Joe Flacco is moving on to the Colts, and the Browns thank him.

The veteran quarterback’s brief stay in Cleveland will be remembered for years, even if he officially signed with Indianapolis on Friday.
Cleveland Browns vs. New York Jets
The Cleveland Browns’ tenure with Joe Flacco was as brief as it was surprising.

With Deshaun Watson out due to a shoulder injury, the Browns were shorthanded at quarterback. Signed as a free agent late in the previous season, Flacco helped the team secure a Wild Card spot in the NFL Playoffs by throwing for 1,616 yards and 13 touchdowns in five starts.

Similar: Evaluating the Deshaun Watson trade after a two-year period (Part 1)

But against the Houston Texans in the postseason, it all fell apart due to Flacco’s dominance for turning the

Ball over ultimately got the better of him, as the Texans sealed Cleveland’s playoff defeat in the third quarter by returning two interceptions for scores.

By signing Jameis Winston this offseason, the Browns decided to go with a younger and, theoretically, better backup quarterback. Regarding Flacco, he had success with the Indianapolis Colts, who formally signed the 16-year veteran on Friday. Flacco will support and guide second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson.

The Browns thanked Flacco one more time on social media on Friday, marking the formal end of his stint in Cleveland.

Joe, it was quite the ride. You exuded such real delight and happiness.

to this group both during and after games. We were honored to have you represent the orange and brown, and we hope Indianapolis brings you nothing but the best.

Cleveland has added experienced quarterback Tyler Huntley to the quarterback room, which also includes second-year player Dorian Thompson-Robinson, as they wait to see how Watson looks once he starts throwing again, which he has stated will happen soon.

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” taken aback that he chose not to rejoin the Cleveland Browns this summer.

Regarding his decision to accept the role of primary backup for Indianapolis second-year pro Anthony Richardson, Flacco stated on Friday, “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,” as reported by Nick Shook of the NFL website. “What else could that be, I’m not sure. We’ll figure that out eventually.”a lot of games last year or anything like, but I’m thankful that Indianapolis reached out and offered this chance.”

For the QB2 position, the Browns selected Jameis Winston over Flacco; however, as later reported by team insider Tony Grossi of ESPN Cleveland/The Land on Demand, the AFC North team “did not even offer Flacco the minimum NFL contract.”

Because of Flacco’s popularity among Cleveland players and fans, Grossi and others have also left no doubt that some Browns players were concerned that Flacco would “cast a shadow” over Watson and “complicate his job” during the 2024 season.

That is not an issue anymore.

While it seems Flacco wanted to stay with the team longer, Browns fans may wonder all fall long what might have been if the team had re-signed the current Associated Press NFL Comeback Player of the Year.

more than six overall games (postseason included).

Regarding Watson, if he is unable to regain the form that let the Houston Texans pick him to the Pro Bowl three times, the Browns may decide to cut him go for the upcoming season.

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.

About going on the open market this month, Flacco said, “It was obviously a little bit different than last offseason, when I didn’t get any calls at all.” “However, I wasn’t really sure how this offseason would proceed. Not that I performed a