[News] Joe Flacco Discusses Upcoming Contract Negotiations

[BR News]

The franchise quarterback expects the two sides to get back to the negotiating table this offseason.

View the full article

[The Greek]

hope they can work out a restructure that is cap friendly but helps us sign osemele

[JacktheRaven]

This cap "hit" is overrated. The ceiling has gone up 20 mil. in the last 2 years. That's enough to cover Joe's 28-29 mil cap this year. This will not hinder The Ravens ability to sign the players they want.

[Ravensfansince03]

If this articles sub headline with Flacco's quote means what I think he means, then Flacco is one classy dude. Open to reconstructing the contract to help get/retain elite players. After all, he will be the one taking the hits if we cant get any targets for him to throw to.

[Ravensfansince03]

This cap "hit" is overrated. The ceiling has gone up 20 mil. in the last 2 years. That's enough to cover Joe's 28-29 mil cap this year. This will not hinder The Ravens ability to sign the players they want.

 

Also gotta remember these players are taking up a huge chunk aswell

Suggs

Monroe

Pitta

Ngata

Webb

[burnbigben]

I hope he comes back strong, but not under the existing deal. Something tells me the surprisingly strong play of Mallet is going to light a fire under Joe.

[Smoke0121]

Obviously Joe has to be careful with what he says, but it seems like he's willing to consider restructuring the deal for the sake of the team. That says a lot about his character and will likely go unmentioned when all of the TV "analysts" debate whether he's elite or not.

[ellicottraven]

It's really not out of your control Joe. It is money that you want from the Ravens. It is totally under your control if you decide to take control of it. The fans aren't asking for much but for your agent to be reasonable in his expectations for you this time around. Get paid like a top 10 QB which you've proven to be and that would be fair. I think if you get paid 90-95M over 5 yrs it would go a long way in helping this team out.

[NorthDakotaRaven]

As it stands right now with the current roster, the Ravens are less than 1,000,000 below the cap for next year. That is one player. Dead money and restructuring are going to need to happen, but I don't think that is going to free up enough money to bring in "elite" players. The Ravens will contend next year, but there is still going to be a void of talent for the next season or two.

[balfan23]

It's really not out of your control Joe. It is money that you want from the Ravens. It is totally under your control if you decide to take control of it. The fans aren't asking for much but for your agent to be reasonable in his expectations for you this time around. Get paid like a top 10 QB which you've proven to be and that would be fair. I think if you get paid 90-95M over 5 yrs it would go a long way in helping this team out.

If you look at that quote, it followed the comment "You know it’s coming unless the salary cap makes some kind of an enormous jump ...". That is something that is indeed out of his control and that's what I think he was referring to.

 

It is tough to talk about this stuff publicly ... partly because it is very easy to have people pluck pieces of quotes out and make a player look like he's not a team guy. Joe is going to do everything he can to try and strike a balance between getting paid and not pushing the team beyond where they can reasonably go. I'd have no problem if he just said, "I don't like to talk about possible contract negotiations through the media" and let it go as that. 

[stixfix69]

Pretty sure raven for lifers would take restructuring to gain more cap space....Suggs, and Yanda have done it a few times, so others i'm sure would be willing...In the end they get their money...

[Smoke0121]

As it stands right now with the current roster, the Ravens are less than 1,000,000 below the cap for next year. That is one player. Dead money and restructuring are going to need to happen, but I don't think that is going to free up enough money to bring in "elite" players. The Ravens will contend next year, but there is still going to be a void of talent for the next season or two.

To your point, the Ravens never really "bring in elite players."  With the exception of Dumervil and Smith, Sr. (who were both mistakes from their previous teams that we took advantage of), all of the Ravens' prime talent has been through the draft and development.  The only free agent moves we really make are those under-the-radar types that supplement what we already have.  Don't expect the Ravens to buy a good team even IF we have the money to.

[Halshayeji]

Just get healthy joe and don't worry about contractual issues. That's for your agent and FO to figure out.

[atomicfront]

This is out of Joe's control. He can't control what the Ravens want to do. Realize Joe is getting paid no matter what happens. The team is going to want to do a extension not a restructure. Basically extend the contract for 3 years and make the first year's salary very low and give him a big signing bonus.

It is not Joe's fault the team wanted to have small cap hits the first 3 years of the deal and then have them balloon up. Even with the extension Joe is going to have big cap hits at the end of the deal. This is just giving Ozzie a few years to keep his job until the problem comes up again.

[rmcjacket23]

This cap "hit" is overrated. The ceiling has gone up 20 mil. in the last 2 years. That's enough to cover Joe's 28-29 mil cap this year. This will not hinder The Ravens ability to sign the players they want.

His cap number increase from 2015 to 2016 will likely be more than the total increase in the salary cap for that period.

So, no, they can't afford it.

