CINCINNATI — Joe Flacco is not mad about re-signing with the Cincinnati Bengals on a one-year deal. But when it had been as much as him, he’d be competing for a beginning job elsewhere within the NFL.
After being traded to the Bengals final season to switch an injured Joe Burrow, he had one of the vital productive stretches of his profession. However groups in the end opted to not signal him to compete for a beginning function. And he is not shy about voicing his perception that groups made a mistake by passing on him.
“Imagine me, I want I used to be a man someplace,” Flacco, 41, stated Wednesday. “And I feel groups are dumb for not having me be that man.”
Added Flacco: “Not being a type of guys to go signal someplace, yeah, it pisses me off somewhat bit. However on the identical time, I am very completely happy to be right here.”
Sources instructed ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler on Tuesday that Flacco’s contract is for $6 million however might be value as much as $9 million with incentives.
Final season, the Bengals acquired Flacco by way of commerce to switch Jake Browning because the interim starter following Burrow’s turf toe damage. Flacco began six video games and accomplished 61.7% of his passes for 13 touchdowns and 4 interceptions.
When Burrow returned for the crew’s Week 13 recreation in opposition to the Baltimore Ravens, Flacco reverted to turning into the crew’s backup quarterback. When his 18th season ended and Flacco was set to change into a free agent, he was vocal about eager to have an opportunity to begin someplace within the coming season.
However the quarterback carousel spun this offseason with out him discovering a good pathway on a depth chart. It did not assist that notable names resembling Kyler Murray and Tua Tagovailoa had been obtainable as free brokers and landed with groups that wanted potential starters.
Flacco wasn’t caught off guard, nonetheless.
“I do know sufficient to not get tremendous tied up emotionally with sure issues and the way to consider how they could play out since you actually don’t know,” Flacco stated. “And who is aware of what these groups had been considering anyway, whether or not I used to be on their radar or not. I don’t know.
“It is probably not for me to determine. I feel I can get caught up in all of that and say, ‘Why not me?’ and all that and be bitter about it.”
Flacco then mirrored on that sentiment earlier than realizing that maybe there’s some resentment that can gas him as he prepares for the upcoming season.
“Perhaps a part of that does nonetheless encourage me to do what I am doing,” Flacco stated. “I most likely do really feel that means. I really feel like I’ve unfinished enterprise. That is a part of why I am nonetheless right here and taking part in and doing all these issues.”
Together with veteran Josh Johnson, who will flip 40 in Might, Flacco might be tasked with being in a reserve function behind Burrow. Flacco and Burrow every had been late additions to final season’s Professional Bowl Video games, marking the primary official time Flacco obtained the designation.
Now that Flacco is signed with a crew, his focus has shifted towards the 2026 season. And although he is a backup, he feels he can nonetheless work towards his mission of being a key contributor for a successful crew.
“I do not see this as the top,” Flacco stated. “That is simply not how I am viewing it in my thoughts. I really feel like I will help a crew win. And yeah, it might be in a unique function right here, however I do nonetheless suppose I will help this crew win in that function.”
