Various media outlets are reporting that the Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens have agreed to terms on a new contract with their Super Bowl MVP quarterback, Joe Flacco. The deal reportedly makes him the highest paid player in NFL history.
Although full details on the contract, including the all important guaranteed money amount, as well as the early year salary totals, are still unclear as of this writing, it is believed that the full amount of the contract comes to $120.6 million over 6 years.
Last year, New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees signed a five year, $100 million contract. Flacco’s new contract exceeds Brees’ per year payout by $100,000.
There is no doubt that, though the deal is by no means surprising, it will be the subject of debate for years to come. Is Joe Flacco the best quarterback in the league, let alone the best player? Very few would even be willing to defend such a notion.
However, he will be paid as though he is. Flacco essentially bet on himself entering the 2012 season, forgoing previous contract talks last offseason with the Ravens holding the belief that he could earn himself a larger contract.
As everybody knows, he responded by leading the Ravens to their second Super Bowl title while tying the record for the most touchdowns thrown in a single postseason, doing so while not throwing an interception.
The reality of the National Football League is that player salaries will only continue to rise. Every time a significant or ‘elite’ player negotiates for a new contract, he is motivated by the desire to become the highest paid player at his position. You don’t have to be the best at what you do to be paid like it.
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