Mason's Mailbag: Shelby Harris fits well up front

[Miles]

The question of how soon Drew Lock could see play time has been asked quite a bit, but how long could Joe Flacco hold off the rookie with great play? A wild-card spot this year, a playoff win next, etc.; could he play so well that Lock would sit his rookie contract?


-- Stephen Phelps


If Flacco plays well and the team succeeds, he could certainly play out the three years left on his contract -- and perhaps earn another deal beyond that. Should the Broncos get back to regular postseason contention and Flacco return to his 2010-14 form, you could see him enduring as the quarterback through 2021 and perhaps beyond.


That said, if Lock matures and grows into a quarterback who shows indications that he can be a long-term answer, it would be no surprise if the Broncos turn to him. Flacco's contract is effectively year-to-year, since it has no guarantees remaining. In the best-case scenario, it's similar to Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers; Favre was still playing at a high level in 2007, Rodgers' third year as a backup. But Rodgers' progress was undeniable and the Packers had to provide him the opportunity to start, a chance that he has maximized since 2008.


What's the reason for not putting names on jerseys during training camp?


-- David Stilson


Well, there's the cost and labor involved with that; that is an extra step for the equipment department, which is already busy. But one reason I like not having names on the jerseys is that it reduces latent bias.


If you affix the name plates, the brain might recall something that player did at a previous stop, either in college or the NFL. You take the name off, and the player is just a number. It's a small thing and it works in the subconscious, but I feel that it makes for a more candid evaluation that is focused on what the player does now, not the lines on his resume from previous stops.


This is a reason why coaches sometimes refer to players on other teams by their jersey number rather than their name. If you say, "Khalil Mack," you start thinking of five sacks in one 2015 game against the Broncos and his Defensive-Player-of-the-Year season in 2016. If you say, "52," you bring him down to the level of other players.


I also like the notion that the player must earn the name on the back of the jersey; if it were up to me, there wouldn’t be names on jerseys until the regular season.