Denver Broncos quarterback Joe Flacco (5) in the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Browns at Empower Field at Mile High.
Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
The Cleveland Browns were rewarded for their pursuit of Joe Flacco and he quickly established himself as the team’s starting quarterback for the remainder of the season. In fact, Flacco was so successful that some teams attempted to make up for past failures.
Flacco’s agent, Joe Linta, told NBC Sports’ Peter King that “two or three” teams inquired about signing Flacco when he returned to the Browns’ practice squad last week in part of a change of direction.
Linta said Flacco never thought about leaving Cleveland.“Joe didn’t want to hear it,” Linta said. “He definitely wanted to stay in Cleveland. He loves the team.
He gets along well with the coach.”When the Browns signed Flacco, they initially signed him to the practice squad and then promoted him before game day.
That meant returning to the practice squad, where he could theoretically be targeted by other teams even after the team committed to him as the starter.
The Browns signed Flacco to a contract last week for the remainder of the season to ensure that option was no longer on the table, although Flacco wasn’t tempted to leave. Flacco threw for 939 yards with seven touchdowns in three games with Cleveland.
He hasn’t been perfect, but he’s been more than serviceable, and some QB-needy teams can kick themselves for ignoring him for so long.
