CINCINNATI, Ohio — Steelers coach Mike Tomlin raised eyebrows when he took a shot at the Browns and general manager Andrew Berry for trading Week 1 starter Joe Flacco to their in-state rivals in the Bengals.
“To be honest, it was shocking to me,” Tomlin told reporters in Pittsburgh on Monday. “Andrew Berry must be a lot smarter than me or us because it doesn’t make sense to me to trade a quarterback that you think enough to make your opening day starter to a division opponent that’s hurting in that area. But that’s just my personal feelings.”
Shortly after those comments, Bengals coach Zac Taylor was asked about what Tomlin said.
“I was happy,” Taylor told reporters. “That’s my only comment.”
Flacco made his first start for the Bengals on Sunday in their 27-18 loss to the Packers in Green Bay. In the loss, Flacco and the Bengals scored all 18 of their points after halftime.
Flacco was 29 of 45 passing for 219 yards and two touchdowns, giving him a traditional quarterback rating of 90.9.
The Bengals scored on each of their first three drives of the second half after being shut out in the first two quarters.
Flacco and the Bengals will host the Steelers on Thursday night.
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