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

[Ravenseconbeast]

[quote name='scrock' timestamp='1333523118' post='1041760']
as opposed to his other 4 seasons...like he didnt do anything, we'd have been in the superbowl if we had reliable WRs
[/quote]


feeding words to someones mouth...

[UMDan]

[quote name='-Truth-' timestamp='1333502690' post='1041551']
“Without a doubt [I'm in the top 5],” Flacco said. “What do you expect me to say? I would assume everybody thinks they’re a top-5 quarterback. I think I’m the best. I don’t think I’m the top 5, I think I’m the best. I wouldn’t be very successful at my job if I didn’t feel that way."

This statement clarifies it for me. I think the point he's trying to convey is, if you don't have confidence in yourself, why would anyone else?
[/quote]

Listen to this guy. He's right.

[-Truth-]

[quote name='UMDan' timestamp='1333560418' post='1042077']
Listen to this guy. He's right.
[/quote]

Thank you.

[-Truth-]

[quote name='Hardbaugh' timestamp='1333551872' post='1041915']
I'll stack up Rice's career playoff numbers against Flaccos any day of the week.
[/quote]

This argument won't get you far, at least not if we're discussing the recent years. Here's how the two compare over the last 2 years in those 4 Playoff games:


Ray Rice - 71 carries, 216 rushing yards, 2 TDs, and a YPC of 3.04. He averaged 26.25 receiving yards through that span, a significant drop off from the 40+ receiving yards he's averaged as a starter through the last 3 regular seasons.

Joe Flacco - 77 completions, 127 attempts, 872 passing yards, 60.6% completion, 7 TDs, 2 INTs and an average QB rating of 92.25.


Flacco may have struggled during his early years, and understandably so, but there's no question that he's picked it up as of late, posting a QB rating of 95+ in 3 of his last 4 Postseason appearances. Not much of a contest in this one.

[Ravenslifer]

[quote name='-Truth-' timestamp='1333561055' post='1042094']
This argument won't get you far, at least not if we're discussing the recent years. Here's how the two compare over the last 2 years in those 4 Playoff games:


Ray Rice - 71 carries, 216 rushing yards, 2 TDs, and a YPC of 3.04. He averaged 26.25 receiving yards through that span, a significant drop off from the 40+ receiving yards he's averaged as a starter through the last 3 regular seasons.

Joe Flacco - 77 completions, 127 attempts, 872 passing yards, 60.6% completion, 7 TDs, 2 INTs and an average QB rating of 92.25.


Flacco may have struggled during his early years, and understandably so, but there's no question that he's picked it up as of late, posting a QB rating of 95+ in 3 of his last 4 Postseason appearances. Not much of a contest in this one.
[/quote]

Plus I'd say those first 2 years Flacco should get somewhat of a mulligan. His first year we're talking about a rookie who 12 months earlier was finishing up a career in 1-AA football going INTO Pittsburgh, one of the toughest places to play and win in the NFL. The second year he was obviously hurt at the end of the season and couldn't throw. We all saw that. But you're point is good. Flacco has picked it up in the playoffs the last two seasons, while Rice has had ONE good effort against New England and doesn't have more than 80 yards in any of his other playoff appearances, and he hasn't averaged over 3.4 yards a carry in a single game since 2009. Not to say one is more valuable than the other, but Flacco has clearly outperformed Rice's production the last 2 postseasons.

[-Truth-]

[quote name='Ravenslifer' timestamp='1333561222' post='1042098']
Plus I'd say those first 2 years Flacco should get somewhat of a mulligan. His first year we're talking about a rookie who 12 months earlier was finishing up a career in 1-AA football going INTO Pittsburgh, one of the toughest places to play and win in the NFL. The second year he was obviously hurt at the end of the season and couldn't throw. We all saw that.
[/quote]

Good points, and they're hard to argue with. Obviously that's not to say that he couldn't have performed better, but it's not as if it would've been realistic to expect him to come out and begin lighting it up.

[atljbo]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' timestamp='1333559757' post='1042053']
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.
[/quote]

As a falcon fan ive said on this board i think the media has been to hard on Flacco in the past... But now going into his 5th year like Ryan.. They should be graded like every other QB.. No more of the young QB grading scale.

