Can Fans & the Media Make or Break Joe Flacco’s Salary?

Photo: Celebrity Net Worth.com

Before the 2012 NFL playoffs began, I was a non-believer in Joe Flacco, quarterback (QB) of the 2012-2013 World Champion, Baltimore Ravens.  Flacco had and still has every physical prototype attribute NFL teams are looking for in today’s work environment.  He has the height, weight, and arm strength to back up his resume.  Flacco measures at 6 foot 6 inches, 245 pounds and arguably has the strongest arm in the league.  Even before he won the Super Bowl, there was no one who would argue the strength of Flacco’s arm.  The one thing that Flacco did not have before winning Super Bowl 47 was the “it” factor.  My definition of the "it" factor is an intangible desire inside of a person that makes a player want to win more than anything in the world. 

For some reason, I just believed that Flacco was the type of guy who was winning games because of the vaunted Ravens defense for the last few years.  I still believe the Ravens D had a lot to do with the wins in previous years, but Flacco proved everyone wrong this past season.

This past season also happened to be the year Flacco was playing in the final year of his contract.  Wow, Flacco proved his value.  Since everyone knows Flacco won the Super Bowl, why are fans and the media questioning whether he should be paid like the other top QBs in the game? 

An article was written in Forbes.com stating Joe Flacco is not a star.  Some feel since Flacco does not do the commercials like Tom Brady, Aaron Rogers, Drew Brees and the Manning brothers that he should not be paid like a star.  One thing the fans and the media must realize is a player’s salary is only based on his performance on the field.  Endorsement deals are based on the off the field activities.

Previously, DNS wrote blogs on the “Definition of an Elite NFL QB” and “Father Figure Coaches Needed on the Sidelines”.  These blogs were based on the being leaders on the field who resemble teachers on the field as well.  I am still not sure how great of a leader Flacco is, I believe he deserves to be paid like a champion.

According to the DNS “Definition of an Elite NFL QB” blog, below were the top six (6) QBs based on Super Bowl rings:

1.Tom Brady - New England Patriots (3 rings)

2.Ben Roethlisberger – Pittsburgh Steelers (2 rings)

3.Eli Manning – New York Giants (2 rings)

4.Peyton Manning - Denver Broncos (1 ring with Indianapolis Colts)

5.Drew Brees – New Orleans Saints (1 ring)

6.Aaron Rodgers – Green Bay Packers (1 ring)

Let’s compare the top QBs in the NFL, with their upcoming 2013 salaries, based on the number of championships/Super Bowl rings and add Joe Flacco to the party:

NFL QB	No of Rings	Playoff Wins Vs. Loss	Playoff Wins to Loss Ratio	Salaries/Per Year (Millions)
Tom Brady	3	17-7	70.83%	$9,750,000
Ben Roethlisberger	2	10-4	71.42%	$11,600,000
Eli Manning	2	8-3	72.72%	$13,000,000
Peyton Manning	1	9-11	45.00%	$20,000,000
Drew Brees	1	5-4	55.55%	$9,750,000
Aaron Rodgers	1	6-3	66.66%	$9,250,000
Joe Flacco	1	9-4	69.23%	???

Ratio of playoff wins versus playoff losses calculation

Wins + Losses = Total Number of Playoff Games

Divide Wins / Total Number of Playoff Games = Total Playoff Win Percentage

DNS will use the Tom Brady Example from QB chart above

17 wins + 7 losses = 24 total playoff games

17 wins / 24 total playoff games = 0.7083 or 70.83% playoff winning percentage

(move the decimal point over 2 places to the right)

Based on the ratio of playoff wins versus playoff losses, Joe Flacco clearly deserves to be one of the highest paid QBs in the league.  There are only 32 teams in the NFL and only seven (7) of those teams have a Super Bowl winning QB.  Flacco's 2012 salary according to Celebrity Net Worth.com was $4.6 million per year.  Joe Flacco is a part of an elite bunch, which makes up only 21.87% of the league.

Regardless of what the fans and the media think or talk about, the numbers do not lie.  Flacco should be paid handsomely.