The Cleveland Browns made an intriguing move, trading quarterback Joe Flacco to the Cincinnati Bengals, a division rival, ahead of Week 6.
It was a surprising move between division rivals, and Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin criticized the Browns for the trade.
“To be honest, it was shocking to me,” Tomlin said about the trade. “Andrew Berry must be a lot smarter than me or us, because it doesn’t make sense to me to trade a quarterback that you think enough of to make your opening-day starter to a division opponent that’s hurting in that area. But that’s just my personal feelings.”
It was a bold comment from Tomlin, and Browns coach Kevin Stefanski was asked about it on Monday. Stefanski wouldn’t give a comment on the matter.
“Yeah, I don’t have a comment on that,” Stefanski said on Monday.
Stefanski didn’t want to divulge too much into the reason for the Browns trade, or take a shot at Tomlin.
Cleveland traded Flacco and Detroit’s 2026 sixth-round pick to the Bengals for a 2026 fifth-round pick.
Stefanski Was Surprised by Flacco Trade
Although Tomlin criticized the Browns for trading Flacco to a division rival, Stefanski seemed to be out of the loop on the move.
After the trade was made, Stefanski spoke to reporters and admitted the move caught him by surprise.
“Well, first I have to tell you is that the Joe trade took us by surprise,” Stefanski said. “That was not something that we saw coming. They called us and it happened very fast and happened not too long ago. Still working through all roster type of things. I always have to be mindful of our players and our players’ development and I want to make sure that I’m always doing what’s best for our players and, of course, our team.”
Flacco, meanwhile, was also surprised by the trade. But the veteran was excited by it as he got a chance to start again.
“Crazy business. You have to be ready for anything. That’s what it was,” Flacco said. “I didn’t have this on my list of things that were going to happen. But that’s this league. I’m a player and most players would say the same thing. I love to play football. If that’s in Cincinnati right now, I’m all for it.”
Flacco went 29-for-45 for 219 yards and 2 touchdowns in the Bengals’ loss to the Green Bay Packers in Week 6.
Stefanski Knows Browns’ Offense Has to be Better
The focus for Stefanski and the Browns is to fix the offense.
Stefanski confirmed ahead of Week 7 that he will remain the offensive play caller for the Browns.
“Yeah, I’m going to keep calling plays, but I want to stress that this is – we have to get better in so many areas and that includes coaching. That includes how we teach our guys, how we put them in different formations, the ways you run the ball, ways you pass the ball, all of the above.”
Stefanski said the goal is to get Dillon Gabriel more comfortable and turn the offense around.
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