NFL.com's Marc Sessler ranks the league's current QBs

[BMORElegacy]

At least his receivers will never drop his passes.

Back on topic:
To be fair, it's hard to separate perception from reality in sports. Ravens fans complain that Flacco doesn't get respect because no one takes Cam's departure into account. Bengals fans complain that no one takes into account Dalton getting a #2 receiver, Steelers fans complain that no one thinks Ben can last a full season, Browns fans complain that the Browns suck. The problem is that no one is a fan of every team in the league enough to have the perspective required to accurately judge.

As for Flacco, I feel that Flacco is a lot like Matt Ryan.

Flacco tied the record for the greatest postseason ever by a QB, but he had a pretty rocky regular season. The key changes in the team between the end of the regular season and the postseason were the loss of Cam and the establishment of the O-line.

Matt Ryan ditched his training wheels OC at the start of the last year, and had a good O-line throughout the year and he put up Brady-esque numbers and was cruising through the postseason despite the lack of a run game and lightweight defense.

I think Flacco this year can be every bit as good as Ryan, and can benefit from not being let down by the defense and having a run game that isn't embarrassing.

And he'll do it without All Pro receivers.

[cwfRaven]

One of these days I will learn to stop opening threads with links that have something to do with "ranking."  Someday (like when H freezes over) maybe some analyst will actually give credit where it's due. But for now, I need to just stop letting it P me off and the only way for me to do that is to stop reading their BS.

 

ETA: No offense intended to OP, I'm just sick of the disrespect.

[CalvinSmoke]

I may be alone on this, but I'm fine with the category that he was placed in and the way he explained it. 

 

"Citizens of Baltimore: Hear me out. Admittedly, Flacco's place on this list haunts me. His work in the playoffs was otherworldly. I might eat raven on this one, but I can't wait to see where Flacco goes in 2013."

 

He showed Flacco respect, I don't expect anyone to put him in that elite category yet. But if Flacco has a solid season like 25/9 Touchdowns to Interceptions than he will be given the respect he deserves. 

 

 

 

[flynismo]

I am not at all surprised. Typically the Ravens get (profanity deleted) on. Joe is on a small market team. He does not generate enough interest for the NFL "powers that be" to merit anything more. Irritating, yes. Surprising, no.

I dont think its because we're a small market team...ATL isn't much bigger, and Ryan was unofficially inducted into Canton before his first snap.

 

Plus, Lewis, Reed and JO are some of the most respected players ever...

 

It's mainly because Flacco has yet to win any fantasy football titles.

[big hits and ball hawks]

What you guys said. I'm going to go ahead and save my responses to "analysts" who undervalue Flacco for the regular season.

[jaege]

I dont think its because we're a small market team...ATL isn't much bigger, and Ryan was unofficially inducted into Canton before his first snap.
 
Plus, Lewis, Reed and JO are some of the most respected players ever...
 
It's mainly because Flacco has yet to win any fantasy football titles.

Really? You think it is because of fantasy football? The dungeon and dragons for football geeks. Hilarious.

[Grendelwulf21]

I stopped going to NFL.com completely ... Terrible writers .. just.. awful writing

[Alexir]

It has nothing to do with any of that. It has to do with visibility. When they see Joe Flacco, they google "Joe Flacco" and look at his nfl.com profile page. It doesn't list his post season stats on there. It shows a guy who threw 22 touchdowns, 10 picks, for 3,800 yards, a paltry 59.7% completion percentage and an 87.7 QB rating. When you compare that with the regular season statistics of all the other QBs, Flacco is way down that list. He hasn't struck gold for any fantasy owner. Flacco has yet to have that 16 game block of high numbers and a great regular season. When this guy put Matt Ryan above Flacco, it was clear and obvious what his criteria was. It was clear what demonstrated to him, what a good QB is.

Here's the problem with the list, this guy is trying to chart "who will be a good QB in 2013." So he's asking himself what QBs are GOING to do, not what they've done already. So, this guy clearly has no idea about the inner-workings of the Ravens last season, the firing of Cam Cameron, Joe wanting to go no-huddle and control the tempo and play selection, and Jim Caldwell coming in and letting him do just that. He probably just thinks Flacco just "got hot at the right time."

No. That's not what happened.

Flacco didn't "get hot at the right time." Flacco finally got control of the offensive tempo and play selection and he destroyed the NFL's top defenses. And that will continue to happen next year, and every year going forward. And that's why he got paid.

As long as Flacco stays healthy next season, he will finish as one of the top 3 QBs in the regular season, statistically. I'd even put down 1,000$ that he'd finish #1 in Quarterback rating.

