Although seasoned quarterback Joe Flacco seemed content with his new home with the Indianapolis Colts in spring, he acknowledged on Friday that he was “somewhat” surprised that he did not rejoin the Cleveland Browns this summer.
“When you have something that you love to do and you enjoy putting in the work and all that, I don’t know too many people that would give that up to try to go do something else or figure out what else that may be,” Flacco said on Friday about agreeing to be the primary backup for Indianapolis second-year pro Anthony Richardson, per Nick Shook of the NFL’s website. “I have no idea what else that would be. One day we’ll figure that out.”
From the previous offseason until the fall, Flacco was unsigned. In November, the Browns lost starting quarterback Deshaun Watson to a season-ending shoulder injury.
After winning four of his five regular-season starts, the Super Bowl XLVII Most Valuable Player eventually became a revered Cleveland sports character and led the Browns to a postseason trip. Later, he made it clear that if he didn’t get a starting position in free agency, he would gladly return to Northeast Ohio during the winter.
“It was obviously a little bit different than last offseason, when I didn’t get any calls at all,” Flacco explained about hitting the open market this month. “But even this offseason, I wasn’t really sure how it was going to go. It wasn’t like I played a ton of games last year or anything like that, but definitely grateful for Indy to reach out and have this as an opportunity.”
That is not an issue anymore.
Fans of the Browns may be left wondering all fall long if the organization had chosen to re-sign the Associated Press NFL Comeback Player of the Year, since it seems clear Flacco desired to play for the team for more than six games (including the postseason).
Regarding Watson, if he is unable to regain the form that helped him get selected to the Pro Bowl three times during his tenure with the Browns, they may consider cutting him loose next winter.