But with the national media... When was the last time youve seen them talk about the falcons since the offseason begun... I havnt heard anything... You guys are seen as one of the top teams (deserving so because of the playoff run you guys had) .. SDo they will talk about you more... With more ravens talk you will get Flacco talk... Everybody praised the guy for his play vs the Pats.

I think the thing that hurts Flacco nationally is his stats this year and the fact that he has a top D and run game... I think they feel its not mainlyon him to produce... He can have a bad game and still win

But who cares.. As long as he goes out.. improves his numbers (basically be more consistent) .. Ppl can only dislike you for so long if u are producing like a top teir guy

[Ravenslifer]

[quote name='-Truth-' timestamp='1333561539' post='1042106']
Good points, and they're hard to argue with. [b]Obviously that's not to say that he couldn't have performed better,[/b] but it's not as if it would've been realistic to expect him to come out and begin lighting it up.
[/quote]

He could have and he still can. The issue around here that I see are people keep bringing up the totality of his postseason career, like the guy who brought up the 8 interceptions. Well what does that mean, that he's thrown 8 picks in 4 years in the postseason to only 8 TDs? If you knew that 6 of those picks came in 3 games, two of which he was clearly hurt and a nonfactor in, then you look at it and say (or at least I do) in the past 2 years, Flacco has completed about 60 percent of his passes for 7 TDs and only 2 picks in 4 postseason games, which would have been 8 had Lee hung on to the ball - his QB rating is somewhere around 90 for those 4 games. Flacco has gotten better in the postseason, and the last two years guys have dropped passes that could have sent us to the Superbowl or given us a real good chance at it.

[Ravenslifer]

[quote name='atljbo' timestamp='1333562054' post='1042114']
As a falcon fan ive said on this board i think the media has been to hard on Flacco in the past... But now going into his 5th year like Ryan.. They should be graded like every other QB.. No more of the young QB grading scale.

But with the national media... When was the last time youve seen them talk about the falcons since the offseason begun... I havnt heard anything... You guys are seen as one of the top teams (deserving so because of the playoff run you guys had) .. SDo they will talk about you more... With more ravens talk you will get Flacco talk... [b]Everybody praised the guy for his play vs the Pats.[/b]

I think the thing that hurts Flacco nationally is his stats this year and the fact that he has a top D and run game... I think they feel its not mainlyon him to produce... He can have a bad game and still win

But who cares.. As long as he goes out.. improves his numbers (basically be more consistent) .. Ppl can only dislike you for so long if u are producing like a top teir guy
[/quote]

Not true - a lot of people said he was bad against them - Primetime, Dukes, etc. were all very critical, saying it should have been easy to score on the Pats defense.

[-Truth-]

[quote name='Ravenslifer' timestamp='1333562470' post='1042122']
He could have and he still can. The issue around here that I see are people keep bringing up the totality of his postseason career, like the guy who brought up the 8 interceptions. Well what does that mean, that he's thrown 8 picks in 4 years in the postseason to only 8 TDs? If you knew that 6 of those picks came in 3 games, two of which he was clearly hurt and a nonfactor in, then you look at it and say (or at least I do) in the past 2 years, Flacco has completed about 60 percent of his passes for 7 TDs and only 2 picks in 4 postseason games, which would have been 8 had Lee hung on to the ball - his QB rating is somewhere around 90 for those 4 games. Flacco has gotten better in the postseason, and the last two years guys have dropped passes that could have sent us to the Superbowl or given us a real good chance at it.
[/quote]

I couldn't agree more. And I forgot to mention that Lee Evans' could've made it 8. Good call. We could also mention the dropped TD by Anquan Boldin in the Steeler's game.

[FerrariFan87]

First Take just debated his comments and it sounded like both Stephen A. and Skip liked his comments, but feels like he really needs to prove it.

[wizard1]

The problem is any fool can talk but it takes a special man to walk his talk. Obviously Flacco can't do that so why even waste time debating it. The guy is kind of an inaccurate flake. He is a football footnote not to be even mentioned on the same page as Jim Kelly who lost 4 SBs. Flacco can't even get to one.

[FerrariFan87]

[quote name='wizard1' timestamp='1333563094' post='1042138']
The problem is any fool can talk but it takes a special man to walk his talk. Obviously Flacco can't do that so why even waste time debating it. The guy is kind of an inaccurate flake. He is a football footnote not to be even mentioned on the same page as Jim Kelly who lost 4 SBs. Flacco can't even get to one.
[/quote]

Really? Flacco owned Brady in the AFCCG, and, but for Evans' inexplicable drop, we probably would be SB Champs right now. Sure, he struggled at times last season, but he still has every right to think he's the best, even if it's not objectively true.

