Baltimore Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome said he's "optimistic" that the team will get a long-term deal done with quarterback Joe Flacco. The Super Bowl MVP is not under contract for next season. Newsome said the sides were "very close" to a deal before the season began, but it was a mutual agreement to stop negotiations until the end of the season. I'm coming away today thinking that we can get a deal done," Newsome said at the "State of the Ravens" season-ending news conference. "We've got deals done with Haloti [Ngata], JO [Jonathan Ogden], Ray [Lewis], Ray Rice, Ed Reed, [Terrell] Suggs. I've got a very good owner who understands the business and understands the importance of certain positions. So I'm optimistic." If the Ravens can't get a deal completed before the start of free agency, the team will put the franchise tag on Flacco. The exclusive tag, which would take Flacco off the free-agent market, would take $20 million of cap space this season. "We're looking to get a fair deal done with Joe," Newsome said. "If we're able to get a deal done, it will allow us to be able to participate more in the market if we so choose. But we understand what the priority is." Read more http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/8...ptimistic-baltimore-ravens-re-sign-joe-flacco