[ravens4life86]

Gotta restructure/extend... anybody questioning this doesnt have a clue. Drew freaking Brees is possibly not coming back to tge Saints because hes due 31 mil Cap hit. That franchise is in Cap hell and he refuses to restructure/extend..like "Team Friendly Qbs" Tom Shady,Big Ben, etc.. now its Flaccos turn take upfront guaranteed money.. with 15-18 mil avg Cap hit..free up the cap room...then post June 1, cuts... Pitta and Monroe.. 4 million in dead money combined about and around 11 million savings..

[sp3ctor]

A big part of the issue with inflated cap figures on back-loaded deals are the shady response you get sometimes from one side or the other, something to the effect of what Brees is doing now that he refuses to renegotiate a contract that he clearly doesn't deserve (for the record there isn't a single player in the NFL that deserves 30 mill in a single season) Joe and the Ravens seem to have the best of relationships, both sides acknowledged the need to extend the contract. When I read that a couple years back, I just assumed Joe signed a 9 year deal, but since 6 years is max, the extra 3 would come as an extension. This is a franchise that never had a franchise QB. With war-time flashbacks of their former QB carousel, and keeping an eye on the latest dumpster fire the Browns had going (it's like an annual tradition that they're looking for a QB/coach/gm or all three) it would make sense to go with stability at the position for a near decade with iron-man January Joe Cool Flacco. I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to hear that the extension was for 3 additional years and that Joe's cap figure will ding us about 15-16 mill a year for the 6 years of the contract.

[Nick04263]

I thought I read somewhere that Joe has already earned (received) all the guaranteed money of this first deal. If that is true he is one very rich guy and the second deal could be much more team friendly per year. ie. Still making 10 per year but not 20 per year.

[rmcjacket23]

Gotta restructure/extend... anybody questioning this doesnt have a clue. Drew freaking Brees is possibly not coming back to tge Saints because hes due 31 mil Cap hit. That franchise is in Cap hell and he refuses to restructure/extend..like "Team Friendly Qbs" Tom Shady,Big Ben, etc.. now its Flaccos turn take upfront guaranteed money.. with 15-18 mil avg Cap hit..free up the cap room...then post June 1, cuts... Pitta and Monroe.. 4 million in dead money combined about and around 11 million savings..

Couple things wrong with this...

1. Drew Brees cap hit might be $30M, but he's only getting $20M of that in 2016. The other $10M he was paid years ago and it was a decision by the Saints to kick the can down the road after they gave out many bad contracts in the last three years. It's certainly not Brees responsibility to bail out his FO for other bad contracts, which is what fans are asking.

2. Neither Big Ben nor Brady ever took a discount for the team. That's a myth.

3. There is no scenario where Joe takes a deal with an average cap hit of $15-18M...that's well below market value for QBs like him. $20-22M is the range realistic fans should be looking at.

4. You can only Post-June 1 cut one player per season. It also creates significant dead money in 2017 as well, and you can't spend that space until June 2nd, almost three months after FA opens.

[rmcjacket23]

A big part of the issue with inflated cap figures on back-loaded deals are the shady response you get sometimes from one side or the other, something to the effect of what Brees is doing now that he refuses to renegotiate a contract that he clearly doesn't deserve (for the record there isn't a single player in the NFL that deserves 30 mill in a single season) Joe and the Ravens seem to have the best of relationships, both sides acknowledged the need to extend the contract. When I read that a couple years back, I just assumed Joe signed a 9 year deal, but since 6 years is max, the extra 3 would come as an extension. This is a franchise that never had a franchise QB. With war-time flashbacks of their former QB carousel, and keeping an eye on the latest dumpster fire the Browns had going (it's like an annual tradition that they're looking for a QB/coach/gm or all three) it would make sense to go with stability at the position for a near decade with iron-man January Joe Cool Flacco. I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to hear that the extension was for 3 additional years and that Joe's cap figure will ding us about 15-16 mill a year for the 6 years of the contract.

Ugh...

To summarize what I wrote already above

1. Brees is making $20M, not $30M, and it's not his job to bail out the FO for their contract mistakes.

2. The cap hit range for Flacco future deal will be at least $18M a year and more likely $20-22M. Your range is far too low and below his market value.

As far as the "nobody is worth that much argument", it's largely incorrect. For starters, a players worth, by definition, is whatever a team is willing to pay for him. So if a team wants to pay somebody $50M a year, that's his worth.

They've also done plenty of economic studies that show the true "worth" of a player like Brees to his franchise is significantly greater than what any of them are getting paid. Brees himself single handedly generates hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue annually for his employer.

[b93333]

Joe sure sounds like the last thing on his mind is helping the team out with his salary cap hit. We know for sure that his agent has a history of bad blood with the organization. Negotiations are going to be tough to say the least.

[NCMan]

Joe sure sounds like the last thing on his mind is helping the team out with his salary cap hit. We know for sure that his agent has a history of bad blood with the organization. Negotiations are going to be tough to say the least.

