Joe Flacco, the quarterback for the Browns, receives bad news about his future.
The free-agent market might not favor Joe Flacco in the upcoming offseason, potentially benefiting the Cleveland Browns.
Flacco, aged 39, is set to explore free agency in hopes of securing a starting role elsewhere. However, an anonymous general manager, as revealed by Terry Pluto of cleveland.com, is skeptical about Flacco’s market appeal, citing concerns about his turnovers as a significant drawback.
According to Pluto’s podcast on February 6, the general manager anticipates a limited market for Flacco despite impressive statistics, emphasizing that turnovers are viewed negatively in modern football. Flacco, while providing a boost to the Browns’ offense with a 4-1 record in his regular-season starts and passing for 1,616 yards and 13 touchdowns, faced criticism for his eight interceptions in five regular-season appearances and two more in a wild-card game against the Houston Texans, both resulting in touchdowns.
The lack of interest in Flacco wouldn’t be surprising, considering he was inactive until mid-November when the Browns sought his services for the 2023 season. Nonetheless, he demonstrated remaining skills, though it may not be sufficient to secure a starting position.
The Browns, under general manager Andrew Berry, had previously invested significantly in backup quarterbacks like Case Keenum and Jacoby Brissett. However, their approach changed last year, shipping out Joshua Dobbs before the season and designating rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson as the backup. Unfortunately, the Browns faced quarterback challenges with Deshaun Watson playing only six games due to shoulder injuries, leading to the utilization of five different quarterbacks.
Referring to Watson’s limited appearances, Pluto highlighted the Browns’ mistake in assuming Watson’s durability based on past performance. This led to the decision to go with Thompson-Robinson and acquire PJ Walker.
Flacco, expressing a desire for a starting opportunity in free agency, remains open to a return to the Browns if such an opportunity doesn’t materialize. He acknowledges the possibility of backing up Watson, who is expected to be ready for training camp. The Browns are confident that bringing Flacco back wouldn’t cause internal issues, with Berry dismissing concerns about potential “polarity.” Berry emphasized the team’s value for the backup quarterback position, considering it a top-30 priority on the roster.
The free-agent market might not favor Joe Flacco in the upcoming offseason, potentially benefiting the Cleveland Browns.
Flacco, aged 39, is set to explore free agency in hopes of securing a starting role elsewhere. However, an anonymous general manager, as revealed by Terry Pluto of cleveland.com, is skeptical about Flacco’s market appeal, citing concerns about his turnovers as a significant drawback.
According to Pluto’s podcast on February 6, the general manager anticipates a limited market for Flacco despite impressive statistics, emphasizing that turnovers are viewed negatively in modern football. Flacco, while providing a boost to the Browns’ offense with a 4-1 record in his regular-season starts and passing for 1,616 yards and 13 touchdowns, faced criticism for his eight interceptions in five regular-season appearances and two more in a wild-card game against the Houston Texans, both resulting in touchdowns.
The lack of interest in Flacco wouldn’t be surprising, considering he was inactive until mid-November when the Browns sought his services for the 2023 season. Nonetheless, he demonstrated remaining skills, though it may not be sufficient to secure a starting position.
The Browns, under general manager Andrew Berry, had previously invested significantly in backup quarterbacks like Case Keenum and Jacoby Brissett. However, their approach changed last year, shipping out Joshua Dobbs before the season and designating rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson as the backup. Unfortunately, the Browns faced quarterback challenges with Deshaun Watson playing only six games due to shoulder injuries, leading to the utilization of five different quarterbacks.
Referring to Watson’s limited appearances, Pluto highlighted the Browns’ mistake in assuming Watson’s durability based on past performance. This led to the decision to go with Thompson-Robinson and acquire PJ Walker.
Flacco, expressing a desire for a starting opportunity in free agency, remains open to a return to the Browns if such an opportunity doesn’t materialize. He acknowledges the possibility of backing up Watson, who is expected to be ready for training camp. The Browns are confident that bringing Flacco back wouldn’t cause internal issues, with Berry dismissing concerns about potential “polarity.” Berry emphasized the team’s value for the backup quarterback position, considering it a top-30 priority on the roster.
