BEREA, Ohio — No one feels sorry for Joe Flacco. He won the Super Bowl MVP and earned more than $175 million in his career. He won in life.
but…
Flacco’s 16 years in the NFL stuck with me as I watched the final chapter of his incredible resurgence. He was always good, always consistent in his prime, but never elite.
He never received an MVP vote, but Carson Wentz, Derek Carr and Tony Romo did.
He never even went to a Pro Bowl. He had been invited once but was not invited because his wife was about to give birth to their third child.
He was beloved by a large portion of Baltimore fans – and still is – but was always overshadowed by Hall of Famers like Ray Lewis and Ed Reed. The Ravens defense remains largely responsible for his Super Bowl ring.
That’s why what’s going on here is so ridiculous that no writers in the NFL or Hollywood can make it sound reasonable. Would a quarterback who had been underperforming for a decade use this type of heater? Throwing over 300 yards in three straight games for the first time in his career, leading the league in passing yards since becoming the Browns’ starter in Week 13 and tying for the league lead in touchdown passes during that stretch?
Drug test everyone.
Flacco is just weeks away from his 39th birthday, and it’s all thanks to Flacco. He quickly captured the attention and admiration of a city once divided by the Deshaun Watson trade.
NFL leaders since Week 13:
Passing yards:
1. Joe Flacco 1,307
2. Jack Browning 1,288
3. Brock Purdy 1,179Via TD:
1 ton. Joe Flacco 10
1 ton. Brock Purdy 10
1 ton. Matthew Stafford 10— Dan Murphy (@DMurph_BrownsPR) December 26, 2023
He’s once again surrounded by a great defense, but no one other than Myles Garrett has a gold jacket right now. Here, Flacco is the same as before. He’s an adult, a professional, just quietly doing his own thing. No drama, no controversy. He just shows up every day, does his job, fulfills his obligations.
Now, in the twilight of his career, in a town that hates everything to do with the Baltimore Ravens, Flacco has stolen the heart of a city starved for love. It’s like Rocky getting cheered in Russia or Jeter getting a standing ovation in Boston.
“This city is incredible. I can’t describe how passionate everyone is,” Flacco said Tuesday. “I’ve been from Baltimore most of my career … the way people treat me here is definitely kind of surreal.”
If this is his career winning lap, Flacco should take his time around the track. Embrace it all. No matter how it ends, he has done enough to forever become a folk hero in Cleveland. He will be welcomed and cheered here just like the crowds cheered for Channing Frye and Richard Jefferson at Cavaliers games and Raj Davis at Guardians games. Without even playing in the playoffs, he’s already exceeded expectations, in part because there were no playoffs when he arrived.His three wins in four starts here match his win total from his past four starts. Year As an NFL starter.
After leaving Baltimore, Flacco posted a 3-14 record in 17 NFL games with Denver and New York. His record in Cleveland is 3-1.
Make it meaningful.
With the Jets in town Thursday night and Flacco’s performance in Cleveland, it’s clear New York’s front office will likely be wondering how they handle the season after Aaron Rodgers tore his Achilles. The Jets and Browns started the year with similar rosters and expectations. Both were playoff contenders in a crowded AFC, but both lost quarterbacks early. The Jets collapsed, while the Browns thrived.
When they signed Flacco, I thought rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson should continue to be the starter. Based on his record and numbers since leaving Baltimore, and the fact that no teams have called him through the first 12 weeks of the season, Flacco looks like nothing more than an emergency option for a team that frequently makes 911 calls. season.
Then Thompson-Robinson suffered a concussion in Denver, and Flacco immediately started exceeding everyone’s expectations, and now he’s doing so well. It’s hard to imagine how the Browns will bring him back next year. Do they really want to leave three spots on the 53-man roster for quarterbacks? Are they willing to give Flacco millions when every dollar is spent on the salary cap?
This is Watson’s team. His iron-clad contract made that possible, and thankfully, after a few bumps in the road, the last thing we remember is him shooting 14-for-14 in the second half (shoulder injury) against what looked like the best Ravens in the league. Team. Today’s league. Watson remains the last quarterback to beat Baltimore, and he did it on the road.
Thompson-Robinson was drafted as the long-term backup behind Watson. None of this has changed. When Watson first struggled, Flacco’s arrival next year would only risk dividing the locker room. It’s not worth it for a quarterback approaching 40 years old. A sequel will never be better than the original. It’s up to Flacco if he wants to play again next year, but it’s not likely to be in Cleveland.
So enjoy the story for what it is: a remarkable story, the best in the NFL right now. A well-respected veteran got what he deserved.
The Browns were hit by a hurricane. Hold on tight and enjoy the ride wherever the wind blows.
When it’s over, it’s really over.
(Photo: Cooper Neil/Getty Images)
