Joe Flacco News: Pro Sports Daily

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October 9

Cincinnati Enquirer

"Some guys got it, some guys don't. Your browser does not support JavaScript, therefore the poll can not be rendered.Vovici Online Survey Software What else can you say about Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco, who sat on the bench at the University of Pittsburgh, transferred to the lower profile University of Delaware and now is one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL? Says Bengals defensive tackle Tank Johnson of the Flacco-led Ravens: "It's an offense where you really have to be on your toes. It's an offense that can run for 300 yards. If you're not careful, they can pass for 300 yards. You have to prepare for the whole offense." Sound scary? That's because it is. Much of it is because of ..."

Ravens: Live by the pass, die by the pass

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October 5

Baltimore Sun

"Despite the loss to the New England Patriots on Sunday, the Ravens still made a statement. They might end up being the best team in the NFL when the season is over. But they have to learn how to run the football to overcome their own mistakes, give their defense a rest and keep the other team's top offensive players off the field. It's great to have one of the highest-scoring offenses in the league, and it's exciting to put up a record number of points. But right now, the Ravens don't know when to turn it on and off. And when you play a quality team like New England, you had better have this timing thing down. Isn't that right, Cam Cameron? In case you didn't know, Cameron is the Ravens' ..."

Joe Flacco & Co. prove Ravens more than defense

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October 1

Boston Herald

"The numbers that have been posted through three games look like they could belong to Tom Brady [stats]'s offense. They could also fit into Peyton Manning's portfolio, or fall in with the amazing offensive statistics Drew Brees has piled up. They're just so un-Raven-like. From points scored (103), to points per game (34.3), to yards per game (430.3), to first downs (82), to touchdowns (13), to third down conversions (46 percent), to touchdowns scored in the red zone (10, on 14 possessions), the numbers speak of an incredibly potent offense. That's why the 3-0 Ravens, who visit Gillette Stadium Sunday, figure to pose an even greater challenge not only to the Pats, but to every other team in ..."

Rapid rise of QB Joe Flacco makes Ravens a far more dangerous flock: Tony Grossi's Scouting Report

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September 23

Baltimore Sun

"The Baltimore Ravens have made the playoffs in five of Ozzie Newsome's 12 seasons as general manager. They won the Super Bowl following the 2000 season. In that time, Newsome collected a veritable hall of fame of defensive players via shrewd drafting. But never has he had what the team has now. "I've come to find out the toughest position to fix is the quarterback position," the Hall of Fame Browns tight end said from his office Tuesday. "When you can get someone that's a competent player with an upside, then getting the other pieces ..." He didn't say the other pieces are the easy part, but you get the idea. "We've demonstrated our ability to get the other pieces of the puzzle," ..."

Ravens have big puzzle piece in place with passer Flacco

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September 23

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"The Baltimore Ravens have made the playoffs in five of Ozzie Newsome's 12 seasons as general manager. They won the Super Bowl following the 2000 season. In that time, Newsome collected a veritable hall of fame of defensive players via shrewd drafting. But never has he had what the team has now. "I've come to find out the toughest position to fix is the quarterback position," the Hall of Fame Browns tight end said from his office Tuesday. "When you can get someone that's a competent player with an upside, then getting the other pieces . . ." He didn't say the other pieces are the easy part, but you get the idea. "We've demonstrated our ability to get the other pieces of the puzzle," ..."

Ravens pass Chiefs' test through the air

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September 14

Baltimore Sun

"In a regular season that began with unexpected adversity, the Ravens ultimately passed the initial test. Joe Flacco threw for a career-high 307 yards and three touchdowns in lifting the Ravens to a season-opening 38-24 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs before an announced 71,099 at M"

Ravens open it up in opening win

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September 14

Baltimore Sun

"Apparently, the Ravens' preseason emphasis on throwing the ball in just about every possible situation was not just a passing fancy. Joe Flacco came out flinging on Sunday, and the Ravens rang up their biggest offensive performance - in terms of total yardage - since the franchise moved to Baltimore. Flacco set career highs in passing attempts (43), passing yardage (307) and touchdown passes (3). The Ravens piled up 501 yards and put up 38 points. I suppose you have to consider the competition, but the Kansas City Chiefs came to play and simply ran into a Ravens offense that had too many ways to move the ball. Cam Cameron had hinted at this with his wide-open offensive attack in the ..."

