Ongoing Flacco Contract Negotiations (Merged)

[JAB1985]

You are correct.

thanks... I didnt realize there was such a jump in cap salaries this year.

2013 cap hit quarterback

what happens if those teams restructure/extend before the league year or is that already set in stone?

[GOTA]

No, you got it.

Back in November, I would have expected them to use the Non-exclusive Tag for $14.6M.

Now, they're going to have to use the Exclusive Tag (unless they get a deal done sooner).

How much cap space do you think they would need to find to use the Exclusive Tag and still be able to field a team?

[JohnBKistler]

I don't see how the Ravens have any choice but to get a long-term deal done with Flacco. I think it will be a very simple "negotiation":

"How much guaranteed money do you want? Ok, we are fine with that number. Now, help us structure it in a way that also allows us to at least try to retain some of the players that contributed to your client's success: Boldin, McKinnley, etc., etc."

[RavensRule21215]

I don't see how the Ravens have any choice but to get a long-term deal done with Flacco. I think it will be a very simple "negotiation":

"How much guaranteed money do you want? Ok, we are fine with that number. Now, help us structure it in a way that also allows us to at least try to retain some of the players that contributed to your client's success: Boldin, McKinnley, etc., etc."

Well...McKin[n]ley ought to come pretty cheap. (Considering he died in 1901).

;)

[JohnBKistler]

Well...McKin[n]ley ought to come pretty cheap. (Considering he died in 1901).

;)

LOL...."right player, right price".

[jonboy79]

I'm starting to think that Flacco will be the highest paid player in NFL history, IN TOTAL CONTRACT DOLLARS. I'm thinking that to make this all work, while giving his agent a "victory" and with Flaccobettign on himself once again, that this deal will end up looking like 8 years and $160m. This will allow the team to get to the $20m number, and a fairly significant guaranteed figure, while also keeping the cap effect minimal for the first few years. We can guarantee his entire first 3 year payout, and have signing bonuses in each of those eyars, with small salaries.
It may make for some interesting issues down the road, but it should solve our problems now AND get a John Hancock on the dotted line in short order.

[JAB1985]

I'm starting to think that Flacco will be the highest paid player in NFL history, IN TOTAL CONTRACT DOLLARS. I'm thinking that to make this all work, while giving his agent a "victory" and with Flaccobettign on himself once again, that this deal will end up looking like 8 years and $160m. This will allow the team to get to the $20m number, and a fairly significant guaranteed figure, while also keeping the cap effect minimal for the first few years. We can guarantee his entire first 3 year payout, and have signing bonuses in each of those eyars, with small salaries.
It may make for some interesting issues down the road, but it should solve our problems now AND get a John Hancock on the dotted line in short order.

down the road 6-7 years just means extension and spreading it out further. Flacco is going to retire a Raven. I like the idea of a larger contract and Joe may be on board with it since hes got the most leverage you possibly could right now. 6 years from now hell be a mid 30's qb where youth and potential are no longer on his side for leverage and spreading whatever money left over a couple more years will be more likely a good decision for both parties. Im no cap guru, but I think you may be onto something.

[GOTA]

I'm starting to think that Flacco will be the highest paid player in NFL history, IN TOTAL CONTRACT DOLLARS. I'm thinking that to make this all work, while giving his agent a "victory" and with Flaccobettign on himself once again, that this deal will end up looking like 8 years and $160m. This will allow the team to get to the $20m number, and a fairly significant guaranteed figure, while also keeping the cap effect minimal for the first few years. We can guarantee his entire first 3 year payout, and have signing bonuses in each of those eyars, with small salaries.
It may make for some interesting issues down the road, but it should solve our problems now AND get a John Hancock on the dotted line in short order.

There is no way you can sign a player to that kind of contract in a league with a cap. The Saints have massive cap issues this season with year 2 jump in Brees's base salary. A baseball type contract can't work here. The salary cap just doesn't go up fast enough to support it.

[bt12483]

You are paying him in part for what he has done and in part for what he is capable of doing.

If you look at most other top QBs, they really came into their own in year 5 of their career, which Flacco just finished with a SB win and MVP. He is going into his prime. He is a franchise QB. He was one pass away from being in the SB two years in a row. He shined once Cameron left, just like Brees and Rivers did.

He has all the leverage IMO.

No, he doesn't have the stats the other guys do, but a lot of those other guys don't even have 1,000 yard RBs. Hell I think I read a stat where the Packers haven't had a 100 yd rusher in like 40+ games. Flacco could easily throw for 4000+ yards and 30 TDs in a system designed for such production. And maybe we will morph into that somewhat. But right now we still choose a more balanced offense, and have some darn good RBs to utilize.

The simple fact is we have never been more stable as a team as with Flacco and he just won us a SB and was the MVP, in a post-season only comparable to Joe Montana. I mean...come on.

Much easier to replace Cary Williams and Kruger than Flacco, so if they become the sacrifices, so be it. We need to retain Ellerbe more so than any other defensive player, even Reed, although I do want to see Reed retire a Raven. He hasn't played well, but as we saw this post-season, for some reason the likes of Brady and Manning still remain scared to throw at him.

[JohnBKistler]

Well...I will wait for the Yoda/Master to weigh in...but here's my uneducated take:

For Flacco, it is all about the guaranteed money - both at signing and during the term of contract. $10 million on signing day is worth less than $10 million on signing day + 4 years. But he still gets the money and insurance against non-performance or injury. The Ravens take on that risk.

For the Ravens, it is all about managing the cap. I don't think - and reportedly there wasn't a whole lot of disagreement before the season - about the total guaranteed money. What prevented a deal from getting done was the structure...and perhaps the ballsy move by Flacco and his agent to "let it ride" this season. His price has gone up for sure, but from a cash-flow perspective the Ravens can certainly handle it.

I think (hope) there is a middle-ground here....and pray he doesn't get hurt and/or regress.

[GOTA]

Joe Flacco is a smart guy. He's not going to completely cripple the team to stroke his ego. He's used to making the playoffs every year. I can't imagine he wants to give that up just so he can say he's making more money than any other QB.

For his agent though it's different. Getting a record contract not only gets him a record fee but also would bring in a huge amount of business. He doesn't care how the team does. That's not his business. He's going to ask for the moon but it's up to Joe to reign him in and settle for something that makes sense for both sides.

[JohnBKistler]

For his agent though it's different. Getting a record contract not only gets him a record fee but also would bring in a huge amount of business. He doesn't care how the team does. That's not his business. He's going to ask for the moon but it's up to Joe to reign him in and settle for something that makes sense for both sides.

Good point. And you also have to factor in the "reported value" of a contract and the "actual value". Linta will certainly use the "reported value" when he's on SEC campuses in a few weeks talking to wide-eyed 21-year olds.