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ben baby
multiple authors
CINCINNATI — Joe Flacco Not mad about re-signing with cincinnati bengals On a one year deal. But if it were up to him, he’d be competing for a starting job elsewhere in the NFL.
After being traded to the Bengals last season to replace an injured joe burroThat was one of the most productive parts of his career. But teams ultimately opted not to sign him to compete for the starting role. And he’s not shy about expressing his belief that teams made a mistake by pursuing him.
“Trust me, I wish I was a guy somewhere,” Flacco, 41, said Wednesday. “And I think teams are stupid because they didn’t make me that person.”
Flacco said: “Not being one of those guys that goes somewhere to sign autographs, yeah, it bothers me a little bit. But at the same time, I’m just happy to be here.”
Sources told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler on Tuesday Flacco’s contract is worth $6 million, but could be worth up to $9 million with incentives.
Last season, the Bengals acquired Flacco via trade for a replacement jake browning As interim starter after Burrow’s turf toe injury. Flacco started six games and completed 61.7% of his passes for 13 touchdowns and four interceptions.
When Burrow returned for the team’s Week 13 game Baltimore RavensFlacco became the team’s backup quarterback. When his 18th season ended and Flacco was set to become a free agent, he was vocal about wanting a chance to start somewhere in the upcoming season.
But the quarterback merry-go-round spun this offseason without finding a favorable path on the depth chart. It didn’t help that notable names like kyler murray And tua tagovailoa They were available as free agents and landed with teams that needed potential starters.
However, Flacco was not stopped.
“What I do know is not to get too emotionally attached to certain things and how to think about what the outcome of them might be because you really have no idea,” Flacco said. “And who knows what those teams were thinking, whether I was on their radar or not. I have no idea.
“It’s not really for me to make decisions. I think I can get caught up in all this and say, ‘Why not me?’ And all that and be bitter about it.”
Flacco then reflected on that sentiment, before realizing there was probably some resentment that will fuel him as he prepares for the upcoming season.
“Maybe part of it is what motivates me to still do what I’m doing,” Flacco said. “I probably feel the same way. I feel like my work is unfinished. That’s why I’m still here and playing and doing all this stuff.”
with experienced josh johnsonFlacco, who turns 40 in May, will be relegated to a reserve role behind Burrow. Flacco and Burrow each were included late in last season’s Pro Bowl games, marking the first time Flacco officially received the designation.
Now that Flacco has signed with a team, his focus turns to the 2026 season. And even though he’s a backup, he feels he can still work toward his mission of becoming a key contributor to a winning team.
“I don’t see this as the end,” Flacco said. “I don’t see it that way in my mind. I feel like I can help a team win. And yes, it might be in a different role here, but I still feel like I can help this team win in that role.”
