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A league source tells us that the Baltimore Ravens soon will be reaching contract terms with quarterback Joe Flacco, a first-round pick in the 2008 draft.
Per the source, the deal is “imminent.”
The team and Flacco’s agent, Joe Linta, have been talking for weeks.
If Flacco signs soon, the status of first-round quarterbacks will be far different in 2008 than they were in 2007. Last time around, the two first-round quarterbacks (JaMarcus Russell of the Raiders and Brady Quinn of the Browns) had lengthy (and, at times, ugly) holdouts. This year, both Flacco and Matt Ryan of the Falcons will be in camp and ready to go.
The former Delaware quarterback initially played at Pitt, but then transferred once Tyler Palko emerged as the favored son at the position.
July 16th, 2008 at 10:27 am
And Ravens’ fans love this kid even though he had a hard time beating Navy.
I personally think they should have went offensive line. It doesn’t matter what QB is behind that porous offensive line, if he can’t stay upright, he can’t make the throws.
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Rating: 3 / 5 with 4 rating(s)
July 16th, 2008 at 10:37 am
Flacco couldn’t beat out Palko…yeah, he’s going to be great.
This ought to keep Baltimore’s QB situation muddled for few more years.
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Rating: 2.75 / 5 with 7 rating(s)
July 16th, 2008 at 10:39 am
Who gives a flyin’ Flacco? He won’t be ready for at least a year. We want King Diva Favre so we can win now!!
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Rating: 2.15 / 5 with 7 rating(s)
July 16th, 2008 at 10:43 am
This guy has not thrown an NFL pass, yet the “experts” would lead you to believe he is the next coming of Joe Montana. Of course these are the same guys who tabbed Ryan Leaf, Akili Smith, Cade McNown and Kyle Boller as can’t miss players.
Face it Baltimore, if you go with a rookie this season you are staring at 6-10. Give Troy Smith the ball for a few weeks and see how he performs.
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Rating: 2.15 / 5 with 6 rating(s)
July 16th, 2008 at 10:44 am
This guy should NOT have been a 1st round pick. He couldn’t even beat out Tyler Falko.
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Rating: 4.2 / 5 with 5 rating(s)
July 16th, 2008 at 10:48 am
Sweeet, another qb for the ratbirds to add to their list of failures since Dilf’s departure.
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Rating: 3 / 5 with 6 rating(s)
July 16th, 2008 at 10:50 am
WHat does that mean? They have been talking for weeks so they must be close? How about a detail or two? Rumoured amout and terms of the deal or something. You are just filling up the page.
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Rating: 3.65 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
July 16th, 2008 at 11:11 am
Im confused. Flacco has been practicing with the team right? But he didn’t yet sign? Didn’t Brady Quinn and Fatso Russell miss practice time because they didn’t sign their rookie contracts? Or does that only apply to training camp?
Either way, its way too early to try and judge whether Flacco will be a bust or a good QB in the league. Lets see him play some games before we judge.
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Rating: 3 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
July 16th, 2008 at 11:20 am
the ravens suck! please football gods send Farve to this team so the best DEF in the NFL, the Pittsburgh Stillers can knock him on his ass. no contest send in Flacco, Smith, Farve or anyone in that position and the Stillers will crush them
Go Stillers
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Rating: 1.5 / 5 with 8 rating(s)
July 16th, 2008 at 11:35 am
This isn’t news. All draft pick signings are imminent.
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
July 16th, 2008 at 11:41 am
E-Nasty:
You should not be on the internet! You can’t even spell PALKO.
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
July 16th, 2008 at 11:52 am
I C light pounder:
The stillers couldn’t fight their way out of a wet paper bag. Why don’t you ask Big Ben if he got the number of the track that ran him over a couple years ago.
(I’m not a Ravens fan, at all. Can’t stand’em, only team I can’t stand even more? The Stillers.)
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Rating: 3.65 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
July 16th, 2008 at 11:52 am
If Flacco signs with Baltimore, Favre’s gonna be stuck choosing between Tampa and Canada.
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Rating: Not yet rated
July 16th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
Welcome to the basement in the AFC NORTH! This division is as bad as the NFC NORTH!! FLACCO WILL START EARLY IN 2008. THERE IS A RULE IN the NFL with rookie Qb’s “They suck the first years”
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Rating: 1 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
July 16th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
Hard time beating Navy? He put up 59 pts on Navy. More than Pitt, more than ND. With 1-AA talent.
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Rating: 2.35 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
July 16th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
Flacco is the MAN!!!!
Have any of you actually seen him play in college???
Dudes got a CANNON arm, and great accuracy.
He threw the ball like 70 yards at the rookie challenge…and it was a spiral…and it went straight…and he didn’t look like he strained himself throwing!!!
Hate on him all you want…but if you don’t know the details on him…then you just look and act like a moron.
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Rating: 3 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
July 16th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
Flacco for President….this guy’s a gamer just watch. The Blackbirds will see benefits in year 2
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Rating: 1 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
July 16th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
Boller (you know, the ravens other first round, “surefire” QB) had a cannon arm too. Ravens fans loved him when was drafted too.
