The Baltimore Ravens have their franchise quarterback! After much negotiating, they reached a deal with their Super Bowl XLVII MVP quarterback Joe Flacco! The news broke Friday evening by Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer. The new contract will be signed on Monday.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter later reported that the six-year, $120.6 million deal makes Flacco the highest paid quarterback in the National Football League, well at least until the Packers get their deal done with Aaron Rodgers.
The deal was reached well before the Monday deadline. If an agreement was not reached in time, the Ravens would have been forced to franchise tag Flacco.
Flacco’s five-year, $29 million rookie contract expired at the end of last season. Last July the Ravens tried to work out a new long-term deal for about $15-$16 million/year, but Flacco believed he could earn more and turned it down. He bet on himself and won, now he is smiling all the way to the bank.
The deal frees up space against the salary cap and now the Ravens can turn their attention to signing other free agents such as linebackers Paul Kruger and Dannell Ellerbe and safety Ed Reed or using the franchise tag.
I did my happy dance when I heard the news. I always had faith that a deal could get done before the Monday deadline, but honestly thought it would come down to the wire. I have always believed in Flacco; now the Ravens do too, they put their money where their mouth is.
I am so proud of Flacco; I want to give him a hug. It may not always be pretty, but Flacco has always done what we needed him to do, win games and get us to the playoffs. He’s struggled at times, but this season he shined when it mattered most and for that he truly deserves to be paid.
Zennie Abraham