The Baltimore Sun reported talks went fine between Flacco’s agent, Joe Litna, and Ravens vice president of football administration Pat Moriarty. Talks are expected to continue as both sides try to hammer out a deal before the March 4 deadline that teams have to use their franchise tag. If no deal is reached, Flacco is expected to be tagged.

Earlier this month, Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome said he is optimistic that the team will get a long-term deal done with the quarterback. Flacco is not under contract for the coming season. The franchise tag, which would take the 28-year-old Flacco off the free-agent market, would take $20 million of cap space this season.

Newsome said Feb. 7 that the sides were close to a deal before the season began, but it was a mutual agreement to stop negotiations until the end of the season.

Flacco, who made less than $7 million last season, is expected to become one of the NFL’s highest-paid quarterbacks. Drew Brees, at an average of $20 million per season, and Peyton Manning, who made $18 million last season, currently top the pay scale for quarterbacks.

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The NFLPA president added he wouldn’t be able to persuade players to have faith in the league even if he wanted to.

Speaking on a conference call Tuesday, days before union representatives meet with NFL officials at the scouting combine in Indianapolis, Foxworth returned to a theme he stressed at the NFLPA’s pre-Super Bowl news conference.

“It’s pretty obvious that there’s a gap in what would be a reasonable amount of trust …” Foxworth said. “There’ve been a number of events to lead players to believe they cannot trust the league.

“There was a bridge beginning to be built and then there were some recent events that kind of broke that bridge again.”

Foxworth said the players are seeking checks and balances such as a neutral arbitrator to improve relations between the union and league. He cited the bounties and how former commissioner Paul Tagliabue was not “unbiased.”

Yet Tagliabue made the final decision that tossed out the suspensions of four players.

“When things like that happen,” the former defensive back said of Tagliabue’s appointment by Goodell, “it’s hard for our players to believe that the league has their best interests in mind. And that makes it harder for me to do my job, and for the PA to do our jobs and for the league to do their jobs. Because we really need to agree upon things, moving forward.”

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello insisted that the union has not looked ahead since a new collective bargaining agreement with the league was reached a year and a half ago.

“Since 2011 the union has spent most of its time backing away from its commitments,” Aiello said in an email to The Associated Press. “Whether on old litigation, HGH, or commissioner discipline, the NFLPA has consistently looked backwards.

“Trust is a two-way street. If the union wants to work together to build a better, safer and even more popular game, we extend our hand in partnership and respect. If the union wants to stir up old grievances and create mistrust, we will simply have to do the best we can to serve the interests on the fans, players and the game.”

Key issues Foxworth and other union officials will discuss with the NFL’s competition committee in Indianapolis involve player safety, including the league’s plan to make hip and thigh pads mandatory next season.

Many players have spoken out against such a requirement, saying using the pads should be optional. The NFL believes the pads will substantially reduce injuries or wear and tear on players.

Union spokesman George Atallah also mentioned a gap in trust when asked if the players have confidence in team medical staffs. Atallah said the union has weekly and even daily conversations with the league about team doctors and whether their allegiance is to the players or the clubs.

NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith said last week he is concerned about David Chao remaining as the San Diego Chargers’ team doctor. According to online records, the Medical Board of California is seeking to revoke Chao’s license and has referred the case to the state attorney general for possible charges.

Foxworth generally didn’t sound optimistic about quickly improving relations between the union and league, again citing the lack of trust.

“And if everything that we bring back to our players — every proposal that the league makes to us, we bring back to our players — and if they receive it from a negative place because they don’t trust anybody on Park Avenue,” he said, “then it’s really hard to get anything done.”

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In other expected moves, the Jets also cut linebacker Calvin Pace, safety Eric Smith and tackle Jason Smith. Just like that, the Jets created $30.7 million in cap relief. It puts them about $5.7 million under the cap.

This starts what figures to be a tumultuous offseason under new general manager John Idzik, although his predecessor, Mike Tannenbaum, was planning to make the same four cuts.

