The headline appears to set up a classic example of a straw man argument. One where somebody attacks a position that no one has actually taken. I wouldn’t blame you for assuming that no one asserted that Joe Flacco was the best quarterback in the league, because honestly no one would. I suppose no one should, would be more apt, as Joe Flacco insinuated as much on the radio. His agent is currently trying to negotiate a new contract between Flacco and Ravens, so I don’t blame him for trying to talk his game up. The best thing to do would have been to give a non-answer along the lines of, “I think I’m a good quarterback. How good? Well that isn’t for me to decide. I just try and play my best and lead my team to victory.” That would have been totally fair. I even would have obliged him if he stole a little credit from the defense and answered, “I think my W-L record stands a testament to my value as a QB.” Sure, the Raven’s win despite Flacco, not because of him, but not costing the team games from the QB spot is something worth being rewarded. It could be worse, he could be Jamarcus Russell. Unfortunately for all parties involved, Joe Flacco didn’t go with one of those responses. When questioned whether he believes he’s a top-5 QB as stated by his agent, Flacco responded:
Without a doubt. What do you expect me to say? … I assume everybody thinks they’re a top-five quarterback. I mean, I think I’m the best. I don’t think I’m top five, I think I’m the best. I don’t think I’d be very successful at my job if I didn’t feel that way. I mean, c’mon? That’s not really too tough of a question. But that doesn’t mean that things are gonna work out that way. It just means that that’s the way it is, that’s the way I feel it is, and that’s the way I feel it should be
Now let’s take this step by step:
“Without a doubt”
Really? Joe? Without a doubt? It never crossed your mind that you aren’t Tom Brady good or Drew Brees good? Hell, it’s arguable who would have been a better QB last year; Joe Flacco or Peyton Manning with arm numbness.
“What do you expect me to say?”
See my first paragraph. Namely, don’t comically overstate your abilities as a player.
“I assumed everybody think they’re a top-five quarterback.”
Well you assumed wrong, Joe. There’ s a big difference between self confidence and illusions of grandeur. Visualizing your prize or what you want to happen has been proven to be helpful, but you can’t be so deluded that you lose site of the truth and thus the ability to find what you need to improve to become better.
“I mean, I think I’m the best. I don’t think I’m top five, I think I’m the best.”
Well, you thought wrong. Fact of the matter, no matter how you look at things, Joe, you’re average at best. Let’s take a quick run through some numbers. Out of the 34 QB’s that qualified, Joe ranked 26th in Completion Percentage between Kevin Kolb and Colt McCoy. He actually was two spots behind Rex Grossman of all people. Joe was a bit better when it came to total yards; he was 12th, but that partially due to his health. Ypg-wise, he fell to 19th. (I’ll give him credit, staying healthy is a matter of luck, but it’s not fully luck based so +.5 points to you, Joe). Joe was 13th in TD, 23rd in TD%, 9th in Int%, 23rd in yard per attempts, 18th in passer rating, 82nd in sacks taken, and finally 15th in ESPN’s total QBR stat.
Like I said, a whole lot of average. Take Total QBR and regular passer rating as a quick and dirty analysis. Neither is the best tool on its own, but as I mentioned before, when there’s a correlation between the two ratings, it’s holds, at least, some truth. Both those stats have Flacco firmly in the middle of the pack. There’s nothing wrong with that. It’s hard to find an average quarterback. It’s like pitching in baseball. There’s a dearth of top tier talent, so as long as you have someone that is damaging to your team, it’s okay.
I don’t think I’d be very successful at my job if I didn’t feel that way.
Irrelevant. I know I’m not the best engineer in the world, and I’m successful. Also, Joe, you’d be better served practicing or studying film that giving inane interviews.
I mean, c’mon?
First comment that we’ve shared in common, so far.
That’s not really too tough of a question.
Wow, my thoughts exactl- oh, you mean, because you think you’re the best, not because you’re clearly not in the top 5, let alone the best overall.
But that doesn’t mean that things are gonna work out that way.
I mean, I guess that comments fine.
It just means that that’s the way it is,
but it’s not the way it is
that’s the way I feel it is,
Yes, but you’re wrong.
and that’s the way I feel it should be.
Again, wrong-o.
Look, I played sports. I understand that to perform at your best, you need to be confident in yourself and confident in your abilities. It doesn’t serve anyone well for Joe Flacco to say, “Oh no, I’m not very good.” What he needs to do though, is know his limitations. If you know what you can and can’t do, it will make you better during games and will guide you during practice on what needs to be improved. It appears one of Flacco’s limitations is his ability to give non-hyperbolic interviews. In this case, though, I wouldn’t recommend he work on that. I say focus on improving from an average QB to an above average QB.
