DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Joe Flacco Named the Starter

The least surprising news to come out of training camp.

I'm amazed by this late breaking development! Who'da think it!?

First interception or loss, the Browns media and all fanbois will be calling for Sanders. Because Cleveland.

This is the way.

I gotta think it is Pickett. Keep the rookies.

I think the goal is to let Flacco take the lumps against the tough early schedule out of the gate and then turn it over to Gabriel and/or Sanders around week 7. I'd be shocked if Flacco played the entire season.

Agreed. The hamstring injury derailed any chance Pickett had. The sicko in me would like to see it be Sanders traded just to see the Aunties and local sports talk media heads explode.

IMO, we are going to be like 1-5 regardless of who starts the first 6 games. We are not a good team and will face a gauntlet (yes, I know that you never know. .. but we aren't winning in Baltimore, Detroit, playing GB, etc).

But, I do think Flacco is the guy we have to start and I expect him to be serviceable

In my best Gomer Pyle voice:

Surprise, Suprise, Suprise!

Honestly never doubted it for a second.. I dare say, none of us did.

Shock to me. I would have thought it would be Huntley!!

I laughed. The Good Morning Football blabberheads this morning were like “what are the Browns going to do, who’s their starter!!!??”

I laughed and thought “I know, Dawg Nation knows, why don’t you silly mofos know?”

You’re showing your age when you reference Gomer Pyle.

I think you might be surprised. This defense is not a 1-5 defense. I think they will be a top 5 defense and with Flacco if the offense is at least serviceable this team can surprise.

I think we will be better than most think.
I have concerns about our corner depth, but I believe we can be a very good D.

If we can milk one more good year from Big Joe, we might hang in there. I’m not sure his age matters, lol, as long as he keeps the INTs down, he will find our guys. I truly believe he scares enemy secondaries - or at least gives them cause for concern - even if he is a grizzled old man.

It’s August, why not be optimistic?

I think we would all gladly have the Browns give up 1 million for us to make the playoffs with Flacco lol

Shazam, you're right.

They were supposed to do that last year. I'll believe it when I see it.

I agree. Most optimistic predictions about this team almost never come to fruition where as the negative ones do. I’ll take the wait and see approach. Expect the worst and hope for the best.

Agree-ish. Hope Flacco can compete this year. Other teams have stated that their defenses did little to prepare for the Browns. Marginal (and few) playmakers. Lots of 3 and out's. I believe that in Flacco other teams will need to prepare; he is wily enough to hurt you.
Consider this: We know that we should never underestimate an opponent. Solid advice! But the flip side involves giving mored credit to opponents than has been earned. The front end of our schedule is challenges all in a row. But to give these teams all the credit and acknowledge none for us ignores some of the goods we have. Tw solid outings in preseason; veteran QB, admittedly declining, gives stability to plan around. I hope we compete well — one thing to lose, a different thing to take a total beatdown. We have looked better so far than in too many years past.

There should be no surprise that Flacco was named the starter. IMHO, Stefanski and Berry made that choice as soon as they decided to pass on Cousins. The other three never really had a chance to be the starter IMO. They were always considered to be competing for a backup role. That role is still unsettled. My issue (and it continues to be an issue), is the Browns are no closer to a franchise QB than they were 3 years ago. So now i have to ask, what is the ROI of starting Flacco this season?

Here's my thoughts. If Flacco goes 1-6 in the first 7 games, what have they gained? What they lose is 7 games of experience for their younger players. They also lose those practice snaps since starting in a couple weeks the starter will get 95% of those snaps. ROI by starting Flacco would be zero! In scenario two, if Flacco goes 3-4 or 4-3 the first 7 games, what happens to the young QB's then? They sit for 4-5 more weeks. They get zero experience with almost zero chance of showing they could or might be that franchise guy.

Fast forward to 2026, who's the Browns QB? Is it Flacco at 41, one of the young players that got little to no experience, or a rookie that may or may not be that guy? Add in an aged often injured OL that 4 of 5 have expired contracts along with your TE and you have bigger problems than just QB. I'll agree that the Browns franchise QB may not be on the roster now but if they are not playing - HOW DO WE REALLY KNOW?

The Browns have 2 first round picks next year that could generate that Franchise QB. Wouldn't be fantastic to use those picks on support players because we found our QB in the present group? IMHO, the team needs at least 10-12 games by one individual to make that decision. Starting Flacco eliminates that opportunity to get a look at all 3 or at least two. I'll be rooting for the Browns like every year. I just don't like the plan and its effect on the future.

What QB do you think they should have drafted after the Titans selected Cam ward that you believe would have given them any reasonable odds to be "closer to a franchise QB" than they are now?

I didn't see a QB left in that draft class that was anything close to a reasonable gamble as a top 5 pick.

Throwing either Sanders or Gabriel to the wolves this soon would lessen a chance in their development not increase it. Starting Flacco gives the rookies a further opportunity to develop not hinders it.

I have to agree. Neither Sanders or Gabriel is ready to start right now and especially with the brutal schedule we have the first 7-8 games it would be a huge mistake. There’s plenty of time to evaluate one or the other if one becomes our starter with 9-10 games left in our season. JMO

the second half of our season is a BIT easier on paper - it's really hard for a rookie to start weeks 1-4 when every team is fully healthy still too

Some people try to create problems and issues where none exist.

