Mike Tomlin doesn't mince words on Browns-Bengals Joe Flacco trade
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Mike Tomlin doesn't mince words on Browns-Bengals Joe Flacco trade
Jack McKessy, USA TODAY·USA TODAY Sports
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2 min read
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Divisional rivalries just mean more to people likePittsburgh Steelershead coach Mike Tomlin.
Tomlin did not shy away from some harsh criticism of theCleveland Browns, who traded veteran quarterbackJoe Flaccowithin the division to the struggling, quarterback-needyCincinnati Bengalsprior to Week 6.
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TheSteelers' head coach went right atBrownsgeneral manager Andrew Berry with some strong thoughts on the Browns' trade on Monday, one day after Tomlin's team defeated Cleveland in a Sunday divisional clash.
"Andrew Berry must be a lot smarter than me or us,"Tomlin said, "because it doesn't make sense to me to trade a quarterback that you think enough of to make your opening-day starter to a division opponent that's hurting in that area. But that's just my personal feelings."
Tim Couch #2
(Donald Miralle, Getty Images)
Ty Detmer #11
(DAVID MAXWELL, AFP via Getty Images)
Doug Pederson #18
(Jamie Squire, Getty Images)
Spergon Wynn #13
(Jonathan Daniel, Getty Images)
Kelly Holcomb #10
(Andy Lyons, Getty Images)
Jeff Garcia #5
(Ronald Martinez, Getty Images)
Luke McCown #12
(Matthew Stockman, Getty Images)
Trent Dilfer #8
(Doug Benc, Getty Images)
Charlie Frye #9
(Streeter Lecka, Getty Images)
Derek Anderson #3
(Andy Lyons, Getty Images)
Brady Quinn #10
(David Maxwell, Getty Images)
Ken Dorsey #11
(Jim McIsaac, Getty Images)
Bruce Gradkowski #7
(Gregory Shamus, Getty Images)
Seneca Wallace #6
(Matt Sullivan, Getty Images)
Jake Delhomme #17
(Rick Stewart, Getty Images)
Colt McCoy #12
(Matthew Stockman, Getty Images)
Thaddeus Lewis #9
(Jason Miller, Getty Images)
Brandon Weeden #3
(Jason Miller, Getty Images)
Jason Campbell #17
(Andy Lyons, Getty Images)
Brian Hoyer #6
(Jason Miller, Getty Images)
Johnny Manziel #2
(Joe Robbins, Getty Images)
Connor Shaw #9
(Larry French, Getty Images)
Josh McCown #13
(Jeff Zelevansky, Getty Images)
Austin Davis #7
(Jason Miller, Getty Images)
Cody Kessler #6
(Andy Lyons, Getty Images)
Robert Griffin III #10
(Justin K. Aller, Getty Images)
DeShone Kizer #7
(Andy Lyons, Getty Images)
Kevin Hogan #8
(Jason Miller, Getty Images)
Baker Mayfield #6
(Kirk Irwin, Getty Images)
Tyrod Taylor #5
(Jason Miller, Getty Images)
Case Keenum #5
(Jason Miller, Getty Images)
Nick Mullens #9
(Nick Cammett, Getty Images)
Jacoby Brissett #7
(Jason Miller, Getty Images)
Deshaun Watson #4
(Carmen Mandato, Getty Images)
PJ Walker #10
(Gregory Shamus, Getty Images)
Jeff Driskel #12
(Andy Lyons, Getty Images)
Joe Flacco #15
(Ishika Samant, Getty Images)
Dorian Thompson-Robinson #17
(Dylan Buell, Getty Images)
Jameis Winston #5
(Chris Graythen, Getty Images)
Bailey Zappe #2
(Scott Taetsch, Getty Images)
Dillon Gabriel #8
(Julian Finney, Getty Images)
Shedeur Sanders #12
(Scott Galvin, Imagn Images)
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Every Browns starting quarterback since 1999: Joe Flacco, Tim Couch, Baker Mayfield
Tim Couch #2
(Donald Miralle, Getty Images)
1/42
Every Browns starting quarterback since 1999: Joe Flacco, Tim Couch, Baker Mayfield
Tim Couch #2
(Donald Miralle, Getty Images)
2/42
Every Browns starting quarterback since 1999: Joe Flacco, Tim Couch, Baker Mayfield
