Joe Flacco Press Conference – October 10

Joe Flacco Press Conference – October 10

What have the last couple of days been like for you since you found out you were going to be a main goal? Uh I I I’m sure you could imagine a little bit. Um a little bit chaotic. Uh head spinning a little bit, but just trying to, you know, come in here and uh have an open mind and, you know, figure out what we got going on. So, how much of what you are going to do offensively, what Zach wants to do offensively do you think you got in this week for yourself? How much of our game plan do I feel like do I feel comfortable with? I I think he’s done a good job of kind of being able to figure out what direction to go and um I feel like I’ve done a good job. I mean, it it it’s uh it’s a little bit different to call because some of the terminology is a little bit different. I think that’s the biggest issue is just kind of making sure I get in and out of the huddle the way I want to. Um, I think once I break the huddle, I feel pretty comfortable. It’s just a matter of getting in and out of the huddle and um, you know, just continuing over the next couple days to make sure I can get even better at that. What was your initial reaction on Tuesday? Uh, crazy business. You know, you have to be ready for anything. Um, that’s that’s kind of what it was. Uh, you know, definitely didn’t have this uh on my list of things that were, you know, going to happen. So, um, but hey, that that’s this league. Um, and and and I’m a player. Uh, I think most players would say the same thing. I mean, you know, I like to play football and if that’s in Cincinnati right now, then, you know, I’m all for it. You play, you obviously get to throw it to the rest of the just thoughts on those guys. Yeah. Well, obviously, I mean, everybody, you know, can see what they’ve done throughout their careers and the kind of players they are. Uh, I think it’s exciting for anybody to kind of go out and see them play. So, when you’re the guy that gets to throw to them, um, it’s just another level. Whether it’s the game plan, logistics, new faces. What’s the biggest challenge this week? Well, the biggest challenge is probably still just the Green Bay Packers, you know, and and the team that they have. Uh, they’re a confident uh team that that plays good football. And, you know, I I I think all the other stuff, you know, you can use as an excuse. Um, but it’s we still have to go play a football game on Sunday and and they’re the ones that stand in front of us. How much the fact that you played them only a couple weeks ago and they’ve only got one more game on tape since then. How much does that help? Yeah, I mean there’s probably a little bit of it’s probably a little bit helpful. Uh, the fact that you’ve been able to watch them on film and and kind of see what they do and then actually go out and play against them and and, you know, kind of see how physical they are and and all that stuff. Um, I I I still think just like any other any other football game though, it’s it’s about kind of focusing on ourselves and and what we can do best. Have been around a long time like you have like to use the expression I know all the answers or I know most of the answers. How does that help you coming into a situation like this when you see so many things but have to process something very? I I think in this kind of environment and in in this situation particularly, I think honestly I can get in trouble kind of thinking I know everything. I think the best way for me to deal is just keep simp keep it simple. Um you know I think a lot of the times when you’re when you’ve played a lot of ball and when you’ve been around a lot of ball um you know you can you can get to the point where you over complicate things and you just you’re just making things harder on yourself. Uh so honestly I think my experience in this in in in this regard is is uh going to help me in the sense that I don’t have all the answers. Just keep it simple. Go play football and you know and and and and I think that’s the best way to kind of make sure that we play consistently. Um stay ahead of the chains and do all those things. What was the car ride down like with Zack kind of on that phone call just as you were going down there? What was that experience? It was good. I mean, I was tired. Uh, you know, I would have drove down myself, but uh they were nice enough to kind of take us down with me and Zach got on the phone with me a little bit just kind of going over uh some of the basic things uh that they had kind of have kind of had in for for this week. Um and then honestly, I kind of like crashed a little bit like with my wife next to me and just got a little bit of rest. Um you know, we just got back from London and like waking up is easy, but like at 8:00 I was like hitting a wall. So, um, it it was nice to be able to just kind of get a little bit of rest on on on the drive after talking to him for a little while. Did