Flacco gets talkative

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September 11

Kansas City Star

"A comment from Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco wasn't particularly inflammatory — as these things go — but someone thought enough of it to post it in the Chiefs' locker room. The quote, lifted from the Ravens' Web site, baltimoreravens.com, was apparently in response to a question from Baltimore reporters on what kind of challenge the Chiefs face opening the season with a new coach, a new quarterback and playing on the road. Flacco responded, in part: "I don't think it's a good way to begin it. We're going to come in here and play well, and I don't think they're really going to want to play us by the end of the game." On the Ravens' Web site, but not quoted in the Chiefs' locker room, his ..."

Flacco gets talkative

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September 11

Baltimore Sun

"A comment from Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco wasn't particularly inflammatory - as these things go - but someone thought enough of it to post it in the Chiefs' locker room. The quote, lifted from the Ravens' Web site, baltimoreravens.com, was apparently in response to a question from Baltimore reporters on what kind of challenge the Chiefs face opening the season with a new coach, a new quarterback and playing on the road. Flacco responded, in part: "I don't think it's a good way to begin it. We're going to come in here and play well, and I don't think they're really going to want to play us by the end of the game." On the Ravens' Web site, but not quoted in the Chiefs' locker room, his ..."

He won't be a Tom Brady or Peyton Manning, but if he improves, watch out for the Ravens

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September 11

Baltimore Sun

"The Ravens are among the usual contenders in the AFC along with the Indianapolis Colts, Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots. Those teams have established quarterbacks while the Ravens have a work in progress, second-year player Joe Flacco. Two of the major issues in 2009 are whether Flacco can raise his game enough to carry the Ravens to the Super Bowl and whether he can become a dominating quarterback like New England's Tom Brady, Indianapolis' Peyton Manning and Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger. "That's all going to be up to Joe, but we'd like him to be at some point," said Eric DeCosta, the Ravens' director of player personnel. "He is going to continue to work hard. He is the ..."

Notebook: Former Rutgers star Ray Rice and Audubon native Joe Flacco use trick play for TD to fool NY Jets

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August 25

Newark Star-Ledger

"On a night the Jets' starters were embarrassed and beaten in nearly every phase, a pair of familiar faces to New Jerseyans provided the most memorable moment. Audubon native Joe Flacco's no-look, behind the back hand-off to former Rutgers star Ray Rice for a three-yard touchdown highlighted a forgettable primetime meltdown by the Jets' starters. Rice had eight carries for 29 yards and that touchdown in the first half. He added one catch for three yards. Flacco completed 8 of 18 passes for 120 yards. On third-and-goal from the 3, Flacco pump-faked before dusting off the Statue of Liberty play. He handed off to Rice, who powered up the middle to give the Ravens a 14-0 lead in the first ..."

Ravens QB Flacco had the fans at hello

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May 29

Baltimore Sun

"One of the more highly anticipated debuts by a Baltimore athlete recently was that of Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco, a first-round draft choice of the team. Rushed into being the starting quarterback just five months after being drafted, Flacco instantly became a fan favorite. He ran 38 yards into the end zone off an audible and had the key block on the Ravens' other touchdown in a season-opening 17-10 win over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 7. In the first half, fans waved purple placards that read: "Wacko 4 Flacco." In the second half, the crowd chanted, "Let's go Flacco," something none of the previous 15 starting quarterbacks in Ravens history had ever inspired."

