to begin contract talks at next week’s Scouting Combine and, if Flacco really does want to be paid like a top-five QB, these could be long, drawn out talks. The Ravens need to hold their ground and not cave in.

This is a quarterbacks league, but when your quarterback is as ordinary as Flacco, you need to think long and hard about how much money you tie up in him. If the Ravens wait to give Flacco a new deal, they can give him one final audition to make his case.

If Flacco performs, give the man his money. If he fails to improve, give him an ordinary contract to reflect his play or let him walk. It really is that simple.

Too many teams have made the mistake of tying too much money up in a mediocre player in the past. Let’s hope the Ravens aren’t guilty of the same mistake.

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