Exclusive; Joe Flacco Sends Message on Being Browns’ Backup Next Season
Joe Flacco would prefer to be the starter next season, but he doesn’t rule out the possibility of him becoming a backup, either with the Cleveland Browns or another team.
Flacco’s career was over before the Browns called him up in mid-November due to Deshaun Watson’s season-ending injury. Flacco sparked the Browns offense after being inserted into the starting lineup. Cleveland went 4-1 in the regular season opener, passing for 1,616 yards, 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Flacco’s performance helped the injury-ravaged Browns earn their third straight playoff berth since returning to the league in 1999.
Flacco’s feel-good story came to an abrupt halt in the postseason. He threw a pair of valuable sixes in a 45-14 win over the Houston Texans.
Despite a rough playoff performance, there should be an open free agent market for the 39-year-old Flacco. At this point in his career, Flacco wants to play as many games as possible. Still, he would be considered for a backup role somewhere, including in Cleveland, if that’s right. “One backup job can be different than another backup job,” Flacco said during a recent appearance on the Ultimate Cleveland sports show. “There’s a place where I feel comfortable taking on that role to some degree. But of course I want to play some games too. I feel like I can do it.”
Joe Flacco is reportedly considering a return to the Browns.
If Flacco does return to the Browns, it’s clear he’ll be stepping into a backup role. Watson is expected to be ready for training camp after shoulder surgery, and the Browns’ $230 million QB will be the clear starter.
Flacco discussed the idea of returning to Cleveland on the Forgive Me Podcast. “I’m ready to go back to Cleveland, but I don’t want to make any rash decisions,” Flacco said on Jan. 18. “I can’t say enough good things about how this organization is running right now.”
Bringing back Flacco could cause chemistry issues in the locker room. He has been more productive offensively than Watson, and having Flacco on the bench could put extra pressure on Watson. But the Browns said they gave “zero” consideration to the idea because they believed the two would work well together. Flacco echoed that sentiment.
“I’m going to go there and it’s not going to be a problem,” Flacco said on the Ultimate Sports Show in Cleveland. “I think I’ve shown that I can do it. I can be the one who helps “the man”. Helping the team, helping the dressing room, everything.”
The Browns are willing to invest in a backup QB like Joe Flacco.
Given Watson’s recent injury issues, keeping a proven veteran like Flacco should be a priority for Cleveland. Browns general manager Andrew Berry confirmed that backup quarterback will be a position the team is willing to invest in.
“If you look at our history over the last four seasons, I think we’ve always been at the top of the league in reserve spending and resources. “The first two years it was Case (Keenum), last year it was Jacoby (Brissett), and this year (Josh) Dobbs and Dorian (Thompson-Robinson) are going, too,” Berry said on 22. I think the quarterback reserve is actually top 30 on the list. We believe we have all three and will do so in the future.
As for Flacco, the Browns are open to a trade.
“We want Joe back. “He’s a good quarterback,” Berry said. “We’d like to get all our good players back, but there are limitations on both sides of the aisle, but we’ll have no problem with Joe coming back.”
Free agency opens in March and the Browns and Flacco can decide on their options then.
