Bengals' Joe Flacco has three-word response to Browns trading Myles Garrett to Rams

The Cleveland Browns trading defensive superstar Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams for edge-rusher Jared Verse, a 2027 first-round draft pick, a 2028 second-round pick and a 2029 third-round selection on Monday understandably elicited strong reactions around the NFL.

Cincinnati Bengals backup quarterback Joe Flacco knows what it's like to both share a locker room with Garrett and go up against the menacing two-time Defensive Player of the Year Award winner. On Monday, Flacco sounded grateful that his former employer decided to move on from Garrett ahead of the upcoming season. 

The Bengals may be winners of the Myles Garrett trade

"Good for us," Flacco said about the trade, per Geoff Hobson of the Bengals' website. 

Flacco faced the Browns multiple times after Cleveland made Garrett the first overall pick of the 2017 NFL Draft. The 41-year-old signal-caller also helped the 2023 Browns earn a playoff berth en route to winning the Associated Press Comeback Player of the Year Award for that season. More recently, Flacco began last season as Cleveland's QB1. He was ultimately traded to the Bengals after the Browns lost three of their first four games. 

Why Bengals' Amarius Mims wasn't taking victory laps after Myles Garrett trade

A Tuesday report revealed that Browns general manager Andrew Berry embraced a "no Verse, no deal" mantra during conversations with the Rams about a possible Garrett trade. Verse won the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award for the 2024 campaign, and he has thus far tallied 12 total regular-season sacks over 34 games. 

"It doesn't matter," Bengals right tackle Amarius Mims said about no longer having to face Garrett twice a season. "You still have to go win on Sundays. Congrats to Myles. That's how I feel. We still have to go win. (Verse) is a young player who is also a great player. Very talented. I have a lot of respect for his game. ...It's the hardest division anywhere, whether it's Myles Garrett or Jared Verse. Both great players. Both have been to the Pro Bowl. Verse has been every year he's been in the league. We came in together. A great player. You've got to block both of them at the end of the day."

If nothing else, Mims was wise to avoid giving Verse and the Browns any extra bulletin-board material ahead of the NFL's summer break.