Browns trade Joe Flacco to Bengals

   The 1-4 Cleveland Browns must have seen something they really liked from Dillon Gabriel's debut in London, as the team traded veteran Joe Flacco to the Cincinnati Bengals.

It's the first-ever trade between the two division rivals since 1968, when the Bengals entered the league as an expansion franchise, with the Browns sending a sixth-round draft choice to Cincinnati for the Bengals' fifth-rounder in the 2026 draft.

The trade concludes the second tenure for Flacco in Cleveland, after the veteran returned in the off-season after spending 2024 in Indianapolis with the Colts.

Flacco was regarded by many as the second horse in the veteran battle to start the season at quarterback behind Kenny Pickett, who suffered from injuries and was then traded to the Las Vegas Raiders.

Flacco was given the job almost by default, but was living on borrowed time in the lineup with the Browns' man-crush on Dillon Gabriel.

Flacco wasn't helped much by a pathetic receiving corps and poor play at both offensive tackles, but he didn't play well on his own, finishing with 810 yards, along with six interceptions and only two touchdowns in his four starts.

Cincinnati is missing Joe Burrow for much of the season with a toe injury, although he is expected to return late in the season. But after winning their two games with Burrow, the Bengals have dropped to 2-3 under reserve quarterback Jake Browning.

The Bengals are in the mode of trying to win enough to stay afloat until Burrow's return, and with a team that has standouts at receiver such as JaMarr Chase and Tee Higgins, Flacco could perform well for the Bengals, assuming their line can give him enough time to throw.

Flacco could start for Cincinnati as early as Sunday in their game against Green Bay.

As for the Browns.

If they truly are all in on Dillon Gabriel and wish to give him the remainder of the season as an audition, then I don't question the move.

Why keep Flacco and you gain a fifth rounder for a sixth rounder for a player that isn't part of the future?

That I understand.

However, don't tell me you are trying to win games or that "Dillon gives us the best chance to win" narrative, because I'm not buying that.

I'm not saying Flacco gives you a better chance, but I think it's even money either way.

Cleveland promoted veteran Bailey Zappe from the practice squad to fill Flacco's roster spot and join Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders in the quarterback room, but there has been no word on the top backup to Gabriel.

Browns whipped by Ravens, Fire Ken Dorsey

     A miserable season ended Saturday in Baltimore as the Cleveland Browns were rolled over by the Baltimore Ravens 35-10 in Baltimore.

Bailey Zappe received the start as the Browns' fourth starting quarterback of a long season and threw two interceptions along with the Browns only touchdown to Jordan Akins.  

The Browns finished a pathetic 3-14. The bigger news would come off the field on Sunday as the remainder of the league finished their campaigns as Cleveland announced the firings of offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey and Andy Dickerson and with the New England Patriots defeating the Buffalo Bills moved up one sport in the draft to pick second overall.

I'm planning some special Browns material over the next few weeks, so I'm saving some of that for those posts but I'll be writing just as much about the off-season in this post as recapping the final loss.

Brownie Bits

1)  Bailey Zappe certainly didn't place his name in contention for the 2025 season as the starter but considering the play of Dorian Thompson-Robinson during his time, Zappe was an upgrade.

Zappe can return next year as a possible third quarterback but shouldn't be in consideration for the starting role.

2) Zappe threw a pick-six in the first quarter to Baltimore's Nate Wiggins and his other interception could have been a touchdown return by massive defensive tackle Michael Pierce, who decided to slide down rather than try to truck the ball down the sideline in what was admittedly hilarious to watch.

3) Dorian Thompson-Robinson played one series of five plays in the first half in one final attempt to "see what they have in DTR".

4) The battered running back position for the Browns forced the team to play Jacob Kibodi for portions of the game after signing him from the Saints practice squad.

Kibodi rushed five times for twenty-four yards and caught a pass for fourteen yards.

5) Jerry Jeudy caught six passes for sixty-three yards, which broke Ozzie Newsome's record, giving Jeudy the team record for receptions with ninety.

Jeudy was the main focus in the second half as the Browns attempted to get Jeudy the football to allow him to reach the record.

6) The Browns now focus on the future and while the team will retain Kevin Stefanski as the head coach and Andrew Berry as the head of the front office, the team will make other changes.

I can live with Stefanski but I am wary of keeping Berry since his drafting has been questionable and handing Berry the keys to another draft is concerning.

7)  The Browns released offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey and offensive line Andy Dickerson following the defeat in Baltimore.

I think both decisions are correct.

Dorsey's preferences never meshed with Kevin Stefanski. And while any offensive line coach is going to pale compared to Bill Callahan, one of the best offensive line coaches ever, Dickerson's work was so bad that Mike Vrabel was the de facto line coach!

8) The Browns did win on Sunday without taking the field as the New England Patriots, who started rookie backup quarterback Joe Milton, surprised the Buffalo Bills, who rested several starters and tumbled from picking first to fourth with the win, moving the Browns to second in the draft.

We'll see how that works for the Browns but I'll take the higher pick every time over an insignificant final-game win with various obscure QBs.

9) In the final three games after the Browns benched Jameis Winston, the Browns scored two touchdowns.

Say what you will about Jameis Winston and his interception propensity, Winston was the one quarterback of the four starters this season that made the Browns fun to watch, and the one that gave them a chance to win.

10) Premature TRS choice for the Browns in round one, assuming they don't trade down?

Colorado two-way starter Travis Hunter or Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter would be my choices.

Why not a quarterback such as Miami's Cam Ward or Colorado's Shedur Sanders?

You'll have to wait until the future Browns series to answer those questions.