Average Joe

[T3hRaven]

La Canfora tweeted out a good article about the post contract Flacco, and how he didn't do anything lavish and whatnot.  You've seen most of it before I'm sure, but it's a bit more elaborate.  Honestly it's refreshing to see an athlete so down to earth and grounded.

 

They hit on the offense and the team a little bit at the end, and I think this is the most choice quote from the whole thing: “He's just so receptive,” Flacco said of Caldwell. "The communication is great, and it's because he listens to me and I listen to him, and it's cool to work that way.”  I think it's safe to say the Flacco-Caldwell relationship is way ahead of the Flacco-Cam relationship, which should come as no surprise as the only person who seemed to like Cam was Harbaugh.  That was the biggest complaint we saw leaking out about Cam, so it's good to know something has definitely changed.

 

Here's the article, fair warning there was a little cursing in it: http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/blog/jason-la-canfora/23095996/even-after-big-payday-flacco-same-old-average-joe

 

[GTRavens]

That thread title is going to draw some clicks.

[TonyTone1192]

Joe Cool

[GrimCoconut]

That's why I love Joe.

[SecretAgentMan]

That thread title is going to draw some clicks.

I was gonna say....

[BloodRaven]

 

"What do I really need?" Flacco said, laughing at his lack of splurges as much as I was.

 

“Everything I need I already had, and everything I want, if I really want it, I can go get it. But there's nothing I really want. I don't need a $110,000 car or anything like that."

 

 

 

For a guy who apparently doesn't need much he wasn't willing to sign his first extension offer let alone accept a hometown discount. Lets call it like it is.

[arnie_uk]

For a guy who apparently doesn't need much he wasn't willing to sign his first extension offer let alone accept a hometown discount. Lets call it like it is.

he wanted respect and got it

[GrimCoconut]

he wanted respect and got it

Yeah. I agree with this. Just to add something here:

 

The truth is that respect is recognized a lot of times by contracts--at least it is early in your career. The more respected you are you tend to have the biggest deals. When teams pay you money that's a sign of respect. This thought process is validated by virtue of the fact Ed Reed himself said the same thing, as well as almost every other player repeats this adage. There are exceptions, but this is more of the rule than the exception. 

[Ravenslifer]

For a guy who apparently doesn't need much he wasn't willing to sign his first extension offer let alone accept a hometown discount. Lets call it like it is.

 

True, but just think of what they'd say if he accepted 15 million, or 17 million, or whatever the FO would have originally offered.  Then Matt Ryan and Aaron Rodgers sign their deals.  You'd have the same clowns who are on Joe now about being selfish and greedy talking about how he has zero confidence, saying "see, he knows he sucks and he needs all the help he can get to win", etc.

 

I just try to keep in mind that this is the same front office that let go of Derrick Mason after 3 straight 1000 yard seasons, that cut Jamal Lewis so they could try to negotiate a reduced contract for him when he was already singed and already 27 years old, the same front office that played hardball with Ray Rice and went down to the wire with him.  These guys flat said "Ray Rice isn't going to get Adrian Peterson money".  Not one word was spoken about Joe and "Tom Brady money" or "Peyton Manning money".  This is a team that I'm sure projects every player in the draft for several years out - I fully believe that if there was a quarterback they thought was available in the next 3-4 drafts that could do what Joe does, they'd have moved on.  If this front office believed paying Joe the contract they gave him was in the best interest of the team, I have to agree with them.

[Tank 92]

For a guy who apparently doesn't need much he wasn't willing to sign his first extension offer let alone accept a hometown discount. Lets call it like it is.

I think you are confusing "doesn't need much" with confidence, intelligence and a desire to provide financial security for his family. Let's "call it like it is" and give Joe credit for taking the gamble and winning.

[flaccopoe]

"I don't need a $110,000 car or anything like that."

 

Priceless wisdom!

[flaccopoe]

True, but just think of what they'd say if he accepted 15 million, or 17 million, or whatever the FO would have originally offered.  Then Matt Ryan and Aaron Rodgers sign their deals.  You'd have the same clowns who are on Joe now about being selfish and greedy talking about how he has zero confidence, saying "see, he knows he sucks and he needs all the help he can get to win", etc.

