Flacco says Ravens don’t need wake-up call

Published: September 29th, 2011 | Tags: Joe Flacco, Around the League, Baltimore Ravens

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No one we know expected the Ravens to have the perfect season. But after a season-opening win over the Steelers, most didn’t expect the Ravens to get beat up by the Titans in Week 2, either.

While it’s left some to rehash which week we saw the real Ravens, QB Joe Flacco takes exception to the idea his team needed a wake-up call to get back on track.

“I mean, yeah, it was a tough loss, and we didn’t play up to par, to the level that we would like to,” Flacco told “Around the “League” on Thursday. “But, I don’t think we’re a team that needs a wake-up call. I think we went in there, we had a great week of practice, we knew what we had to do. We just didn’t get it accomplished. We didn’t play well enough. I don’t think we need a wake-up call.”

Expectations in Baltimore are no doubt high after three consecutive playoff appearances. But if the Ravens didn’t get caught in letdown mode — as Flacco suggests — then they simply got beat by a team many don’t consider a contender.

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With Ngata signed, Ravens can target Flacco next

The Ravens committed $61 million to All-Pro DT Haloti Ngata on Tuesday, with the bulk of that money ($38 million) guaranteed and during the first two years of the contract. While the deal locks up arguably the Ravens’ best defensive player, its ripple effect will impact the team’s ability to sign other priorities going forward.

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Ravens play-by-play man Gerry Sandusky said Tuesday on NFL Network that signing Ngata puts the team in position to turn its attention toward a deal for Joe Flacco.

“The signing of Ngata does two things for the Ravens,” Sandusky said. “One, it keeps their biggest guy at the point of attack who dominates the line of scrimmage in the Ravens’ future for the next five years, guaranteed. Two, going forward, it gives (Ravens general manager) Ozzie Newsome some cap room to work with because next year you will have contract negotiations coming up with Flacco. So the defense gets taken care of today. Next year, Newsome has a little more latitude to work with.”

The same goes for two other starters, RB Ray Rice and guard Ben Grubbs, both of whom are on rookie contracts that expire after 2011.

“The Ravens are trying to bite the bullet on Ngata now, and they know that come 2013, the (salary) cap will escalate,” NFL Network insider Jason La Canfora offered on “NFL Total Access.” “They’ll be in position to make moves.”

The Ravens balked at giving Flacco a long-term extension during the offseason, as owner Steve Bisciotti went on the record saying negotiations wouldn’t start until after the 2011 season. That didn’t exactly please Flacco, who reasoned that “if you’re not confident with who I am, I’m not sure what (difference) a year is going to make.”

It might make all the difference. The Ravens have locked up Ngata, and Flacco has a good chance of taking the Ravens to the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season to start his career.

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Flacco on fines: Steelers’ Harrison is doing his job

Published: December 2nd, 2010 | Tags: Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens, James Harrison, NFL Total Access, Pittsburgh Steelers

Rivalry week for the Ravens and Steelers has brought us the latest example of Joe Cool being Joe Cool.

Flacco joined our Randy Moss for an interview Thursday to discuss the emotions involved in facing the Steelers, and he was asked if players have to guard against getting too hyped for the game.

“I guess some guys,” Flacco said. “I think we have a pretty mature team. Guys who know how to go out there and take care of business. I don’t really run into that too much because I like to stay pretty level-headed. Ray Lewis does a pretty good job of taking care of all the emotional stuff for us.”

Speaking of emotional, James Harrison will be lining up across from Flacco a little lighter this week. Harrison was fined $25,000 for a helmet-leading hit on Bills QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, running the linebacker’s tab to $125,000 this season for four separate violations, which has drawn scrutiny of the policy as well as accusations the league is targeting the Steelers.

Flacco, one of the players the rules are designed to protect and thus one of the most likely to condone them, sided with the sentiments of many players when he said he doesn’t fault Harrison for his aggressive style.

“I wouldn’t like to get fined, so I don’t like to see fellow players get fined,” Flacco said. “He’s out there playing football, and he’s doing what he’s been taught to do his whole life. This is a vicious game … you’re out there not to hurt people, but to hit people pretty hard. If they get hurt, that’s what happens. It’s kind of tough to see a guy get fined that much money for doing his job.”

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