Ten days ago in Houston, the Ravens were fresh off a big win and the team's media relations staff had corralled Joe Flacco for the post-game news conference. But the rookie quarterback had to stand off to the side and wait his turn.
While coach John Harbaugh was answering questions, eight-year veteran Todd Heap came into the room. Kevin Byrne, the Ravens' public relations whiz, flashed a look that told Flacco that Heap would be cutting ahead and speaking with reporters first. "I know," Flacco said.
Then three-year veteran Haloti Ngata entered the room, and Byrne again turned to Flacco. "I know," Flacco said. "Him, too."
And so Flacco patiently bided his time, allowing everyone else to step in front of him, talk and then hit the showers. Rookies go last.
I dredge up this little anecdote because it's actually one of the few times in recent weeks that we saw an explicit reminder that Flacco is, in fact, a rookie. It's a credit to Flacco, but especially to the Ravens' coaching staff, that the quarterback is developing so quickly and efficiently. This is worth noting after Sunday's bruising loss to the Giants.
It was not one of Flacco's better performances, but it could prove to be one of his most important ones. The stats and the result tell us how bad it was. But I'm more curious about how bad it could have been and how Flacco handled the conditions and circumstances.
There he was on Sunday, with a swirling wind overhead, a raucous Jersey crowd screaming at him, a deficit shining bright on the scoreboard. And he looked completely unaffected. He was somehow running a no-huddle, as calm on the field as if he were at a midweek practice. Statistics are fine and all, but that's how you gauge the future. You drop a rookie into adversity and see not just how he performs, but also how he reacts.
With the score out of reach, the Ravens wisely didn't call on Flacco to air it out, to force the ball downfield and risk more interceptions. They're protecting him, nurturing Flacco from week to week. It's an important point to make, because before the season, all around town, the water-cooler talk focused on whether the Ravens were rushing Flacco along. It was the city's dire warning: "Remember what happened with Kyle Boller?" Boller was constantly referenced like some Manhattan Project gone awry.
Well, it has become apparent the Ravens probably aren't dealing with another Boller. The fact that Flacco left Giants Stadium with his psyche still intact is telling, because if there were ever a breaking point this season, it could have been Sunday.
