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Colts’ Joe Flacco says Browns never made NFL free agency contract offer in 2024 | News, results, highlights, statistics and rumors

Colts’ Joe Flacco says Browns never made NFL free agency contract offer in 2024 | News, results, highlights, statistics and rumors

Justin Casterline/Getty Images

Joe Flacco came off the bench to replace the injured Anthony Richardson on Sunday and threw for 168 yards and two touchdowns while leading the Indianapolis Colts to a 27-24 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

It was the kind of performance that helped save the Cleveland Browns’ season last year when Flacco was forced into the starting role, but the veteran quarterback told Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio that he never got one in the offseason Received an offer from the Browns to serve as Deshaun Watson’s replacement.

The Browns chose Jameis Winston as the No. 2 option, and at this point it might not be long before he’s the starter. Watson has been poor in Cleveland’s disappointing 1-3 start, throwing for 727 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions while completing just 61.5 percent of his passes and racking up 19 sacks.

His QBR of 23.8 ranks 32nd in the NFL, while his quarterback rating of 74.4 ranks him 29th.

In contrast, in his five starts last season, Flacco threw for 1,616 yards, 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions, completing 60.3 percent of his passes and recording just eight sacks. Not exactly the stuff dreams are made of, but significantly better than what Watson – the man with the fully guaranteed $230 million contract – has offered this season.

Ralph Vacchiano @Ralph Vacchiano

There are two 3/4 seasons left on Deshaun Watson’s fully guaranteed, $230 million contract.
On the bright side, according to OverTheCap, if the Browns were to cut him after the season, only $172.7 million in “dead money” would remain on their books. pic.twitter.com/fMotjNhyHc

Andreas Brandt @Andrew Brandt

Still, three years later, he has the strongest contract in NFL history.
And he seems to be not just part of the losing, but one of the main reasons for it.#DeshaunWatson

Jason Cole @JasonCole62

Deshaun Watson, 2 minutes left, first down at Raiders 17, trailing 20-16
First Down – Botched snap up the middle, 6 losses
Second Down – knocked down pass
Third Down – Underneath complete for 11
Fourth down – dismissed
It’s like the story of his time in Cleveland in four pieces

Yes, Flacco’s time with Cleveland ended in disappointment as he threw two interceptions in the team’s 45-14 loss to the Houston Texans in the Wild Card round. But Flacco actually got the Browns into the playoffs, going 4-1 as a starter, while Watson appears primed to have the Browns in the top five of the NFL draft next offseason.

“We’re not doing enough,” Watson said told reporters after Sunday’s defeat. “So it starts with me. If I want to be the quarterback of this offense, we all have to be on top of our game, and right now we’re not doing enough to get the W. You can do this.” Definitely put it on me.

The Browns have enough problems right now that keeping Flacco probably wouldn’t have solved it. But Browns fans can hardly be blamed for noticing the contrast in the team’s play between Flacco’s brief stint as a starter and Watson’s time as coach.