Seth Udinski, FISM News

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Another high profile NFL quarterback transaction unfolded yesterday as the Philadelphia Eagles signed veteran quarterback Joe Flacco to a one-year deal.  Flacco joins the team as a probable backup to youngster Jalen Hurts, who won the starting job as a rookie over Carson Wentz at the end of the 2020 season.

Flacco grew up on the opposite side of the Delaware River from Philadelphia, in western New Jersey, and rooted for the Eagles as a boy.  He set numerous school records at the nearby University of Delaware and was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in 2008.

Flacco had a very successful career in Baltimore.  He spent 11 seasons there and led the Ravens to a victory in Super Bowl XLVII after a brilliant playoff run, a run in which he outdueled two future-Hall-of-Fame quarterbacks, Peyton Manning and Tom Brady.  His performance in the Super Bowl against the San Francisco 49ers led his team to a championship and earned him a Super Bowl MVP Award.

Despite his success, the Ravens benched their franchise quarterback in 2018 for rookie Lamar Jackson, which led to Flacco’s exit at the end of the season.  After two unsuccessful seasons in Denver and New York, he joins his hometown Eagles in the midst of a rebuild.  In addition to Carson Wentz, the Eagles have also parted ways with Super Bowl winning head coach Doug Pederson and signed rookie head coach Nick Sirianni.  Flacco has the opportunity to mentor a talented, but largely unproven, Jalen Hurts.  As a hometown boy with a successful resume, he will likely be adored by one of the most intense fanbases in the NFL, even if he sees little playing time.

The Eagles enter the 2021 season as an unlikely playoff contender.  If they can string together some victories, however, they certainly have a chance to win the weak NFC East.