Flacco says he's "the best" QB in the league

[CorvusCorax]

I have no qualm over what he said. He's being honest. He says he's the best and has a winning mindset. Hard to disagree with what he said.

[Moderator 3]

[quote name='theFRANCHISE' timestamp='1333502541' post='1041549']
I have no problem with Flacco saying it, even though it's not true.

<snip>

If a QB doesn't think he's the best, then he has no business as a starter in this league. He may know it's not true, but if he doesn't believe in himself, no one else will.
[/quote]

Just quoted for truth. People who read headlines without reading the entire story never get the full picture.

[IMissMattStover]

Ugh. Im not very fond of arrogant QBs. Back it up with playing bro, dont embarass your supporters.

[Moderator 3]

Someone ASKED JOE a question and he gave a thoughtful answer. What else was he supposed to say? Do you really want a QB who thinks he sucks, or even says he does? Confidence is a very important part of a successful QB's makeup.

[Moderator 3]

Oh, and by the way, he had to answer the question "now", not think about it for 24 hours.

[Hardbaugh]

If he's not the best and in Flaccos case he is so far out of the conversation that stating things like that makes him look foolish the better course would have been to take the same paths that many others have.... "I'm trying to be the best I can be", " I'm just working others can judge where I stack up" or "I'm looking forward" and a whole host of other cliche's.

Flaccos deal is not up, Rice's is up... Ray Rice is the most important component on the offense and he should be taken care of before any Flacco renegotiation. Without Rice Flacco's numbers could be Boller like.

25th in the league in completion pct. and 18th in quarterback rating (it would be much lower if fumbles were a measured stat) , a franchise can get "top quarterbacks" all day with stats like those... Anything more than 10 million per is gross overpayment

[Maryland1]

[b][url="http://boards.baltimoreravens.com/topic/46288-blogs-late-for-work-44-how-do-you-want-joe-flacco-to-respond/"][color=#0000ff][Blogs] Late For Work 4/4: How Do You Want Joe Flacco To Respond?[/color][/url][/b]
[size=3][b][color=#000000]in [/color][url="http://boards.baltimoreravens.com/forum/37-news/"][color=#000000]News[/color][/url][color=#000000] [/color][/b]
[b][color=#000000]Started by [/color][url="http://boards.baltimoreravens.com/user/9226-br-news/"][color=#000000]BR News[/color][/url][color=#000000], 17 minutes ago [/color][/b][/size]

[flynismo]

[quote name='Hardbaugh' timestamp='1333546139' post='1041839']stating things like that makes him look foolish
[/quote]

No, it doesn't.

[quote name='Hardbaugh' timestamp='1333546139' post='1041839']
Ray Rice is the most important component on the offense
[/quote]

No, he isn't.

[CapoRocky]

[quote name='theFRANCHISE' timestamp='1333502541' post='1041549']
I have no problem with Flacco saying it, even though it's not true.

He's a good QB, yes. Best? No -- but he has the potential. It's up to him to live up to his own billing and prove it.

If a QB doesn't think he's the best, then he has no business as a starter in this league. He may know it's not true, but if he doesn't believe in himself, no one else will.
[/quote]

Let me add a cultural angle to this discussion. Flacco was raised with that "Jersey Boy" machismo that occasionally comes out in the heat of battle. This was apparent in the video clip of Joe going off on the referee after the late hit in the Saints game that has been frequently referred to on here. Now factor in the Italian cultural norm that a man must love his mama, but act like a man like his papa from an early age. The criticism of Flacco during his earlier years as a Raven was that he was a mama's boy who wouldn't speak up and lead the team as the QB of a professional football team. Things are different now. He's married and has a wife to motivate him to think more about their financial future. Call it machismo or bravado, but Joe has it and it's starting to come out more and more. Some men are intimidated by the new Joe.

