Story by
Former Baltimore Ravens QB Joe Flacco working out for Cleveland Browns
- Story by
- Former Baltimore Ravens QB Joe Flacco working out for Cleveland Browns
BEREA — It speaks to the amount of time David Njoku has spent with the Browns that, after learning about Joe Flacco's workout with the team, the tight end had nefarious thoughts about the quarterback's former employer.
"I'm still iffy," Njoku said Friday afternoon "He's been with the Ravens for a long time, so I don't know if this is an inside job, so me just getting in my head. I gotta talk to him in person before anything."
Advertisement
That in-person talk could be happening very soon, as a league source confirmed Flacco, the MVP of Super Bowl 47, worked out on Friday for the Browns. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport was the first to report the visit.
A league source confirmed Flacco's workout and visit to Berea came and went on Friday without a deal getting done in the moment. However, neither side is ruling out a deal being completed at some point over the next few days, per a source.
Flacco was the only quarterback the Browns have brought in since Deshaun Watson was placed on season-injured reserve in order to have shoulder surgery. However, general manager Andrew Berry said Wednesday the intention was to bring in a third quarterback to either be on the active roster or practice squad.
Rookie fifth-round pick Dorian Thompson-Robinson will start for the Browns (6-3) on Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers (6-3) in a critical home AFC North matchup. Fourth-year pro P.J. Walker has started two games and finished out another during Watson's previous shoulder injury.
New York Jets quarterback Joe Flacco gets off a late fourth-quarter pass with Browns defensive end Myles Garrett in pursuit Sept. 18, 2022, in Cleveland.
"I feel like Joe's a leader," Browns wide receiver Elijah Moore said. "I feel like he has a lot of experience. He knows football, and how could you not want to lean on somebody who knows football? They played the game for a long time at a very, very high level, the highest level. MVP level. So major respect to him."
Advertisement
Moore is familiar with Flacco from his first two seasons in the league with the New York Jets . The quarterback played 12 games, with nine starts, with the Jets from 2020-22 before becoming a free agent.
Flacco completed 110 of 191 passes (57.6%) for 1,051 yards with five touchdowns and three interceptions last season with the Jets. He played in five games with four starts in place of an injured Zack Wilson .
"I had a great time with him," said Moore, a third-year pro who was traded to the Browns in March. "He's a great leader. He's a vet, and I know anyone that would be around him would have a good time and learn a lot."
Flacco spent one year in Denver with the Broncos on 2019, appearing in eight games with eight starts after being traded there by the Ravens. He then signed with the Jets in August 2020.
Advertisement
It with Baltimore, though, that Flacco made his name, including a Super Bowl win at the end of the 2012 season. A 2008 first-round selection by the Ravens out of the University of Delaware, he spent 11 years with the franchise, winning two AFC North championships, making six playoff appearances and three AFC Championship
FILE - In this Feb. 13, 2013 file photo, Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) holds the Vince Lombardi Trophy after defeating the San Francisco 49ers 34-31 in the NFL Super Bowl XLVII football game in New Orleans. Flacco was the Super Bowl MVP and the NFL's highest-paid quarterback just a few years ago. After injuries shortened his last two seasons, Flacco is now in New York with a new role: as a backup to Sam Darnold.
While in Baltimore, Flacco started all 163 regular-season games in which he played, completing 3,499 of 5,670 passes (61.7%) for 38,245 yards with 212 touchdowns and 136 interceptions. He was 10-5 in the playoffs, completing 253 of 447 passes (56.6%) for 3,223 yards with 25 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
For his 15-year career, spanning 183 regular-season games and 180 starts, he is 3,881-of-6,299 passing (61.6%) for 42,320 yards with 232 touchdowns and 147 picks.
Advertisement
"Maturity and experience, incredible wisdom that, I mean, as much as Deshaun has played, Flacco has seen more," All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett said. "He's been to the highest levels. He's won. And he can provide that a little bit of a mentor role if he doesn't see the field — being there and being a consistent leader."
Flacco has long been a thorn in the side of the Browns. He was 17-3 as a starter against Cleveland with Baltimore, and also was 1-0 with the Jets.
Nine times in Flacco's career he won in Cleveland. The most recent of those wins came in Week 2 last season when he started for the Jets in their 31-30 come-from-behind win .
Flacco is 433-of-706 passing (61.33%) for 4,945 yards and a 89.3 passer rating with 31 touchdowns and 13 interceptions all-time against the Browns.
Advertisement
Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on Twitter at @ceasterlingABJ
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Joe Flacco, former Ravens star QB, working out for Browns
