Flacco's Delusion: Why No One Wanted Joe to Start

Joe Flacco is back in Cincinnati, wearing a Bengals helmet again, but he’s still got that chip on his shoulder. You know the one. The guy told reporters recently that other NFL teams were "dumb" for not signing him as a starter. Look, I get it. Every competitor thinks they're the best. But reality check: no one wanted Flacco to start, and for good reason.

His late-season run with the Cleveland Browns last year was fun. It was a nice story. Flacco threw for 1,616 yards and 13 touchdowns in five regular-season games, leading them to a playoff berth. He even chucked for 307 yards and a score in their Wild Card loss to the Texans. That’s solid. But let’s not forget the context. The Browns were on their fourth starting quarterback, decimated by injuries. He stepped into a low-pressure situation with a stacked roster around him. Nick Chubb was out, but Amari Cooper, David Njoku, and Elijah Moore were still catching passes. That Browns defense was elite, too, allowing just 270.2 yards per game, best in the league. Flacco wasn't carrying that team; he was managing it.

The Playoff Mirage

Thing is, that five-game stretch was a statistical anomaly for Flacco. Before that, he hadn't thrown double-digit touchdowns in a season since 2018 with the Baltimore Ravens. His last full season as a starter was 2017, when he threw for 3,141 yards, 18 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. That’s not exactly putting fear into opposing defensive coordinators. He's bounced around since, from Denver to the Jets, then back to the Jets, then Philadelphia, then Cleveland. Each stop, he was a backup or a stopgap.

Remember 2019? He started eight games for the Broncos, went 2-6, and threw for six touchdowns against five picks before getting hurt. The Jets gave him 11 starts over three seasons (2020-2022), and he compiled a 1-10 record in those games. His passer rating in those Jets starts never cracked 80.0. Real talk: the guy was a shell of his former self for years before the Browns gig. One good month doesn't erase five years of decline.

The Market Spoke

If teams were "dumb" for not signing him, then what does that say about the entire NFL? Multiple teams needed quarterback help this offseason. The Steelers signed Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. The Raiders brought in Gardner Minshew. The Broncos drafted Bo Nix. The Vikings signed Sam Darnold and drafted J.J. McCarthy. Even the Patriots, who had Jacoby Brissett, drafted Drake Maye. Not one of them called Flacco to be their starter.

They all saw the tape, saw the recent history. They know that while Flacco can still sling it occasionally, his mobility is gone, and he’s prone to turnovers under pressure. He threw eight interceptions in those five Browns starts. Yeah, he threw 13 touchdowns, but that pick rate is unsustainable for a starter. He even admitted he was "surprised" how quickly the Browns offense picked up his system. That speaks more to the talent around him than his own command.

Bengals are Smart, Not Dumb

The Bengals signing Flacco as Joe Burrow's backup? That's smart. He's a veteran presence, a former Super Bowl MVP, and he showed last year he can still win a game or two if Burrow misses time. But to think he's a starting quarterback in this league in 2024 is pure fantasy. No team was dumb for passing on him as their QB1. They were just realistic. My hot take? Flacco won't throw a single regular-season pass for the Bengals this year.