CLEVELAND, Ohio — Browns quarterback Joe Flacco took questions from reporters on Wednesday with regard to returning to Baltimore to play his former team, Lamar Jackson, and more.
Below is the transcript as provided by the Browns media relations department:
Are you surprised at this point that how long it’s been since you were in Baltimore that this is the first time you’re going back and playing a game there and I guess, like, what emotions come with that for you?
“Yeah, I mean, listen, I got to play them a couple years ago, but going back to Baltimore is definitely a little bit different story. It is somewhat surprising, honestly, because I’ve been going for a decent amount of time now, so the fact that I haven’t had a chance to go back is a little surprising.”
How do you feel about the (Baltimore) Ravens celebrating their 30th anniversary… you know, the history of these franchises.
“Yeah, you know, it’s funny because that isn’t the first thing that I think about, you know, not being from here, but I can understand how that looks. And listen, they do these things, and I think you can take it however you want. If you’re from Cleveland, you can take it one way, and if you’re from Baltimore, you can say it’s not a big deal. It’s just one of those things. Honestly, for me, it kind of makes it more exciting. You know, we get to go in there when they’re throwing, you know, when they’re having some people back and just more ex-players, more eyes on you. It’ll make it more interesting.”
Joe, you ever gone against a defensive coordinator who’s your former teammate?
“I’m assuming this is the first time. I don’t know if I’ll ever get another opportunity. You know, Zach (Orr), man, just super, well liked player, awesome player, unfortunate, you know, that he wasn’t able to have a longer career, but obviously, he’s right where he wants to be, so it’s pretty cool.”
So just for the record, did you leave the Ravens on good terms?
“I think so. You know, we all know kind of the story there and yeah, like, I have nothing but love for the people in that facility and the people in that city. I mean, for sure, it’s one of those things, like, in the NFL, you know, there’s a business side of it and things happen. I’m fortunate to be where I am today and be in this position, but I have nothing but love for that city and for that organization. I mean, I was a small school guy that they took a little bit of a chance on early on in the draft and kind of… I have so many good memories with those people in that city and that stadium, so very special place.”
Is it special for you to go back there?
“Listen, it’s been a while now, so you kind of just…I think I’m very capable of just seeing it as another division game. But it will be cool to go back in that stadium. I haven’t had a chance to do it since I played there. I really love playing there. It’s an awesome place to play. It’s an awesome venue. It’s an awesome atmosphere. They do a great job. So, I love playing there. So, I think in that respect, it will be pretty cool to go back for sure.”
Is it kind of weird that you haven’t been back there? Like, the schedule hasn’t worked out where you’ve been there. And what do you think, the fans, how do you think they’re going to react to you?
“Yeah, who knows? I mean, listen, I love the fans there, and I think they have good memories of me playing football there. So, you know, I don’t think anybody’s going to be crazy bad. But at the same time, they’re rooting for their Ravens, so that’s what you can expect.”
How hard is going to be though, you’re the quarterback of the Cleveland Browns and they’re going to be celebrating you in some respects because you brought them a Super Bowl?
“I guess it’s kind of, you know, maybe strange from the outside in, but like I said, it’s probably just not too often that you get these opportunities and there’s a guy that’s still playing, because usually they take a little time in between things. And it’s crazy that they’ve been around, the Baltimore Ravens have been around for 30 years now. It’s kind of actually kind of crazy to think about. But, yeah, I think like I said earlier, that’ll kind of make it a little bit more interesting, a little bit more fun. There’ll be ex-players there with some eyes on the game and it should make it fun.”
Joe, you talk about that with all the ex-players being there and the big celebration of the hoopla that’s going to be going on. Did you need any more excitement? You know, I mean, is it just going back there, don’t you think it’s going to be so crazy?
“No, you don’t need any more excitement. And I honestly don’t think that you’re like, as players and like, if you’re watching the game on TV, I don’t really think you’re going to feel that side of it. That’s just something that’s going to be there for the people in attendance and at halftime. I mean, and I’ll probably head out 10 minutes earlier to say hello to a couple guys. Got a lot of people coming to the game because it’s an easy little drive down from Jersey and a lot of people that have a lot of memories watching me play in that stadium. So, I think it’s kind of cool for them. For me, it is. It’s another…yeah, I got to prepare to play another football game, but I think when you look at, like, the outside of it, there’s going to be some people that kind of get to have some fun with this.”
