The Facts: Following up on a previous item. ... Joe Linta, the agent for Flacco, confirmed on Wednesday that he and Ravens vice president of football administration Pat Moriarty, the team's salary cap specialist, will begin discussions about a contract extension at next week's NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis. They will start talking about the framework of a new deal but they aren't expected to exchange salary figures. But Linta does have something in mind. "If the game is about wins and losses, he has to be in the top five [QBs]," Linta said. "He is a player who has been extremely durable, never missed a game. And he's done something that no one has ever done. In his four years in the league, he has never missed a game and has more wins than any other quarterback."
Diehards Line:Indeed, Flacco's 44 regular-season wins are the most by any QB in his first four seasons in the NFL. He is the first quarterback to lead his team to the playoffs in each of his first four seasons. He has won five playoff games and played in two AFC championship games. ... Flacco completed 57.6 percent of his passes for 3,610 yards and 20 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 2011, his fourth season in the NFL. He has thrown for at least 3,600 yards and 20 touchdowns in each of his past three seasons. Flacco played well in the team's loss to the New England Patriots in the AFC championship game, completing 22 of his 36 attempts for 306 yards and a pair of touchdowns and one interception.