Ty Detmer #11
(DAVID MAXWELL, AFP via Getty Images)
3/42
Every Browns starting quarterback since 1999: Joe Flacco, Tim Couch, Baker Mayfield
Doug Pederson #18
(Jamie Squire, Getty Images)
4/42
Every Browns starting quarterback since 1999: Joe Flacco, Tim Couch, Baker Mayfield
Spergon Wynn #13
(Jonathan Daniel, Getty Images)
5/42
Every Browns starting quarterback since 1999: Joe Flacco, Tim Couch, Baker Mayfield
Kelly Holcomb #10
(Andy Lyons, Getty Images)
6/42
Every Browns starting quarterback since 1999: Joe Flacco, Tim Couch, Baker Mayfield
Jeff Garcia #5
(Ronald Martinez, Getty Images)
7/42
Every Browns starting quarterback since 1999: Joe Flacco, Tim Couch, Baker Mayfield
Luke McCown #12
(Matthew Stockman, Getty Images)
8/42
Every Browns starting quarterback since 1999: Joe Flacco, Tim Couch, Baker Mayfield
Trent Dilfer #8
(Doug Benc, Getty Images)
9/42
Every Browns starting quarterback since 1999: Joe Flacco, Tim Couch, Baker Mayfield
Charlie Frye #9
(Streeter Lecka, Getty Images)
10/42
Every Browns starting quarterback since 1999: Joe Flacco, Tim Couch, Baker Mayfield
Derek Anderson #3
(Andy Lyons, Getty Images)
11/42
Every Browns starting quarterback since 1999: Joe Flacco, Tim Couch, Baker Mayfield
Brady Quinn #10
(David Maxwell, Getty Images)
12/42
Every Browns starting quarterback since 1999: Joe Flacco, Tim Couch, Baker Mayfield
Ken Dorsey #11
(Jim McIsaac, Getty Images)
13/42
Every Browns starting quarterback since 1999: Joe Flacco, Tim Couch, Baker Mayfield
Bruce Gradkowski #7
(Gregory Shamus, Getty Images)
14/42
Every Browns starting quarterback since 1999: Joe Flacco, Tim Couch, Baker Mayfield
Seneca Wallace #6
(Matt Sullivan, Getty Images)
15/42
Every Browns starting quarterback since 1999: Joe Flacco, Tim Couch, Baker Mayfield
Jake Delhomme #17
(Rick Stewart, Getty Images)
16/42
Every Browns starting quarterback since 1999: Joe Flacco, Tim Couch, Baker Mayfield
Colt McCoy #12
(Matthew Stockman, Getty Images)
17/42
Every Browns starting quarterback since 1999: Joe Flacco, Tim Couch, Baker Mayfield
Thaddeus Lewis #9
(Jason Miller, Getty Images)
18/42
Every Browns starting quarterback since 1999: Joe Flacco, Tim Couch, Baker Mayfield
Brandon Weeden #3
(Jason Miller, Getty Images)
19/42
Every Browns starting quarterback since 1999: Joe Flacco, Tim Couch, Baker Mayfield
Jason Campbell #17
(Andy Lyons, Getty Images)
20/42
Every Browns starting quarterback since 1999: Joe Flacco, Tim Couch, Baker Mayfield
Brian Hoyer #6
(Jason Miller, Getty Images)
21/42
Every Browns starting quarterback since 1999: Joe Flacco, Tim Couch, Baker Mayfield
Johnny Manziel #2
(Joe Robbins, Getty Images)
22/42
Every Browns starting quarterback since 1999: Joe Flacco, Tim Couch, Baker Mayfield
Connor Shaw #9
(Larry French, Getty Images)
23/42
Every Browns starting quarterback since 1999: Joe Flacco, Tim Couch, Baker Mayfield
Josh McCown #13
(Jeff Zelevansky, Getty Images)
24/42
Every Browns starting quarterback since 1999: Joe Flacco, Tim Couch, Baker Mayfield
Austin Davis #7
(Jason Miller, Getty Images)
25/42
Every Browns starting quarterback since 1999: Joe Flacco, Tim Couch, Baker Mayfield
Cody Kessler #6
(Andy Lyons, Getty Images)
26/42
Every Browns starting quarterback since 1999: Joe Flacco, Tim Couch, Baker Mayfield
Robert Griffin III #10
(Justin K. Aller, Getty Images)
27/42
Every Browns starting quarterback since 1999: Joe Flacco, Tim Couch, Baker Mayfield
DeShone Kizer #7
(Andy Lyons, Getty Images)
28/42