Ryan, Flacco show that rookie QBs don't have to watch and wait

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May 1

Tampa Tribune

"The instant success of Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco in 2008 may have altered the traditional NFL approach of making rookie quarterbacks sit and watch for one or two seasons. New Buccaneers head coach Raheem Morris isn't ruling out the possibility of starting 21-year-old rookie Josh Freeman in Tampa Bay's regular-season opener against the Dallas Cowboys. Freeman would have to beat out Luke McCown and Byron Leftwich in training camp and prove to the coaching staff that he gives the Bucs the best chance to win. The issue of when to play young quarterbacks is a hot-button topic around the league. A rookie QB "can pass all your tests,'' Tennessee Titans coach Jeff Fisher said recently, "but ..."

ROOKIE REPEAT?

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April 13

New Orleans Times-Picayune

"NFL teams are smart enough to know that the success of Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco was an anomaly last year. They are the only two quarterbacks since the merger in 1970 who started as rookies and took their teams from last place in their division to the playoffs. "That's a tough act to follow right there," Saints Coach Sean Payton said of Ryan, who was drafted third overall by the Atlanta Falcons last year, and Flacco, who was drafted 18th by the Baltimore Ravens. "I mean, shoot, Peyton Manning was a starter his first year, and they got beat up and he got beat up -- and they lost a lot of games (13)." Nevertheless, the allure of finding that type of quarterback, whether he takes one or two ..."

Ravens' Flacco wins NFL rookie honor

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January 30

Baltimore Sun

"After not receiving a vote from sportswriters for the Associated Press Offensive Rookie of the Year award, Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco proved more popular among fans. Flacco was named the Diet Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year yesterday after becoming the first rookie quarterback in league history to win two playoff games. More than 1 million fan votes were submitted for the award on the NFL's official Web site and Sprint wireless service. "I would like to thank all the fans because this is a fan award," Flacco said after being given the trophy at the Super Bowl media room. "They've been voting every week and throughout the playoffs, which I'm sure helped a lot. It was a great year, and I ..."

Ravens' Flacco earns rookie honor

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January 29

Baltimore Sun

"Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco was named the 2008 Diet Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year, Diet Pepsi and the league announced today in Tampa, Fla., site of Super Bowl XLIII. The Ravens' first-round draft choice in 2008, Flacco led the team to the AFC championship game and an 11-5 regular-season record. He threw for 2,971 yards, completing 257 of 428 passing attempts and scoring 16 total touchdowns (14 passing, two rushing). In the season's final 11 games, Ravens went 9-2. Flacco tossed at least one touchdown pass in each of the Ravens' last six road games, recording a 101.8 passer rating during that time. Flacco, who attended the University of Delaware, was nominated for 10 Diet Pepsi NFL Rookie ..."

Joe Cool melts down in Pittsburgh

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January 20

Baltimore Examiner

"It took nearly five months, but Joe Flacco finally played like a rookie. The quarterback displayed the poise of a seasoned veteran as he led the Ravens to the AFC Championship Game, becoming the first rookie to win two playoff games. But the 18th overall pick out of Delaware was unable to maintain his record pace on Sunday, as he played his worst game on the biggest stage of his career during a 23-14 loss to Pittsburgh. Flacco completed just 13-of-30 passes for 141 yards with three interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown with about four minutes remaining to seal his team's fate. "I'm not going to sit here and say Joe played a certain way," Coach John Harbaugh said. "Joe went ..."

Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger makes Ravens' Joe Flacco look like a rookie

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January 19

New York Daily News

"On the eve of Sunday night's AFC Championship Game, Ben Roethlisberger recalled that his first conference title game four years ago was a nightmare. "I remember my first championship game, throwing six or seven picks it seemed and losing the game. It's not easy," Roethlisberger said. Actually, Roethlisberger, who was a rookie that season, threw three interceptions - one was returned 87 yards for a TD - and the Steelers lost to New England, 41-27. He redeemed himself the next year, leading the Steelers to a 34-17 victory over Denver in the AFC title game and helping Pittsburgh defeat Seattle, 21-10, in Super Bowl XL to become the youngest quarterback to win an NFL crown. Sunday night, ..."

Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger makes Ravens' Joe Flacco look like a rookie

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January 19

New York Daily News

columnist Tim Smith

"On the eve of Sunday night's AFC Championship Game, Ben Roethlisberger recalled that his first conference title game four years ago was a nightmare. "I remember my first championship game, throwing six or seven picks it seemed and losing the game. It's not easy," Roethlisberger said. Actually, Roethlisberger, who was a rookie that season, threw three interceptions - one was returned 87 yards for a TD - and the Steelers lost to New England, 41-27. He redeemed himself the next year, leading the Steelers to a 34-17 victory over Denver in the AFC title game and helping Pittsburgh defeat Seattle, 21-10, in Super Bowl XL to become the youngest quarterback to win an NFL crown. Sunday night, ..."

On his biggest stage, rookie quarterback acts his age

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January 19

Baltimore Sun

columnist David Steele

"With 4 1/2 minutes left in the first AFC championship game of his brief career, Joe Flacco was going to be either the hero for the Ravens or the goat. Bring out the horns. Wear them well, youngster. You did the best you could, but you earned them. It's not that it was Flacco's fault that the Ravens now have to watch the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Super Bowl - it isn't any single Raven's fault, because last night at snowy Heinz Field, the Steelers just straight-up beat them, in a 23-14 final that was closer than that. It's just that at the moment the Ravens needed Flacco to be the commander, marching the Ravens toward the winning points (or, at minimum, the most critical third-down ..."

Legend of 'Joe Cool' growing

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January 18

Camden Courier-Post

"There are several reasons why Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco has been dubbed "Joe Cool" by his coaches and teammates. The most obvious is that Flacco never appears to become flustered, despite unexpectedly being thrust into a starting role in his rookie season in the NFL. And Flacco's humble, even-keeled approach has spread through the Ravens' locker room, as a once brash, in-your-face bunch of players has mellowed into a team-first thinking unit. The unflappable Flacco and the Ravens will travel to Heinz Field to take on the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC championship game at 6:30 tonight, and Flacco seems as unassuming as ever. "How much more fun does it get?" said Flacco, the ..."

Ravens GM Newsome still right guy for job

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January 16

Baltimore Sun

columnist Mike Preston

"In August, critics of Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome were flooding radio talk shows wondering why he had not been fired when head coach Brian Billick was let go. They were a team, so they should have been dismissed at the same time. That was their logic back then. Now? Oops, we haven't heard a peep from them since the Ravens lost three in a row earlier this season. They've gone underground. Back then, Newsome declined to defend himself. He never said a word. Now, with his team within one game of playing in a second Super Bowl, Newsome still won't give an interview. That's just his style. He is the quiet force of the Ravens, the architect of a team that almost everyone thought would ..."

Steelers practiced in facing a Ravens-style formation

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January 16

Baltimore Sun

"The Ravens' unbalanced offensive formation featuring the tackle-eligible might have been an unusual wrinkle for a number of their opponents, but for the Steelers, it's nothing new. This will be the seventh time Pittsburgh faces a team that uses an unbalanced formation, including the Cleveland Browns (twice in the regular season), San Diego Chargers (once in the regular season and again in the playoffs) and now the Ravens for the third time. What makes the Ravens' version a little different is the tonnage they bring when they use it. Baltimore substitutes 330-pound tackle Adam Terry for a tightend and loads its backfield with 255-pound fullback Lorenzo Neal and 260-pound ball carrier ..."

Roethlisberger, Flacco stand tall

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January 16

Baltimore Sun

"They share uncommon rookie success, powerful right arms and a proclivity for staying cool in the most intense moments. Joe Flacco has taken the January journey that made Ben Roethlisberger famous as a rookie in 2004, turning heads and defenses along the way. Heading into Sunday's AFC championship game in Pittsburgh, some have even portrayed Flacco, the Ravens' quarterbacking prodigy, as the second coming of Roethlisberger, the pulse of the Steelers' offense and their unquestioned leader. Does the comparison fit? Not really. They might be kindred spirits, but they are not Xerox copies. Any similarity is based on first-year success, not freeze-frame replication. Roethlisberger, 26 and nearly ..."

Who wins the AFC championship - Ravens or Steelers?

