Can we now shut up about Joe Flacco's contract?

[Cillmatic]

You gotta wonder, the Bengals have one of the most staked teams in the whole league and this guy STILL struggles. Dalton's a below average QB who only looks good because of the team built around him and as soon as playoffs come around he chokes. You can't teach players how to not choke, if I were a Bengals fan I'd be pissed that my team has that much confidence in the guy.

[757RavensFan]

Our secondary made good plays in some crucial moments of our playoff run (we were great in the redzone), but the defense also gave up a huge lead the Ravens offense gained in the first half and much of that is on Lewis. 

 

 

Ray's return was not the factor in the playoffs everyone makes it out to be (I would say we won it in spite of him), even if it sounds like a nice story. Flacco and Boldin deserve most of the credit for that SB (by FAR), imho. Followed by our secondary and Jacoby. 

I personally believe the "lights going out" had more to do w/ losing the lead than anything that actually played out on the field the 2nd half. 

[757RavensFan]

"Late For Work 8/5:  Is Dalton's deal better than Flacco's?"

[PolishRifle]

I personally believe the "lights going out" had more to do w/ losing the lead than anything that actually played out on the field the 2nd half. 

Crabtree put a saddle of Lewis and rode him into the endzone. Corey Graham intercepting Peyton, Jimmy Smiths clutch play in the end zone, Suggs returning after his injury, heck even that one forced fumble Upshaw made. I would have a hard time calling Lewis even one of the top 5 most important players on that 2012 defense, he was maybe not even top 10.

And even then, the defense still struggled against the run and often gave up big plays. It was a good defense, but that's it.

Flacco to Boldin was so crucial for that SB run, which made his trade so devastating to our team.

[DomMcRaven]

Now myThree words.....Romo, Ryan, Stafford...  have to become 4...  add in Dalton.

 

NONE of these guys should be making more than Joe...  Sorry...  Their Stats might be better, but their "records" are not.

What about Cutler?

[PolishRifle]

What about Cutler?

 

I'd actually take Dalton over Cutler. That contract was the most baffling to me. 

[5aiah]

Our secondary made good plays in some crucial moments of our playoff run (we were great in the redzone), but the defense also gave up a huge lead the Ravens offense gained in the first half and much of that is on Lewis. 

 

 

Ray's return was not the factor in the playoffs everyone makes it out to be (I would say we won it in spite of him), even if it sounds like a nice story. Flacco and Boldin deserve most of the credit for that SB (by FAR), imho. Followed by our secondary and Jacoby. 

 

Our secondary made good plays in some crucial moments of our playoff run (we were great in the redzone), but the defense also gave up a huge lead the Ravens offense gained in the first half and much of that is on Lewis. 

 

Ray's return was not the factor in the playoffs everyone makes it out to be (I would say we won it in spite of him), even if it sounds like a nice story. Flacco and Boldin deserve most of the credit for that SB (by FAR), imho. Followed by our secondary and Jacoby. 

In the SB, much of that was also on the change of momentum from the light fiasco. Ray's return was absolutely the factor people make it out to be, just not in his usual physical way. I think you might be writing off the mental strength he brought back to the team during the run. We won it in spite of His and Reed's age and old legs but we also won because of their leadership awareness, passion, and on field coaching ability and knowledge of the game which pushed the entire Ravens defense all the way to their actual potential, and perhaps beyond it.    

[757RavensFan]

Crabtree put a saddle of Lewis and rode him into the endzone. Corey Graham intercepting Peyton, Jimmy Smiths clutch play in the end zone, Suggs returning after his injury, heck even that one forced fumble Upshaw made. I would have a hard time calling Lewis even one of the top 5 most important players on that 2012 defense, he was maybe not even top 10.

And even then, the defense still struggled against the run and often gave up big plays. It was a good defense, but that's it.

Flacco to Boldin was so crucial for that SB run, which made his trade so devastating to our team.

 

 

I get what you're saying, I do. But my comment was in response to you saying the Ravens D almost gave the game away.  I honestly feel all momentum was lost after the lights went out.  Jacoby runs a kickoff back coming out of halftime and all of SF was depleted.  That extra time when the lights went out helped overcome the lead IMO more than the defense.  JMHO.  

[The Mom Gene]

What about Cutler?

Yeah, kinda forgot about him too...  lol...

[redrum52]

Crabtree put a saddle of Lewis and rode him into the endzone. Corey Graham intercepting Peyton, Jimmy Smiths clutch play in the end zone, Suggs returning after his injury, heck even that one forced fumble Upshaw made. I would have a hard time calling Lewis even one of the top 5 most important players on that 2012 defense, he was maybe not even top 10.

And even then, the defense still struggled against the run and often gave up big plays. It was a good defense, but that's it.

Flacco to Boldin was so crucial for that SB run, which made his trade so devastating to our team.

That SB wasn't one of Lewis' best games.  I also don't think the blackout helped our older vets out either, especially considering the extended rest they get from the halftime show prior.

 

I'd actually take Dalton over Cutler. That contract was the most baffling to me. 

