For a very short time, the Cleveland Browns locker room looked like a desert waiting patiently for rain. But as the QB clouds rolled around, HC Kevin Stefanski had a whole different problem. They now have not one, but 4 QBs gunning for the title of shot caller under center. Joe Flacco looks like the starter with all his experience, according to multiple analysts. Kenny Pickett draws some interest as he’s working hard to prove he deserves the title. Now add the two new rookies, Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders, and suddenly, Stefanski is scratching his head, taking notes so that he can make the right call when September rolls around. But is that the end of his worries? Not by a long shot.
The guy whom Browns owner Jimmy Haslam had called a “swing and miss” not so long ago has been quietly carving out a comeback. We’re talking about Deshaun Watson and his torn Achilles. Just recently, Watson showed up and threw passes to Jerry Jeudy and David Bell. Even insider Tony Grossi had hinted at a November return for Watson for this season. “The speediest a decision could be made on Watson would be in late October. If Watson isn’t cleared to practise until, say, the sixth week of the season, his three-week window would take him into November to decide his roster status.” And now, Deshaun Watson himself has decided to put the Browns’ QB room on notice.
Deshaun Watson took to his IG recently to share a story. It wasn’t just any story, though. It was the QB throwing balls with his personal QB coach, Quincy Avery. Feet planted firmly on the ground, throwing swings that had Avery saying “You’re gonna be perfect.”, Watson looked almost ready for action. Watson is on a mission of “Mastering the details!”, and he has a few words of caution for the 4 QBs who thought they had it all for themselves. “Getting back in the fold!” Now, if Watson does return to the QB room ready for action, it will still be some time before the decision comes. As Tony Grossi had put it, “Once cleared to practise, there is a three-week window in which he would be cleared to play or remain on PUP the rest of the year.” But that’s a decision the team will have to make, nonetheless.
5 potential QBs will now be lining up in the locker room. And with this, Kevin Stefanski’s choice for QB1 will certainly become harder than ever. Flacco, Pickett, Gabriel, Sanders, and now Watson. Who’s it going to be? Almost feels like Sophie’s Choice. But that’s not really the end of headaches for the HC. For instance, Joe Flacco has added more reasons to worry for the whole team going forward.
Joe Flacco’s decision on the Browns’ developmental projects
Joe Flacco is entering the 18th year of his NFL career. And if there’s one thing he’s made clear, it’s that he wants to play football. But does he want to be a mentor for the rookies following his movements with notepads in their hands? That’s the question he was asked in the OTA presser recently. And Flacco took the chance to call out the reporters and made his stance crystal clear on the matter. Flacco said, “It’s a good question to bait somebody into answering, and no matter how they answer it, it kind of makes the guy that’s answering it look bad. – If I say I don’t want to be a mentor, I look bad. If I say I do want to be a mentor, then I look like an idiot who doesn’t care about being good at playing football.” But he wasn’t done by a long shot.
Dec 28, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco (15) throws a pass against the New York Jets during the first half at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-USA TODAY Sports
The truth bombs continued from the veteran QB like they were touchdown passes. Joe Flacco further added, “I tend to try to be honest. And I’ve said, I’m not a mentor. I play football. In the quarterback room, there’s been already a ton of times where there’s learning experiences, and I have a lot of experience and I can talk on things. And hopefully they listen. But it’s not necessarily my job to make sure they listen to me.. The best way to be a mentor, honestly, is show people how you go to work, and hope that they pick up on that stuff.”
With his candid take, Joe Flacco has made it clear he’s not here to teach, he’s here to win games. If the younger guys want to learn from him, they’ll watch him make the plays and keep taking notes. As the QB1 competition continues to heat up for the Browns, Flacco isn’t planning on stepping aside. Even if all 5 QBs are back in action, Flacco will only lead by example, not through lessons taught.
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