NFL coaches, whose teams are in the playoffs, are going to be biased when talking about their quarterbacks.
That's understandable if you're New England Coach Bill Belichick and your quarterback is Tom Brady, who has won three Super Bowls and won two MVP awards. Denver Coach John Fox can brag on Peyton Manning, who has won a Super Bowl and has won five MVPs. Green Bay Coach Mike McCarthy has Aaron Rodgers, who has won a Super Bowl and won an MVP.
Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco has won a Super Bowl and was named the game's MVP. He's taken the Ravens to the playoffs six times in seven years and has won at least one playoff game each year. Yet, Flacco is not held in the same regard as Brady, Manning, Rogers and even Drew Brees of New Orleans when it comes to being regarded as an elite quarterback.
And with good reason.
Flacco has never thrown for 4,000 yards in a season and never been voted to a Pro Bowl. His 84.8 career passer rating is well below that of Manning (97.5), Brady (95.9); and Rodger' (106.0). His 60.5 career completion percentage also lags behind Manning (66.2), Rodgers (65.8) and Brady (63.5).
But Ravens Coach John Harbaugh, dismissing the statistics, called Flacco "the best quarterback in football" after the Ravens defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 30-17 Saturday night in the AFC Wild Card game.
"Joe Flacco, what can you say," Harbaugh said. "I think he had a perfect quarterback rating there in the third quarter. That's playoff football. That's Joe Flacco. He's the best quarterback in football. We'll take him any day of the week, twice on Sunday or Saturday if that be the case.
Flacco is not always pretty, but he is 10-4 in postseason with 22 touchdowns and 8 interceptions. His has completed 55 percent of his passes in playoff games, but he's only thrown two interceptions in his past nine playoff games.
If being mistake free translates to winning, then it's hard to argue with Harbaugh.
Paid, but not playing
Carolina panthers defensive end Greg Hardy was placed on the commissioner's exempt list in September as he awaits a jury trial after being found guilty by a district court judge on domestic violence charges, but while Hardy is sidelined, he continues to get paid.
He earned $11.57 million while sitting out the last 15 weeks of the season and after Carolina defeated Arizona 27-16 in the NFC Wild Card game Saturday, he earned $48,000 which is the playoff share each player receives. And because he is on the exempt list, he is entitled to a full share.
And if the Panthers' keep winning, he'll keep making more money. He would earn another $44,000 if the Panthers win the divisional round game and could earn another $97,000 if they win the Super Bowl.
Paying tribute
Several of the world's most noted athletes took to Twitter to offer their condolences after hearing of the death of ESPN anchor Stuart Scott Sunday morning,
• Former Buffalo Bills running back Thurman Thomas. "When some men leave earth, they leave their mark on everyone. #Stuart Scott you left such a positive mark in this world."
• Golfer Tiger Woods: "Stuart wasn't covering heroes and champions, it was the other way around. Thinking of my friend and daughters."
• Former Los Angeles Laker Magic Johnson: "Stuart's flair and finesse brought flavor and coolness to ESPN, and he opened the door for many minorities to follow in his footsteps."
• Former Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Cris Carter: "RIP Stuart Scott you will be missed. There will never be another."
Sports quiz
Where did Joe Flacco play college football?
Answer: Pittsburgh and Delaware
Sports on 01/05/2015