Every Browns starting quarterback since 1999: Joe Flacco, Tim Couch, Baker Mayfield
Kevin Hogan #8
(Jason Miller, Getty Images)
29/42
Every Browns starting quarterback since 1999: Joe Flacco, Tim Couch, Baker Mayfield
Baker Mayfield #6
(Kirk Irwin, Getty Images)
30/42
Every Browns starting quarterback since 1999: Joe Flacco, Tim Couch, Baker Mayfield
Tyrod Taylor #5
(Jason Miller, Getty Images)
31/42
Every Browns starting quarterback since 1999: Joe Flacco, Tim Couch, Baker Mayfield
Case Keenum #5
(Jason Miller, Getty Images)
32/42
Every Browns starting quarterback since 1999: Joe Flacco, Tim Couch, Baker Mayfield
Nick Mullens #9
(Nick Cammett, Getty Images)
33/42
Every Browns starting quarterback since 1999: Joe Flacco, Tim Couch, Baker Mayfield
Jacoby Brissett #7
(Jason Miller, Getty Images)
34/42
Every Browns starting quarterback since 1999: Joe Flacco, Tim Couch, Baker Mayfield
Deshaun Watson #4
(Carmen Mandato, Getty Images)
35/42
Every Browns starting quarterback since 1999: Joe Flacco, Tim Couch, Baker Mayfield
PJ Walker #10
(Gregory Shamus, Getty Images)
36/42
Every Browns starting quarterback since 1999: Joe Flacco, Tim Couch, Baker Mayfield
Jeff Driskel #12
(Andy Lyons, Getty Images)
37/42
Every Browns starting quarterback since 1999: Joe Flacco, Tim Couch, Baker Mayfield
Joe Flacco #15
(Ishika Samant, Getty Images)
38/42
Every Browns starting quarterback since 1999: Joe Flacco, Tim Couch, Baker Mayfield
Dorian Thompson-Robinson #17
(Dylan Buell, Getty Images)
39/42
Every Browns starting quarterback since 1999: Joe Flacco, Tim Couch, Baker Mayfield
Jameis Winston #5
(Chris Graythen, Getty Images)
40/42
Every Browns starting quarterback since 1999: Joe Flacco, Tim Couch, Baker Mayfield
Bailey Zappe #2
(Scott Taetsch, Getty Images)
41/42
Every Browns starting quarterback since 1999: Joe Flacco, Tim Couch, Baker Mayfield
Dillon Gabriel #8
(Julian Finney, Getty Images)
42/42
Every Browns starting quarterback since 1999: Joe Flacco, Tim Couch, Baker Mayfield
Shedeur Sanders #12
(Scott Galvin, Imagn Images)
The Brownsnamed Flacco their Week 1 starterduring training camp in August. Flacco started the first four games for Cleveland this season, going 1-3 to begin his second stint with the Browns before he got benched.
TheBengalswere a somewhat obvious trade partner. BackupJake Browninghad been struggling behind center in relief of the injuredJoe Burrow, and Cincinnati had lost three straight.
Within one week, the 40-year-old Flacco had been traded to a team not only within the AFC North division but within the same state. Ahead of Week 6, Bengals named the newly acquired Flacco their new starting quarterback, replacing Browning as Burrow remains sidelined with a turf toe injury.
The Flacco-led Bengals dropped their Week 6 game to theGreen Bay Packersto fall to 2-4, but the 18-year veteran threw for 219 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions.
Flacco has now started at least one game for every team in the AFC North besides Tomlin's Steelers. His career began in 2008 with theBaltimore Ravens, one year after Tomlin took over as the head coach in Pittsburgh. Flacco played 11 years in Baltimore and has since played out two separate five-game stints with the Browns before joining the Bengals this year.
Tomlin and the Steelers will face Flacco and the Bengals for the first time this season on Thursday night.
Pittsburgh will be gunning for a fourth straight win, while Cincinnati is hoping to stop a four-game slide after a 2-0 start to the season.
