Joe Flacco on $120-million contract: ‘I’m worth what I’m worth’

Joe Flacco became the highest-paid player in NFL history Monday, but not because he led the Baltimore Ravens to the Super Bowl XLVII championship or that he was that game’s most valuable player. Or that he threw 11 touchdown passes and had no passes intercepted in four playoff games during the postseason run.

Flacco told reporters he received his six-year, $120.6-million contract because ... well, just because he’s worth it.

“Listen, winning the Super Bowl, winning the Super Bowl MVP doesn’t make me as valuable as I am,” said Flacco, who avoided the franchise tag by signing Monday.

“I think I bring to the table what I bring to the table. I think I’m an asset to this team, and I’m worth what I’m worth. The fact that we won the Super Bowl just comes with that. If we didn’t win the Super Bowl this year, I still think I’m worth the same, and I still think I’m the same person to this organization. It may not be seen that way, but that’s the bottom line.”

Flacco turned down a contract offer for about $15 million a year going into the final year of his contract in 2012, saying at the time he felt he was the best quarterback in the NFL despite mediocre statistics. And now he’s saying the same sort of thing, even though he’s got the hardware and stats to show to justify the big bucks.

Maybe Flacco is just so used to defending himself to the media that he just can’t help himself now that he doesn’t have to anymore.

Whatever. The guy can say what he wants -- he’s the Super Bowl MVP. Just don’t tell him that’s the reason.

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