There are no easy decisions when making a "Mount Rushmore" for NFL teams.
The NFL has tackled the assignment this offseason and recently unveiled the Baltimore Ravens' Mt. Rushmore. Their top-four had a somewhat-controversial choice at quarterback.
The NFL chose Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, Jonathan Ogden, and Lamar Jackson.
Mount Rushmore: Baltimore @Ravens edition 😈 pic.twitter.com/JSnKpGK4Qs
— NFL (@NFL) July 7, 2024
Lewis, Reed, and Ogden are fairly obvious choices, but the Jackson vs. Joe Flacco debate is a real one. Flacco obviously didn't put up the regular-season statistics of Jackson and never sniffed a regular-season MVP (while Jackson has won it twice). But Flacco is the franchise's all-time leader in passing yards and touchdowns. Flacco also led the Ravens to a Super Bowl in the 2012 season. Flacco had a brilliant run in that postseason, throwing for 1,140 yards, 11 touchdowns, 0 interceptions, and a 117 passer rating during those four games. He took home Super Bowl MVP thanks to a 287-yard, 3-touchdown performance in the big game.
Jackson hasn't had that type of postseason performance — in fact,Jackson's postseason resumé is lacking, as critics point out — but he has been a better quarterback on paper and by the eye test. He supplanted Flacco as the starting QB in 2018 and his ascendance has helped make the Ravens Super Bowl contenders again.
Plenty of Ravens fans preferred to see Flacco make the Mt. Rushmore.
WHERE IS JOE FLACCO???
— Southern Charm Sports (@SouthernCharmSp) July 7, 2024
Lamar is undeniably more talented, but without a ring it has to be Flacco
Feel like you have to include Flacco he won them a ring and had a steady career for them
— Blitz Sports Media (@BlitzSM_) July 7, 2024
Play off joe Flacco needs a spot
— Crich♦️ (@Degen__inc) July 7, 2024
WHERE IS FLACCOOOOOOOOO
— Freddy Wagner (@freddywagnerr) July 7, 2024
Elite Joe Flacco would like a word.
— Brennan (@TheBrennanCo) July 7, 2024
It's Flacco over Lamar, until Lamar brings a Lombardi home to Baltimore. Sorry, not sorry. Once Lamar wins it all, the debate is over and then he takes Joe's spot.
— LettuceBCereal (@lettuce_b_c) July 7, 2024
Ravens fans have a reverence for Flacco and the Super Bowl he helped deliver that is hard to quantify.
A few other "snubs" include Terrell Suggs, Justin Tucker, and Marshal Yanda.
Ultimately, it's a great place to be in as a Ravens fan when there are enough all-time great players to make two Mt. Rushmores.