you and your wife have a moment where you looked at each other like, “What is this actually happening?” I think the last couple weeks, uh, we’ve we’ve had those moments, you know? Um, a lot of the times when you’re going through things as a player, you just adapt. You you you go with it. I think that’s I think it with everything in life when things happen to you, you you you just like, “All right, how do we get how do we go forward? What’s the next step and you don’t it doesn’t really hit you too hard, but the people that care about you, it they almost wear it on their sleeve, all these different emotions more than you do.” And I think that’s how it’s been over the last couple weeks. Um, so honestly, like when this ended up happening, I I think there was a little bit of excitement from her and and yeah, we sure we we looked at each other and we’re like, you know, what the hell? Uh, but I you could see I I think it was ultimately excitement on, you know, what the future holds. Joe, it’s very it’s very early in the season still. Uh, week six. Do you feel like you’re stepping into a situation where you can be a guy that can help this team stay in the playoff picture in that playoff conversation? I sure hope so. Um, that’s what I play for is is to is to win football games and and help everybody be at their best. And, you know, I hope I can come in here and and and give these guys my best and, you know, elevate us as much as I as I possibly can and, you know, see if we can win a few football games. Get traded. It’s another to find out right away that you’re starting five days from that. What What’s that like? What’s the first thing that pops in your head? Yeah. Uh, you honestly just have, like I said, it goes back to just I think my personality probably ends up helping me here, but you just kind of have to go with it and and embrace whatever it is and meet it head on. And and then also like when you when you’re in these situations, um it’s a good reminder of the fact that we get to play a game for a living and you know try not it it makes it almost a little bit easier to not make it bigger than it actually is. Um so 18 years in, Super Bowl MVP, plenty of money in the bank, young family. Why are you still doing this at 40? It’s always a I get that question so much. um uh especially before this season, but I just feel like I have like a lot to offer um to a football team. Um I feel like I’ve put in a lot of work my whole life to get to this point in just terms of playing in the NFL in general and I have a I hopefully will have a long life when I’m done. But you only get a chance to play in the NFL once, and I feel like I’ve worked really hard, like I said, to to to be a guy that gets to play in the NFL, and I don’t want to take that for granted. Uh, I still feel like I can play the game at a high level. Um, and I want to be able to look at myself in the mirror when I’m 50 years old and and be able to say that, you know, I gave it everything I had. Um, so spoke to somebody that’s I spoke to somebody that’s dealt with you often over the years. He said it was his impression you love the game more than ever now. Is that true? I I think there’s things that happen. I don’t know. Uh I don’t know if it’s true or not. Um because it’s, you know, I I honestly never really think about it as like a love for the game and and this and that. Like it’s it’s part of who I am. Um, and I think as you grow up and become more mature, um, and you have certain things happen in your life, there are certain things about doing this and getting to show up in into that locker room every day, you know, with a group of guys, a group of young guys. Um, you as you grow up, you you just learn how to not take it for granted as much and realize like how cool of a situation you’re in. So, what’s the learning curve like on a short week, a new offense? Is it simple to start or is it trial by fire? Yeah, you ultimately uh it’s funny like you look at you you look at a play call written out and you’re like, “Okay, I can kind of wrap my head around that.” And then you see the picture and you’re like, “Okay, now I okay, I got it.” And then you go out and in the walkthrough and and he he spits it out to you and you have to repeat it and you’re like, “Oh man, I thought I had it, but that seems hard to repeat.” So you kind of um you know or you’re you’re figuring it out at that point and then you got to practice and you’re like okay yeah I felt pretty good calling it there. So it ultimately you think you can kind of have it by looking at it but you have to go out there and do it. So I would say trial by fire is ultimately how you end up learning. You have to go out there and call it and and visualize it. And it’s it’s one thing to see the call written out, another thing to see the picture, another thing to go out there and actually say it and do it. So, what was your conversation brief as a player Mike Brown yesterday before practice? Oh, I mean, just