OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- Cleveland Browns coach Hue Jackson made it clear on Wednesday where he thinks Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco ranks in the NFL.

"Joe has gone on and obviously become one of the elite quarterbacks in the league," Jackson said in a conference call with Baltimore reporters.

Jackson has played a big part in Flacco's development. He was Flacco's quarterbacks coach during his rookie season in 2008.

Whether he knew it or not, Jackson became the latest to chime in on the Flacco-elite saga as the Browns get ready to play in Baltimore on Sunday.

Last September, teammates bought 15 T-shirts that show Flacco's face with the word "ELITE" below it.

In January, a poll revealed that 41 percent of the United States population doesn't think Flacco is elite, which is up from 35 percent last year.

In May, a Massachusetts brewery placed the question "Is Joe Flacco elite?" on the bottom of 12,000 beer cans.

The ongoing debate focuses on the extreme nature of Flacco's play. During the Ravens' Super Bowl run in 2012, he put together a Joe Montana-like streak of throwing 11 touchdowns and no interceptions. Since that time, Flacco has gone 30-29 with a mediocre 82.4 passer rating.

"He won a Super Bowl," Jackson said. "He has status in the league."