Mark Zinno: Rice Is Nice, But The Ravens Need To Be Wacko For Flacco
Ray Rice got his money. It was well-deserved. Many would argue that he out-played his contract. It's hard to disagree. So next on the Ravens' brass "to-do list" is quarterback Joe Flacco. What is he worth? If you ask 10 people, you will probably get seven different answers. Either way, the Ravens need to lock him up before training camp begins.
The last thing the Ravens want is for Flacco and his agent to say "we are not going to talk contract until the season is over." If the team can't negotiate until March of 2013 and then Flacco goes out and has a monster year, huge dollars will be calling on the open market. I've said it ad nauseum, you NEVER let your franchise quarterback enter the final year of his deal without an extension. The demand for these guys is too high to even risk things on free agency. Joe will get paid no matter what. From whom and how much is really just circumstance for him. Ozzie and the Ravens brass can't afford to get this one wrong. The price is too high. Probably higher than one tied to Flacco's new contract.
Zinno
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