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USA Today
28-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Joe Flacco praises Shedeur Sanders, but says being mentor 'not the main focus'
Joe Flacco praises Shedeur Sanders, but says being mentor 'not the main focus' Show Caption Hide Caption Shedeur Sanders not feeling pressure from his doubters After sliding in the NFL Draft, Shedeur Sanders explains why he's not bothered by his many doubters as Browns career begins. Sports Pulse Joe Flacco made it clear Wednesday he wants to be known as more than a potential mentor to the Cleveland Browns' young quarterback room. Flacco, entering his 18th NFL season, said he doesn't have any fundamental issues aiding 26-year-old Kenny Pickett, 24-year-old Dillon Gabriel and 23-year-old Shedeur Sanders as the young trio gets acclimated in Cleveland. The 40-year-old simply wants to focus on playing at as high a level as possible after signing a one-year, $4 million deal with the Browns. "It's not really about that. It's just not the main focus," Flacco said at the second day of Cleveland's OTAs Wednesday when asked about being a mentor. "I see myself as a guy that can play in this league. So, if your main focus was just like, 'hey, but I'm going to get you ready,' you're just not taking care of business." How does Flacco envision his potential role as a mentor? He sees himself as more of a lead-by-example type who will benefit from being on the field. "The best way to be a mentor, honestly, is to show people how you go to work and like I said, hope that they pick up on that stuff, but not necessarily force them to pick up on the things that you do," Flacco said. 'ANOTHER LIE': Shedeur Sanders disputes custom Rolls-Royce rumor Flacco has been given an early opportunity to test that theory. He appears to have the early edge in the Browns' starting quarterback battle after beginning OTAs as Cleveland's first-team quarterback. Whether that lasts may depend on how Pickett, Gabriel and Sanders progress as the season draws near. Flacco – the Super Bowl 47 MVP and 2023 NFL Comeback Player of the Year – is welcoming the competition. He also said he is enjoying the vibe in the team's quarterback room and working with younger quarterbacks like Sanders. "Shedeur has been great. I mean, he's a lot of fun to be around in those meeting rooms," Flacco said, per ESPN. "I think so far, there's been at least once in the meeting room that he's made me crack a smile, and that's what it's all about. You know, he's a young guy trying to learn some football and come out here and practice well and do those things. And like I said, he's been a lot of fun. I probably wasn't too far away from playing against his dad, and now I'm playing with him."
USA Today
28-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Joe Burrow wins award as Bengals start OTAs
Joe Burrow wins award as Bengals start OTAs Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow was with his team on Tuesday as OTAs got started. He was also winning awards in the process. Burrow was voted the 2025 George Halas Award winner by the PFWA, an honor presented annually to a player, coach, or other individual who overcomes the most adversity. RELATED: Shemar Stewart's contract beef with Bengals revealed in report Thematically, it follows Burrow's triumph of reeling in his second NFL Comeback Player of the Year award this year after his return from injury to throw for 4,918 yards and 43 scores. From a Bengals franchise perspective, Burrow joins Tim Krumrie (1990) and Mike Zimmer (2010) as winners of the award. RELATED: Bengals takeaways and thoughts on Jermaine Burton, contract drama
Time of India
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Geno Smith sends out a gratitude message for Pete Carroll, saying there is ‘unfinished business' with the Raiders
There was a time when Geno Smith 's career stood still, and Pete Carroll came to his rescue. This time, it happened again. Smith was traded from the Seattle Seahawks to the Las Vegas Raiders last month. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now He has been selected for a third-round pick in the 2025 NFL draft for a two-year contract of two years- with a net worth of $75 million with the Las Vegas Raiders. The Las Vegas Raiders turn out to be a golden light for Geno Smith as he reunites with his former Coach As he commences his new innings with the Raiders once again, he said, 'I think there is unfinished business.' NBC Sports shared some of the past comments of Geno Smith, where he described his relationship with Carroll and the strong bond they share. These comments were made during the 2022 NFL Comeback Player of the Year . Commenting on the past moment, Smith said, 'When people think about my story, Coach Carroll was a big part of that. He gave me an opportunity when not many people would have, and he saw the hard work that I was putting in.' 'To be able to play for him and to be a part of this organization, it means everything to me and my family,' he added. 'He saw the things behind the scenes that I do that allowed me to get this opportunity,' Smith said. Geno Smith was once again introduced to Carroll this Monday, April 7, by the Raiders. The deal signed between the duo makes him eligible through the 2027 season to give the Raiders a two-time Pro Bowl quarterback. Carroll has a strong confidence in Smith as he said, 'He's going to bring us great stability and belief in the kinds of things that we stand for.' 'His habits are so stellar. The way he works, the way he looks at the game, the way he looks at the challenges of it all is exactly in line with the way we think. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now He'll represent us in magnificent fashion. I think it gives us instant stability in a crucial spot,' Carroll said. Geno Smith has spent six years with the Seattle Seahawks. He scored 4,320 yards and 21 touchdowns with 15 interceptions last season. He was honored with the NFL Comeback Player of the Year Honors. Also read:
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Browns' signing of Joe Flacco tells us something about Kirk Cousins and also the NFL Draft
