The Denver Broncos have traded for Joe Flacco and I am forced to ask the question "Who the hell cares?" Flacco has been mediocre and largely disinterested for the past several seasons, and Lamar Jackson had clearly surpassed him on the Ravens' depth chart this year. The "IS JOE FLACCO ELITE?" conversations had long since turned to punchlines. Statistically, he was almost identical to Case Keenum, the guy he's being brought in to replace. The best the Ravens could get for him was reportedly a 4th round pick, which is quite the haul when you consider Flacco's age, results, and ginormous contract.
And yet the hot takes flowed on what this meant because it is NFL quarterback news and nothing is more important in sports than NFL quarterback news. Even if that quarterback is terrible or worse, mediocre, as long as there is some name recognition there we must discuss it, because of course we must.
Fine then. Here's my hot take. Denver's offensive line is terrible and Flacco's salary is going to make it hard for them to do anything about it. Ergo, Flacco won't do any better than Keenum did, and considering where he is on the career curve, may well do worse.
The only real point of interest here is the question of how many QB blunders will John Elway be allowed to make and still keep his job as GM? Keenum joins a long line of discarded Abs who couldn't get it done, though he's more expensive than most. Sooner or later, that's going to come home to roost, and Elway's going to have to answer for it.
Unless, of course, Joe Flacco really is elite. But I wouldn't bet on it.
2 comments:
Keenum threw 15 picks last year and! fumbled 11 times, and even with a suspect o-line the Broncos ended up with a Pro Bowl RB averaging well north of 5 yards a carry, with a ball-hawking defense (17 picks, 11 fumble recoveries) that stiffened up against the run in the red zone (allowed only 11 rushing TD).
Flacco just has to not turn the ball over, occasionally stretch the field (which he still can do, I think) and he'll do OK. He is coming off a pretty good 1.6% Int% season (Keenum threw a pick 2.6% of the time) with only 3 fumbles.
Basically, Joe, don't be Rex Grossman and Broncos fans should be cautiously optimistic about competing for a Wild Card spot. Honestly.
Ah, but can he not be Rex Grossman. For if you stare too deeply into the former SEC quarterbacking pool, it stares also into you.
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