kind of like, you know, he he was like, “Oh, you seem like a familiar face just because we’ve played so many games, you know, against each other.” I mean, I’m hitting up everybody in the division at this point. Um, so yeah, it was just kind of getting to know him. Um, it’s pretty cool that, you know, he’s out there every day on his golf cart watching practice and I mean, if anybody loves football, I’m sure you could talk to him about the love of the game because he, you know, he’s one of those guys that seems like that. Have you ever played with two guys like Have you ever played with two guys like Jason? What’s your What’s your Well, I don’t want to get into comparing like, you know, guys I’ve played with. I mean, I’ve gotten um I’ve been fortunate to to play with some good players and some good teams. um you know, and I haven’t gotten a chance to play with these guys yet, but man, um they’re exciting to watch. And I I can put myself in like my kids shoes, for instance. Like, um I remember when I was a kid, like watching wide receivers was always the coolest thing. You know, quarterbacks, they just their kind of job is to get the ball to the guy, but like the guys doing all the cool things are like the guys that have the ball in their hands, the running backs, the wide receivers. Um, you know, so, uh, yeah, I’ve gotten a chance to play with some good wide receivers and and and and just be a part of good teams and I’m excited to be with these guys as well. You don’t want to give us a ranking of every skill. Yeah, that’s right. 23 23 you hopped in, you know, midstream with Cleveland. You and Amari like immediately this connection. Do you look back on that in terms of the key to connecting with a top receiver quickly in that type of situation that you can draw on here? You can’t overthink it. Um I I know everything, you know, you like to talk about all that and the the chemistry and everything, but you know, those guys are two and two of the best in the world at what they do. Uh if you can’t throw to them and get on the same page as them, then you’re in trouble. How do you feel like you played the first month of the season? Uh yeah, I did not play as well as I wanted to and and feel like I’m capable of. So, um excited about the opportunity to kind of go out there and do that. What do you feel like you wanted to do better? Well, the biggest thing is is like, you know, I didn’t take care of the ball as well as I wanted to. Um you know, a couple unfortunate interceptions turn into other ones that, you know, you did make mistakes on and you know, you just kind of get stuck in that and um that’s probably the thing that stands out. Um, but I I I think this is a great opportunity to just kind of get back out there and and and and prove the opposite. Can you walk us through your process when you said like the most important thing for you is going to be learning the language and maybe what some things are called here compared to what you’re used to. Do you use like flashc cards or or do you just read or is it iPad? Like what do you do to make sure that you can memorize what you need? uh read it, say it, look at it, have somebody say it to me, repeat it. I just just just that um there is familiarity. There is like it’s not like everything’s brand new. Um there are certain things that are recognizable about it. Uh and then I feel like I have a good picture of it all in my head. So once I do say it and tell everybody what to do, I do feel like I have a good picture of it. But like communicating that is very important. Uh so so yeah, it’s just a process of that, you know, looking at it, saying it, repeating it. Um you know, I’ve never had my wife kind of read stuff out to me and but the other night in the sitting in the hotel, I did have her, you know, read, you know, some of the base game plan to me and have me repeat it back to her. Um she didn’t do bad because there is a rhythm to there’s a rhythm not only to like saying the play in the huddle, but there is a rhythm to giving someone the play. like as Zach would give me the play, there’s a rhythm to how you say things. And it’s not like she knows the difference between a formation, a shift, a motion, and where the where the actual play starts. So like I didn’t think she’d have a good enough rhythm to it, but it it actually worked out decent. Talk about the rhythm and the huddle. Is there like an like an art to that and the way that you relay the play call and conduct the huddle? Um, I I I think it is important obviously how you run a huddle, but it it shouldn’t be like the hardest thing in the world. I I And then especially today, like I think there’s just a lot of wristbands and stuff like that. So, you know, when I first started using a wristband, like it honestly there’s a piece of it that was harder because instead of like saying it and picturing it as you’re saying it, you’re just reading words and then you kind of have to go back and think, what did I