[BmoreInBmore]

As a fan I don't care if you say your the best QB, the worst QB, an average QB, a HOF QB, or the greast QB to ever enter the NFL.

I dont care what the man says I care what he does on the field.

And Joe has a lot to work on, he needs to stop talking and continue practicing.

[hawkprey]

[quote name='wizard1' timestamp='1333563094' post='1042138']
The problem is any fool can talk but it takes a special man to walk his talk. Obviously Flacco can't do that so why even waste time debating it. The guy is kind of an inaccurate flake. He is a football footnote not to be even mentioned on the same page as Jim Kelly who lost 4 SBs. Flacco can't even get to one.
[/quote]
If talk is cheap then why do you care what he said?

[wizard1]

[quote name='hawkprey' timestamp='1333564092' post='1042158']
If talk is cheap then why do you care what he said?
[/quote]

I could care less but who can deny the hype is as ridiculous as the statement.

[usmccharles]

im not reading 6 pages of this ill just post my thoughts.

I love what he said, 100%. I dont want my qb to say..."well i think im not as good as romo but better than alex smith...so im ok." No thank you. Luckily ive been busy at work today and havent read too much or heard the trash hes gonna get but you really expect him not to? this is a guy that almost everyone blames for us not getting to the next level, our big losses are his fault and hes not an elite qb. But he has a 92 yard game winning drive IN pittsburg, out plays brady in the afc championship game, but still no respect so it boggles my mind that people are suprised from this. I love what he said,,,,i would of done the same thing. The only thing he has to do now is improve this next year, its his 5th year and if he doesnt surpass 4000 yards and a 3:1 Td ratio at least, he will never get credit. Im predicting a 30td 11int 4200 yard season

[Bazooka Joe]

What would your response be if he said, "I'm not that good. I'm pretty average." Y'all would tear into him.

Those that hate Flacco will scrutinize everything he says. I too think he says things to mess with the media.

I'm glad Flacco said it. As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.

[Bazooka Joe]

[quote name='usmccharles' timestamp='1333569926' post='1042289']
im not reading 6 pages of this ill just post my thoughts.

I love what he said, 100%. I dont want my qb to say..."well i think im not as good as romo but better than alex smith...so im ok." No thank you. Luckily ive been busy at work today and havent read too much or heard the trash hes gonna get but you really expect him not to? this is a guy that almost everyone blames for us not getting to the next level, our big losses are his fault and hes not an elite qb. But he has a 92 yard game winning drive IN pittsburg, out plays brady in the afc championship game, but still no respect so it boggles my mind that people are suprised from this. I love what he said,,,,i would of done the same thing. The only thing he has to do now is improve this next year, its his 5th year and if he doesnt surpass 4000 yards and a 3:1 Td ratio at least, he will never get credit. Im predicting a 30td 11int 4200 yard season
[/quote]

All Flacco has to do is continue winning. Screw the fantasy football stats. There's no hall of fame for fantasy football.

[nyc9192]

Im glad Joe said what he said.It shows confidence and a quarterback without confidence is a red flag. Is he the best?No.Is he top 5? No.Does he have the talent and potential to be these?Absolutely. I'm glad Joe finally decided to get aggressive with his critics.Even Skip Bayless who always dogs Joe said he likes it because it showed high confidence on his part. It infurtiates me that Tebow gets all this publicity and gets crowned like hes the best with that damn slogan"All he does is win" but Joe does the same thing, with more wins and better stats and the guy is plagued like nothing.Hoping he can go out and show it.Remember that Eli said the same thing last year and look at the result.MAKE EM ALL BELIEVERS JOE!![img]http://content.boards.baltimoreravens.com//public/style_emoticons/default/225.gif[/img]

[arnie_uk]

[quote name='Bazooka Joe' timestamp='1333571122' post='1042311']
All Flacco has to do is continue winning. Screw the fantasy football stats. There's no hall of fame for fantasy football.
[/quote]isnt dan marino in the hall of fame?

[Ravenseconbeast]

[quote name='Bazooka Joe' timestamp='1333571122' post='1042311']
All Flacco has to do is continue winning. Screw the fantasy football stats. There's no hall of fame for fantasy football.
[/quote]

You know what is funny. That is exactly what fans of Mark Sanchez/Kevin Kolb says in Jets/Cardinals forums.

