When the Cleveland Browns named Joe Flacco their starting quarterback, it wasn’t just a roster move — it was a statement. At 40 years old, Flacco brings a champion’s pedigree, steady leadership, and the kind of battle-tested poise that young quarterbacks can only dream of. In a season hanging in the balance, the Browns are betting that the veteran’s arm and experience can ignite a playoff push and give Cleveland the stability it desperately craves under center.
There is a comfortable feeling seeing Joe Flacco at quarterback for the Browns to open this season.
Many fans want to see Shedeur Sanders open the season as a starter. There are some who perhaps prefer Dillon Gabriel. These are fans who forget the Browns were 3-14 last season – and their first six games this season are against opponents who had a combined 71-41 record last year.
If you want to watch another Browns rookie QB be destroyed almost before his career begins, start him in those first six games. We’ve seen those over the years with QBs such as Tim Couch, DeShone Kizer and Brandon Weeden.
What the Browns need as the season begins is a QB who can take an emotional punch.
That’s a quarterback who won’t be rattled if he throws some interceptions. That’s a quarterback who can keep an offense organized.
That’s a quarterback who will help his linemen by not engaging in one aimless scramble after another – making it impossible for the linemen to know how to block for him.
That’s a quarterback like Flacco, something that came to mind while watching him in Saturday’s preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams.
Keep it boring
The Rams had zero interest in this game. I’m serious. They didn’t arrive in Cleveland until about 8:30 p.m. Friday. They probably would have preferred to stay in L.A. and play this game on Zoom.
So it’s hard to evaluate much of what happened Saturday at Huntington Bank Field. The Rams started Dresser Winn at quarterback. He was No. 4 on the depth chart – behind Matthew Stafford, Jimmy Garoppolo and Stetson Bennett.
Winn’s previous stops included the Edmonton Elks (Canada) and the Memphis Showboats (United Football League). He’s what is known as a “camp arm.” He has been on and off the Rams practice squad in the last few years.
When it came to Flacco’s rather brief time on the field, Stefanski called short passes and basic running plays.
Flacco did connect with rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr. for a 15-yard TD.
Flacco was 9 of 10 passing for 71 yards. He used six different receivers. But nearly every throw was designed for short yardage.
Coaches hate to put anything interesting on tape in the preseason, fearing opponents will have some type of edge when they prepare for the games that count.
Why Flacco now?
At the age of 40, Flacco still has a marvelous arm. He can deliver a picturesque 40-yard spiral seemingly with a mere flick of the wrist.
Flacco knows Stefanski’s offense, having started six games here (counting the playoff loss in Houston) for the Browns in 2023. He is respected by the veterans.
His presence also buys time for Sanders and Gabriel.
The Browns have started 40 different quarterbacks since they returned in 1999. In the last two years, they have had nine different starters … that’s right, NINE!
Unless the Browns become the NFL’s early season surprise team by pulling off one upset after another, it’s possible all four quarterbacks (including the injured Kenny Pickett) could end up starting at different points this season.
But for now, Flacco starting is exactly what the Browns should do.
