Browns' Joe Flacco expands on controversial 'mentor' comments

Joe Flacco of the Cleveland Browns has attracted criticism and generated headlines in the first few months of his current stint with the organization for making it known on multiple occasions that he cares more about winning the starting quarterback job than about mentoring 2022 first-round draft selection Kenny Pickett, 2025 third-round pick Dillon Gabriel and 2025 fifth-rounder Shedeur Sanders. 

During a recent chat with NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, Flacco expanded on his mindset amid the league's most unique quarterback competition. 

"I want to play football," Flacco said directly. "But also, I want to be a really good teammate, I really do. I enjoy being in that locker room, and just being around the guys. I think that’s all a part of it. I’ve talked about how it’s not necessarily my job, but at the same time, I’m also not gonna shy away from doing those things. I’m not worried about teaching guys and having that come back and bite me. Yeah, you got questions and you want answers, 'Yeah, come ask me, man.'"

Flacco went 4-1 as a starter to guide the 2023 Browns to a playoff berth, but he more recently played poorly in a pair of November starts after the Indianapolis Colts benched 2023 first-round draft pick Anthony Richardson. While the Browns acquired Pickett from the Philadelphia Eagles before Cleveland re-signed Flacco earlier this offseason, FanDuel Sportsbook has consistently listed the one-time Super Bowl Most Valuable Player as the betting favorite (+116 odds) to eventually be named the Browns' 2025 Week 1 QB1. 

As much as people within the Browns insist the club is not punting on the upcoming season with the 2026 draft class in mind, the harsh truth of the matter is that Flacco is a 40-year-old on a roster that's expected to lose more than it wins through Week 18. Nevertheless, Flacco sounds confident he could have at least one more magical run in the tank. 

"There’s a lot that’s out of your control at a certain point, but my mindset is, 'Dude, I’m gonna win this job, go out there and have an awesome season.' And go do it again and again," Flacco added during his comments. "My mindset is still that. I’m looking forward to going out there and proving to myself and my family that I still got it, and I’m gonna do this for a couple more years."

It's unclear if Flacco would ask to be traded or released if he ended training camp as a backup with Cleveland. For now, he'll hope to give Pickett, Gabriel and Sanders some pointers on how to be a starter at the highest level by playing well in meaningful games this coming fall.