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January 16

Baltimore Sun

"True, the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Ravens twice in the regular season and being close doesn't count for Baltimore. True, the Ravens went just 2-5 against teams that reached the NFL playoffs. True, their quarterback is a rookie, and the opposing quarterback has won a Super Bowl. True, the game is in Pittsburgh, where the Ravens have won once in their past seven trips. Doesn't matter. The Ravens are better now than either time they played the Steelers, even more than they were just a month ago. That was four wins ago, including two in the playoffs and one regular-season game that was virtually a playoff game for both teams, in Dallas. The rookie quarterback, Joe Flacco, is far better ..."

Joe Flacco's a big hit from 'small' school

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January 16

New York Daily News

"Everybody had known about Joe Flacco's arm since he was in high school. What he proved while tucked away at the University of Delaware was that he had other NFL-caliber skills, too, even if nobody was ready to believe it. He set 20 career records for the Fighting Blue Hens after he transferred from Pitt. He finished as the school's second all-time leading passer, threw 41 career touchdown passes and just 15 interceptions and even led Delaware to the Division I-AA championship game. Yet as the NFL draft got closer and closer last April, there was still one big concern from NFL scouts: How would he make the adjustment to the NFL from a "small school"? "You know what?" former Giants ..."

Ravens' Flacco first rookie quarterback to win two playoff games

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January 12

Baltimore Examiner

"Hall of Fame quarterbacks Joe Montana, Johnny Unitas and Roger Staubach didn't do it, and neither did the league's three-time Most Valuable Players, Peyton Manning and Brett Favre. But Joe Flacco did --and that's why he's in a class all by himself. Flacco became the first rookie in league history to win two playoff games when he guided the Ravens to a 13-10 victory over Tennessee on Saturday that sent his team to the AFC Championship Game on Sunday. For Flacco, it's been two road playoff games and two victories, which is quite impressive considering it took a quarterback from --off all places --the University of Delaware to accomplish the feat. His response? "It's just another game." ..."

Ravens Rookie Is Young, but He's Same Old Flacco

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January 12

New York Times

"Before Joe Flacco led the march that advanced the Baltimore Ravens in the playoffs, before he stepped forward in the pocket and fired a pass toward his favorite target, he remained oblivious to the stage or the setting or the stakes. The stage: American Football Conference divisional playoff game, with Flacco's sixth-seeded Ravens playing top-seeded Tennessee. The setting: score tied at 10-10, late in the fourth quarter, nearly 70,000 fans screaming and waving powder-blue towels at LP Field. The stakes: win and advance to the A.F.C. championship game. Win and become the first rookie quarterback in N.F.L. history to record two playoff victories. Oblivious as always, the man teammates call ..."

Homewreckers

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January 11

St. Petersburg Times

"The image that will be replayed from Satur"

Titans to play Ravens in AFC Divisional

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January 5

Tennessean

"Some see a chance for the Titans to exorcize demons from many years ago against an old rival. The Titans see a chance to defeat a team they've already beaten this season and stay on course for a trip to Super Bowl XLIII. Whatever the case, the game many anticipated is set. As a result of Baltimore's 27-9 win over Miami on Sunday, the Ravens (12-5) will come to LP Field on Saturday to face the top-seeded Titans (13-3) in an AFC Divisional Playoff game. "It's going to be a battle,'' Titans linebacker Stephen Tulloch said Sunday after watching the Ravens force five Dolphins turnovers. "Our teams are so similar - solid defense, good running game. "Baltimore, they looked good. Real good. And ..."

Three minutes with Joe Flacco

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January 5

Baltimore Examiner

"Joe Flacco became the first rookie quarterback since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970 to win a playoff game on the road when he guided his team to a 27-9 victory at Dolphin Stadium on Sunday. The 23-year-old completed just 9-of-23 passes for 135 yards, but did not throw an interception. In the regular season, Flacco completed 257-of-428 passes for 2,971 yards, 14 touchdowns and 12 interceptions How do you feel the Ravens played on Sunday? It was great the way we came together. We went down there and converted on our defensive turnovers. Our defense gave us a lot of chances today, and we did a good enough job converting on them. You just became the first rookie quarterback to win a road playoff ..."

