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Be The GM: Flacco Vs. Rivers

Authored by Andrew Perna - 24th August, 2009 - 1:41 pm

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On Saturday, Philip Rivers took on Nnamdi Asomugha. In today's matchup, Joe Flacco battles Keith Rivers.

Yes, for the first time in this year's contest we are featuring men named Rivers in back-to-back AFC tilts.

Would you rather start a franchise with a young quarterback that has ice in his veins, or a young, hard-hitting linebacker with a strong USC pedigree?

Why Flacco Is A Franchise Player

Solid is probably the best word is describe Flacco's play in Baltimore last season. If it wasn't for Matt Ryan's statistical success in Atlanta, Flacco would have gotten a lot more attention on the national stage.

He struggled in the AFC Championship Game against the Steelers, going 13-for-30 with 141 yards and three interceptions, but asking for much more from the rookie would have been a little excessive. He finished the season with an overall mark of 13-6 as a starter.

The Ravens are known for running the football, and despite Flacco's strong arm, that isn't likely to change anytime soon. They ranked fourth in rushing in 2008, and just 28th in passing. Unfortunately for Flacco, we may not see his ceiling as a quarterback for quite some time. That may not be a bad thing, though, as I could see him as a Roethlisberger-type, without as many bad decisions (on and off the field).

Why Rivers Is A Franchise Player

Rivers appeared in just seven games during his rookie season, and is often best remembered for something a linebacker doesn't often deal with. In case you forgot, Rivers lost more than half of 2008 after Hines Ward broke his jaw on a hit that is now outlawed.

He was having a great season prior to the injury, flying around the field for tackles and even forcing a fumble and grabbing an interception. He can play all over the field, which makes him a versatile option for the Bengals.

It will be very interesting to see what Cincinnati gets out of him over a full season, and I except the numbers to be impressive. They don't have a playmaker better than him on his side of the ball, which should allow him to pick and choose when and where he makes an impact.

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Andrew Perna is Deputy Editor of RealGM.com and co-host of RealGM's Radio Show. Please feel free to contact him with comments or questions via e-mail: Andrew.Perna@RealGM.com

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