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Here's the thing about that "not a competitor" criticism. Flacco wasn't scared of competition at all; he wasn't even given a chance to compete at Pitt. He was Walt Harris' recruit and Weinny benched him in favor of Palko, who was already the starter. When he came to Delaware, Flacco wasn't handed the job, he had to compete to be a starter with other QBs on the roster; no one going into KC Keeler's program at Delaware is handed a starting job, it's a level, equal field to earn playing time and prove your worth. Besides, what's better? Going I-AA and becoming an All-American, or playing just your senior year and having no shot at the NFL? Ryan and Brohm didn't attend the Senior Bowl -- but Flacco did. Flacco -- like other transfers -- went to someplace where he could play, and Pitt didn't even release him from his scholarship! Whether you agree with a player leaving or whether you liked him as a player or person, nothing can be more stupid and appaling than not releasing someone from a scholarship, especially after you didn't let him compete. Rather than asking "why was Flacco afraid of competition?", maybe critics should ask, "Is Weinny a poor evaluator of talent?"
Honestly, I think the "small-school, lower level of competition" talk is because there's few other things they can complain about Flacco: he's a solid student, no off-field issues, no character issues, rocket arm, led Delaware to a national championship, put up ridiculous numbers, was co-conference player of the year, was dead-on accurate, has better foot work than people think and is very coachable.
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