I'd take Cutler over Dalton in a heartbeat.  The Bears are going to make some noise next year on offense.

[PolishRifle]

In the SB, much of that was also on the change of momentum from the light fiasco. Ray's return was absolutely the factor people make it out to be, just not in his usual physical way. I think you might be writing off the mental strength he brought back to the team during the run. We won it in spite of His and Reed's age and old legs but we also won because of their leadership awareness, passion, and on field coaching ability and knowledge of the game which pushed the entire Ravens defense all the way to their actual potential, and perhaps beyond it.    

 

You're right, I am writing it off. I get it, that alot of players respected him and some wanted to "win for him", but in the end you have to make the plays and do your job. No amount of yelling, dancing and crying makes up for missed tackles. So yes, we clearly have different opinions on this and I have been reading your post, while rolling my eyes. I love Ray for the player he used to be, he deserves his borderline mythical status as a MLB, but I'm not giving him much credit for that playoff run, when I breathed a sigh of relief whenever  Ellerbe took the field.

If you'd ask me to list the top 10 plays of that playoff run, more than half of those would include Joe Flacco. None Ray Lewis and that matters more to me.

[5aiah]

You're right, I am writing it off. I get it, that alot of players respected him and some wanted to "win for him", but in the end you have to make the plays and do your job. No amount of yelling, dancing and crying makes up for missed tackles. So yes, we clearly have different opinions on this and I have been reading your post, while rolling my eyes. I love Ray for the player he used to be, he deserves his borderline mythical status as a MLB, but I'm not giving him much credit for that playoff run, when I breathed a sigh of relief whenever  Ellerbe took the field.

If you'd ask me to list the top 10 plays of that playoff run, more than half of those would include Joe Flacco. None Ray Lewis and that matters more to me.

Agree to disagree then. I can't write off the huge difference in focus the team had, the the difference in defense. Of course if people reduce what he did(and what veterans and analysts attribute to him) to " yelling, dancing and crying " then people will roll their eyes at mention of him getting due credit. Finally my point was the defense as a whole was huge as well not just Ray and my point that Flacco gets over credited by some in Ravens Nation still stands. I would say they are one end of the extreme with a section of outsiders/haters(who believe Flacco has always been dragged through the playoffs and to a SB win). When talking about big plays, I would say defenders played at levels they were supposed to but hadn't before Ray got back, and some haven't played at those levels since. I attribute that to the focus and tone set by Ray and the other veterans like Boldin,Reed,Birk, and Ngata. 

[The Mom Gene]

It really bugs me when people say that The defense got them to the SB.  They were ranked like 15th in the league that year.  Joe Flacco has the 3rd strongest arm in the NFL (documented). Longest pass in the postseason 2012?  70 yards...  His rating for 2012 was 87.7 (regular season).  The guy carried a 117.2 through the postseason with 11 TD's and no INT's.  He threw for 1140 yards in the postseason,  The guy proved his worth... It's just the way it is.

 

Edit:  He outplayed Luck, Manning, Brady, and Kaepernick...  We never would have won that game in Denver had it not been for Joe's arm.

[hawkprey]

All these contracts are facades anyway. More than likely, none of these QBs will see the entirety of their money in the initial timeframe and their salary cap will be managed by constantly reworking the deal. Romo's was already restructured 1 year after signing, and I'm going to assume the rest of them will be too to "add more talent" a la Brady's deal. 

[Tiz]

It really bugs me when people say that The defense got them to the SB.  They were ranked like 15th in the league that year.  Joe Flacco has the 3rd strongest arm in the NFL (documented). Longest pass in the postseason 2012?  70 yards...  His rating for 2012 was 87.7 (regular season).  The guy carried a 117.2 through the postseason with 11 TD's and no INT's.  He threw for 1140 yards in the postseason,  The guy proved his worth... It's just the way it is.

 

Edit:  He outplayed Luck, Manning, Brady, and Kaepernick...  We never would have won that game in Denver had it not been for Joe's arm.

The points allowed during that playoff run was high....

[Rodgers_To_Nelson]

What is the prediction for the Ravens this year guys? What are the key free agent pickups you guys got?

[1/28/01]

From the sounds of it, seems the Dalton contract was a smart one. Can dump him whenever they want with little cap hit (relatively speaking).

[PolishRifle]

What is the prediction for the Ravens this year guys? What are the key free agent pickups you guys got?

 

Steve Smith (FA signing)

Eugene Monroe (re-signed)

Jeremy Zuttah (trade)

Will Hill (FA signing)

 

I would say those are the signings that will make the biggest impact on the team. I guess we have a great chance to win the AFCN and become a dark horse in the AFC race, if Joe Flacco ends up playing well in Gary Kubiak's playbook (reports from training camps have been mostly positive).

[Rodgers_To_Nelson]

Steve Smith from Carolina?

[PolishRifle]

Steve Smith from Carolina?

How do you not know that? Anyway, he is having a great training camp so far, catching everything thrown his way. I still wonder, if he'll manage to keep it up through an entire season, but it all sounds promising thus far.

