3 key takeaways from Joe Flacco’s introductory press conference with the Browns

After losing quarterback Deshaun Watson for the remainder of the season, the Cleveland Browns knew they needed to add another veteran to the roster. They had to raise the basement for that room and P.J. Walker has shown that he is not always a good player. So they went out and added longtime Baltimore Raven Joe Flacco to the practice squad this week.

The team hopes Dorian Thompson-Robinson can continue to develop as a player, but admits there’s a chance he won’t. You can’t put all your eggs on a fifth-round rookie with a championship-caliber defense. You must have a backup plan in place. Flacco saw a lot of football during his Super Bowl MVP tenure with the Baltimore Ravens.

It was strange to see Flacco in a Browns uniform after his time with the Ravens. It was an interesting press conference where Flacco said he still has something to offer the Browns at his current age.

“We can’t win this game, but I’m confident we can keep playing. As I said before, I focus on everyday life. “As long as I can, I think I’ll do my best, no matter what the situation is, what my role is or what comes my way.”

Flacco appears to see his role as primarily helping and backing up rookie quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who will start against the Denver Broncos. But if the team needs to ask him for help on the field, he believes he can do it. He seems excited about the state of Cleveland and what this team can do. Respect for the Browns’ coaching staff helped Flacco decide to join Cleveland’s roster.

“Yeah, it’s fun. I mean, right before I came here to work out, Gary Kubiak called me and said good things about these guys. I take Gary at his word. I’ve only been with him for a year, but he’s a very honest guy, he does what he says, and I’ve said a lot of nice things about him. So that’s all we’ve seen so far.”

Kevin Stefanski and the rest of his offensive coaching staff are respected throughout the NFL. Kubiak worked closely with Stefanski in Minnesota, so he knows what he’s talking about when he praises him. You can’t turn your nose up at the respect of a heart like Kubiak, and Flacco believes in that group.

Other players see that the Browns player is close.

“They seem like a really close group and it’s always great to see all the AFC North games when I’m home on Sundays. Maybe that’s why the Browns have been on our TV screens for so long. These guys definitely did a great job defensively. Despite losing the best quarterback in the league in (Nick) Chubb, they had the ball all year. So it was very emotional to see them struggle. “When I’m in the locker room and I hear some of the guys I know talking, I can see right away how close the team is.”

It was fun watching these groups play against each other every week. One thing that sticks in my mind is Jim Schwartz talking about how he wants his players to celebrate great players with their teammates. Otherwise, you will be laughed at. This team believes in itself and feels like the culture in Cleveland is really changing.