Joe Flacco's playful tug of war with Baltimore's coaching staff wages on, with the quarterback lobbying reporters this week to urge coordinator Cam Cameron to spice up the offense.
Flacco's thinking goes like this: After the Ravens were bashed by reporters earlier this year for throwing the ball all over the place -- to shaky results -- a more conservative approach was adopted in spots down the stretch. For example, gingerly nursing a second-half lead in Saturday's 20-14 victory over the Browns.
If the media had any sway earlier this season, Flacco hopes they'll turn on the charm one more time.
"There (have) been games this year where we've come out throwing the ball because we've been down a lot, and you guys have all complained about it," Flacco told The Baltimore Sun. "And now this week (against the Browns), we came out and we honestly played conservative, and when we didn't, we missed a couple of plays.
"I wish you guys would help me out a little bit and start complaining that we played a little bit too conservative and put pressure on our coaches not to do that."
Cameron took Flacco's hints in jest, telling reporters, via ProFootballTalk.com: "Number one, I'm not going to listen to anything you guys say. But, no, we'll listen to what Joe has to say. I almost thought of telling Joe, 'Those words are hurtful. You're not coming to the pancake social.' "
As The Sun points out, unleashing Flacco promises mixed results. He's tied for fourth in the NFL with 11 fumbles this season (to go with his 12 interceptions), making a heavy dose of Ray Rice the safe choice in Baltimore's season finale in Cincinnati.