Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco has the support of Myles Garrett.
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Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco has the support of Myles Garrett.
Joe Flacco has already earned the trust of the Cleveland Browns and the respect of the locker room, with All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett among those voicing support as the team navigates a crowded quarterback competition.
The Browns are staging a four-man competition during training camp and the preseason. The group of passers includes Flacco, as well as Kenny Pickett and rookies Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel.
Flacco has a leg up on the other three quarterbacks thanks to his stint with the Browns in 2023. He’s proven he can operate in Kevin Stefanski’s offense. Flacco went 4-1 as the starter to close out the regular season, passing for 1,616 yards, 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions over that span. Flacco helped lead the Browns to the postseason but Cleveland was blown out in the Wild Card game, 45-14.
Garrett and other Browns veterans sound content to roll with Flacco to open up the regular season, per Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com.
“He’s already felt the love from Browns fans, and has the full support of big-time veterans such as All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett,” Cabot said. “Flacco might not get many as many snaps in practice as the others because he doesn’t need them, but the Browns know what he can do.”
Myles Garrett Said He Knew QB Plans After Extension
Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett signed a massive extension this offseason.
Getty ImagesCleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett signed a massive extension this offseason.
Shortly after signing an extension with the Browns and putting his trade demand behind him, Garrett hinted at knowing the team’s plans at quarterback.
“After conversations, I do have an idea,” Garrett said. “I like it [the idea] enough to be here smiling in front of you, because I think we have a good chance of that happening and making the most out of it.”
Shortly after locking in Garrett, the Browns traded for Pickett. Flacco signed later as a free agent in April. Then Cleveland brought in a pair of rookies in Gabriel and Sanders. Andrew Berry said acquiring a pair of rookie passers was not the plan, but Sanders’ slide in the draft changed their strategy.
“We felt like it wasn’t necessarily the plan going into the weekend to select two quarterbacks,” Berry told reporters after the draft. “But as we talk about, we do believe in best player available, we do believe in positional value, and we didn’t necessarily expect him to be available in the fifth round. We love adding competition to every position room and adding him to compete with the guys that are already in there. We felt like that was the appropriate thing to do.”
Myles Garrett Explained Trade Demand to Browns Teammates
Browns star Myles Garrett spoke with teammates about his trade demand.
Getty ImagesBrowns star Myles Garrett spoke with teammates about his trade demand.
Garrett initially stood firm on his trade demand, expressing a desire to play for a contender. But a four-year, $160 million extension ultimately swayed him to stay. Now, he’ll have to move forward as a leader of a team he previously criticized publicly.
“I’ve talked to (my teammates), and they understand it’s a business,” Garrett said. “We love what we do, and I love this team, and they understand that I was trying to do what’s best for me. And after talking with them, like I said months ago, talking with AB (general manager Andrew Berry) and (coach) Kevin (Stefanski) about what’s best for me and what’s best for this team, eventually that aligned and we’re looking forward to the future of this team.”
The Browns enter the season with the lowest projected win total at 5.5, a clear signal of the doubt surrounding their roster. To exceed those expectations, Garrett will need to anchor the defense with a dominant campaign, and the quarterback — whoever it is — must provide the consistency.