 

I just try to keep in mind that this is the same front office that let go of Derrick Mason after 3 straight 1000 yard seasons, that cut Jamal Lewis so they could try to negotiate a reduced contract for him when he was already singed and already 27 years old, the same front office that played hardball with Ray Rice and went down to the wire with him.  These guys flat said "Ray Rice isn't going to get Adrian Peterson money".  Not one word was spoken about Joe and "Tom Brady money" or "Peyton Manning money".  This is a team that I'm sure projects every player in the draft for several years out - I fully believe that if there was a quarterback they thought was available in the next 3-4 drafts that could do what Joe does, they'd have moved on.  If this front office believed paying Joe the contract they gave him was in the best interest of the team, I have to agree with them.

 

Good examples!

[NaveSenrag]

I think you are confusing "doesn't need much" with confidence, intelligence and a desire to provide financial security for his family. Let's "call it like it is" and give Joe credit for taking the gamble and winning.

Right. Because if you don't have 50 million dollars in the bank, you're basically on the poverty line. If he's so insecure that he needs money to justify his confidence, that's an Average Joe move. I hope for a little more from Joe Cool.

[Tank 92]

Right. Because if you don't have 50 million dollars in the bank, you're basically on the poverty line. If he's so insecure that he needs money to justify his confidence, that's an Average Joe move. I hope for a little more from Joe Cool

 

R E S P E C T

 

Not sure what you mean by "needs money to justify his confidence". He had the confidence in his abilities to take the gamble and proved he was deserving of the contract he got. "Insecure"? No comment needed.......

 

Obviously, the "Average Joe" moniker only travels so far. The average Joe doesn't play QB in the NFL, nor does he get bashed in the national press for being inferior at his trade. Kept in context, Joe seems like a pretty normal guy that maintains a sense of humility no matter the situation.

[codizzle]

Right. Because if you don't have 50 million dollars in the bank, you're basically on the poverty line. If he's so insecure that he needs money to justify his confidence, that's an Average Joe move. I hope for a little more from Joe Cool.

You mean you don't have 50 mill stashed somewhere

[LordRavens]

For a guy who apparently doesn't need much he wasn't willing to sign his first extension offer let alone accept a hometown discount. Lets call it like it is.

Hypocrite 

[PolishRifle]

The size of a players contract (especially in the case of a QB) determines his standing in the league and is a sign of trust the franchise has in the player. Flacco is already one of the most crisized and ridiculed players in the league and any "hometown discount" (something I don't recall any other of our players have taken) would've been misconstrued as lack of trust and respect from the team.

Just before Flacco got signed Skip Bayless claimed, that Ozzie doesn't want to be "stuck with" Joe Flacco.

 

Joe almost got this team to back to back SB. It was his play that got us the championship and now we are already complaining, that he got paid. The team kinda already owes him the contract from the complaining he gets from this so-called "fanbase". Not to mention, that we all seem to forget, that Joe's contract is cap-friendly this season. If you want to blame someone for Boldin's departure how about Elvis Dumervil and his new contract or Suggs or Ngata?

 

One average showing of the first team offense in a MEANINGLESS pre-season game and we are already willing spit to on a SB MVP? Really? We are blowing the performance of our WRs and the signing of Stokley out of proportions. Who's to say that Doss or Laquan are not crushing it in training camps right now? Reports seem to suggest this and they are competing against our new look defense, that quite frankly looks amazing.

 

If you like our team, how about a little faith in the players?

[HomeoftheBRAVENS]

He's been a millionaire since 2008.I'm sure he got all of his huge purchases out of the way years ago.

[TZMou]

If you want a Ferrari you pay Ferrari money.

[BloodRaven]

I think you are confusing "doesn't need much" with confidence, intelligence and a desire to provide financial security for his family. Let's "call it like it is" and give Joe credit for taking the gamble and winning.

 

12-15 million a year isn't financial security?

[kdubbs79]

For a guy who apparently doesn't need much he wasn't willing to sign his first extension offer let alone accept a hometown discount. Lets call it like it is.

Every athlete is going to say pay me what I'm worth. What happens if he got injured last year? We will know after the Dennis Pitta deal

[PurpleReign92]

Joe Flacco was a hero last year and that is all that matters... The only difference is he was an emerging hero we already established Ray Lewis and Ed Reed era for the last God knows how many years.  To not see those two defender guys is going to be kind of absurd sort of.

