His agent sparked the conversation about elite status again recently, but this much is undeniable: Joe Flacco is playing the best football of his pro career. With Flacco's contract expiring in March, how much money did he just make? And how much more does he stand to make with a defeat of New England? "Zero," said one AFC team's cap specialist, "and I'll tell you why: We're getting to the point where the Ravens are only going to 'franchise' him. All this does is ensure that they're going to put the franchise tag on him, which translates to no more money and doesn't change the equation of the deal." Now there's an answer I didn't expect. But the guy has a point. (CBS Sports) Comment

Three-time scoring champ Kevin Durant is off to a good start in his young career, but has a long way to go before getting past Wilt Chamberlain, Michael Jordan, Karl Malone and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Durant smiles and shakes his head at the mere thought. "I don't know if I would say I'll be the best scorer ever to play the game," Durant said, "but if I keep working, you never know." ... "I think he certainly has the talent," Abdul-Jabbar said. "It all depends on if he stays healthy and is the focus of the offense, because he can score from anywhere on the court." Abdul-Jabbar also noted Durant's overall progress each season. "He's not just in it to put up numbers," Abdul-Jabbar said. "He wants to win and understands what the game's about." (The Oklahoman) Comment

It's a brand new world for Johnny Heisman, and his school would like him to know it. Texas A&M athletic director Eric Hyman sat down with Johnny Manziel's parents recently and discussed the star quarterback's new title. "I told them he's no longer a freshman, and he's no longer a sophomore, junior or senior," Hyman said Sunday. "He is a 'Heisman.'" After the Kerrville Tivy-ex won the Heisman Trophy on Dec. 8, he became a target of the gossip website TMZ.com, which released pictures of Manziel partying at a Dallas bar. His parents were present, the site later reported, and no one saw the 20-year-old drink. The night before, Manziel had posted a picture (later removed) of himself on Twitter fanning cash in an Oklahoma casino. (San Antonio Express-News) Comment