It’s been two months since they started talking but the Ravens and Joe Flacco haven’t been able to agree on terms for his first NFL contract.
The process will continue today, according to the Baltimore Sun, and the goal remains getting the contract done before the start of training camp. “I’m very hopeful Pat [Moriarty, Ravens chief negotiator] and I can finish this off before everything begins,” said Joe Linta, the agent for Flacco.
That’s the same song Linta was singing in early May when negotiations began but the two sides haven’t found a way to bridge whatever gap exists between them. Part of the problem could be the disparity between the contracts signed by last year’s 18th pick, Leon Hall, and Brady Quinn. Hall, picked in the same slot as Flacco, signed for $13.6 million with $8.2 million guaranteed. Quinn went 22nd but, like Flacco, was the only QB taken in the second half of the first round. Like Hall, he signed a five-year deal but got $7 million more total and only $650,000 less in guarantees. No one near Flacco in this year’s draft has signed, which could also be a sticking point.
The negotiations haven’t been acrimonious at any point, though, and there should be enough common ground to get the deal done in time for Flacco to challenge for the starting job this summer.
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July 15th, 2008 at 10:07 am
Really? They are still discussing a deal? That is HUGE news!!!
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July 15th, 2008 at 10:41 am
As much as I hate to cheer for a former Buckeye, I think Troy Smith will be the better fit in Baltimore. Plus I’m not sold on the Delaware Blue Hen.
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July 15th, 2008 at 11:16 am
Fredhoiberg:
It might not be huge news, but it’s better than FarveWatch 4.1
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July 15th, 2008 at 11:31 am
With all the signs pointing to a rookie wage structure in the future, it adds even more incentive for agents to grab as much money as they can off these first rounders while they can.
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July 15th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
I hope he gets in camp on time. That way he has a shot at starting Week 1 behind that porous O-Line so he can get beat around and his career ruined a la Kyle Boller.
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July 15th, 2008 at 12:13 pm
It might be in Joe and his agent’s best interest to take a look at Brady Quinn’s position last year. Had he been to camp on time, he most likely would have started 15 1/2 games instead of sitting on the bench pissing money down the drain.
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July 15th, 2008 at 12:18 pm
Flacco needs to sign something and get into camp because that’s probably where Brett Favre will end up.
The Packers can’t let him slip to the Vikings, they’re fortunate Chicago’s too stupid to sign a QB because then they’d have to fight that battle too, the Lions have been rebuilding for over 50 years, and please please please tell me my hometown Panthers don’t want him.
Baltimore was 13-3 only a year before it all went kablooey and has nothing but a bunch of kids at the QB position? So close to being a contender. Perfect place for Favre to play for another year. Or two. Or three. Or two. Or one. Or…
(But then again, maybe Favre’s afraid Ray Lewis would knife him over this waffling crap. Billick would’ve.)
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July 15th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
Flacco better sign something quick before the Ravens find out they botched this pick. I followed the league Flacco played in and Ricky Santos from UNH would have been a better pick at QB. I believe he’s still available, would sign for less money and has the ability to scramble as well. Where Flacco gets sacked, Santos is very comfortable moving and throwing out of the pocket. Its a no brainer for anybody who saw these two compete. Santos was a four year recipient of the College Sporting News Fabulous 50 FCS All-American Team and was so good that his favorite receiver, David Ball the most prolific scorer in NCAA Division 1-AA history, Ball shattered Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice’s career record of 50 touchdown receptions in 2006.
College Sporting News Announces the 2007 Fabulous 50 FCS All-American Team:
NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision All-American Team QB Ricky Santos, New Hampshire, 6-2, 215, Sr., Bellingham, MA
No Joe Flacco mentioned in this group of fifty for what its worth. -Doh!
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July 15th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
Am I the only one who sees Flacco’s name and thinks “flaccid”? Maybe he can line up a Cialis endorsement.
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July 15th, 2008 at 2:30 pm
being that i’m a steeler fan who went to u of d, i’m want this to take as long as possible. sign somewhere else flacco!
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