Simply un-Flaccable

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January 5

Baltimore Sun

"The vocabulary is different in the locker room. Everywhere else - the press box, the message boards, the sports bars - they talk about Joe Flacco and quickly note that the quarterback is only a rookie. But in the locker room, you barely hear that word. "He's not a rookie anymore," running back Willis McGahee said. "He's a vet, and that rookie season is over with." In the Ravens' 27-9 playoff win over the Miami Dolphins yesterday, Flacco's statistics weren't demanding exclamation points, but they didn't really have to. His coaches and teammates were looking for something else: the calm, cool and unflappable demeanor that could lead a team through the pressure-packed gantlet that is the NFL ..."

Hitting the big time

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January 2

Boston Globe

"Joe Flacco walked back into the Baltimore Ravens locker room last Sunday afternoon and finished telling reporters how he had helped lead the Ravens back into the playoffs. He stared inside his locker, shook his head, and looked at the teammates giggling behind him. His socks and Air Jordan sneakers, their shoelaces tied together, had been drenched with water. "Who the [heck] did this?" Flacco said laughing as backup quarterback Troy Smith strode by chuckling. The prank served as the day's lone reminder that Flacco is still only a rookie, still only one year removed from leading Delaware to the Championship Subdivision title game. Nothing about his poised performance suggested he had only ..."

Flacco directs Ravens' revival

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January 1

Washington Times

"The NFL's second-ranked defense powered the Baltimore Ravens to the playoffs. But Baltimore had the league's sixth-best defense in 2007 and finished 5-11. What has changed for the 11-5 Ravens is an offense that blossomed in the second half of the season with rookie Joe Flacco at quarterback. Baltimore's offense has averaged 33.5 points in going 9-2 down the stretch to earn a date Sunday in Miami against the AFC East champion Dolphins. "I see the maturity of Joe Flacco," coach Tony Sparano said. "Since the last time we played him, he's been in a lot of big ballgames and has rose to the occasion a bunch. You can [see his] confidence back there in the pocket. They're doing an awful lot more ..."

We'll play to win, Harbaugh says

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December 23

Baltimore Sun

"The Ravens might clinch the sixth and final playoff spot in the AFC before they take the field Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars at M"

Say it's so, Joe

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December 21

Baltimore Examiner

"Joe Flacco had just hit Mark Clayton with a 70-yard touchdown pass against the Bengals, and old Colt Bruce Laird, watching on TV, couldn't help being impressed. "Just like Bert Jones," he thought. For Laird, a standout safety for the Colts when Jones, a flame-throwing quarterback from LSU, led the team to three straight AFC East titles in the mid-1970s, the comparison is a no-brainer. "Some people are just gifted and able to step into a pressure situation right away," said Laird, who played with the Colts from 1972 to 1981. "It's not often that a quarterback can step in and be as successful as Flacco has been so far. He is playing about as well as any first-year quarterback I have seen." ..."

Flacco is young, but he's one of the kings of the road

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December 19

Baltimore Sun

"The Ravens will continue to stay on the road to the playoffs when they play at the Dallas Cowboys tomorrow night. For Joe Flacco, the key word is road. In just another way that Flacco goes against the stereotype of a rookie quarterback, he has played better on the road than at the friendly confines of home. In seven games at M"

Flacco passing for Big Ben

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December 12

Pittsburgh Tribune Review

"Dave Wannstedt desperately wanted to keep Joe Flacco on the Pitt roster after spring practice in 2005. Pitt was down to two scholarship quarterbacks - Flacco and incumbent starter Tyler Palko - and anybody could see that the 6-foot-6 Flacco was a monster talent. "We knew about the arm strength and accuracy," Wannstedt recalled Thursday, "but I had no idea he could move around like that. He was running all over the place." Thing was, Palko, a local kid, was coming off a superb sophomore season under Walt Harris. There was no way Flacco, a New Jersey kid who would have been a redshirt sophomore, was going to unseat him. Nor should he have. Palko had established himself as a quality college ..."

