Posted by ESPN.com's James Walker
Contract negotiations are under way between the Baltimore Ravens and rookie first-round pick Joe Flacco, agent Joe Linta told ESPN.com on Tuesday.
Linta arrived in Baltimore Sunday night and spent Monday with the team setting up parameters of what is expected to be a five-year deal. The intent from both sides is to ensure Flacco arrives in training camp on time this summer, so he could compete with quarterbacks Kyle Boller and Troy Smith for the Ravens' starting job.
"They want him in and he wants to be in,'' Linta said. "So the sooner that you start talking, the better chance you have of finishing before the deadline.''
Traditionally, quarterbacks are among the toughest positions to sign following the draft. Last year's top two signal callers--Oakland Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell and Cleveland Browns' Brady Quinn--were both involved in lengthy disputes that hurt their standings with the team.
Quinn skipped most of training camp and missed an opportunity to win the starting job in Cleveland, which eventually went to quarterback Derek Anderson, while Russell's negotiations stretched into the regular season.
Linta and the Ravens appear determined not to let either scenario take place with Flacco, who was the No. 18 overall pick and second quarterback taken this year behind Matt Ryan of the Atlanta Falcons.
Flacco had a solid debut with the Ravens during last weekend's full-squad minicamp. During his senior year in college, he threw for 4,263 yards, 23 touchdowns and five interceptions for the University of Delaware.
