Joe Flacco has stated that he would like to re-sign with the Cleveland Browns if it were up to him. The 2023 Comeback Player of the Year had a completely unexpected run in Cleveland that ended with a blowout loss in the postseason.
In 2024, he would like to do it again.
Joe Flacco Wants To Return to Cleveland Browns
In an appearance on SiriusXM NFL Radio, Flacco expressed his desire to return to the Browns.
“All things equal, Cleveland is definitely the place that I would feel the best about,” Flacco said. “Now, then you have to get into the world of, ‘Is somebody actually going to give me a chance to play?’ and all the different things that go into that.
“But I can’t help but have a special feeling about Cleveland. Just because of the few weeks that I spent there and how great the city was, I don’t necessarily want that to be all of the decision, but I do think that it will factor into the decision if I have a decision to make.”
The Browns and Flacco’s agent, Joe Linta, spoke at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine last week in Indianapolis. The free-agency negotiating window opens at noon on Monday, with players allowed to sign with teams when the new league year begins at 4 p.m. next Wednesday.
Browns general manager Andrew Berry has indicated a desire to bring Flacco back.
“I should start by saying this: We’d absolutely love to have Joe back,” Berry said during his end-of-season news conference on Jan. 22. “He’s a good quarterback, but I guess maybe a little bit similar to Jacoby [Brissett] last year: It depends, right? I want to bring all of our good players back, but there are constraints to that. I’m really kind of both sides of the aisle but would have no problem having Joe back.”
Last season, Flacco entered the Browns’ starting lineup after a week with the team and lost in his start against the Los Angeles Rams. He then went on to win four straight, powering an unlikely run to the postseason for a Browns team that just needed a solid quarterback to get them there.
He led the NFL in passing over the four-game winning streak and became the first Browns quarterback in franchise history to throw for 300+ yards in four straight games.
The reigning AP NFL Comeback Player of the Year could return to the Browns but would have to accept that it isn’t his starting job.
Deshaun Watson, who underwent season-ending shoulder surgery last November, was expected to resume throwing in March and be the starter going into the season.
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“Obviously if I go back to Cleveland, then I have to craft my mind around that idea,” Flacco said of playing behind Watson. “Obviously, I want to play football. That’s also a really, really, really big factor. Probably the biggest factor. … I don’t think you can really make that decision without any hard things laid in front of you.”
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