If there’s one team in the NFL that can afford the luxury of a deep QB room filled with both talent and a mix of experience and youth, it’s the Cleveland Browns. Joe Flacco may be the most seasoned of the group, and he’s looking to set the tone for his fellow quarterbacks — aiming to help elevate the talent around him.
The arrivals of Sanders and Gabriel in the latest draft — along with the addition of Kenny Pickett as a potential starter — make it clear that the former Colts and Ravens player is the veteran presence in this room. Still, Joe Flacco stated that he’s not just here to be a mentor; he’s determined to give everything he’s got in pursuit of the starting job.
“It’s not really about that. It’s just not the main focus,” he said, via ESPN. “I see myself as a guy that can play in this league. So, if your main focus was just like, hey, but I’m going to get you ready, you’re just not taking care of business.
“The best way to be a mentor, honestly, is to show people how you go to work and, like I said, hope that they pick up on that stuff, but not necessarily force them to pick up on the things that you do.”
Joe Flacco #15 of the Cleveland Browns attempts a pass against the Houston Texans during the second quarter at NRG Stadium on December 24, 2023 in Houston, Texas.
Stefanski’s thoughts on Joe Flacco
At this point in the offseason, Kevin Stefanski might be one of the NFL coaches with the most quarterback options heading into the new campaign. Joe Flacco returned to the franchise for a second stint, and it was the HC himself who shared his thoughts on the veteran’s return.
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NFL News: Browns HC Kevin Stefanski tells Shedeur Sanders, Joe Flacco how he’ll split QB reps
“Joe physically has been gifted with the ability to throw the football. He looks the same to me,” Stefanski said. “It’s just fun having some veterans in that room, some young guys in the quarterback room. They really feed off of each other. And certainly, Joe has a lot to explain to the guys or a lot of wisdom to impart on those guys of things that have come up in his career.”
Will the head coach ultimately choose Flacco to start in Week 1? Or will he look to the youth of Sanders or Gabriel — or perhaps turn to Kenny Pickett — in search of a long-term solution under center?
The Browns’ early matchups in the NFL season
These are the first five games the Browns will face, as they aim to establish themselves in the AFC North and go head-to-head with top-tier rivals like the Ravens, Bengals, and Steelers:
- vs Cincinnati Bengals, September 7th
- vs Baltimore Ravens, September 14th
- vs Green Bay Packers, September 21st
- vs Detroit Lions, September 28th
- vs Minnesota Vikings, October 5th
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