I'll take that bet. If he showed more consistency, he would be higher rated I'm sure. After this year they will get a solid year to see what he can do after that 4 game string

[Greatness]

I just don't get it...

Is it because of his personality? Or because he's on the Ravens? Or a combination of both? I think he is the most disrespected quarterback of this era. All the kid does is win games and titles and everybody REFUSES to give him the credit he's fought to earn. It's a real shame that there's this unspoken agreement among the nation's 'analysts' to discredit this rising star.

Well said. While Tebow is a joke of a QB and the world loves him, lol, I don't get it. It's all goody, though, real recognize real. I see you, Joe Flacco!

[Ravenseconbeast]

You know...i might not think Flacco is an elite QB, but this ranking is a joke

 

After what Flacco has done in the biggest stage, you can't deny his at least a top 10 QB.   To put Matt Ryan that high and Flacco @ low 12 is dumb.   

[Ravenseconbeast]

You know... Flacco is not a elite QB yet, but this ranking is a joke.

 

After what Flacco has done in the biggest stage, you can't deny his at least a top 10 QB.   To put Matt Ryan that high and Flacco @ low 12 is dumb

[arnie_uk]

Really? You think it is because of fantasy football? The dungeon and dragons for football geeks. Hilarious.

of course it is, everything in this day and age is driven by stats, leading to fantasy football. Kap is not a better qb than joe, or any of oats years rookies, or Ben at this stage, or Newton, yet all have better stats when fit

[JoeyFlex5]

 

 Joe flacco and Eli are the same QB

 

pretty much, but after a second ring he still wouldnt get respect, eli only needed 1 ring

[airconteka1]

lists don't matter, would you guys trade Flacco for any other QB?

[ratedr]

pretty much, but after a second ring he still wouldnt get respect, eli only needed 1 ring

Not true. In fact, a lot of people STILL don't respect Eli.

[billick]

How many wins does JF have in his career ?  Peyton and Brady may have more skins on the wall, but who would trade Joe for any of them ?

 

Maybe Rodgers and Brees, but that puts Joe @ #5.  He was one play away from back to back Super Bowls. Play offs every year of his career.

 

What do people want ?

[rlh445]

I've been an advocate of, 'let's ignore these mediots, we know what we've got,' but this list bugs me in particular because he even states in the article that he KNOWS Baltimore fans would be upset AND HE AGREES THAT THEY SHOULD BE.  When are we going to get away from, 'Well Flacco did well but let's wait until next year,'.  He just won the Super Bowl and got MVP....what else is he supposed to do guys, besides do it again?  He really is the Rodney Dangerfield of the NFL.

[descent into the maelstrom]

Well, could be worse.  We could have Sanchez who, out of 32 teams, is ranked 35th.

[mgridda]

People think Flacco is a post-season QB or something. Just wait, he'll have very good regular season numbers next year. That's all it takes for people to respect a QB in this league.

[beasy2487]

People think Flacco is a post-season QB or something. Just wait, he'll have very good regular season numbers next year. That's all it takes for people to respect a QB in this league.

 

They'll still find a way to discredit the guy. Like, "Welp it's the year of the snake and 'Flacco' is similar to the ancient Egyptian 'Flahka' for serpent. Thus he's only successful due to the alignment of the stars and obviously his numbers are a fluke."

[JoeyFlex5]

Not true. In fact, a lot of people STILL don't respect Eli.

ur always gonna have a big group of haters, but eli gets plenty of respect, and he has ever since his first ring, joe flacco is almost unanimously HATED by the entire media, not just a lack of respect, there are a large number of analysts out there who seem to have a true hatred for joe flacco.

[GrimCoconut]

Here's why the media hate on Flacco:

1. Never put up gaudy numbers.
2. Not overly dramatic; pretty bland personalty.
3. Doesn't seem to care about what the media thinks; disregards them.
4. Inconsistent.
5. Not considered a #1 QB when he came out; didn't have much hype.
6. Doesn't really make plays with his feet.
7. He's not in a big media market.

[mgridda]

It's really just because he hasn't had gaudy regular season numbers. Where analysts place him is pretty accurate with/to his regular season individual statistical output.  

 

Also, he's a D-II Quarterback. He still hasn't posted Kurt Warner like numbers in the regular season though.

[K-Dog]

Here's why the media hate on Flacco:

1. Never put up gaudy numbers.
2. Not overly dramatic; pretty bland personalty.
3. Doesn't seem to care about what the media thinks; disregards them.
4. Inconsistent.
5. Not considered a #1 QB when he came out; didn't have much hype.
6. Doesn't really make plays with his feet.
7. He's not in a big media market.

