With his rookie contract set to expire after the 2012 season, Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco has made it known he would like a new deal sooner rather than later.

Flacco expressed the same sentiment last offseason. But, according to sources close to him, the quarterback also knows that any real leverage in negotiations only will be gained during the playoffs after a season in which he failed to reach many of his 2010 marks.

Flacco, who will make $200,000 for every postseason victory, has won four road playoff games in his first three seasons — quite rare in NFL history — but he also has struggled in many of those games and been incubated by the Ravens’ running game and defense.

The likelihood of Flacco receiving a new contract rises if he makes strides during this postseason, and it could create more pressure on the organization to get a deal done. If he doesn’t perform well, it will be much more likely that he must play out the duration of his rookie deal.

The Ravens want to retain Pro Bowl running back Ray Rice and guard Ben Grubbs, whose deals are up after this season. One of them likely will end up with the franchise tag.

In the meantime, Flacco already has secured about $6.4 million for his 2012 contract. In addition to $1.36 million in base salary, he has made $4.4 million in escalators based on playing time, plus other bonuses.

Follow Jason La Canfora on Twitter @JasonLaCanfora.

The Atlanta Falcons are preparing information on several possible replacements for Mike Mularkey, who left his position as offensive coordinator to become the head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars on Wednesday.

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Included on that list are: former Jaguars offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter, former Baltimore Ravens head coach Brian Billick, Green Bay Packers quarterbacks coach Tom Clements and former New York Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer.

Koetter has prior experience working with Falcons head coach Mike Smith. Billick, a former coordinator with the Minnesota Vikings, has not filled that role in over a decade but is very close with Smith (they are related through marriage).

The Falcons expect to begin interviewing candidates within the next few days.

Former Jacksonville interim head coach Mel Tucker is among those being considered for the defensive coordinator position, sources said.