[The Mom Gene]

The points allowed during that playoff run was high....

Just another point that could be made for the offense during that playoff run...  The defense was leaky at best.

[Rodgers_To_Nelson]

A big thank you for beating SF in the super bowl.

[757RavensFan]

It really bugs me when people say that The defense got them to the SB.  They were ranked like 15th in the league that year.  Joe Flacco has the 3rd strongest arm in the NFL (documented). Longest pass in the postseason 2012?  70 yards...  His rating for 2012 was 87.7 (regular season).  The guy carried a 117.2 through the postseason with 11 TD's and no INT's.  He threw for 1140 yards in the postseason,  The guy proved his worth... It's just the way it is.

 

Edit:  He outplayed Luck, Manning, Brady, and Kaepernick...  We never would have won that game in Denver had it not been for Joe's arm.

 

Depends on who you ask, b/c the DB on that hail mary to Jones played that pass horribly.  Nonetheless, glad it happened the way it did.  

[The Mom Gene]

Depends on who you ask, b/c the DB on that hail mary to Jones played that pass horribly.  Nonetheless, glad it happened the way it did.  

Coby beat Bailey all night long.....

[5aiah]

It really bugs me when people say that The defense got them to the SB.  They were ranked like 15th in the league that year.  Joe Flacco has the 3rd strongest arm in the NFL (documented). Longest pass in the postseason 2012?  70 yards...  His rating for 2012 was 87.7 (regular season).  The guy carried a 117.2 through the postseason with 11 TD's and no INT's.  He threw for 1140 yards in the postseason,  The guy proved his worth... It's just the way it is.

 

Edit:  He outplayed Luck, Manning, Brady, and Kaepernick...  We never would have won that game in Denver had it not been for Joe's arm.

I've never seen anyone say the Baltimore defense was great in the regular season, but they did what they had to do to get to the playoffs. But they were a major part of the playoff run and don't get nearly enough credit for it. QB's rarely outplay(technically they don't play each other at all) each other at all because they usually have major differences in the defenses they face. He outplayed Kaepernick, didn't face the same difficulty of defense Luck and Brady had to, and tied with Peyton(with the Ravens defense than beating him in OT). We just have a different way of evaluating QB's performances, that's perfectly fine. I think it was more a balanced team effort where everyone came together perfectly, than Flacco just putting the entire team on his back and going above and beyond in terms of what is asked of a QB. Defenses definitely were focused on containing Ray Rice and Pierce to a lesser degree. Agree to disagree. 

[The Mom Gene]

I've never seen anyone say the Baltimore defense was great in the regular season, but they did what they had to do to get to the playoffs. But they were a major part of the playoff run and don't get nearly enough credit for it. QB's rarely outplay(technically they don't play each other at all) each other at all because they usually have major differences in the defenses they face. He outplayed Kaepernick, didn't face the same difficulty of defense Luck and Brady had to, and tied with Peyton(with the Ravens defense than beating him in OT). We just have a different way of evaluating QB's performances, that's perfectly fine. I think it was more a balanced team effort where everyone came together perfectly, than Flacco just putting the entire team on his back and going above and beyond in terms of what is asked of a QB. Defenses definitely were focused on containing Ray Rice and Pierce to a lesser degree. Agree to disagree. 

So.. using QBR's and other stats are only relevant when they convey your point... and not, conveniently when they don't...  That is the one thing I hate about stats, and the people who use them...  And, that, was my entire point.  Flacco had an awesome postseason, and yet people always try to downplay it when they want to argue his inconsistencies....  ALWAYS.  Even when he plays lights out Football.  He couldn't have played much better, and yet people don't give him credit for it.

[Willbacker]

So.. using QBR's and other stats are only relevant when they convey your point... and not, conveniently when they don't...  That is the one thing I hate about stats, and the people who use them...  And, that, was my entire point.  Flacco had an awesome postseason, and yet people always try to downplay it when they want to argue his inconsistencies....  ALWAYS.  Even when he plays lights out Football.  He couldn't have played much better, and yet people don't give him credit for it.

I wish there was a stat for clutch.

[The Mom Gene]

I wish there was a stat for clutch.

Me too, Willbacker...  not to mention that he tied Montana's record in 1989 for 11 TD's in a single postseason without getting picked off once.

[H8R]

It's easy for me... We had him at a bargain basement price compared to production for 5 years... It was going to happen! Look at the next wave of contracts, they're just setting the market

[gabefergy]

Really? Fumbles, missed audibles and picks by hariball....you don't remember any of that?

I mean, I'm all for backing OUR guy, but wow!

I remember rushing for a TD against Miami, rushing for a huge 1st down in NE when he had a nasty leg injury, and a game-changing bomb to Derrick Mason against Tennessee as a rookie. Most improtantly, I remember the Ravens winning a lot of playoff games.

 

By his 3rd year, Flacco was in complete control. He didn't crap the bed like Dalton even though he was playing tougher teams.