JOE FLACCO STARTS FOR BROWNS, BUT DILLON GABRIEL POISED TO TAKE OVER IF FLACCO STRUGGLES đš
The Cleveland Browns will begin the season with 40-year-0ld quarterback Joe Flacco under center, and not only because the other two options are rookies without a single snap of regular-season NFL experience.
Superstar defensive end Myles Garrett didnât advocate for Flacco specifically, or at least no one has reported that he did. However, he was clear with management and the coaching staff this offseason as he was negotiating a contract extension in the midst of a trade demand that he was sick of rebuilding
âA source with knowledge of Garretâs thinking said the defensive end preferred a veteran quarterback who could contribute â with the understanding Cleveland wasnât in a position to spend lucratively and would likely also be bringing in a rookie quarterback,â Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN wrote on Wednesday, September 3.
Garrett ended up signing a four-year extension worth $160 million that keeps him under contract in Cleveland through 2030. What kind of assurances he got from the franchise as to the quarterback position are unclear, though the Browns traded for Kenny Pickett three days after locking Garrett into his new deal and added Flacco in free agency approximately one month later.
A little more than two weeks after that, the franchise drafted Dillon Gabriel near the end of the third round and Shedeur Sanders at the beginning of the fifth.
Joe Flacco Won QB1 Spot by Default After Kenny Pickett Got Injured, Traded
Flacco won the starting job almost by default after Pickett strained his hamstring early in training camp.
Flacco took over most of the first-team reps and Cleveland ultimately traded Pickett to the Las Vegas Raiders, recouping the fifth-round pick they sent to the Philadelphia Eagles alongside QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson to acquire him in March.
The rest of the roster shook out with Gabriel winning the QB2 job and Sanders slotting in as the third-string signal-caller after the team parted ways with Pickett. The Browns also signed Bailey Zappe as their QB4.
Dillon Gabriel Threat to Take Joe Flaccoâs Job as Starter if Browns Struggle Early
Flacco has the job now but may not for long if he struggles out of the gate.
Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com wrote on August 31 that the teamâs decision-makers are happy with Gabriel and wonât fear to elevate him into the starting role, even amid the teamâs brutal six-game stretch to open the campaign.
âIf itâs going well and the Browns are scoring points, Flacco will continue on. But if heâs turning the ball over or taking sacks, the Browns will hand the reins to Gabriel without hesitation,â Cabot wrote. âThey loved what they saw of Gabriel in camp and preseason games, and wonât hesitate to start him even if itâs early in the season.â
Cabot also noted that Sanders is likely to get a chance to play serious snaps in 2025, though she said that wouldnât happen until later in the year and also did not specify whether his work would include a starting role at any point.
Cam Heyward Wants More Money, but Steelers Arenât Ready to Pay Up
Cam Heyward expressed grief about his wages days before the Pittsburgh Steelersâ week one fixture against the New York Jets. Heyward is seeking an updated salary package. Worthy of his output on the football field.
Heyward has spent his 14-year long career with the Steelers and aspires to continue, but before that, the front office must sign him to a new deal. In protest, Heyward opted to sit out of the training camp, continuing his conditioning process on the side.
A team captain with a net worth of $25 million, holding out for money, generated negative publicity on social media. Heyward doesnât allow outside noise to bother him because itâs impossible to control every narrative.
The 36-year-old knows that he canât play forever. At some point, he has to hang up his boots. So as long as heâs playing, he wants to earn top dollar to give his family a better life.
I have to make a decision for my family. This is a business. I cannot play this game forever, and just like Iâm maximized on the field, I want to be maximized outside of it. I donât want to be taken care of that way. Itâs not being greedy; itâs just the way this game is. Itâs not for long, NFL. So, I would tell every guy, maximize your opportunities and keep going from there.
Cam Heyward said (H/T: ESPNâs Brooke Pryor)
Despite playing limited games due to injury in 2023, the Steelers agreed to sign Heyward to a three-year, $45 million contract extension. Heyward promised to bring the front office back to the negotiation table upon a successful season.
In 2024, Heyward recorded 71 combined tackles, 8 sacks, and 11 pass deflections. As promised, he wants to be compensated, which the Steelers arenât ready to entertain, leading to the standoff.
Steelers head coach gives his verdict on Cam Heywardâs status on the team
Heyward is a senior head in the Steelers locker room and also a captain. Losing someone with Heywardâs influence may reduce the morale of the defense.
The Steelers need a figure like Heyward to lead the team in week one. Head coach Mike Tomlin has no doubts that the fans will see the familiar number 97 lining up on the field next to TJ Watt and Alex Highsmith .
Iâm certainly expecting Cam to play. Cam hasnât played a lot in team development over the last several years. My job is to get him in and out of Latrobe, and Iâve done my job. And so, there are no reservations about his participation or his readiness. Iâm sure heâs champing at the bit.Â
Mike Tomlin said
If Heyward remains unavailable for the fixture, the Steelers will miss two possible starting defensive linemen. They placed rookie DT Derrick Harmon on IR due to a sprained MCL.
The AFC North team has a new quarterback under center. Following an extended courtship, the Steelers managed to woo four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers to ditch the Vikings and the Giants and sign with them.
Rodgers was cut by the New York Jets in the offseason after two disappointing years in the Big Apple. Now he has a chance of redemption. On the other hand, the Jets employed former Steelers quarterback Justin Fields, who played six games for the Pittsburgh franchise.