Browns' signing of Joe Flacco tells us something about Kirk Cousins and also the NFL Draft The news of Joe Flacco signing with the Cleveland Browns wasn't surprising. It's a reunion that's high on comfort, after Flacco won NFL Comeback Player of the Year two years ago in Cleveland, and low on upside. It also doesn't move the needle much for the 2025 Browns. In a perfect world, Flacco replicates what he did two seasons ago, but that becomes less likely at 40 years old. But it does offer clues about the other quarterback moves around the NFL. The Browns had always been a reasonable landing place for Kirk Cousins in a possible trade, or a team that could make moves to draft a quarterback on Day 1. With a quarterback room of Flacco, Kenny Pickett and whatever Deshaun Watson is to the team at this point, adding another high-profile quarterback seems unlikely. Now what happens? Where will Kirk Cousins be? As the offseason started it seemed impossible that Cousins would be on the Falcons. But the Falcons never seemed to agree with that. The Falcons held onto Cousins as the offseason started. They paid a $10 million bonus early in the league year. There has been no strong sign the Falcons would trade Cousins, not that it stopped the speculation. Kirk Cousins remains with the Atlanta Falcons with the NFL Draft coming up soon. (Photo by) Going back to last year, Atlanta has thought about the quarterback position in a different way. The Falcons drafted Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth overall pick of the draft after signing Cousins and were widely mocked. That move looked smart when Cousins bombed, and Penix looked good late in the season. The Falcons committed to Penix as their starter for 2025 but didn't dump Cousins. They'd already committed to a good portion of his $180 million contract and didn't want to get rid of him with nothing in return. So they're paying for a high-priced backup. It's unusual, but there is value in having a reliable backup. Probably more value than whatever late-round pick the Falcons might get back for Cousins in a trade. Yet, the Browns option always seemed possible and not just because Cousins was spotted getting Chipotle in Ohio. It would be very unusual for the Browns to add Pickett, then add Flacco and then trade for Cousins in one offseason. With Cousins presumably off the table, it doesn't seem there are any options for Cousins other than the Falcons, unless the Pittsburgh Steelers get stood up by Aaron Rodgers or there's a quarterback injury down the line. Any idea that the Browns could still draft a quarterback like Shedeur Sanders is probably out as well. What's the Browns' long-term QB plan? It seemed obvious over the past few weeks the Browns weren't going with a quarterback at second overall. Travis Hunter at No. 2 is getting a lot of buzz, and Abdul Carter is still a great option, but there hasn't been much talk about Sanders. While signing a 40-year-old Flacco shouldn't change the Browns' draft plans in any way, it is a sign they don't think any of the quarterbacks in this year's class are legitimate options to play in 2025. That doesn't mean the Browns couldn't take a long-term project later in the draft, but it wouldn't make sense to invest in one of the top quarterbacks and add him to a room that includes Flacco and former first-round pick Pickett. The Browns' plan at quarterback is hazy, to say the least, but it seems they're waiting for 2026's quarterback class to make a commitment. Flacco gives the Browns a veteran option, and the team is hoping he can replicate his wholly unexpected finish to the 2023 season in which he helped the Browns make the playoffs. Flacco didn't look great last season for the Indianapolis Colts, but maybe being back in head coach Kevin Stefanski's offense will reinvigorate him. Most likely it'll be a forgettable move for a team that won't compete in the AFC North this season. But elsewhere in the NFL, it had some impact.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cleveland Browns sign veteran quarterback Joe Flacco
April 11 (UPI) -- The Cleveland Browns signed veteran quarterback Joe Flacco, the team announced Friday. Flacco's agency, JL Sports Agency, said the pact is for one year and $4 million, but can reach a maximum value of $13 million if he reaches incentives. Advertisement Flacco will join a Browns quarterbacks room that includes Kenny Picket and Deshaun Watson. Watson is expected to miss significant time because of an Achilles injury. The Browns ranked 28th in passing touchdowns and 22nd in passing yards last season. They ranked 22nd or worse in passing yards in five of the last six seasons. Their best season during that span was in 2023, when they totaled the 19th-most passing yards while Flacco was on their roster. Joe Flacco, shown with Dana Grady, won NFL Comeback Player of the Year honors for his success with the Cleveland Browns in 2023-24. File Photo by James Atoa/UPI The move to sign Flacco came a day after Watson made comments in a video posted to his Instagram account. saying he expects to be "way better" than he was during his Pro Bowl years while with the Houston Texans. Advertisement Watson, who signed a five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed contract with the Browns in 2022, is to make $46 million over each of the next two seasons. But that future is murky based on his injury history, underperformance and recent comments from Browns owner Jimmy Haslam, who said last week that the Browns took a "big swing-and-miss" by acquiring Watson. Quarterback Joe Flacco spent three seasons with the New York Jets. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI Flacco is now expected to top the Browns depth chart at quarterback. The 17-year-veteran, who was named Comeback Player of the Year in 2023 while with the Browns, completed 65.3% of his throws for 1,761 yards, 12 scores and seven interceptions over eight appearances last season for the Indianapolis Colts. Flacco, 40, completed 61.7% of his throws for 45,697 yards, 257 scores and 162 interceptions over the first 196 appearances of his NFL career. He is 105-86 as a starter. Flacco also owns a 10-6 postseason record, including his 2012-13 Super Bowl winning run with the Baltimore Ravens.
