Joe Flacco’s future here; Deshaun Watson coming back this week for a good reason; why Roger Goodell is in town: Browns Insider
Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco throws a pass in the first half at Cleveland Browns Stadium.
CLEVELAND, Ohio — Joe Flacco is the Browns’ new man of the hour, and if he keeps up like this, he won’t have trouble finding work next season like he did this year.
Question is, will it be here?
The 8-5 Browns aren’t thinking that far ahead and just trying to make the playoffs in this drum-tight AFC chase. But Flacco, 38, has certainly exceeded expectations and given the Browns something to think about in the offseason.
Of course, Deshaun Watson — who’s under contract for three more seasons at an average of $46 million a year — will be their starter next season when he recovers from surgery to repair the fractured glenoid bone (socket) in his right throwing shoulder.
But the Browns and many other teams this season have discovered the importance of an experienced backup quarterback.
The Browns thought they could rely on rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson and P.J. Walker, but the stakes were too high for inexperience and shaky QB play. The duo combined for a 2-3 record, with nine interceptions, plus a save by Walker in Indy.
The thing about the Browns is that their quarterback room since Watson arrived last season has been filled with dual-threat quarterbacks with similar skillsets. They’re not up to Watson’s level of play, but they possess transferable skills, and the scheme doesn’t change much when they’re in. Besides, the Browns still have very high hopes for Thompson-Robinson as their backup quarterback.
With a classic dropback passer in Flacco at the helm, the Browns have reverted to more of the play-action, rollout game they ran with Jacoby Brissett here last season. But they’ll probably want alignment in the room again next season, even if they seek more experience.
Still, Flacco has been just what the QB doctor ordered this season, and if he continues in this vein, teams will be interested in him in the offseason, possibly as a starter. In a perfect world, that’s what he’ll want. That’s not to rule him out in Cleveland, but they’ll have to pivot away from a dual threat-only room if they go that route.
In the meantime, Flacco can bolster his earnings by continuing to win. Signing his one-year contract on Thursday worth $370,800, Flacco can make $4.05 million incentives for victories: $75,000 for each of the final four regular-season games, $250,000 for a wild card win, $500,000 for a divisional win, $1 million for an AFC Championship victory and $2 million for his second Super Bowl victory.
A former Super Bowl MVP with the Ravens, he knows what it takes to get there, and has proven to be the best man for the job.
The Commish is in town
Maybe Myles Garrett can take his officiating beef up with the top man himself.
Garrett, who was fined $25,000 by the NFL for ripping the officials after Sunday’s 31-27 victory over the Jaguars — specifically for ignoring the incessant holding against him — will undoubtedly run into NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on Sunday at Cleveland Browns Stadium.
Goodell is in town for Sunday’s game between the Browns and Bears as part of his normal tour of games around the country throughout the season. He’ll visit with players and coaches from both teams on the field, and will watch the game from the Haslams’ suite.
Incidentally, it remains to be seen if Garrett will appeal his fine, but it could’ve been worse. Chiefs coach Andy Reid was fined $100,000 for criticizing officials after their loss to the Bills last week, and Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was fined $50,000, both for ripping the officials and unsportsmanlike conduct during the game.
Deshaun Watson coming back for a good reason
Watson, who’s been rehabbing in Los Angeles where he had the surgery, will return to Cleveland for a Christmas charity event on Saturday, the same day his teammates leave for Houston for their Christmas Eve game against Watson’s former team.
Watson is not expected to travel to Houston for the game, but might attend the Thursday night game against the Jets here on Dec. 28.
He’s then set to return to L.A. to continue rehabbing out there with the team of his surgeon, Dr. Neal ElAttrache.
As for the Houston game, the Browns don’t know yet if they’ll face refulgent rookie C.J. Stroud, who’s been ruled out of Sunday’s game against the Titans with a concussion.
The No. 2 overall pick out of Ohio State, Stroud is 7-6 this season, and has the Texans in the playoff hunt.
Browns are optimistic Denzel Ward will play
The Browns are optimistic that cornerback Denzel Ward (shoulder) will return vs. the Bears after missing the past three games, and they can really use him.
With both starting safeties out in Juan Thornhill (calf) and Grant Delpit (groin), the Browns need all the help they can get in the back end.
Thornhill, who aggravated the calf in warmups before the Jaguars game, is week to week, but the Browns hope to get him back soon. Fortunately for them, Ronnie Hickman, the undrafted rookie out of Ohio State, stepped in and played well against the Jaguars. He’ll be joined at safety by second-year pro D’Anthony Bell.
Defensive tackle Jordan Elliott, who’s listed as questionable coming off of his concussion, also is expected to play.
Grant Delpit’s chances of returning for the playoffs
The Browns will sorely miss Delpit’s commanding physical presence and excellent man coverage, but he has a bona fide chance to make it back for the playoffs after undergoing surgery this week to repair the torn groin muscle.
It would be a lightning-quick turnaround, but Delpit, on short-term IR for at least the final four games, came back quickly from his ruptured Achilles as a rookie, and has established himself as a fast healer over the years.
Delpit’s three-year extension worth $36 million came together quickly last week, and the Browns are ecstatic to have him wrapped up.
DE Ogbo Okoronkwo still deciding
Okoronkwo is still working through a second opinion — and maybe even a third — on his torn pectoral muscle, but should have a resolution by early in the week. He’s holding out hope to return for the playoffs, but would still likely need surgery after the season. If he has the surgery now, he’s done for the year.
The question he’s facing is whether or not he can further damage the pec by playing.
OT Dawand Jones underwent surgery Thursday to repair his torn MCL
Jones, the Browns’ fourth-round pick out of Ohio State, underwent surgery Thursday in Houston to repair his torn MCL, and is expected to make a full recovery for spring ball.
The loss will likely loom large in the playoffs when the Browns face some premier rushers. But they’re confident in the ability of left tackle Geron Christian and right tackle James Hudson III to keep Flacco upright.
As for Jones’ future, the Browns couldn’t be happier with his play at right tackle, and see him there for the foreseeable future. They’ve also been pleased with the development of Jedrick Wills Jr. at left tackle, and don’t envision a swap.
Wills, also out for the season after undergoing knee surgery, is under contract next season at his guaranteed fifth-year option amount of $14.175 million. Despite some of the heat he took on social media, the Browns were happy with his half a season.
Why Garrett has some catching up to do
While getting held with no flags to show for it, Garrett has been stuck at 13.0 sacks for the past three games, and is falling behind on the leader board. Sacks aren’t everything, but they certainly help in the NFL Defensive Player of the Year sweepstakes.
On Saturday, Minnesota’s Danielle Hunter sacked Cincy’s Jake Browning twice for a total of 15.5, and Pittsburgh’s T.J. Watt notched two in the first half against the Colts Saturday for a total of 16.0.
The last time Garrett faced Bears quarterback Justin Fields, he sacked him 4.5 times in Fields’ first NFL start as a rookie. Fields, the Bears’ leading rusher, is more elusive now, but Garrett still might get home a time or two.
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