It is a pleasure to interact with many of you here on these pages, in our forums, on sports talk radio or even during those times I’ve met local fans at a sporting event or at my favorite neighborhood pub.
And then there are a handful of you who will drop me an email from time to time.
One of my favorite “pen pals” is a dyed-in-the-wool advocate for Joe Flacco. “John Doe’s” support of the Ravens signal caller is so unwavering that I am contemplating hiring a genealogy research expert to see if Joe is a blood relative of “John’s”.
Recently we shared some banter about Derek Carr and the subpar season he’s had in Oakland, on the heels of his mammoth contract. “John” doesn’t believe that Carr earned his new contract. I regularly counter with, “time will tell”.
“John” believes that Joe Flacco earned his contract given his success in the playoffs and of course his record-setting romp through the 2012 postseason. I usually counter that contracts in the NFL should be measured by what you expect a player to do, not what he’s already done. Clearly the Ravens expected more from Joe. His play is hardly commensurate with the value of his contract.
He’s underperforming and that acts as a drag on the team’s cap.
So, all that said, here’s a recent exchange John and I shared via email.
JOHN: Still waiting for [Derek Carr] to play up to his inflated contract!
TL: I’m sure Raiders fans feel the same.
Meanwhile, Ravens fans can empathize…
JOHN: Not likely! Unless you’re referring to Billick’s version of a franchise QB in Kyle Boller! Which of our WRs or TEs would any other team want? Flacco continues to make chicken salad out of chicken sh*t, which he’s done his entire career! But, you keep bashing him all the way into the postseason where he usually is at his best!
TL: You just can’t be objective about Joe and any criticisms are viewed by you as “bashing”.
The man has a career passer rating of 84.0. That’s average, certainly not the kind of play that warrants as many playoff appearances as he’s had. Yet because he played on good teams, you know, teams that had those chicken sh*t players, he’s had the opportunity to play in many playoff games where he is 10-5 and has posted a passer rating of 88.6. Better, but still not even “very good”. That passer rating was boosted by a tremendous romp through the 2012 playoffs when he posted an excellent passer rating of 117.2. He’s the primary reason the Ravens won Super Bowl 47.
But since his big contract, where’s the “chicken salad”?
Since that big contract he has a record of 29-27 and his offenses since 2013 have ranked 29th, 12th, 14th, 17th and 27th, respectively. On average that’s the 20th ranked offense which qualifies as below average. In those 56 games, he’s posted a passer rating of 81.9.
Almost average.
Yet his price tag is elite and he’s appeared in just 2 playoff games, winning one, losing another.
The Ravens are paying for chicken salad and they aren’t getting it.
These aren’t opinions. It’s all there in black and white. You either refuse to see it or you are blinded by your affection for Joe.
But as always, I hope he becomes the player you think he is. But time is running out. When his physical skills begin to abandon him, the fall will be fast because he doesn’t possess the cerebral wherewithal to overcome physical shortcomings. I think we’ve seen evidence of that already.
Looks like he’ll get his chance to go into that proverbial phone booth and burst out as January Joe again.
I’ll be rooting for him…and you!
JOHN: Quoting Jim Caldwell again……..”All he does is win”!
JOHN: By the way, go back and check Terry Bradshaw‘s career stats, which are worse than Flacco’s in every category, but he has 4 SB rings! Stats DO NOT tell the whole story’s! Winning……does!
TL: Completely different era – different rules, no salary cap. Bradshaw was often carried by a legendary defense and a running game, kind of like Joe from 2008 – 2011.
Your thoughts are welcome.
Oh, and so are your emails!
**@ru*****************.com
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This post is dedicated to Harry O’Sullivan, who is somewhere out there on the other side. Your letters, your spirit and energy are sorely missed.