If Flacco stays healthy then we will go to the playoffs. If he stays healthy for most of the season I think we still make it to the playoffs. If Flacco doesn't win 2 of the first 5 games Sanders and DG will find themselves on the field a LOT sooner.

I really like Joe Flacco and I hope he tears the league up! This might be his last year to play football and I would love to see such a nice guy go out on top =)

I hope that’s the case. Man, I am not a pro football player, but I am 1.5 years older than Flacco is. I can’t imagine taking the wear and tear. Hopefully that’s not an issue with our blocking scheme going back to what it was.

its' such a long season for an older player, even at QB. The hits, escaping the pocket, the travel, etc. If he plays more than 12 games I'll be surprised honestly

I think Joe will start the opening salvo of games. It's a pretty strong start to the season. After that we will transition to one of the others. My guess is Pickett will be the first man in, assuming he is still on the team.

I think Flacco starts to at least the bye week. If the Browns are at least 500 then Flacco starts till he needs to rest his arm for a game or two. I just don't know if they will have a record good enough to risk letting Flacco start.

He will start the opening few games, peen.

And if he’s looking good and racks up a couple victories, he might start the next few. Best chance to win, as Joel B. says.

I understand we have to get SS and Gabe some time to progress, to see what we might have moving forward.

Back in the day I was in a medieval fighting group. My name was Momar Vile. Because I have a sense of humor

Flacco looked good today. If we give him time, we can at least be competitive with most teams. He will turn it over, but will push it down the field too

If our D is as good as it might be. Flacco can take us far. Gabriel looks really good but can he make the throws down field?

good point. Gabriel's game thus far has been short game, roll outs, timing stuff. Teams will start shooting the first/second read stuff and force him to throw it deep

I actually thought his arm looked better than I anticipated it looking.

yeah, same with Rodgers .. the arm is not the problem

Gabriel's or Flacco's?

Gabriel’s

I love Flacco to be quite honest. His arm looks like he is still at his peak. It's just a real rocket man! His casual throws make everyone else on the team look like noodle arms except maybe Pickett and that really surprised me about Pickett. I feel like if Flacco can stay healthy we will have at least 12 wins. I think our defense is going to shock people and shut teams down. I think you can't stop Flacco from scoring most of the time because with his arm he can throw a TD from anywhere on the field on any given pass. Flacco looks a HELL of a lot better than Rodger IMHO.

He’s our QB. Should’ve been our guy last year, but we had to take one more shot at justifying the Watson trade-wreck.

I’m good with Joe, he looks at the field and throws it.

Random video post about Joe and Tommy Rees

I'm OK with it, too.

One of the most important things this team needs is solid leadership to start the season.
Truth be told, I've never been a fan of rookie QB's launching their careers as Day One starters. If something like that is happening, it's a sure sign of desperation in the FO.

JF gives CLE the best chance at a positive start to the season. He knows the scheme, has seen everything, and can still deliver the skill.

Let the team get its feet, play the season with Joe as much as we can... and let our rooks learn from watching a seasoned vet. It will only help them in the long run. AND- if either are pressed into service, they'll be doing so with a team that is established, with games under their belts.

Truth: I fully expected Flacco as QB#1 from the start.
What I didn't see was the Pickett trade.

...I hate that Joe Flacco's initials make my brain go to Johnny Football.

Seeing Manziel recently make the (possibly valid) argument that he wasn't the Browns' biggest bust his draft (Gilbert) was rather depressing.

JFF saying that is like me saying I might not be the shortest guy in the room.

I would say he's accurate in saying that... but anyone can see the irony (?) of him trying to make that argument.

As much as Gilbert stunk he did last 3 years in the league compared to 2 for Johnny Mistake and played in 35 games to Johnny's 14.

I just watched a highlight reel of Joe in December, 2023. What a stupid move to not even let him compete at training camp 2024, but we had to hope DW would pay off, swinging and missing, right?

I hope Big Joe can give us one more good year. He and NJoku were hammering it.

I agree. Watson's camp basically refusing to allow the Browns to bring back Flacco was another ruining thing. He's not going to win us anything of value, but I'm glad he's back

I never heard anything about that. Can you provide more information of how they had any control over Flacco coming back? Don't take that wrong. I'm not saying you're wrong or questioning the truth of it. It's simply something I know nothing about.

It had nothing to do with Watson's camp. That was a decision they made to avoid controversy because they wanted to build Watson's confidence back up. I wouldn't be surprised if Watson STILL gets to play again before the rookies. The whole thing disgusts me.

I am quite certain that Watson will never play in a Browns uniform ever again.

It's the Browns though so do count on them doing something that makes sense. I bet they would love it if Watson suddenly started earning his money~!!!

Won't matter who starts if they keep this dink and dunk crap up. They need to let Joe go downfield a bit or the run game won't exist. I was very aggravated by the bad playcalling this game against cincy. I'm really scared to see what they Ravens will do to us ... I hope we can keep it within 20 points.

The only issue with that gameplan is the oline might get Flacco killed if he holds the ball an extra second to allow a receiver downfield.

I think you have it backwards in this offense. The run game is supposed to be the one that opens things up for the long ball. If we can't establish the run, then dink and dunk it must be.