[Bltravens]

[quote name='Moderator 5' timestamp='1333546275' post='1041844']
[b][url="http://boards.baltimoreravens.com/topic/46288-blogs-late-for-work-44-how-do-you-want-joe-flacco-to-respond/"][color=#0000ff][Blogs] Late For Work 4/4: How Do You Want Joe Flacco To Respond?[/color][/url][/b]
[size=3][b][color=#000000]in [/color][url="http://boards.baltimoreravens.com/forum/37-news/"][color=#000000]News[/color][/url][color=#000000] [/color][/b]
[b][color=#000000]Started by [/color][url="http://boards.baltimoreravens.com/user/9226-br-news/"][color=#000000]BR News[/color][/url][color=#000000], 17 minutes ago [/color][/b][/size]
[/quote]

This. I'm sorry, but if Flacco said "I'm a pretty decent QB" and then moved on from the discussion THEN I'd be like 'dude what the hell?' Your QB damn well better think he's the best QB in the league as long as he puts in the work. I don't want a guy who isn't confident in his abilities to get the job done.

[codizzle]

Man twitter is hating on flacco hard right now.. Don't know if I can take it considering how his comment was really said
Im glad I've stopped watching espn.. It does nothing put stir the pot

[BMORElegacy]

I made the Eli comparison in the article posted by the website about Joe and got negged for it! I was at +2 and then minutes later was back to 0!?

All I said is it would be great for Joe to silence the doubters by marching through the season and hoisting the Lombardi in February. I don't know how a statement like that is neg worthy. It just goes to show that some people would rather see Joe fail than watch him succeed. Its quite sad really. We FINALLY have a young franchise QB and people can't stop hating on him.

[Ravenslifer]

[quote name='Hardbaugh' timestamp='1333546139' post='1041839']
If he's not the best and in Flaccos case he is so far out of the conversation that stating things like that makes him look foolish the better course would have been to take the same paths that many others have.... "I'm trying to be the best I can be", " I'm just working others can judge where I stack up" or "I'm looking forward" and a whole host of other cliche's.

Flaccos deal is not up, Rice's is up... [b] Ray Rice is the most important component on the offense [/b]and he should be taken care of before any Flacco renegotiation. Without Rice Flacco's numbers could be Boller like.

25th in the league in completion pct. and 18th in quarterback rating (it would be much lower if fumbles were a measured stat) , a franchise can get "top quarterbacks" all day with stats like those... Anything more than 10 million per is gross overpayment
[/quote]

That's why we've won 5 playoff games in 4 years and Ray Rice has done nothing in all but one of them, isn't it? You do realize that in both games this year combined he had 127 yards rushing, averaged 3 yards a carry and had ZERO TDs, don't you? You can say the defense won the Texans game, but Ray Rice had nothing to do with it.

[berad]

[quote name='BMORElegacy' timestamp='1333549688' post='1041891']
I made the Eli comparison in the article posted by the website about Joe and got negged for it! I was at +2 and then minutes later was back to 0!?

All I said is it would be great for Joe to silence the doubters by marching through the season and hoisting the Lombardi in February. I don't know how a statement like that is neg worthy. It just goes to show that some people would rather see Joe fail than watch him succeed. Its quite sad really. We FINALLY have a young franchise QB and people can't stop hating on him.
[/quote]

Don't even bother with the blogs lol

[Gordo52]

[quote name='gabefergy' timestamp='1333515639' post='1041739']

ok. I wasnt trying to argue with your point just stating my opinion on Stafford. Ravens<3 said he would take Stafford over Joe so I probably should quoted his post instead.
[/quote] Hey i said maybe lol. I'll wait another year before I decide that

[codizzle]

[quote name='Ravenslifer' timestamp='1333549815' post='1041894']


That's why we've won 5 playoff games in 4 years and Ray Rice has done nothing in all but one of them, isn't it? You do realize that in both games this year combined he had 127 yards rushing, averaged 3 yards a carry and had ZERO TDs, don't you? You can say the defense won the Texans game, but Ray Rice had nothing to do with it.
[/quote]
Shhhh u ant add logic in here..