Probably not. As usual, the team will severely overpay him yet again and it will be settled. He'll make "the going rate", as some prefer to call it, as he should. The fact that the team will suffer by having other players walk after each year to help offset his salary means nothing. This obviously happens on other teams and barring anything happening to bring down sports salaries to somewhat reasonable levels (define reasonable), it's the way it is. I know all the Flacco Worshippers will hate to hear it, but folks, he's just not that good. Never has been and never will be. He's just an......Average Joe. On a good day. And I have no doubt whatsoever that his best days, performance-wise, are behind him. But, the Ravens will pay him. Yet again. 

[rmcjacket23]

I thought I read somewhere that Joe has already earned (received) all the guaranteed money of this first deal. If that is true he is one very rich guy and the second deal could be much more team friendly per year. ie. Still making 10 per year but not 20 per year.

1. Yes, he has no guaranteed money left

2. He's still going to get around $20M a year... he's not settling for half of market value. Basically no realistic person would do that or advocate doing that.

[ravens4life86]

@rmcjacket23,...It doesnt matter who or when. They only thing that matters and my point was 31 million cap hit. Not this other bs your trying to bring up.

Secondly, Tom Shady, and Big Ben have restructured/extended to "Team Friendly" deals. LISTEN. Dont say things that arent truth. Nobody said they took pay cuts. Listen. Restructure/Extend. I know this for a fact because ESPN was all over it when Brady took guaranteed money upfront and lowered his cap hits last couple years to around 15 million per.

So dont tell me Flacco cant or wont. If he wants to win more rings.. he will accept a "Team Friendly" deal..get his guaranteed money upfront, with 15-18 acg cap hit yrly.

[rmcjacket23]

Probably not. As usual, the team will severely overpay him yet again and it will be settled. He'll make "the going rate", as some prefer to call it, as he should. The fact that the team will suffer by having other players walk after each year to help offset his salary means nothing. This obviously happens on other teams and barring anything happening to bring down sports salaries to somewhat reasonable levels (define reasonable), it's the way it is. I know all the Flacco Worshippers will hate to hear it, but folks, he's just not that good. Never has been and never will be. He's just an......Average Joe. On a good day. And I have no doubt whatsoever that his best days, performance-wise, are behind him. But, the Ravens will pay him. Yet again.

Correct for the most part, minus the "he's always average" part.

Cost of not paying him is exponentially higher than it is to pay him. Plus, there's plenty of teams out there who win annually with large QB contracts. Just shortens the margin of error on other contracts.

[ravens4life86]

What you dont realize@rmcjacket23,...is the QB is getting their full money in total...just in guaranteed money upfront, so its better for both player and team.. so that cap hit goes from 30 mil..down to 15 million avg yrly

[NCMan]

1. Yes, he has no guaranteed money left

2. He's still going to get around $20M a year... he's not settling for half of market value. Basically no realistic person would do that or advocate doing that.

I'd imagine he'll get a handsome signing bonus, too, which will again inflate the average cap numbers, which the team will spread out as they seem appropriate. 

[Jfravens]

Let's go Joe! Let's go MVP!

[rmcjacket23]

@rmcjacket23,...It doesnt matter who or when. They only thing that matters and my point was 31 million cap hit. Not this other bs your trying to bring up.

Secondly, Tom Shady, and Big Ben have restructured/extended to "Team Friendly" deals. LISTEN. Dont say things that arent truth. Nobody said they took pay cuts. Listen. Restructure/Extend. I know this for a fact because ESPN was all over it when Brady took guaranteed money upfront and lowered his cap hits last couple years to around 15 million per.

So dont tell me Flacco cant or wont. If he wants to win more rings.. he will accept a "Team Friendly" deal..get his guaranteed money upfront, with 15-18 acg cap hit yrly.

1. That's purely fan perspective, which naturally is irrelevant perspective. Drew Brees doesn't care about a $31M cap hit because it's not his problem. He knows that dropping that cap hit to $20-$25M, which he's going to do, gives his team plenty of opportunity to improve AND he will get more money also, and not at some absurdly low salary that no human being on the planet themselves would agree to. That's called being a hypocrite.

2. Big Bens deal can't even vaguely be described as "team friendly"...his year 1 cap hit on his new deal was over $17M and next year's is over $24M...both higher than any cap hit Flacco has taken in 8 years.

Brady deal was also at the time fully guaranteed, had more guaranteed money than Joe's deal, AND most importantly, was about his 4th extension after taking max market value for about a full decade before that.

If you really think he should accept cap hits of $15-18M a season for an entire contract, then I suggest you go back to the drawing board in your research of what similar QBs have accepted in terms of contracts and their cap space in recent years. You're about $5M a year too short on your expectations.

[purpledown]

this may not turn out too good for the Ravens. They may need Mallet, or some other quarterback, to start. Flacco may not be the team player that everyone thinks he is. The Ravens need cap relief if they are going to keep up with the Bengals and Steelers.