Jerry Coleman: Ravens Wrap Up A Most Successful Season
The Ravens season concluded with the annual "State of the Team" address and the top priority was to see if the team can work out a long-term contract with franchise quarterback and Super Bowl MVP, Joe Flacco. The Ravens have the one-year franchise tag as an option for Flacco, but the goal is to get him locked up for the long haul. They will only use the franchise tag on their signal caller.
"I'm coming away thinking that we can get a deal done," General Manager Ozzie Newsome said Thursday, also highlighted contracts the team has worked out over the years with Ray Rice, Haloti Ngata, Ed Reed, Ray Lewis, Terrell Suggs and even Jonathan Ogden. The organization has a history of getting the deals done when it matters the most. They never seem to miss a beat.
"I'm coming away thinking that we can get a deal done," General Manager Ozzie Newsome said Thursday, also highlighted contracts the team has worked out over the years with Ray Rice, Haloti Ngata, Ed Reed, Ray Lewis, Terrell Suggs and even Jonathan Ogden. The organization has a history ofgetting the deals done when it matters the most . They never seem to miss a beat.
Newsome said that they came "very close to a deal," and Owner Steve Bisciotti indicated that the offer would have made Flacco one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in the NFL.. Rather than take the offer the Ravens presented last season, Flacco elected to play out the duration of his deal and put negotiations on hold until after the season. With a Lombardi Trophy now on his resume, Flacco has joked that he's going to come banging on Bisciotti's desk looking for the biggest deal possible. "That's what we wanted," Bisciotti said. "We wanted to see him do this, and he did."
"I don't see us winning the Super Bowl making the negotiation any more difficult than it would have been had we gone out in the first round of the playoffs; that might have been more difficult. So, we both know that we want each other, and it's up to Ozzie and [Flacco's agent] Joe Linta to work that out."
The Ravens have until March 4th of this year to work out a long-term deal with Flacco, or else they will have to use the franchise tag on him. Applying the tag could then buy the two sides extra time to work out a contract, just like they did previously with Rice and Ngata. While there are questions about the kind of deal Flacco will get – and how long it will take to get completed – it was clear during Thursday's session that they see Flacco being in Baltimore for his entire career, and that they liked the way he handled himself on the big stage.
Bisciotti said. "We don't need a screamer. And I said that I believe that the fans will be rewarded because of Joe's demeanor, and Joe will be appreciated for it if he wins. And we believe he's going to continue to win, so Joe proved that you can win being like Joe. We're thrilled, because we never thought we needed to change the way Joe was like some of [the media] or like some of our fans. Now, he gets to say, 'I told you so'." It is all something that has been a joy to be a part for Flacco in his first five seasons as the Ravens QB, now as the team turns the page into the new era, he will be the "General," of this team, that is how franchises are successful with a elite QB or at the very least one who can be great.
