Joe Flacco doesn't quite remember the last time he was in a true quarterback competition.
It could date back as far as his high school days, working to earn the starting job at Audubon High School in New Jersey. But now, as Flacco took the field during organized team activities (OTAs) alongside Kenny Pickett, Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders, the Browns quarterback competition is officially underway.
Yet, Flacco and Pickett both are not focused on the outcome of the quarterback competition. Pickett said he is approaching every competition the same as he has in previous years and is working to the improve daily with the new system and new teammates.
"I'm just taking a day at a time and working really hard," Pickett said. "I just want to be as prepared as I can be when the opportunity comes. And every chance I get out here to put on good tape and play well, and we'll see where the chips fall."
The Browns are in Phase Three of the offseason program, which ends with mandatory minicamp from June 10-12. When they take their reps on the field during individual, 7-on-7 or 11-on-11 drills, they both are focused on playing football and improving every day in the Browns' offensive system.
"I'm just kind of going out there and doing what I do and everything else is kind of out of my control," Flacco said. "It's fun to get back out there and actually play a little football again. It's funny. It's like every time I go out here in the offseason, I've done it a million times, but it's like there's a little piece of you is like, all right, let's see if I still know how to read it and let it go and do all those things. So, it's good to get back out there and start doing it again."