It all worked out so well.
Flacco is the second coming of Boller.
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Rating: 3 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
July 16th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
It really doesn’t matter. Smith should start. After the half-way point of the regular season, Flacko will be the back-up if he signs during camp or shortly afterward. If he signs before camp he might start the year as the back up…this potential signing is not that big of a deal in my opinion. Eventually it will get done.
And to all you Ravens haters out there….you better look out. If you overlook the Ravens you’ll get an “L’. Remember the Ravens are a much better team when they are hunting (underdogs) than they are when they are being hunted (favorites). This much is certain.
The info in “()” are a public service for all the Steeler fans who wouldn’t have been able to figure out what was meant otherwise.
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Rating: 3 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
July 16th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
“Hard time beating Navy? He put up 59 pts on Navy. More than Pitt, more than ND. With 1-AA talent”
And Navy put up 52
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Rating: 3 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
July 16th, 2008 at 2:51 pm
“And Navy put up 52″ and he was the QB not a DB, what does that have to do with anything?
I tink he looks like a great prospect. Only time will tell, but this signing is almost irrelavant since the last thing any Ravens fan I know wants to see is him under center week 1. Unless he plans to re enter the draft, he will be the Ravens QB eventually.
Also I really don’t want to hear any Bungles or Clowns talking smack about our offense until you A. win a playoff game, or b. at least feild a defense ranked higher than our offense.
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
July 16th, 2008 at 8:22 pm
Who cares how many points Navy scored? He did not have problems beating Navy. His D had problems stopping Navy. Get a clue.
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Rating: Not yet rated
July 16th, 2008 at 9:00 pm
Love all you Ravens haters chiming in. Especially the fans of motorcycle Ben and the Offensivelineless Squealers. Bottom line - we will know in a couple of years if Ozzie was right or wrong. Drafting a QB is a crapshoot. Ask the Niners about Alex Smith, the Bungles about Klingler, Akili etc.., The Chargers about Leaf. The signs about Flacco are good. Great arm, learns quickly, doesn’t make the same mistake twice. How he plays at game speed is the question. How fast he can get to NFL speed is the question. But with McGahee, Heap, and Mason at least he has some weapons to use. Last time I checked, Cam Cameron has had some success developing QB’s. Quake in fear you AFC Northers. We’re coming at you with a high intensity coach and a Top Five defense and a new attitude on offense. To the Squealer fans, the Clown fans, and the Bungle fans (all 8 of you) - don’t even think about buying tickets this year - your reception will be less than welcoming.
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July 17th, 2008 at 10:01 am
Let me ask all you Raven’s fans something:
Would you rather have a decent QB and a fantastic offensive line, or a fantastic QB and a decent OL?
Really, the Ravens should have went OL in the first round, and taken Chad Henne, Brian Brohm, or any of the other number of QB’s available later.
I think Flacco will be a bust. Sure, he’s got size, a good arm, etc, but so did Kyle Boller, Ryan Leaf, and so many others.
Really though, all I need to say is Derek Anderson. Check & Mate.
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July 17th, 2008 at 10:52 am
Derek Anderson. Check & Mate? WTF are you talking about? Did not see DA or the Clowns in the playoffs, and I don’t expect to see it anytime soon either. Carson my S don’t stink Palmer either for that matter. Peyton has only one ring, and ussually sucks in the post season.
Defense wins as long as the QB does not blow it.
Turnovers and the abillity to run and stop the run are still more important than the QB in reality football. Fantasy football, Peyton and Palmer may win every season.
The 2006 Clowns had the worst O line in the AFC N. They added J Thomas, Stenbach and Jamal Lewis, and all of a sudden they have one of the best lines in the division. The truth is they are good on O line because they have 3 really tough options on O that all reqire some form of help for most defenders. The WR needs a S to at least roll coverage. they have a TE who is a mismatch for LBs and safties, and a RB that will ususaly break a tackle and bust over 5 ypc vs a 7 man front.
That is Y they have a good looking O line. There just is not enough players left on D to scheme up any fancy blitzes or line stunts, so they can do simple 5 on 4 pass pro and combo block troublesome DTs.
Back to the Ravens. They did not have to draft an O lineman in the first round because they got Jared Gaither last year with a 5th round supplimental. He may not be Ogden, but he would have been drafted ahead of at least half the 8 OTs in the first round of this draft had he entered it.
Ben Grubbs was our #1 last year and was solid to spectacular at times. Jason Brown got some votes for all pro at LG last year and has been moved back to the C position where he was drafted. Yanda was a 3rd rounder last year started 12 games at RT, but looks like a G and has been slotted at RG. RT is Terry who was a 2nd rounder 4 years ago. The Ravens also drafted 2 guys in the 3rd and 4th for depth.
O line may be a question mark, but not a real concern.
To your question though, I would rather have a dominant line than all pro QB, but as long as the defense and run blocking is solid, the QB just has to manage the game to win.
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