Will you be able to keep your emotions in check?
“Yeah, yeah, no, for sure. Yeah, for sure. I mean, listen, even if I’m not, you’re not going to know. So, you know, listen, I’ve been criticized my whole career for not being able to show any emotion, so I think that’s the last thing you have to worry about with me.”
Joe, what can the offense do to build on what you guys did last week?
“We just got to play a little bit cleaner. I think we…listen, we have a lot of ability to do some really good things this year. We just got to make sure that we clean up some things and don’t get in our own way.”
**From being with him, did you ever expect Lamar Jackson’s stardom to rise like it has?**“Well, I mean, it’s such a tough question to answer about anybody, but I think he was able to show pretty early on what he was capable of. I mean, he came in the year I was there and won football games, and then right away the next year got off to an awesome start. So, I think he very quickly was able to show who he is, and that’s a testament to the work he’s put in and just the type of athlete he is.”
People talk a lot about his like you mentioned his athleticism, and that’s the stuff that people notice because he’s the standout skill. But how much has he grown as a passer and a processor of defense?
“Well, I think he’s just…he’s a good football player. So, he sees the field in a certain way, and I think when you’re able to do that, then you’re able to get better at things and become who you want to be in all facets of the game. I think that’s the important thing. He’s out there playing football and the way he sees the field is probably unique to himself, and that’s why he’s able to do all those things.”
How much of a relationship do you still have with Lamar (Jackson)? Like, do you guys stay in touch at all?
“We don’t stay in touch, but, I mean, we saw each other a couple years ago. I think we put a smile on each other’s faces and, you know, I enjoyed being with him, and I’m kind of like that with pretty much everybody I play with. It’s not like that I keep directly in touch with them. But, yeah, when we see each other, it’ll be like right back in 2018.”
Joe, it didn’t feel like there were a whole lot of downfield shots against the (Cincnnati) Bengals. Was that game plan or just what Cincinnati was doing
“Probably, you know, a little bit of both. But I think just what we’re doing, we had success with, you know, I think were able to hit some checkdowns that kind of acted as part of the run game, and were able to get some chunks, but just kind of in the intermediate area and not have to throw the ball down the field that much. You know, sometimes when you want to throw the ball down the field, you call plays to do it, and it doesn’t end up happening, and it’s week to week. So, in that respect, it’s probably just more based on the coverages that they played when we call certain plays.”
Similar to the Lamar (Jackson) question I asked you. When you were coming out, a lot of the excitement about you as a young player was the size, the arm strength. How important was it for you to be able to develop the mental process and developing how to run the defense?
“Well, listen, I think processing and being able to just see the field and make quick decisions, I think that’s always important. Because at the end of the day, when you’re playing against good defenses, they’re going to force you to do that at some point, and you have to be able to stand in there and make that happen. So, it was a very important thing for me to develop.”
It looks like Quinshon (Judkins) will be back with you guys on the field at least tomorrow and maybe play on Sunday. How great would it be for you to have him back on the playing field?
“Yeah, listen, I think anytime we get to have our full 53 and the guys that are going to make an impact for us here with us, it’s exciting. Listen, obviously he hasn’t gotten the reps and been at it, you know, for all a training camp and things like that, but we’re going to…I’m sure we’re going to try to get his legs in there and get him some reps as quickly as we can to kind of bring him up to speed. So, like I said, anytime you get one of your guys back that you feel like can make an impact, it’s an exciting thing.”
Joe, what is it about the Ravens culture defensively? It doesn’t matter, personnel on the field doesn’t seem to matter, coordinator or scheme. They just always seem to play a very hard, tough, physical brand of defensive football.
“Listen, I think when you make things important and when you, like, truly, you don’t just put them on the board, like you truly make it an important part of who you are as a football team, then you tend to kind of go in that direction. And I think, you know, ever since kind of Ray (Lewis) was drafted and then Ed (Reed) and (Terrell) Suggs and Haloti (Ngata) and all these guys, but I think it probably started with Ray (Lewis). That became the culture, and I think they were able to win with that pretty quickly, and I think they saw as an organization the importance of what that type of style of play can do for you, and they made a point to make it part of their identity, and I think the people that they have in that building have carried that through for the last 30 years and that’s why it happens. They definitely emphasize it, and therefore it actually comes to fruition on Sundays.”
Did you have that conversation with Andre (Szmyt) over darts and are you glad that he’s getting another chance?
