The Cleveland Browns traded veteran quarterback Joe Flacco to the Cincinnati Bengals on Tuesday, prompting a reaction from rookie passer Shedeur Sanders.
Cleveland sent Flacco and a sixth-round pick to Cincinnati in exchange for a fifth-round selection. It marked a rare intra-division deal between the Browns and Bengals — the first since Cleveland rejoined the NFL in 1999.
The move further thins out the Browns’ quarterback room, creating an opportunity for Sanders, who has been buried on the depth chart since being drafted in the fifth round. All signs point to the Colorado product moving up to the No. 2 spot behind starter Dillon Gabriel. Sanders has served as the Browns’ emergency No. 3 quarterback through the first five weeks of the season.
Despite the shake-up, Sanders expressed happiness that Flacco will get another chance to start in Cincinnati. Flacco opened the season 1-3 as Cleveland’s starter before being benched.
“Flacco getting traded, he’s definitely somebody I leaned on for wisdom, and I feel like he helped me a lot,” Sanders told Fox8 News. “He helped me a lot with my time being here in Cleveland, and his time being here in Cleveland, so now everybody has their own destinies and has their own plans they have in life, so I’m just happy for him.”
The move was a shock for most, including Sanders.
“He told me, and I’m like, ‘Dang, that happened quick,’” Sanders said. “Like that was crazy.”
Browns QB Shedeur Sanders Had Good Relationship With Joe Flacco
The quarterback chatter in Cleveland was a national talking point. But Flacco and Sanders — who is 17 years younger than Flacco — appeared to have a solid relationship.
“Joe’s the old guy in the room, so I joke with Joe all the time every day I see him,” Sanders said in training camp. “I can’t tell you all my jokes, but whenever you see them or they’re mic’d up or anything, all that stuff is real. It’s spur of the moment and then after that, it’s time to lock back in. Our minds are always consistently and constantly moving.”
The Browns are now down to two rookie quarterbacks on the active roster. Cleveland also has Bailey Zappe on the practice squad and the fourth-year pro could be signed to the active roster, perhaps even bumping Sanders from the No. 2 spot.
The Browns‘ $230 million quarterback, Deshaun Watson, is also lurking but is not ready to return to practice. Watson is recovering from a torn Achilles.
Deion Sanders Slams Browns After Joe Flacco Trade
While Shedeur gave a thoughtful response to the Flacco move, his Hall of Fame father, Deion Sanders, had no interest in talking about the Browns’ transaction.
“I don’t care,” Sanders told reporters on Tuesday. I don’t give a darn about the Browns — at all. I care about the Colorado Buffaloes. I do love me some Shedeur Sanders, though, believe that. I care about him. And the rest of that mess, I don’t. I’m a coach trying to win games just like they’re trying to win games. I could care less who they traded.”
Deion Sanders might change his tune on the Browns if Shedeur manages to get some playing time. As it stands, he’s one play away from getting on the field. Sanders was listed as the No. 2 quarterback on Cleveland’s unofficial depth chart released on Tuesday. Head coach Kevin Stefanski has yet to confirm the quarterback order.
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