Baltimore's Joe Cool

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December 6

Washington Times

"After fielding questions behind a microphone at a team media session the other day, Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Derrick Mason introduced the next guest. "Once again, as I say every week," Mason dramatically intoned, "the man of the hour, Joe Flacco." The Ravens' rookie quarterback sensation unfolded his long frame from the golf cart where he waited his turn and walked to the mike. He wore a black T-shirt promoting the "Beltway Battle" - Sunday night's nationally televised game between the Ravens and the Washington Redskins at M&T Bank Stadium. Clearly, he was taking one for the team. "They made me wear it," he said with a hint of a smile. It was about as publicly animated as Flacco ..."

At Coach and QB, Ravens Showing Beginner's Pluck

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December 2

Washington Post

"The aspirations keep ratcheting up for the Baltimore Ravens. After unraveling last season, they are back on solid footing with first-year coach John Harbaugh and rookie quarterback Joe Flacco and have given the organization reason to believe the future is promising. What about finishing off this bounce-back season with a playoff appearance? It might have seemed unthinkable when Harbaugh, given little choice because of Kyle Boller's season-ending shoulder injury and Troy Smith's preseason tonsil infection, decided to go into the season with Flacco as his starter. But now, with the Ravens (8-4) in the thick of the AFC playoff chase entering Sunday night's game against the Washington Redskins ..."

Flacco not spectacular, but he wins

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November 24

Camden Courier-Post

"Joe Flacco didn't set the world on fire, and he didn't light up that stat sheet. All he did was win. Flacco, the former All-South Jersey quarterback at Audubon High School, fanned the flames of his growing legend with a 36-7 win over his hometown team Sunday in front of family and friends and thousands of frenzied Ravens fans. The Baltimore rookie threw for 183 yards and two touchdowns. Donovan McNabb, whom Flacco grew up watching, was benched at halftime, signaling the end of the McNabb era in Philadelphia. The Flacco era in Baltimore is just getting started. "It was a lot of fun out there," Flacco said. "There were a lot of family and friends here and a lot of people from my home town. ..."

Flacco blossoming with Ravens

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November 24

Camden Courier-Post

"It was a stark contrast of football teams and their quarterbacks While the curtain might finally be closing on the Donovan McNabb era with the Eagles, Joe Flacco's rise with the Baltimore Ravens remains in its infancy. And in the wake of the Ravens' 36-7 romp over the Eagles at M"

Club's nurture, Flacco's nature proving to be promising fit

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November 19

Baltimore Sun

columnist Rick Maese

"Ten days ago in Houston, the Ravens were fresh off a big win and the team's media relations staff had corralled Joe Flacco for the post-game news conference. But the rookie quarterback had to stand off to the side and wait his turn. While coach John Harbaugh was answering questions, eight-year veteran Todd Heap came into the room. Kevin Byrne, the Ravens' public relations whiz, flashed a look that told Flacco that Heap would be cutting ahead and speaking with reporters first. "I know," Flacco said. Then three-year veteran Haloti Ngata entered the room, and Byrne again turned to Flacco. "I know," Flacco said. "Him, too." And so Flacco patiently bided his time, allowing everyone else to step ..."

Unable to stop Flacco, unit accepts flak

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November 10

Houston Chronicle

"The Texans’ defense started with a game plan against the Baltimore Ravens that worked somewhat. Somehow during the third quarter, the strategy crumbled. The defense was slapped with costly penalties. It also gave up big plays in the passing game and put up very little fight in the red zone. The solid first-half effort vanished as the Texans ended up allowing a season high in points in the 41-13 loss at Reliant Stadium. “I never would have thought they would put 40 points on us,” middle linebacker DeMeco Ryans said. “It’s not good for our defense at all. It’s not how we expect to play. We feel like we are a lot better defense than we showed today. They came out and put the points on the ..."

