AFC North Notes: Joe Flacco, Ravens, Steelers

Joe Flacco

Ravens QB Joe Flacco says the decision was made that weeks ago that the team was moving forward with Lamar Jackson as their quarterback.

“We made the decision what was going to happen here weeks ago,” Flacco said, via the Baltimore Sun. “I just really wanted to see the guys turn it up a little bit and make a play of it, which they did.”

Flacco mentioned that he loved the 11 years in spent in Baltimore but he believed he can start elsewhere.

“I love the people of Baltimore,” Flacco said. “It’s been 11 years, and you come in and you feel one way and you don’t know what to expect, but the people warm up to you, you warm up to the people, and to be honest with you, I can’t imagine a better 11 years with this place becoming my home, my children’s home and just how many different life changes I went through and how much we won here. I’m not from too far up the road, and the people here are a lot like the people I grew up with. Definitely a group of fans and a community that I love to be around.”

Robert

Ravens QB Robert Griffin III mentioned that he would “love to be back” as Lamar Jackson’s backup next year.

“I’d love to be back. I feel like I have a good grasp of what this team is trying to do,” Griffin said, via Pro Football Talk. “I’d love to help Lamar continue to develop and also be available and ready to play. The question is, Is that going to happen? I don’t know. Are there going to be other opportunities for me around the league? I don’t know. We’ll see what happens but I’d love to be back.”

• Ravens WR John Brown, who will be an unrestricted free agent, said he’d love to be back with Ravens. Brown acknowledged it won’t be all about money for him, but added that he likely won’t be accepting another one-year deal this offseason. (Jeff Zrebiec)

Steelers

Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger said he’s hoping the team signs C Maurkice Pouncey to an extension this offseason, given how important he is to their offense.

“He’s a guy my career hinges on because he means that much to me,” Roethlisberger said, via the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “As long as he’s around, I’ll be around.

“They can come to me tomorrow and say we want to get your deal done. I’ll say, ‘Get Pouncey done first.’ That’s only because I want to make sure he’ll be here.”

Roethlisberger also wants to the Steelers to re-sign impending free agent G Ramon Foster.

“I told Ramon I’m going to do everything I can to get him back,” Roethlisberger said. “He’s a mainstay. I don’t think he missed a snap all season. He’s smart. He’s a leader on this team. He and Pouncey are thick as thieves. I would fight for any of those guys.”

• Ian Whetstone reports that the Steelers raised the practice squad salary of LB Keion Adams for the last week of the season from the standard $7,600 to the 53-man roster minimum of $28,235.
• Whetstone mentions that this could be an indication that a team tried to sign him to their active roster.