[Ravenslifer]

[quote name='codizzle' timestamp='1333550129' post='1041898']
Shhhh u ant add logic in here..
[/quote]

But not to do so would be

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdf25VY8RYA

[Hardbaugh]

[quote name='Ravenslifer' timestamp='1333549815' post='1041894']
That's why we've won 5 playoff games in 4 years and Ray Rice has done nothing in all but one of them, isn't it? You do realize that in both games this year combined he had 127 yards rushing, averaged 3 yards a carry and had ZERO TDs, don't you? You can say the defense won the Texans game, but Ray Rice had nothing to do with it.
[/quote]

And what has Flacco the best quarterback in the NFL done?

I'll stack up Rice's career playoff numbers against Flaccos any day of the week. If Rice said he were the best running back in the NFL some would argue but a case could be made but Flacco is so far out of the equation it's hilarious .

I hope every national (and local) sports outlet gives Flacco and his agent their just due for this crap they're shoveling at not only the national media but to the home fans and Ravens front office as well to extract every dollar they can from this franchise. Those dollars are earned by his teammates (especially on defense)and not Flacco. Flacco is very average and deserves to be compensated as such.

Here's is "the best quarterback in the NFL" playoff numbers. They are pretty Sanchez like just like Flacco is Sanchez like in all aspects. If Mark Sanchez said he was the best quarterback in the NFL you'd all be laughing but since your guy said it you all try to justify the nonsense.

[img]http://i39.tinypic.com/9fy33c.jpg[/img]

[Ravenslifer]

[quote name='Hardbaugh' timestamp='1333551872' post='1041915']
And what has Flacco the best quarterback in the NFL done?

I'll stack up Rice's career playoff numbers against flaccos any day of the week. If Rice said he were the best running back in the NFL some would argue but a case could be made but Flacco is so far out of the equation it's hilarious .

I hope every national (and local) sports gives flacco and his agent their just due for this crap they're shoveling at not only the national media but to the home fans and ravens front office as well to extract every dollar they can from this franchise. Those dollars are earned by his teammates and not flacco. Flacco is very average and deserves to be compensated as such.

Here's is "the best quarterback in the NFL" playoff numbers. They are pretty Sanchez like just like Flacco is Sanchez like in all aspects. If Mark Sanchez said he was the best quarterback in the NFL you'd all be laughing but since your guy said it you all try to justify the nonsense.

[img]http://i39.tinypic.com/9fy33c.jpg[/img]
[/quote]

I'm not talking about Flacco. You specifically said Ray Rice wins us playoff games. And I'm saying he doesn't. The defense has won most of the playoff games the last 4 years, and we all know it. But Rice has had ONE good game in 4 playoff appearances. Flacco has had 2. BTW, putting up 9 games worth of stats is meaningless when you consider his first appearance was as a rookie and 4 of those picks came in ONE game in Pittsburgh.

Ray Rice playoff stats - 2010 KC 3.4 yards a carry 0 TDs. 2010 Pittsburgh 2.7 yards a carry, 1 TD. Houston 2.9 yards a carry 0 TDS, New England 3.1 yards a carry 0 TDs. He had one good playoff game in New England. You could take any THREE other games and add them up and they don't equal the numbers in New England.

[codizzle]

[quote name='Hardbaugh' timestamp='1333551872' post='1041915']


And what has Flacco the best quarterback in the NFL done?

I'll stack up Rice's career playoff numbers against flaccos any day of the week. If Rice said he were the best running back in the NFL some would argue but a case could be made but Flacco is so far out of the equation it's hilarious .

I hope every national (and local) sports gives Flacco and his agent their just due for this crap they're shoveling at not only the national media but to the home fans and Ravens front office as well to extract every dollar they can from this franchise. Those dollars are earned by his teammates (especially on defense)and not Flacco. Flacco is very average and deserves to be compensated as such.

Here's is "the best quarterback in the NFL" playoff numbers. They are pretty Sanchez like just like Flacco is Sanchez like in all aspects. If Mark Sanchez said he was the best quarterback in the NFL you'd all be laughing but since your guy said it you all try to justify the nonsense.