This won’t impact Darrelle Revis’ situation. The Jets had to make these moves simply to get under the cap by the start of the league year, March 12. They also waived injured tight end Josh Baker.

“Every one of these players was a major contributor to our football team,” coach Rex Ryan said Tuesday. “I was very impressed with Jason this past season while Bart, Calvin and Eric have been an instrumental part of our defense for the past four years.”

Scott wasn’t included in the Jets’ initial announcement of cuts, fueling speculation he could remain on the team at a reduced salary. His agent, Harold Lewis, said he expected to meet with team officials later this week at the scouting combine in Indianapolis to discuss Scott’s future.

The Jets apparently couldn’t wait, announcing an hour later that Scott — best known for his “Can’t Wait!” rant on ESPN after the Jets upset the Patriots in the 2010 divisional playoffs — also was a goner.

“The door is not closed with the Jets, and this allows us to really work the market as a free agent while in Indy,” Lewis said later in an e-mail to ESPNNewYork.com.

Scott was due to count $8.7 million against the cap. By cutting him, the Jets will get hit with $1.5 million in “dead” money, meaning there will be a savings of $7.2 million. He likely will be replaced by second-year linebacker Demario Davis, who became Scott’s heir apparent last year when he was drafted in the third round.

Scott was the first big acquisition of the Ryan administration, following Ryan to New York from the Baltimore Ravens.

The Jets enticed him with a six-year, $48 million contract in 2009, making him the centerpiece of the defense. Ryan and two assistant coaches took a celebrated recruiting trip to Scott’s Maryland home, showing up at midnight at the start of free agency.

Scott brought toughness and swagger to the unit, which vaulted to No. 1 in the league rankings in 2009. In four seasons with the Jets, Scott recorded 8.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and only one interception.

He became a malcontent in 2011, though, complaining about his diminished playing time, and also had several clashes with the media, once incurring a $10,000 fine for making an obscene gesture toward a news photographer.

Scott hoped for a bounce-back year, but he suffered a turf-toe injury in Week 3. He tried to play through the pain, but eventually missed a game, ending his streak of 119 consecutive games played.

Scott, Pace and Eric Smith could draw interest from the Buffalo Bills, where they’d be reunited with former Jets defensive coordinator Mike Pettine.

Pace was an every-down linebacker, but his cap charge was prohibitive — he was due to count $11.6 million. By cutting him, the Jets will get hit with $3.0 million in dead money, meaning there will be a savings of $8.6 million.

The Jets snagged Pace with a six-year, $42 million contract during free agency in 2008, one of many key additions in a blockbuster offseason. Of all the big-name acquisitions — Alan Faneca, Kris Jenkins, Damien Woody and, later, Brett Favre — Pace lasted the longest.

Pace didn’t become the pass rusher the Jets envisioned, never eclipsing eight sacks in a season. In 2012, he played in 94 percent of the defensive snaps, recording only three sacks and 42 solo tackles.

In five seasons with the Jets, Pace recorded 28 sacks and 11 forced fumbles. The Jets don’t have an obvious replacement for him, but they could draft an outside linebacker with the ninth overall pick.

Jason Smith’s release was a no-brainer considering his $12 million cap figure, which included an $11.25 million roster bonus. The Jets inherited the contract last August from the St. Louis Rams, who previously had restructured the contract to include the prohibitive bonus  virtually ensuring free agency in 2013.

The entire $12 million charge is wiped off the Jets’ cap, an enormous savings that will allow them to do business on the open market.

Smith was acquired last August in a trade with the Rams, a straight-up swap for Wayne Hunter, another right tackle who fell out of favor. Smith, the No. 2 overall pick in 2009, was used exclusively as a backup. He played in 24 percent of the offensive snaps as an extra blocker in the “jumbo” package.

Eric Smith was a valuable backup who contributed heavily on special teams. He was a situational played last season on defense, but he has started 36 games in his career. He was due to make $3 million in the final year of his contract, all of which is cleaned off the cap.

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