Joe Flacco: "Cleveland Is Definitely That Place I Would Feel The Best About.”
Reports of Flacco Fever vacating Northeast Ohio may have been greatly exaggerated.
Over the course of the last week there has been significant momentum gained in a potential Joe Flacco, Cleveland Browns reunion for 2024. The saga took its latest turn on Wednesday when the 39-year-old joined Sirius XM NFL Radio.
Following a report from Pro Football Talk earlier in the week that Flacco's first choice is to re-sign with the Browns, the Super Bowl 47 MVP confirmed his desires publicly.
"All things equal, Cleveland is definitely that place I would feel the best about," Flacco told Sirius XM Blitz host Bruce Murray. "Now, then you have to get into the world of, is someone actually going to give me a chance to play? And all the different things that go into that."
In league circles there's be a sense that Flacco will at least test free agency to see if he can find a starting job. That's something Cleveland can't offer the veteran signal caller with star QB Deshaun Watson expected back from season ending shoulder surgery in the coming months.
However, recent reports and comments from Flacco suggest he may be willing to forgo other opportunities for a second stint with the Browns, even if it means he's a backup.
“I can’t help but have a special feeling about Cleveland, just because of the few weeks that I spent there and how great the city was," Flacco continued. "And, listen, at the end of the day, I don’t necessarily want that to be a huge part [or] all of the decision. But I do think it will factor into the decision — if I end up having a decision to make."
Flacco's sentimental feelings toward Cleveland have certainly been reciprocated by Browns fans, who grew to adore the former Ravens' signal caller during the team's magical run to the playoffs late in the season.
Over the course of his five starts at the end of the season, Flacco set several franchise marks while throwing for 1,616 yards and 13 touchdown after joining the team in Week 12 as a free agent. His remarkable run with the team became a feel good story around the league as he went on to win the NFL's Comeback Player for the Year Award for his efforts.
During his end of the season press conference back and January, Browns general manager Andrew Berry expressed the team's desire to bring Flacco back if things fall into place.
"We’d absolutely love to have Joe back," Berry said. "He’s a good quarterback, but I guess, maybe a little bit similar to Jacoby [Bissett] last year, it depends, right? I want to bring all of our good players back, but there are constraints to that on really kind of both sides of the aisle, but would have no problem having Joe back."
A week out from the opening of the new league year, there appears to be a real possibility that the two sides legitimately could reunite.
