QB Joe Flacco calls cold-weather Super Bowl "retarded"

Quarterback Joe Flacco #5 of the Baltimore Ravens walks across the field after losing to the Denver Broncos at M&T Bank Stadium on December 16, 2012, in Baltimore, Maryland. / Getty Images

Joe Flacco, the Baltimore Ravens quarterback about to play in his first Super Bowl, has been described by many, even his own father, as less than outspoken.

"As dull as he is portrayed in the media, he's that dull. He is dull," Steve Flacco said in a telephone interview with the New York Times.

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Joe Flacco

It seems, however, that the prospect of playing a Super Bowl outside of its traditional warm-weather bounds gets him excited.

When asked by Denver Post columnist Mike Klis what he thought about next year's New Jersey-bound Super Bowl, Flacco said: "Yeah, I think it's retarded."

The use of the word "r-word" has raised many objections among groups advocating for the mentally handicapped, who call it derogatory. Flacco, perhaps realizing what may become an epic flub produced under the hot glare of media attention during the week before the Super Bowl, attempted to backtrack a little and clarify his statement.

"I probably shouldn't say that," Flacco said. "I think it's stupid. If you want a Super Bowl, put a retractable dome on your stadium. Then you can get one. Other than that I don't really like the idea. I don't think people would react very well to it, or be glad to play anybody in that kind of weather."

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When conservative provocateur Ann Coulter used the R-word last summer to refer to President Obama, Special Olympics athlete and advocate John Franklin Stephens penned a now widely-cited response discussing the term's derogatory nature.

"I realized you just wanted to belittle the President by linking him to people like me," Stephens wrote. "Well, Ms. Coulter, you, and society, need to learn that being compared to people like me should be considered a badge of honor. No one overcomes more than we do and still loves life so much."

[posavea]

Of all the adjectives in the Webster dictionary, he came up with the "R" word to describe the weather!?!? Was there a lack of a better word?!?!

[zinnia2]

great article on topic http://cincinnati.com/blogs/daugherty/2013/01/21/the-morning-line-121-4/

[Henri_Rochard]

Since we're not supposed to use the so-call 'R-word' to describe people, then that frees is up so that we can call a cold weather Super Bowl retarded.

[davcor2]

I've only been to one Super Bowl and that was the Dolphins and Redskins in the Rose Bowl in California. The temps were excellent for football right around mid 60's. With the exception of San Diego, I don't believe we've had another Superbowl in an outdoor location that was better suited.

[zibulki]

Maybe he shouldn't play football if he's afraid of being outside...sheesh.
The fans who will be watching sure won't mind the cold next year.