After Deshaun Watson’s season came to an abrupt end in a game against the Baltimore Ravens, the Cleveland Browns signed veteran quarterback Joe Flacco to a contract, bringing in a seasoned signal-caller with deep experience in the AFC North. Flacco’s presence on the team proved invaluable, as he helped steady the offense and played a pivotal role in guiding the Browns to a playoff berth. The 38-year-old quarterback’s leadership and game management skills were instrumental in salvaging Cleveland’s postseason aspirations, providing a critical boost during the closing stretch of the 2023 regular season.
In a recent interview with “The Ken Carman Show with Anthony Lima,” Browns GM Andrew Berry discussed why the team didn’t re-sign Joe Flacco this season to continue serving as Deshaun Watson’s backup. When asked if Flacco’s performance in a playoff loss, which included two pick-sixes, influenced their decision to sign quarterbacks Jameis Winston and Tyler Huntley instead, Berry clarified that individual performances do not dictate roster decisions.
Berry emphasized that Flacco’s performance in that game wasn’t the reason the Browns chose not to re-sign him. He stated that if they overreacted to single-game performances, they would have to reconsider their entire defense after the playoff loss.
Lima then inquired whether age was a factor in the Browns’ decision to sign Winston, who is 30 years old, instead of Flacco, who is 39. Berry responded that age wasn’t the only consideration. He highlighted that other factors like cost and overall performance played roles in their decision. Ultimately, Winston seemed the best fit given the team’s roster moves.
Berry concluded by mentioning that both Winston and Flacco are talented quarterbacks, and their decision to sign Winston was a strategic one based on a combination of factors, not just age or a single game performance.
I can tell you Anthony (Lima) that we don’t really overreact to any individual performance (because) if that was the case, we would throw out our entire defense,” Berry said of the unit’s showing in the playoff loss.
In a discussion on “The Ken Carman Show with Anthony Lima,” the Browns GM Andrew Berry was asked if age was a factor in the team’s decision to sign Jameis Winston over Joe Flacco. The question came up because Winston, at 30 years old, is much younger than Flacco, who is 39.
Berry clarified that age wasn’t the sole consideration for bringing in Winston. He explained that the Browns took into account a range of factors when deciding to sign Winston in March. This suggests that while age may have been part of the decision-making process, it wasn’t the defining reason for choosing Winston over Flacco.