[img]http://i39.tinypic.com/9fy33c.jpg[/img]
[/quote]
Does that say 9 games? Man that's cool.. 9 playoff games

[Hardbaugh]

[quote name='Ravenslifer' timestamp='1333551955' post='1041917']
. [u] You specifically said Ray Rice wins us playoff games. And I'm saying he doesn't.[/u] [/quote]

I specifically said that???? Where?????

So you're either...

1. A liar
2. A lawyer and not a very good one
or
3. a combination of the two.

If you're going to quote my posts I'll ask you to please do so with the spirit of honesty and integrity and refrain from lawyering me.


I stated Rice is the most important component of the offense..

[RivenHale]

[quote name='Hardbaugh' timestamp='1333553068' post='1041940']
I specifically said that???? Where?????
I stated Rice is the most important component of the offense..
[/quote]

Honestly, it's hard to argue with that. I love Joe, he's my favorite player in the NFL and he's my quarterback to the end, but he isn't the biggest component of this offense. It's not that he CAN'T be, it's that he hasn't been. It's not the way the offense is set up - and can you blame us? If you've got a player like Ray Rice, you're gonna [i]use[/i] him.

But I agree with everyone who says this was a good move by Joe. Have some confidence in yourself, Joseph. That's what you've gotta do.

[Ed_Reed20]

For as much as people bang on him here (deservedly so at times), I like what Jamison Hensley had to say about Joe [url="http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/45239/joe-flacco-needs-to-back-up-his-words"]in his AFCN blog[/url]. Here's an excerpt:

[quote]
From Flacco's point of view, he has to pump himself up because it seems like no one else will. You don't hear the same criticism or negativity directed toward Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan, who has similar career passing numbers as Flacco but no playoff wins.

Flacco isn't a cocky quarterback, but he is very prideful. You ask him if he's the best quarterback, and he's going to say that he is. Flacco has thought of himself as the underdog ever since he entered the NFL as a first-round pick out of FCS school Delaware. "I had to go down to the minor leagues of college football to prove who I was," Flacco said after getting drafted by the Ravens four years ago. "I'm going to carry that with me for the rest of my life and use it for the best."

So it's not a matter of whether Flacco is the best quarterback in the NFL. He's obviously not. What's important is that he believes it. The challenge now is to back it up.
[/quote]

[atljbo]

Ppl are having to much fun with ... This is the funniest one ive seen

[quote][b]Joe[/b] [b]Flacco[/b] believes he's the best QB in the NFL. Ryan Leaf just asked "Wonder where I can steal the stuff he's on...."[/quote]

Back to the topic... Flacco gotta have confidence in himself... Saying that.. I wish he would have said i think im one of the best or like Eli a year ago... Just say he was in that elite group (even if its not true) .. If you believe it... Say it...

[Romo Ravens]

You can say whatever you want about Flacco, but at the end of the day, he's a true underdog who would have taken us to the Super Bowl last season had it not been for a dropped pass. He has his mistakes, like any other NFL QB, and he can either lose his self confidence or pick himself up, and he's obviously been doing the latter. Baltimore doesn't take in weak minded players (for the Ravens), and since he's the QB of this team, you can't ask for anything better.

[Militant X 1]

[u][i][b]The problem is, Flacco looked like he was the NFL's worst quarterback at times[/b][/i][/u], too. He struggled to complete passes and record first downs in prime-time disasters last season against the [url="http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/_/name/nyj/new-york-jets"]New York Jets[/url] and [url="http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/_/name/jac/jacksonville-jaguars"]Jacksonville Jaguars[/url]. [u][i][b]Before Flacco can say he's "the best," he has to show he's consistent. He has to prove that the team can depend on him week after week[/b][/i][/u]. He has to take the Ravens to a Super Bowl and win it. That's the definition of being "the best" in the NFL. Right now, [u][i][b]Flacco isn't even the best quarterback in his division[/b][/i][/u].

^ now that's the brutal truth!