Flacco a fast learner

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November 9

Baltimore Sun

"Through one tumultuous training camp and the first seven games of his Ravens career, Joe Flacco impressed with his demeanor, his aptitude and his ability. Last week, he made a bigger statement: He bent a rookie's learning curve into a veteran's declaration. Six weeks after Flacco first faced the Cleveland Browns' defense, he devoured it. Forty-two days after he beat the Browns with a second-half splurge, he did it again. No fluke there. "There were a couple plays in the first Cleveland game where he had a chance to throw it over their head," offensive coordinator Cam Cameron said. "Those same opportunities came up in the second game, and he took advantage of it." Flacco threw no touchdown ..."

The start of something beautiful

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October 26

Baltimore Sun

"Joe Flacco doesn't remember exactly how the first conversation with his favorite receiver, Derrick Mason, went, but the Ravens' rookie quarterback has a pretty good guess at how it played out. "It was probably Derrick being nice and talking," Flacco said, "and I was making grunting noises." When it comes to the personalities in the Ravens' locker room, it doesn't get much different than Flacco and Mason. Flacco is a quiet and reserved soul who might relax by turning on the radio. Mason is a verbose and animated leader who has his own radio show. Mason comes from Detroit and played in the BigTen. Flacco grew up in the New Jersey suburbs and threw passes in DivisionI-AA. Flacco is 8 inches ..."

Harbaugh gives Flacco vote of confidence

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October 14

Baltimore Sun

"A day after Joe Flacco's worst game of his rookie season, Ravens coach John Harbaugh reaffirmed his commitment to him, saying once again that he will stick with his rookie first-round pick as the starting quarterback for the rest of the season. "We believe he's our starter. Joe's our guy," Harbaugh said today. "I'm never a guy that's going to sit up here and say, 'Never ever.' But I don't envision a scenario today where Joe is not going to be our starter this year, save an injury." Last week, Harbaugh named Flacco the starter for the final three-quarters of the season when he said Troy Smith would have a chance to compete only for the backup job. But Flacco followed up that vote of ..."

Should the Ravens stick with Joe Flacco as starting QB?

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October 14

Baltimore Sun

"Granted, the numbers are not good. In fact, during the past two weeks, Ravens rookie quarterback Joe Flacco's statistics have been horrible - zero touchdown passes and five interceptions. However, Flacco - despite a 60.6 passer rating and just one TD pass to go along with seven interceptions over five games - should remain the starter for the rest of the season, barring a meltdown. Admittedly, back in training camp before a shoulder injury ended Kyle Boller's season and Troy Smith's illness caused him to20 to 30pounds, I advocated for either over Flacco. I cited the damage that can be done to a young quarterback tossed into the NFL crucible too soon. But circumstances changed drastically, ..."

Harbaugh names Flacco starting quarterback for remainder of season

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October 10

Baltimore Sun

"Ravens coach John Harbaugh has given rookie first-round draft pick Joe Flacco the starting quarterback job for the rest of the season. It was previously unknown whether Troy Smith, a contender for the starting job in the preseason, would be able to compete with Flacco when Smith recovered from a tonsil infection. But Harbaugh said yesterday that Smith would remain the No.3 quarterback this week and would be able to vie this season only for the backup job, which is held by Todd Bouman. "That'll be [Smith's] role this year - possibly into a role where he can contribute playing quarterback for us down the road," Harbaugh said. The 29th-rated passer in the NFL, Flacco has completed 58.5percent ..."

Flacco will start for remainder of season

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October 9

Baltimore Sun

"Ravens coach John Harbaugh has given rookie first-round draft pick Joe Flacco the starting quarterback job for the rest of the season. It was previously unknown whether Troy Smith, a contender for the starting job in the preseason, would be able to compete with Flacco when Smith recovered from a tonsil infection. But Harbaugh said today that Smith would remain the No.3 quarterback this week and would be able to vie this season only for the backup job, which is held by Todd Bouman. "That'll be [Smith's] role this year -- possibly into a role where he can contribute playing quarterback for us down the road," Harbaugh said. The 29th-rated passer in the NFL, Flacco has completed 58.5 percent ..."