Sporting News

Agent: Tom Brady's new deal won't affect Joe Flacco talks

Joe Flacco's agent says the contract extension Tom Brady just signed with the Patriots will have "no impact" on the Flacco contract negotiations with the Baltimore Ravens.

"The bottom line is, whether Brady took a pay cut or took $27 million a year, it wouldn't have an impact on what we're doing," Joe Linta told USA Today. "We've determined a number that we think is fair with respect for the Ravens' cap situation."

Joe Flacco is set to be a free agent, but he and the Ravens are talking about a new contract. (AP Photo)

Flacco, a pending free agent, is looking to re-sign with a contract that puts him among the NFL's highest-paid players at his position.

Although Linta said talks with the Ravens were "going fine," there is a sense of urgency for both the Super Bowl XLVII MVP and the team. If they are unable to agree on terms of a long-term contract before March 4‹the deadline for applying the franchise tag‹Baltimore officials will need to make sure Flacco isn't going anywhere by tagging him. The free-agency period begins March 12.

Because Brady's new deal shakes up the average salaries of the top-five paid quarterbacks, the exclusive tag for Flacco‹meaning no other team would have a chance to acquire him in 2013‹would come with a $19.6 million tender. The Ravens could give him the more affordable non-exclusive tag at $14.6, but that would open the possibility of another team trading a pair of first-round draft picks and providing more financial compensation to get him.

Although Brady isn't receiving less total money in his deal, there's a thought that Flacco's deal would put the Ravens in a bind to keep other free agents such as outside linebacker Paul Kruger, safety Ed Reed and cornerback Cary Williams. Linta said that won't be the case.

"Joe absolutely wants to work with the Ravens to ensure that they're not impacted cap-wise," Linta told USA Today.

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