Gives REALLY lame interviews.

(see #2, and #3 )

[ellicottraven]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000200131/article/ranking-the-nfl-quarterbacks?campaign=Twitter_atl_sessler
 
Look, I don't think Flacco is top 5 yet. You can make an argument for Matt Ryan when it comes down to him VS Flacco. But putting Flacco below rookies who have spent one year in the league and below Kaepernick and Cam freaking Newton? What a joke of a list.

I think you insulted Flacco already with the mention of an argument being made with Matt Ryan being placed above him? Ryan is not even close to what Flacco is in my opinion. Come on man, Flacco has won a SB and 9 playoff games with 7 on the road! Ryan has won 1 and with a lot of luck and at home! Stop it please... In my opinion an argument could be made with only Brady and Peyton being ahead of Flacco. I think Flacco is on par with Rodgers and better than Brees. Honestly!

[shana]

Honestly, I understand people being upset with the rankings, but in my opinion I don't mind them. I  do not agree with them but I would be more afraid if the analysts liked and praised the Ravens. Then we would be in trouble. 

[scrock]

I love that his reasoning for putting Matt Ryan as Franchise Gold is that he just came off a monster season, fantasy influence much? Everyone forgets Joe's monster postseason and Super Bowl MVP.

 

I also found it hilarious that he tried to cover himself by saying "I might have to eat raven for this" as a way of justifying his huge undervaluing of the reigning Super Bowl MVP.

 

Who is this guy anyway, I've never even heard of him. I kinda wish I never had now lol

 

its true, fantasy football has swayed the minds and opinions of many fans and 'expert' analysts...Matt Ryan is the pick if you're trying to win your fantasy football league, Joe Flacco is the pick if you want to win real games

 

Matty Ice is an appropriate nickname because he does melt under pressure, just look at this last postseason when he finally won a game that legitimized him in ATL, he tried giving away both those games with costly turnovers, he almost succeeded too

 

I don't care if they still doubt Flacco and the Ravens, we are better as underdogs anyway

[callahan09]

Total joke of a list.  Flacco is just never going to get any respect.  The way the pundits and everyone excuses Romo out of the debacle in Dallas and continues to place him so high on every list... it's disgusting.  In the same breath they'll never admit that any time Flacco has been less than perfect it was because he didn't have any help coming from his coaches (Cam Cameron sticking to a gameplan that isn't working), his offensive line (running for his life all day), or from his receivers (complete failure to get open and sometimes dropping easy catches).  Flacco is usually not playing poorly even in the games he has bad statistics, it's usually a matter of him having a total lack of support to help him have good stats.  Like Giselle would say... he can't throw it and catch it all by himself.  There are other players and other factors on the field and in play and I watch Flacco religiously and when he's "off", there is always one thing in common: the whole *team* is off... So how can you blame him and call him inconsistent?

 

Flacco should be above Ryan.  100% for sure.  Anybody that says different is just discounting Flacco out of bias.  That's reality.  Flacco plays against tougher defenses in elements. Ryan plays at least 9 games a year in a dome, usually more, and he does it against some of the softest defenses in the league.  And he has a way more consistent, reliable, and talented cast of receivers and offensive coaches than Flacco has ever had.

 

Flacco has proven himself, and Ryan has not.

[PolishRifle]

Here's why the media hate on Flacco:

1. Never put up gaudy numbers.
2. Not overly dramatic; pretty bland personalty.
3. Doesn't seem to care about what the media thinks; disregards them.
4. Inconsistent.
5. Not considered a #1 QB when he came out; didn't have much hype.
6. Doesn't really make plays with his feet.
7. He's not in a big media market.

#2 and #3 are also reasons why he is a champion. How many QBs can stand up after that embarrassment against Broncos in front of a home crowd and not only keep fighting, but put together one of the best post seasons of all time?

Joe is a great QB. Numbers can't explain that. I know, that this sounds corny, but what he did in the last season, in spite of all the things he had to overcome, puts me in awe.

[GrimCoconut]

#2 and #3 are also reasons why he is a champion. How many QBs can stand up after that embarrassment against Broncos in front of a home crowd and not only keep fighting, but put together one of the best post seasons of all time?
Joe is a great QB. Numbers can't explain that. I know, that this sounds corny, but what he did in the last season, in spite of all the things he had to overcome, puts me in awe.

Oh I agree. I think he's a fantastic quarterback and wouldn't really want anyone else over him right now. I like his personality and everything. Great guy. He's the kind of guy you think you could sit down and play some Madden. I love how he doesn't seem to let the success get to him.