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.