“Of course. No, I did not have the conversation yet over darts. We haven’t played yet this week, but of course I’m glad. Listen, that’s what this league’s about. It’s next game up, next play up. All that really matters is what you do come going forward. So, I’m excited for him, and I’m excited for our team, you know, always to get that next opportunity.”
Is this right up there just in terms of magnitude and emotion for games that you’ve played in your career? I mean, I know it’s not a playoff game or anything like that, but I mean, just going back there for the first time?
“I mean, listen, I’d probably say no because there has been so many important games that I’ve played in my career. But I don’t think you can answer that until you go there and you kind of feel what it is. Like I said, I think it has been a decent amount of time. So just in terms of, like, the team versus the team, like, there’s very few guys that I recognize, you know, on that team anymore. I mean, Marlon (Humphrey) was there, and Lamar (Jackson) was there and Mark Andrews was there, but it’s a different football team. And the coaching staff, the people in the building, I think it’s cool to go back and play there for that reason – for some of those people. It’s going to be cool to go back and just play there because they got unbelievable fans that bring a lot of energy to that stadium. I think those are just, I don’t know if it’s like a special thing in my mind or I’m just excited to play in a cool atmosphere. I love playing in stadiums that, you know, have fans that are into the game and make it feel that much more interesting. This is one of those places. It always has been one of those places, that is also one of those places. It’s an awesome place to play just because of the energy that fan base brings into that stadium every Sunday. So, I’m just excited to kind of play in that atmosphere. Just as you would be as a young kid, you know, if somebody told you’re going to play in front of 100,000 at Notre Dame or Penn State or something like that, I think that’s the cool part of it for me. And obviously I’ve never done it as an away player, but I can remember being in that stadium and they get loud and I’ve seen some, you know, some things. So, it’s going to be a lot of fun and definitely a challenge.”
You know, we know Ozzie Newsome from here for all those years. What was he like from a player’s perspective to have in that organization?
“I think you just looked at Ozzie (Newsome) and you’re like, ‘man, like, look at all he’s done.’ Like, he just had that way about him. And I think as players, you respected it so much just because he had done so much in this league as a player. And anytime you see that, you know, it’s hard not to just have the utmost respect for that person and then obviously to go on and do what he’s done after that and kind of the role that he’s played in that organization and, you know, if you talk about, like, the defense, they’ve built and all those things. I think he’s one of those guys that’s right up there in terms of building that type of culture.”
Would you say in terms of emotion then that 2022-meeting against Baltimore, when you were with the (New York) Jets, because you had more players that you knew on that team?
“I definitely think playing them in the past and getting that kind of getting that little bit out of the way, I do think that was probably – even though it wasn’t in Baltimore, like just from a playing the Baltimore Ravens, like getting that out of the way already will make this a little bit easier. I know it’s different, like I said, because we’re going back to Baltimore, but just in terms of playing your old team and the emotions that come with that because listen, I mean, like I said, we were on good terms when I left. But at the same time, you know, it’s natural to feel a certain way when you’re going against a team that you’re not playing for anymore. I’ve been a part of other players that do that and you kind of try to act normal, but it is a big deal. You do want to go beat them, and it’s a little bit of a difference. So, I think the fact that I’ve done that, you know, been in that kind of environment before this game will be a little bit, you know, a little bit more normal because I’ve already done it.”
Was that game one of your more frustrating losses then, because you had a 300-yard game, but still…
“Well, it was a 300-yard game, but I guarantee like, you know, they beat us up pretty good. I mean we did, I feel like we had a chance like because we did hold them in check a little bit for a little bit of time. But like if I – like I threw a touchdown late that didn’t mean anything. It was a 300-yard game that wasn’t like. I don’t think it really meant much. It was disappointing to lose to them for sure, but not because I threw for 300 or anything like that.”
Have you had any back and forth with Coach (John) Harbaugh at all?
“I haven’t. I mean we have over the last year. I mean for sure, but not this week. Man, it’s crazy to think though, I mean, me and John (Harbaugh) came in together. I can picture myself up in his office my rookie year as were getting ready to make a playoff run. Just kind of looking at each other like, ‘man, how cool is this?’ So, it’s also pretty cool that, you know, we’re 18 years in and still doing this thing. So, you know, anytime you have, that kind of…anytime you’ve been through the kind of stuff that we’ve been through together, you have a pretty cool relationship.”
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