Joe Flacco of the Cleveland Browns has attracted criticism and generated headlines within the first few months of his present stint with the group for making it recognized on a number of events that he cares extra about successful the beginning quarterback job than about mentoring 2022 first-round draft choice Kenny Pickett, 2025 third-round choose Dillon Gabriel and 2025 fifth-rounder Shedeur Sanders.
Throughout a latest chat with NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports activities Illustrated, Flacco expanded on his mindset amid the league’s most unusual quarterback competitors.
“I wish to play soccer,” Flacco mentioned instantly. “But additionally, I wish to be a extremely good teammate, I actually do. I take pleasure in being in that locker room, and simply being across the guys. I believe that’s all part of it. I’ve talked about the way it’s not essentially my job, however on the similar time, I’m additionally not gonna draw back from doing these issues. I’m not frightened about instructing guys and having that come again and chunk me. Yeah, you bought questions and also you need solutions, ‘Yeah, come ask me, man.'”
Flacco went 4-1 as a starter to information the 2023 Browns to a playoff berth, however he extra just lately played poorly in a pair of November begins after the Indianapolis Colts benched 2023 first-round draft choose Anthony Richardson. Whereas the Browns acquired Pickett from the Philadelphia Eagles earlier than Cleveland re-signed Flacco earlier this offseason, FanDuel Sportsbook has constantly listed the one-time Tremendous Bowl Most Invaluable Participant because the betting favourite (+116 odds) to finally be named the Browns’ 2025 Week 1 QB1.
As a lot as folks within the Browns insist the membership isn’t punting on the upcoming season with the 2026 draft class in thoughts, the tough reality of the matter is that Flacco is a 40-year-old on a roster that’s expected to lose greater than it wins via Week 18. However, Flacco sounds assured he may have at the least yet one more magical run within the tank.
“There’s so much that’s out of your management at a sure level, however my mindset is, ‘Dude, I’m gonna win this job, go on the market and have an superior season.’ And go do it many times,” Flacco added throughout his feedback. “My mindset continues to be that. I’m trying ahead to going on the market and proving to myself and my household that I nonetheless obtained it, and I’m gonna do that for a pair extra years.”
It’s unclear if Flacco would ask to be traded or launched if he ended coaching camp as a backup with Cleveland. For now, he’ll hope to offer Pickett, Gabriel and Sanders some tips about find out how to be a starter on the highest stage by enjoying nicely in significant video games this coming fall.
