Former Browns’ Assistant Coach Calls Into Cleveland Radio To Advocate For Joe Flacco
Dec 3, 2023; Inglewood, California, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco (15) gestures against the Los Angeles Rams in the first half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Kevin Stefanski isn’t necessarily known for his transparency. The Cleveland Browns’ head coach often gives short and cliched answers to the media, preferring to play all things football related as close to his vest as possible. With the current uncertainty at quarterback, this methodology has started to frustrate the Cleveland faithful after the coach made the odd decision to move Joe Flacco back to the practice squad following his performance on Sunday.
The former Ravens quarterback didn’t put on a Hall of Fame performance this past Sunday, but he provided a level of calm and arm talent that the team hasn’t seen in its other backup options. And it’s not just civilians who are confused by the lack of commitment to the veteran.
Longtime NFL assistant Al Saunders, who had a stint in Cleveland as a senior offensive from 2016-2018 (and also their wide receivers coach for those last two years) and coached Flacco in Baltimore (as a senior offensive assistant with the Ravens from 2009-10) called into 92.3 The Fan’s The Ken Carman Show with Anthony Lima Thursday to voice his displeasure with the move.
“I had to pull over and stop at a rest stop to call you guys,” said Saunders, who happened to be listening to the show while driving through Cleveland. “There is no decision here. I coached Joe Flacco in Baltimore. When the Browns signed Joe, I sent [Browns GM] Andrew Berry and the coaching staff [a text] and said what a great move that was. Because the time to win for Cleveland is now. At 7-5 and you’re going into the stretch run of the season, [quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson] is a great young prospect and you can’t teach experience. And Joe Flacco, his personality, his demeanor, his ability to run an offense in that short period of time was incredible. He’s the perfect guy for the Cleveland Browns to capitalize on where they are in a playoff hunt.”
The argument could be made that this is all purely NFL strategy. Perhaps Stefanski has already decided that Flacco will be his Guy moving forward and is forcing the Jaguars to spend as much time as possible preparing for several options. But it should be noted that Stefanski and the Browns surprised everyone by starting DTR over PJ Walker and there has been a large amount of loyalty paid to the rookie.
It’s a tough situation. The desire to bring along your young quarterback and have him as an experienced option in the future is contrasted with the opportunity available to a roster that, despite dealing with constant injury issues across the board, seems good enough to compete on a week to week basis and get into the playoffs.
Will be interesting to see how Andrew Berry and Kevin Stefanski play things from here.
Al Saunders: Joe Flacco is the perfect guy for the Browns to capitalize on where they are right now https://t.co/vxzbDF3AjY
— 92.3 The Fan (@923TheFan) December 7, 2023
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