After hearing Joe Flacco’s postgame press conference, I came to a dramatic conclusion; he needs to grow up! Not in a football sense, but in the sense that he feels singled-out and persecuted. Here’s a giant news flash Joe, the media singles out every player in a pressure situations. Flacco snapped at reporters telling them that he’s played as well as he played against the Pats every game of the season. That’s just not true. He did have a solid season (not in the fantasy football sense). Sure, Flacco has played extremely well for a young quarterback, but if he’s so bothered by the media’s criticism, perhaps he should get into another industry. Maybe cattle ranching, he’s already got the mustache for it.
What Delaware may have forgot to teach Joe is that defending his play vehemently only adds fuel to the fire. Who doesn’t love arguing with somebody who’s stubbornly aggressive in arguing his or her point? He’s like the 6th grader who is accused of farting in class and claims that he’d “tell you if it was him.” Whether or not he did it is irrelevant, his passionate defense alone makes him appear guilty. I’m sure plenty of Skip Bayless/Merril Hoge followers out there will defend Flacco to death, citing his playoff appearances and consistent statistics since he entered the league. I don’t have a problem with that. His play has been solid and he was borderline great against the Patriots. If Lee Evans holds on to the ball, Flacco is taking shots with Dennis Pita in a handlebar-friendly pub in Indianapolis next week. But that’s the problem.
If you’re an NFL quarterback, in a playoff position, you must handle your losses with the same grace as your victories. Alex Smith didn’t jump reporters and get defensive about his critics. Drew Brees didn’t call out his haters a week ago. If you’re so angry Joe, why not call out Ed Reed? His comments were as inflammatory as any. Flacco called out his skeptics earlier in the year, and sounded equally as ridiculous. This inferiority complex isn’t going to work in the biggest league in sports, no matter how professional your play is. Flacco knew what he was getting into when he signed his contract, and his attitude needs to lose its edge before his anger turns into frustration and manifests itself in his play.