just say? you know, um, but you get used to doing that, too. So, there is it’s not the hardest thing in the world to to have to be somebody that gets a good rhythm and communicates it well, but there is a little bit of uh work to be done to in order to get there. Do you still did you feel like you still had Yeah. U before you got traded, did you feel like you were still good enough to be a starter in the league? Of course. Yeah. I mean, if I didn’t if I didn’t feel that way, then I wouldn’t uh I wouldn’t be doing it. Have you spoken to Joe Burrow and can he be a resource for you to help? Yeah, I have spoken to Joe and and of course he can. Yeah, I mean he can definitely help. Uh, you know, just little things that he’s kind of done or how he’s seen this play or that play, it can kind of help speed up your process a little bit and help you relate it to something that you’ve done in the past. Taylor said on Wednesday, have your kids talked about trade at all or just a little bit. uh they’re back at home and uh they seem to be excited, you know, especially because of the two guys that you were talking about. Um but you know, kids, I mean, they don’t have they don’t really have too much time for you when you’re talking to them over the phone. So, uh you know, they they’ve definitely seemed excited. Um but I I I’ll I’ll find out a little bit more when I get to see them. Coach Taylor said on Wednesday, they traded for you because of how well you fit the offense. In what ways does this offense fit you? Well, I’m I’m still just trying to figure it all out. So, if he feels that way, then I feel great about it. You know, um I I pride myself on being able to come in and and and run the offense the way that you see it in your head and and and then obviously, you know, you grow from there together. But, um I think you guys know where he comes from and the type of system that you know he comes from and the background of of his. And I think that I’ve been with some with some of the guys that are kind of involved in that tree and can like the general idea of of what they do. So, both you’ve been on both sides of of this, but what do you say to Jake and how is how is that? Yeah. Yeah. I mean, you talk and I don’t think you ever like specifically bring that up, but you do talk about it. Um, listen, I mean, we It’s disappointing. I’m sure he’s super disappointed. I mean, I was there two weeks ago. Uh, you know, we I think when you play in this league, um, you always want to be the guy that’s out there and playing it, uh, and and and, you know, the guy behind the center. Uh, but also, you have to keep your head on your shoulders, right, because opportunities could come up when, you know, whenever. Um, to Jake’s credit, like, you know, he’s disappointed and is having a tough week, but, um, I think he’s done an awesome job kind of, you know, being there for me in this process of kind of, uh, you know, preparing for this game. And I think he’s been super helpful, uh, in the meeting rooms and then even outside of the meeting rooms, uh, just kind of somebody to talk to and, um, ask questions. So, he’s been great. Have you ever been in a situation like this? No. I mean, come on. No, this is super unique. I’m curious because are you curious to see how you respond on such short preparation? You get on the field Sunday and it’s go time. Yeah, I I think I’ll I I don’t think I’m curious to see how how I’ll respond. Um I think part of that response is already happening. I think I’m going to be able to look back at it and and feel like I handled it well. Um but going out there and playing the game is a different thing. like you got to go out there and you got to play a good game and be consistent and um I’m not worried about how I’m going to handle the situation. Um I’m not worried about that much. I just want to go out there and and and keep it simple and play the best game I can. Joe, you have a lot of experience playing in the National Football League. You played with quite a few teams, had quite a few offenses that you’ve had to, you know, study and learn. as you’re studying and learning this Bengals offense, does it remind you of anything that you’ve uh, you know, utilized and employed in the past? Well, I mean, not necessarily like formationally. Uh, but like some of the concepts are the same from what I just came from, you know, and and even if they’re not the same, they’re almost called the same thing or or they’re at least ran the exact same way. So, I think in terms of that, it is very similar to to the offense that I’ve been in in Cleveland, uh, for, you know, a little bit of the a little bit of the past three years. Um, you go back to when I was in New York with the Jets. Um, and Mike Lafleur was calling the games. Uh, it’s similar to that, too. So, all right. Appreciate it, guys. [Music]

Joe Flacco speaks to the media going into Week 6 against the Green Bay Packers.

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