“Makes Sense” – Rich Eisen on the Cleveland Browns Benching Joe Flacco for Rookie QB Dillon Gabriel

The Browns have a head coach in Kevin Stfansky, two-time coach of the year, who has decided to pull his starter. His name is Joe Flacco. And Flacco once upon a time was the comeback player of the year from his couch to the Cleveland Browns in the Stfansky system. And everything there lit up like a Christmas tree with Deshaawn Watson being out for the rest of the season. And the Browns made the playoffs with Joe Flacco as their starter. And it was amazing. There are a number of people who won their fantasy leagues cuz they decided to take a fly on Flacco when he first started for the Browns and did well on his first start and he was unreal. And so when the Browns brought him back for one year, four million bucks and then decided to draft not one but two rookies to join Kenny Picket who was there who they acquired from the Philadelphia Eagles almost within a month after he took the victory formation to start a parade in Philadelphia. It’s like, okay, it’s only a matter of time. One would think unless Flaco lights it up that they’ll start Picket or one of the rookies. And as it turned out, Picket got hurt in training camp. He wound up being traded to the Raiders where there’s so many interceptions being thrown by Gino Smith. There’s some conversation in the desert right now about whether maybe Picket should start there because there’s only one person who’s turned it over more in the first four weeks of this season than Gino Smith and his name is Joe Flacco. So sure enough, soon as we left the studio here yesterday getting set to watch all the playoff baseball games on ESPN and the family of networks, um Stfansky made a move and it’s Dylan Gabriel starting at quarterback and we’ll see how this one works out as Dylan Gabriel um is now going to be the first quarterback in NFL history to make his first career start in an international game. Yes, he will play in the home of Tottenham before he plays in the home of the Browns or anyone else’s home in the NFL. And he’s taking on a Vikings team that is only traveling to London from Ireland. And Gabriel knows all about traveling. Central Florida, Oklahoma, Oregon, six years in college. So, he’s gotten some uh reps. Responsible for the most starts and touchdowns in the history of college football quarterbacking, 63 starts. He basically turns to Bo Nicks and Brock Birdie says, “Hold my beer.” And 189 touchdowns. And um in terms of passing touchdowns, he’s tied with somebody you I think see brought in as a backup in commercials these days, Case Keen, 155 passing touchdowns there. So, he’s gotten some experience and Stfansky, let it be known, uh some first team reps during the first month of the season as well. So, there’s been some writing on the wall internally. This was Kevin Stfansky about making the move. From the second he’s been here, he’s been working very hard. uh very intelligent young man. He’s he’s done a nice job throughout practice. Uh and you know, he’s been this whole season he’s been learning how to get yourself ready and and uh understand the rhythm of an NFL week and what that looks like as a backup and uh obviously now feel like he’s ready to go in as a starter. Why now? Yeah, just my decision where I felt uh this decision was was uh best for the football team. Joe slide into the number two role. Yes. Why did you decide to make Joe the backup and not Shidor? Yeah, Joe’s the backup. And again, that’s a question that’s not being asked of any coach who’s drafted somebody in the fifth round of a draft. Why is why is why is uh Shadore not backing up and we’ll have more time to talk about Shadore. This is more about what Dylan Gabriel is going to do in the moment. To be honest with you, I know everyone’s going to make it about Shadore. I know pretty much any other show that’s being broadcast and distributed by uh Disney or ESPN is going to make it about Shadore. Um but this is Dylan Gabriel’s gig right now. And it makes sense. Go be Jackson Dart, kid, cuz Dart’s the only one from that draft class that’s won a game so far. Cam Ward is yet to. Maybe Dylan Gabriel could be the second taking on a Vikings team that will uh no doubt look at this what I people would call Tu Jr right as um potentially fresh meat. We will see what he can do. Quinn Seawn Judkins can help. His rushing attack has um come alive. But guess what Browns fans? You now have a 41st different starting quarterback since reconstituting in 1999. That is way, way deep in first place. The second place team in terms of most starting quarterbacks since 1999 are your Chicago Bears with 30. Wow. 30. They have an 11 QB lead. That is correct. And who knows, maybe by the end of the year if Shadore gets his shot a dozen. And then this is all about the Browns picking in their way through this year with multiple draft choices next year. And I know nobody in that locker room and certainly in that town wants to already talk about 20 26, but is Gabriel going to be the guy? We’ll see. If not, do they finally give Shador a shot? We’ll see. But it doesn’t surprise me that after a one and three start with the way everything’s looked on offense and the fact that Flaco threw another couple of interceptions last week that he makes a move like this cuz he reads the room and he has a gut and feel and he makes a move. Hey, you made it all the way to the end. Thanks for that. Check us out every single day streaming live on Disney Plus and the ESPN app 12 to 3 Eastern.

Rich Eisen weighs in on the Cleveland Browns’ decision to bench Joe Flacco for rookie QB Dillon Gabriel.

Tune in to the Emmy-nominated Rich Eisen Show live weekdays from Noon to 3PM ET on Disney+, ESPN+, ESPN Radio, and streaming on SiriusXM channel 80.

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20 comments

  6. As a Browns fan, Flacco has been abysmal. I think like 80% of his passes have been 9 yards or less. He can't move in the pocket. We won the Green bay game in spite of him. At this point it can't possibly get any worse.

  8. The one thing I've have not heard about Cleveland is the lack of a running game. No matter who is or will be the Quarterback stands no real opportunity to succeed without a threat of being able to run the ball.

  9. The Browns are still kicking themselves for trading Baker Mayfield. HUGE mistake. He was the best QB they had since Bernie Kosar. The Browns are cursed at the QB position.

  10. Flacco had that off the couch magic two seasons ago for the Browns, but that was then and now he is just a washed 41-year-old QB. Time for him to retire.

  18. Love Dillon Gabriel! Sucks that he had to go to such an incompetent organization like the Browns.. Hope it works out, or another team can trade for him in a year or two.

  19. Flacco shouldn't be on the team,Sanders should be the back up , and let's get the story straight, stinkfanski was given the 2nd coach of the year the Houston coach really won.

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