There’s one reason that 40-year-old Joe Flacco rose to the top of a packed quarterback room in Cleveland: Consistency.
Flacco was named starting quarterback of the Browns, the team announced earlier this week. He beat out two drafted rookies, Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel, and a host of NFL veterans, most remain sidelined with injuries.
The pressure will certainly be on in Cleveland for the Browns to give a rookie a shot, especially with the allure of Sanders, son of an NFL legend, who draws eyeballs to the screen, TV networks report. One NFL insider predicts that Flacco will be benched midseason as the team’s first six games are brutal.
But for now, they’ll be led by the 2012 Super Bowl MVP looking to continue his good play at an old age.
Why was Joe Flacco Named Starter of the Browns?
Bill Musgrave, longtime NFL coach and current Browns quarterback coach, was asked by Andrew Siciliano, who does play-by-play for Cleveland radio, why Flacco was named the starter.
“Consistency,” Musgrave said. “Joe’s been there, done it, (a) tremendous body of work. And you said it, about health factors, availability. Joe lined up day in and day out and put the work in. That’s a lot of life — not just sports — but being available. Showing up for work no matter what.”
Siciliano asks, “Does Joe still have that magic?”
“I’m sure he does, he looks great out there at practice,” Musgrave responds.
“He leads a lot by example. When you watch Joe throw the football on the practice field and during the games, you’d follow him anywhere. You’d follow him into the desert looking for water without a canteen. The guy can throw the ball like only four or five guys who’ve ever walked the face of the earth.”
Browns Rookies Have Made Positive Strides, Some Setbacks
The Browns signed Kenny Pickett in the offseason and recently added Tyler Huntley to cover for injuries to Pickett (hamstring) and Sanders (oblique).
“(Sanders) pulled his love handle there in Philadelphia,” Musgrave joked. “That’s a big baseball injury … that’s a common injury. But he’s come back quickly which is great.”
The Browns faced the Philadelphia Eagles in their second preseason game. But Sanders started the first preseason game on Aug. 8, and had a great debut. He went 14-for-23, for 138 passing yards and two touchdowns.
Getty ImagesBrowns QB Shedeur Sanders responded to recent comments from Dillon Gabriel.
Musgrave said Sanders returned to the practice field on Aug. 22., but is not 100%.
Gabriel, who was drafted higher than Sanders, started the second preseason game, where he went 13-for-18, for 143 passing yards, and had one interception.
“(Gabriel) did a lot of things on the field that we see everyday in practice,” Musgrave. “The ball comes out on time. It’s accurate as all get out. Now, he pulled some rookie mistakes … we want to, of course, minimize those instances.
Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said that Flacco will start the final preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams on Aug. 22. Gabriel and Sanders are also expected to play.
The Browns open the season at home against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 7 at 1 p.m. EDT.
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