[Pats]

For a guy who apparently doesn't need much he wasn't willing to sign his first extension offer let alone accept a hometown discount. Lets call it like it is.

couldn't agree with you more

[Guest Mr. Nobody]

still, both sides left the door open to re-structure the contract after the first three years - i call Joe's contract a fair deal on both sides; the player got the respect of his peers by being given the contract he wanted and worked for, the team got a cap friendly contract for the first half of it and opportunity to re-assess the situation after

[PolishRifle]

still, both sides left the door open to re-structure the contract after the first three years - i call Joe's contract a fair deal on both sides; the player got the respect of his peers by being given the contract he wanted and worked for, the team got a cap friendly contract for the first half of it and opportunity to re-assess the situation after

I don't understand what Joe has to apologize about. The height of his salary was set up by the market. It is a fair deal for a proven winner and SB campion QB. And Flacco had to risk alot to get it. What would've happened, if he got hurt midway through the season? Would Ozzie be giving him the contract, he offered Joe the year before to give his QB financial security? Heck, no. Oz doesn't make bad buisness decision, which is why I believe that contract is fair, because our GREAT FO drew it up.

 

Joe Flacco is an average Joe. He is one of the best paid QBs (a fair deal for what he has done for the team) in the league and he didn't turn into this...

 

 

or this...

 

(and that's WITHOUT a big contract)

or this....

 

instead he is hanging out on a beach in freaking Jersey...

 

[ratedr]

You knew exaaaaactly what you were doing with that thread title lol.

[ratedr]

I don't understand what Joe has to apologize about. The height of his salary was set up by the market. It is a fair deal for a proven winner and SB campion QB. And Flacco had to risk alot to get it. What would've happened, if he got hurt midway through the season? Would Ozzie be giving him the contract, he offered Joe the year before to give his QB financial security? Heck, no. Oz doesn't make bad buisness decision, which is why I believe that contract is fair, because our GREAT FO drew it up.

Joe Flacco is an average Joe. He is one of the best paid QBs (a fair deal for what he has done for the team) in the league and he didn't turn into this.

I agree with everything here. Apparently he turned down commercials and offers to go to the Grammys and such. Good for him.

A hometown discount is nice in theory but that generally doesn't happen in sports. Pretty much no agent worth their salt will let that happen.

[jdynamite]

For a guy who apparently doesn't need much he wasn't willing to sign his first extension offer let alone accept a hometown discount. Lets call it like it is.

Lol that's called business.... I know if I had the opportunity to negotiate my pay at my job and I would try to maximize my value......

[jdynamite]

To me that's exactly how most athletes should be, I mean I know it has to feel great to have a rush of money out of nowhere when a player is drafted or signed as a rookie. Regardless that's still a six or seven figure deal.

I'm like Herm Edwards : 1 car, 1 house ( 2nd house if its for Momma), get the things you need not want.

By the time second contract comes, shouldn't want for anything second contract should be securing future, getting with a Certified Financial Planner. If family is growing either expand the home or sale and buy bigger home.

[SecretAgentMan]

Every person is going to say pay me what I'm worth. What happens if he got injured last year? We will know after the Dennis Pitta deal

I've never met a person who's said

"I'm paid just fine"

Only
"I'm underpaid"

And I live in a rich, not joe Flacco rich(though there is someone here who was part of a band that sold millions of records), area.


Lemme put it this way.

$120 million is A LOT of money.
What if didn't take it for himself. He was prob going to get just as much(bass salary wise) from endorsements.

I wouldn't be surprised if he did it so his family, his wife and two children, would never have to worry about money again.

Quit complaining, and quit making it out to seem like he's some selfish fool.

With his life style he's set for life for around $2 million(What I guess the average person spends in their entire lifetime). He's a very average guy.

$120 million sets up his family for a VERY LONG TIME.

He won't get every penny of the deal, but even after the restructure, at the end of his career, with the way he spends, he will have around $120 million saved. And that's without endorsements he will prob receive.

You don't here these people complaining about Ryan and Rodgers taking too much money.