~Mili

[hawkprey]

Let's be honest. The difference between Eli Manning and Joe Flacco is that Eli's receiver caught a ball on top of his head and Joe's dropped a pass that was in his hands in the endzone. That and Joe has better regular season numbers.

[atljbo]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' timestamp='1333555221' post='1041972']
For as much as people bang on him here (deservedly so at times), I like what Jamison Hensley had to say about Joe [url="http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/45239/joe-flacco-needs-to-back-up-his-words"]in his AFCN blog[/url]. Here's an excerpt:
[/quote]

I disagree with the criticism part now... In the past maybe so... But now... Matt Ryan is catching alot of heat about the playffs... Another thing.. Just to take up for Ryan a little.. last year stats for Ryan and Flacco.. Its a big seperation...

But as a Falcon fan sitting back watching and and objectivly viewing everything... I think Flacco caught more criticism in the past because ppl just felt you guys was a better team then us.. So your team was held to a higher standard

Now both guys are going into their 5th season.. You are a Vet now... You should be held to a Vet standard.... Atlanta radio station are ultra criticle of Matt Ryan now... He has that Peyton Manning stinch on him (good in the regular season... cant get it done in the post season) .. Im ok with him feeling that heat.. He is not a young QB (even if he is just 26) ... He is a Vet.. you gotta produce like those guys

[Hardbaugh]

[quote name='Militant X 1' timestamp='1333556396' post='1041997']
[u][i][b]The problem is, Flacco looked like he was the NFL's worst quarterback at times[/b][/i][/u], too. He struggled to complete passes and record first downs in prime-time disasters last season against the [url="http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/_/name/nyj/new-york-jets"]New York Jets[/url] and [url="http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/_/name/jac/jacksonville-jaguars"]Jacksonville Jaguars[/url]. [u][i][b]Before Flacco can say he's "the best," he has to show he's consistent. He has to prove that the team can depend on him week after week[/b][/i][/u]. He has to take the Ravens to a Super Bowl and win it. That's the definition of being "the best" in the NFL. Right now, [u][i][b]Flacco isn't even the best quarterback in his division[/b][/i][/u].

^ now that's the brutal truth!

~Mili
[/quote]

Although some will tell you it was someone elses fault.....

The argument made by Linta and Flacco about wanting to get paid for wins have absolutely rubbed me the wrong way as a fan. If every player on the Ravens felt that way very few of them would ever get signed. Flacco and his agent are trying to bend the Ravens over. It wouldn't bother me a bit to humble him and shop him around to see what kind of offers will come in and if the right deal comes in move him.

If the Raven hitch their wagon to mediocrity ( because that's what he is at this point) they'll never win a Super Bowl without the supporting cast carrying "the best quarterback in the NFL".

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='atljbo' timestamp='1333556737' post='1042004']
I disagree with the criticism part now... In the past maybe so... But now... Matt Ryan is catching alot of heat about the playffs... Another thing.. Just to take up for Ryan a little.. last year stats for Ryan and Flacco.. Its a big seperation...

But as a Falcon fan sitting back watching and and objectivly viewing everything... I think Flacco caught more criticism in the past because ppl just felt you guys was a better team then us.. So your team was held to a higher standard

Now both guys are going into their 5th season.. You are a Vet now... You should be held to a Vet standard.... Atlanta radio station are ultra criticle of Matt Ryan now... He has that Peyton Manning stinch on him (good in the regular season... cant get it done in the post season) .. Im ok with him feeling that heat.. He is not a young QB (even if he is just 26) ... He is a Vet.. you gotta produce like those guys
[/quote]

Ryan may be catching heat locally, but I don't get the sense he's criticized nearly as much nationally. As for the numbers, his regular season stats were obviously better than Joe's in 2011(factors beyond just their individual play went into that), but Hensley's point was regarding their career numbers, which are very comparable in a number of categories.

I won't argue with your second point. Not only has the talent on the team raised expectations, Joe's inconsistent play(notably a bunch of lackluster primetime and play-off performances) has made the criticism even more harsh. Still, a lot of people like to analyze QBs in a vaccuum, which makes little sense in my opinion.