It looked promising in February, when contract talks between the Ravens and quarterback Joe Flacco finally launched. But not much has happened since then. It’s now May (duh), and there are no signs of a coming breakthrough.
Per a source with knowledge of the situation, the two sides are expected to keep talking through the remaining months of the offseason.
Flacco is signed through 2012. Other quarterbacks, including Drew Brees (twice) and Peyton Manning (twice) have finished out contracts. (Brees is still waiting for his second deal from the Saints.) For the team, the risk arises from the possibility that the player will have a great year that fuels a big-money deal and that, in hindsight, ends up being an aberration. For the player, the risk primarily comes from the possibility of a serious injury, which would significantly damage his value on the open market, and in turn the leverage with his current team.
Flacco is, by all appearances, motivated to do a deal now. But if the Ravens know that, the Ravens could be less inclined to put the kind of money on the table that Flacco would otherwise merit if he gets through 2012 playing at a high level and, more importantly, fully healthy.