Is there any likelihood that Flacco leaves?

[Frank Costanza 831]

I was reading Peter King's article about how Joe priced himself out of Baltimore and not that I want to give that clown any credibility but do you think anything he's saying is possible? I don't see anyway that he's not in Baltimore but can someone who understands the cap a little better than me possibly offer any input

[Pickle20]

I don't think it's possible but there's always the potential that things can implode and Flacco looks elsewhere.

However, I really doubt another team is going to give up 2 first rounders and then sign Flacco to the most expensive QB contract in the league -- especially when his regular season numbers have never been spectacular. For all the talk of the Browns doing that, it's just not logical. They used a first rounder on Weeden last year, so essentially they'd be spending 3 first round picks to get a franchise QB. They're in great cap shape but instead of dumping a large chunk of that into one player they have the opportunity to solidify other areas of the team and try to develop Weeden in 2013.

Flacco is worth more to the Ravens than to anyone else. It's the same thing that happened with Ray Lewis.

[bmore_ken]

Not an ice water's chance in hell. Peter King is smoking some good stuff.

[can you hear me now!]

won't happen....this franchise is too well run for that to even take place....when Flacco turned down the club's offers before the season started he took a big chance and won...I don't think he'll get more than 18M a year and he'll be happy with that...his agent on the other hand is doing what an agent should do, however, even he knows he's not going to get all he wants...

the negotiations may come down to the last minute, but the exclusive tag isn't going to be used...

[jessup270]

Fans have to be realistic about the business side of the NFL.

Almost every Ravens fan wants Flacco to stay and the majority want Reed to stay.

Lets say that Flacco, Reed and most of the fans favorite players are paid enough to stay.

The problem is that the fans may not like the probability that Ravens may not make the playoffs next season.

If a handful of popular players use up a large portion of the salary cap that leaves little money for the filling out the rest of the team.

Heres the major question for Ravens fans, do you want your favorite players to be paid and accept that doing so means the Ravens will likely NOT be in the playoffs next season.

Bellichek is an expert at staying in contention every year, yet is able to release starting players, for lesser paid players.

[ivanbalt]

Bellichek is an expert at staying in contention every year, yet is able to release starting players, for lesser paid players.

There's one position that always gets paid in NE...

[OriginalColtsFan]

Peter King is just blowing smoke. As others have already stated, there's always some outside chance that the Ravens and Joe will hit an impasse, but the worst that could happen, IMO, is that they'll slap Joe with the exclusive franchise tag in 2013.

[RIKMAN]

He gets signed!

[weird-O]

Fans have to be realistic about the business side of the NFL.

Almost every Ravens fan wants Flacco to stay and the majority want Reed to stay.

Lets say that Flacco, Reed and most of the fans favorite players are paid enough to stay.

The problem is that the fans may not like the probability that Ravens may not make the playoffs next season.

If a handful of popular players use up a large portion of the salary cap that leaves little money for the filling out the rest of the team.

Heres the major question for Ravens fans, do you want your favorite players to be paid and accept that doing so means the Ravens will likely NOT be in the playoffs next season.

Bellichek is an expert at staying in contention every year, yet is able to release starting players, for lesser paid players.

you make a good point about what the heart wants and what the team needs. but the Ravens would be in worse shape w/o Flacco than they would be with him.

Reed is a nostralgia signing, but it's only a 1 year deal (I can't imagine he'd expect multi-years). would that really hurt the team's cap and chances of making the playoffs next season? if the answer is yes, then they have to make a painful move.

Bellichek is skilled at dropping players regardless of their popularity, but have any of them been HOF caliber, career Pats? there's a difference.

[jessup270]

you make a good point about what the heart wants and what the team needs. but the Ravens would be in worse shape w/o Flacco than they would be with him.

Reed is a nostralgia signing, but it's only a 1 year deal (I can't imagine he'd expect multi-years). would that really hurt the team's cap and chances of making the playoffs next season? if the answer is yes, then they have to make a painful move.

Bellichek is skilled at dropping players regardless of their popularity, but have any of them been HOF caliber, career Pats? there's a difference.

Sports fans get too hung up on having players who are going to the HOF on a team.

We constantly hear TV announcers saying over and over, this guy is a lock for the HOF when he retires, means almost nothing if the guy is not carrying the load he is suppose to.

Bellichek could less if a guy is/was a pro bowl player, he wants production if you occupy a spot on his roster.

[Fang]

Joe isn't going anywhere.

[bmore_ken]

Bellichek is skilled at dropping players regardless of their popularity, but have any of them been HOF caliber, career Pats? there's a difference.

What have you done for me lately? I didn't see HOFer Ed Reed this season. You don't pay a guy for past performance, you pay a guy for future expectations. That mistake is why Suggs and Ngata combined will count almost $25M against the cap next season

[Purplepea]

We have choice flacco or The rest of the team at least Tom Brady works out some kinda deal that don't destroy the rest of the team.if he stays we are done then we cant efford to keep the restbof our team on both sides of the ball if he leaves we don't have a QB I guess put a fork in the black birds

[Purplepea]

All contracts are based on past performance or how would you base their pay on. time to rebuild repeat the Super Bowl is pretty hard to do Salary caps kills great teams and our keep flacco dreams

[bmore_ken]

All contracts are based on past performance or how would you base their pay on. time to rebuild repeat the Super Bowl is pretty hard to do Salary caps kills great teams and our keep flacco dreams

You pay them based on their past performance with an expectation that they'll maintain that level or perform better. Ed Reed's past performance has nothing to do with his current performance, so the fact that he may be a first ballot HOFer is irrelevant when you're talking about his 2013 contract

[Ravens2006]

The Browns would be better off surrounding Weeden with more talent, not replacing Weeden with a mostly "pocket QB" and then expecting him to overcome all of their other weaknesses...

[bawlmer_fan]

Cant say I wouldnt entertain the thought of two first-rounders. Im just not sold on him being worth $20M.
But what do i know...

[weird-O]

You pay them based on their past performance with an expectation that they'll maintain that level or perform better. Ed Reed's past performance has nothing to do with his current performance, so the fact that he may be a first ballot HOFer is irrelevant when you're talking about his 2013 contract

I hear ya. there's not much room for sentiment in a salary cap sport. the only question I have about his situation is, do the Ravens have a better option at safety? if they do, then the decision has probably already been made.

from what Harbaugh said, it sounds like Reed is still the best option. but that could just be mgr speak during the high and afterglow of winning it all.

[bmore_ken]

I think at the right price he's the best option

[JasonM]

No chance he leaves, PK is just trying to get a few more people to visit SI.com.