The Cleveland Browns have made a quarterback change ahead of Week 5 when the team takes on the Minnesota Vikings in England.
The Browns announced the team has benched veteran Joe Flacco and will start rookie Dillon Gabriel. The news comes after calls for multiple weeks for the team to make the switch.
After the Browns made the announcement, Flacco spoke to the media and admitted the benching came as a surprise.
“I don’t think I foresaw it,” Flacco said. “Listen, I think I said it on Sunday, anytime you’re in this league, everybody’s always getting evaluated. The job of the quarterback is to help your team win football games. So, I don’t know if I foresaw it coming, but listen, me and Kevin can have a good conversation. Wasn’t like anything that was super long or drawn out like that. But, got to the point, had a good conversation about it, and it is what it is.”
Flacco admits being benched is tough, but what makes it worse is how poorly the offense has played through four games.
“I think the tougher thing is going through what we’ve gone through over the last four weeks, just not being able to produce the way we wanted to,” Flacco said. “When you’re in the moment and you’re having conversations with people, it is what it is. You look people in the eye and tell them how it is, and that’s what it is.”
Flacco thought he was going to be able to do more offensively, but that wasn’t the case. He ended up throwing 815 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions in four starts.
Flacco Excited For Gabriel to Start
Although Flacco is disappointed to be benched, the focus now turns to helping Gabriel succeed.
Flacco has been a backup before, and he plans to help mentor the rookie and make sure he’s prepared to succeed.
“I think the best way to help him is to continue to come to work with a good mindset every day and provide that positive energy and see what he needs on his end,” Flacco said. “Listen, he’s into it, man. He’s ready to go. I’m sure he’s super excited about this opportunity. You can tell he takes it seriously just by the way he studies and his intent in the meeting rooms and on the practice field.”
Even though Flacco is disappointed to be benched, he says he will be the best teammate he can be to Gabriel and the entire roster.
Browns Coach Explains Quarterback Change
Browns coach Kevin Stefanski finally decided to make a quarterback change.
Stefanski had defended Flacco, as he said the offense’s struggles weren’t on him. However, after seeing Gabriel have success in practice, he felt like the rookie was ready to make his first start.
“Obviously, from the second he’s been here, he’s been working very hard, (a) very intelligent young man,” Stefanski said. Done a nice job in practice; he’s been learning this whole season how to get ready, understand the rhythm of an NFL week, and what that looks like as a backup. Obviously, now feel like he’s ready to go in as a starter.”
Gabriel’s first NFL start will take place in England on Sunday against the Vikings.
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