“We’d absolutely love to have Joe back,” said Berry.”He’s a good quarterback.” Flacco, who celebrated his 39th birthday on January 16, joined the Browns as a free agent after starting quarterback Deshaun Watson suffered a season-ending shoulder injury. Before Flacco’s arrival, the Browns had utilized P.J. Walker and rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson as starters. During the regular season with Flacco at the helm, the Browns achieved a 4-1 record, with Flacco setting a franchise record by throwing for 300-plus yards in each of the last four games, all resulting in wins. In total, Flacco completed 60.3 percent of his passes for 1,616 yards, 13 touchdowns, and eight interceptions.
Despite the Browns falling to the Houston Texans 45-14 in the first round of the AFC playoffs, Berry commended Flacco for his contributions. “He played winning football for us,” Berry stated. “He did a great job of coming in and really playing at a high level that allowed us to go on a run at the end of the year.”
Berry drew parallels between Flacco’s situation and the 2022 season when Jacoby Brissett stepped in as the starting quarterback during Watson’s suspension. Brissett’s solid performance led to a free-agent signing with the Washington Commanders in 2023.
While Berry expressed a desire to bring back all their good players, he acknowledged constraints related to availability and cost. He is open to carrying three quarterbacks on the roster, but emphasized that Watson, with his significant $230 million contract, remains the starter without any consideration of a change.
Regarding Thompson-Robinson, Berry noted that the young quarterback, with his mobility and strong arm, remains in contention for a quarterback spot in the upcoming season.
“In terms of the quarterback room, we’ve always valued the quarterback position,” Berry explained. “I believe backup quarterback is a top-30 position on the roster. We do believe in carrying three.” The Browns are carefully considering their options as they plan for the 2024 season, aiming to build a competitive and well-rounded roster.
(Inputs from Reuters)
