Joe Flacco’s last game starting for the Browns was like experiencing acid reflux after enjoying a sumptuous feast.
Flacco rescued the 2023 season when he was signed in late November to replace the injured Deshaun Watson (shoulder). He won four straight games in December to carry the Browns to the playoffs for the first time since 2020. For the fans, it was love at first touchdown pass.
The magical ride crashed into a brick wall when the Browns were stomped by the Texans, 45-14, in a wild-card playoff game Jan. 13, 2024, in Houston. Three weeks earlier, the Browns beat the Texans, 36-22, in a regular-season game in Houston. Flacco passed for 368 yards and three touchdowns. He also threw two interceptions.
Flacco threw a pick-six on back-to-back possessions in the third quarter of the playoff game to snuff out any chance the Browns had of recovering from a 24-14 halftime deficit. The chance to atone for letting his teammates and the city down is not the reason he signed a one-year deal with the Browns last week after playing for the Colts in 2024, but now that he is back, the former Super Bowl MVP (Super Bowl XLVII with the Ravens) would love another opportunity to prove he can still shine in the biggest games.
“Part of the excitement of coming back is the opportunity to hopefully put a stamp on what happened a couple years ago and finish what we started,” Flacco said recently in a radio interview with ESPN Cleveland. “Obviously it was an exciting time period, and I think that’s probably what you think of first. But when you lose playoff games, those are things that stick in your mind. You want to get another opportunity to kind of come back and get a redo.
“You’re not promised that. Very often you don’t get that opportunity, but it would be nice to fight for the chance.”
The Browns made no promises to Flacco when they signed him. He and Kenny Pickett will battle for the starting job. It might turn into a three-man battle depending on which quarterback the Browns take in the draft, assuming they use one of their 10 picks on one.
Flacco said opportunities to play for other teams “were on the table,” but added things “sped up” when the Browns came through with an actual offer. The contract is for $4 million and can be worth up to $13 million if he reaches certain incentives.
“I don’t like to get my mind tied up to a location until something is real,” Flacco said. “My experience the last couple years is you never know what these teams actually want to do until they pull the trigger and offer you something.
“I’m definitely excited to be here. I really enjoyed my teammates and feel there are still a lot of those guys there and the coaching staff. And listen — just because you have a good feeling about something one time doesn’t necessarily mean anything in the future, but I really enjoyed my time there. I don’t think there’s an expectation of who is going to be the starting quarterback. I’m excited to get into that room and show I have a lot of football ahead of me.”
Flacco is 40 years old heading into his 18th season. He said he is still learning. He is happy to have Pickett and the rookie quarterback learn with and from him.
“I have things to learn whether it’s about myself or how the game is being played,” Flacco said. “So I don’t think being a mentor has ever been my main goal, but I do think competition and that quarterback room in general breeds the environment to learn and become the best version of yourself.”
The Browns’ voluntary offseason conditioning program begins April 22. Flacco plans to be in Berea for the start of it. Two years ago, he was an out-of-work quarterback until the Browns revived his career by signing him to their practice squad on Nov. 20.
Charlie Malta’s draft show
Every year, the Monday before the NFL draft is the featured topic of the “Mondays with Malta” radio show on WINT hosted by The Happy Moose Bar and Grill at 7693 Reynolds Road in Mentor. Malta, Judge John O’Donnell, Brandon Langdon and I will be on the air from The Happy Moose from 7-9 p.m. April 21.
Come join us for fun, food and drink. We will have plenty to talk about with the Browns picking second overall in the first round April 24. The Browns have nine total picks in rounds 2-7 on April 25 and 26.
Joe Flacco’s last game starting for the Browns was like experiencing acid reflux after enjoying a sumptuous feast.
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