Joe Flacco made it clear Wednesday he wants to be known as more than a potential mentor to the Cleveland Browns’ young quarterback room.
Flacco, entering his 18th NFL season, said he doesn’t have any fundamental issues aiding 26-year-old Kenny Pickett, 24-year-old Dillon Gabriel and 23-year-old Shedeur Sanders as the young trio gets acclimated in Cleveland.
The 40-year-old simply wants to focus on playing at as high a level as possible after signing a one-year, $4 million deal with the Browns.
‘It’s not really about that. It’s just not the main focus,’ Flacco said at the second day of Cleveland’s OTAs Wednesday when asked about being a mentor. ‘I see myself as a guy that can play in this league. So, if your main focus was just like, ‘hey, but I’m going to get you ready,’ you’re just not taking care of business.’
How does Flacco envision his potential role as a mentor? He sees himself as more of a lead-by-example type who will benefit from being on the field.
‘The best way to be a mentor, honestly, is to show people how you go to work and like I said, hope that they pick up on that stuff, but not necessarily force them to pick up on the things that you do,’ Flacco said.
Flacco has been given an early opportunity to test that theory. He appears to have the early edge in the Browns’ starting quarterback battle after beginning OTAs as Cleveland’s first-team quarterback. Whether that lasts may depend on how Pickett, Gabriel and Sanders progress as the season draws near.
Flacco – the Super Bowl 47 MVP and 2023 NFL Comeback Player of the Year – is welcoming the competition. He also said he is enjoying the vibe in the team’s quarterback room and working with younger quarterbacks like Sanders.
‘Shedeur has been great. I mean, he’s a lot of fun to be around in those meeting rooms,’ Flacco said, per ESPN. ‘I think so far, there’s been at least once in the meeting room that he’s made me crack a smile, and that’s what it’s all about. You know, he’s a young guy trying to learn some football and come out here and practice well and do those things. And like I said, he’s been a lot of fun. I probably wasn’t too far away from playing against his dad, and now I’m playing with him.’