[url="http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/post/_/id/7774431/flacco-top-flight-qb"]http://espn.go.com/s...o-top-flight-qb[/url] this gives an inclination of what rest of U.S. thinks of Flacco. For the flacco homers ....stop embarassing us and stop staying delusional. He is around top 15. For him to be regarded as a great QB, he would need to prove himself on the field and make some significant improvement in order to be top 5( much less 'the best').

[berad]

[quote name='Ravenseconbeast' timestamp='1333575770' post='1042384']
You know what is funny. That is exactly what fans of Mark Sanchez/Kevin Kolb says in Jets/Cardinals forums.

[url="http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/post/_/id/7774431/flacco-top-flight-qb"]http://espn.go.com/s...o-top-flight-qb[/url] this gives an inclination of what rest of U.S. thinks of Flacco. For the flacco homers ....stop embarassing us and stop staying delusional. He is around top 15. For him to be regarded as a great QB, he would need to prove himself on the field and make some significant improvement in order to be top 5( much less 'the best').
[/quote]

We do this every time... who are 15 better than him? He's top 10, in my book, just underrated.

[Ravenseconbeast]

[quote name='berad' timestamp='1333576204' post='1042387']
We do this every time... who are 15 better than him? He's top 10, in my book, just underrated.
[/quote]

I guess you didnt see the poll... also if his top 15...you dont need 15 people better than him?

[berad]

[quote name='Ravenseconbeast' timestamp='1333576415' post='1042390']
I guess you didnt see the poll... also if his top 15...you dont need 15 people better than him?
[/quote]

The selection is actually "top half" but amended... who are 14 better? or 13? or however many... top 15 includes top 10 and top 5 and "best" so maybe they're all agreeing with him?????

[atljbo]

[quote name='Ravenslifer' timestamp='1333562580' post='1042123']
Not true - a lot of people said he was bad against them - Primetime, Dukes, etc. were all very critical, saying it should have been easy to score on the Pats defense.
[/quote]

I recently heard Jamie Dukes praising him a couple of weeks ago for that game.. Ducke's then said but can Flacco play at that level consitently is the question.... I know Dukes is one of his biggest critics

[Ravenseconbeast]

Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Matthew Stafford, Big Ben, Philip Rivers, Cam Newton, Mike Vick, Eli Manning, Matt Schuab, Tony Romo.

Joe Flacco is in the circles of : Matt Ryan, Jay Cutler, Ryan Fitzy, Josh Freeman, Andy Dalton, Matt Cassel, Sam Bradford


He is (imo) better than : Kyle Orton, Carson Palmer, Mark Sanchez, Tavaris Jackson, Rex Grossman, Gabbert, Tebow, Colt McCoy,Kevin Kolb, Garrard, Skelton, Matt Moore, Christian Ponder, jake locker...etc etc

[berad]

I'd put him above Schaub and Romo but yeah... it's about right. Closer to top 10 than top 15.

[BMOREHAWAII]

Flacco is bringing too much attention to himself and the organization. It puts a lot more pressure on him, and the organization seeing as we drafted him in the first and basically built the offense around him. Atleast when Suggs opens his big mouth he backs it up, man is a beast.

He could have just said something like, at my full potential i think i could throw with the best QB's in the league if not, if not better.

Why draw so much attention to people who will carefully pick at your faults? I hioe he doesnt turn into a Rex Ryan..

[Blex64]

[quote name='Ravenseconbeast' timestamp='1333577130' post='1042396']
Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Matthew Stafford, Big Ben, Philip Rivers,[b] Cam Newton[/b],[b] Mike Vick[/b], Eli Manning, Matt Schuab, [b]Tony Romo[/b].

Joe Flacco is in the circles of : Matt Ryan, Jay Cutler, Ryan Fitzy, Josh Freeman, Andy Dalton, Matt Cassel, Sam Bradford


He is (imo) better than : Kyle Orton, Carson Palmer, Mark Sanchez, Tavaris Jackson, Rex Grossman, Gabbert, Tebow, Colt McCoy,Kevin Kolb, Garrard, Skelton, Matt Moore, Christian Ponder, jake locker...etc etc
[/quote]

Care to defend the bolded? I don't think Schaub's much better then he is either.