Flacco's Fire: Why the Bengals Backup Still Believes He's a Starter
Joe Flacco, now officially back in stripes, isn't exactly whispering sweet nothings about his offseason. The man flat-out called teams "dumb" for not signing him as a starter. And you know what? He’s got a point, at least on some level. The guy rolled into Cleveland last year and went 4-1 as a starter, throwing for 1,616 yards and 13 touchdowns in five regular-season games. He took a team that was dead in the water after Deshaun Watson's injury and dragged them into the playoffs. That's not backup production; that's starting quarterback stuff, even if it was a short sample.
Here's the thing: Flacco's arm talent is still there. He can still make all the throws. He completed 60.3% of his passes for the Browns, which isn't elite, but it's far from terrible, especially considering he was learning a new offense on the fly. He threw for over 300 yards in four straight games, a feat no other Browns quarterback had accomplished since Brian Sipe in 1980. He even tossed for 368 yards and three scores against the Texans in the Wild Card round, though it ended in a 45-14 loss. You can't tell me there weren't a dozen teams out there who couldn't have used that kind of spark.
The Market's Miscalculation
Look, the NFL is a copycat league, but sometimes it gets stuck in its own head. Teams prioritize youth, potential, and mobility. Flacco, at 39, checks none of those boxes. But what he does check is experience, leadership, and a Super Bowl ring from 2012. He doesn't panic. He stands in the pocket and delivers. He’s not going to extend plays with his legs, but he'll beat you with his mind and his arm. The Broncos, for instance, are trotting out Zach Wilson and Bo Nix. Wilson's career passer rating is 73.2. Flacco's was 90.2 last year with the Browns. You tell me who gives you a better chance to win *now*.
And it's not like the money was prohibitive. He signed a one-year, $5.5 million deal with the Colts in 2023, then ended up with the Browns for peanuts before earning bonuses. He’s not asking for top-tier starter money. He’s asking for a shot. Many teams chose to roll with unproven commodities or stop-gap veterans who frankly don't have Flacco's upside from last season. The Steelers, who signed Russell Wilson to a minimum deal, could have used Flacco's arm strength to stretch the field, especially with George Pickens.
Cincinnati's Smart Play
So, the Bengals get him back as Joe Burrow's insurance policy. And it's a smart move for Cincinnati. When Burrow went down with that wrist injury last November, the Bengals' season went sideways fast. Jake Browning played admirably, but having a proven veteran like Flacco waiting in the wings is a different level of comfort. Remember, Flacco won the AFC North MVP award last year, an award he earned by leading the Browns to that playoff berth. If Burrow, God forbid, misses time again, Flacco has shown he can step in and keep the ship afloat, maybe even make some noise.
My hot take? Flacco plays at least three games for the Bengals this year. And he wins two of them. He's got that chip on his shoulder, and he’s proven he can still sling it.