ESPN’s Ryan Clark ratcheted up the sports takery to 11 on Monday after the Cleveland Browns named their Week 1 starting quarterback.
In April’s draft, the Browns selected two quarterbacks: Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel in the third round and Colorado’s Shadeur Sanders, who shockingly wasn’t drafted until the fifth round.
But rather than immediately throw one of the rookies into the fire, the Browns announced that 40-year-old Joe Flacco will be the starting quarterback for now over the two rookies and Kenny Pickett. This is Flacco’s second stint with the Browns.
“They were not gonna start Dillon Gabriel or Shadeur Sanders in Week 1,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter said on Monday Night Countdown. “Kenny Pickett had a hamstring injury. It makes it easy to go with Joe Flacco.”
Schefter went on to say that the real question for the Browns is, “Who’s gonna be the backup?”
Clark, a former NFL defensive back, said Flacco has been resurrected.
“I’m gonna tell you what, man,” Clark began. “Joe Flacco must have the faith of a mustard seed, right? Because this is the greatest resurrection since Jesus the Christ. Like, at some point, Joe Flacco was thinking about getting into TV, right? Joe Flacco didn’t have a job. And then, now, you not only coming back and starting for the Cleveland Browns late in the 2023 season, but they came back around to you and you’re now the day one starter for a franchise that just two years ago was in the playoffs. And so when you look at this decision, to me… it was about comfort. This was about the ‘devil I know.’ I know the stability I’m going to get in Joe Flacco.”
Clark went on to say the Browns have bought themselves some time to decide whether Gabriel or Sanders will be their quarterback of the future.
Watch above via ESPN.