Flacco 'grateful' for opportunity with Colts
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Joe Flacco admits he was a "little bit" surprised that the Cleveland Browns didn't re-sign him, but he's thankful for the situation in which he now finds himself.
"I wasn't really sure how it was going to go," Flacco said, according to NFL.com's Nick Shook. "It wasn't like I played a ton of games last year or anything like that, but definitely grateful for Indy to reach out and have this as an opportunity."
Cleveland brought in the 39-year-old signal-caller last November after a number of its quarterbacks sustained injuries, including Deshaun Watson, who underwent season-ending shoulder surgery.
Flacco appeared to turn back the clock during his tenure in Cleveland, passing for 1,616 yards, 13 touchdowns, and eight interceptions, with a 90.2 quarterback rating. He became the first Browns QB to throw for 300 yards in four consecutive games.
The veteran started the Browns' final five games of the season and played a pivotal role in the club's four-game win streak that resulted in Cleveland clinching a wild-card seed. In recognition of his efforts, Flacco was named the AP Comeback Player of the Year.
However, despite his immediate success in Cleveland, the franchise opted to go in a different direction and signed Jameis Winston to a one-year deal worth up to $8.7 million.
Flacco didn't have to wait long to find a new team, as Indianapolis signed him to a one-year agreement earlier this month that will see him back up former first-round pick Anthony Richardson next season.
He sees simplification as a key element in Richardson's development entering his 2024 campaign.
"It's about being in the room with him, a lot of conversations naturally come up when you spend so much time together. Being able to bring the experience and help him simplify things, go out there, play fast and use his skill set the way he wants to," Flacco said, per The Indianapolis Stars' Joel A. Erickson.
Flacco was drafted in 2008 and has thrown for 43,936 yards and 245 TDs while establishing a 103-82 mark as a starter over 16 seasons.