"When the Ravens open training camp Thursday, the offense will have a new look — and not just because tight end Todd Heap and wide receiver Derrick Mason are gone.

Joe Flacco will walk onto the field with a swagger, based on his bold statements Wednesday.

The typically laid-back quarterback defiantly fired back at his critics, saying, "I'm pretty damn good." During the lockout, he's heard a player on another team talk about how he can't handle pressure and he's heard an NFL analyst question his work ethic.

After months of being an offseason punching bag, it was Flacco's turn to deliver the shots.

"I play this game to be the best and it doesn't matter what other people say," Flacco said. "I think I'm pretty damn good, and I don't need to go out and tell everybody that and show it on every given day, every play, every Sunday and do all that stuff. I go out there and I play."

Flacco added, "You can think what you want about me. The bottom line is, I'm still going to think the way the way I think about myself and I feel pretty good about myself no matter what you say. I would like some more people than myself to think good about me, but they never do, they never do."

Since starting immediately three years ago, Flacco has been "Joe Cool," a quarterback who plays with a low-key demeanor. He rarely yells when the game is going poorly. He rarely celebrates when the game is going well.

What changed Flacco was taking as much heat this offseason as he does against the Pittsburgh Steelers defense.

Steelers linebacker LaMarr Woodley said Flacco will never win a Super Bowl "in this lifetime." Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Dhani Jones said Flacco will throw interceptions when pressured. And NFL Network analyst Jamie Dukes said Flacco needs to work harder."