If Flacco era is over, don’t forget legacy

Days could be numbered for top QB in team history

If we’re nearing the end of the Joe Flacco era in Baltimore — or we already got there when he was replaced as starting quarterback in mid-November — it’s only fair to give the man his due.

He is, obviously, the greatest quarterback in Ravens history, which is why the past several weeks have been a bit awkward for both him and the team. The only thing he did to lose his job was get hurt during the Week 9 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Well, that’s not entirely true. The Ravens were 4-5 and in the midst of a three-game losing streak that undermined a solid start by their one-time Super Bowl MVP quarterback. Flacco, and everybody else on the team, certainly could have done more to stay above .500 heading into their Week 10 bye, but he was on pace to throw for the most yards in any of his 11 NFL seasons.

Even with so-so performances against the Carolina Panthers and Steelers in his last two games, he had 2,465 passing yards, 12 touchdowns and just six interceptions. His quarterback rating (84.2) was slightly above his career average, and we all know that career included six playoff appearances, three AFC championship games and a Super Bowl XLVII title in his first seven seasons.

The only way he was going to be replaced as the No. 1 quarterback once he was cleared to play after that hip injury was if something so otherworldly happened that intensely loyal head coach See SCHMUCK, page 4