Rich Eisen Reacts to the Bengals Already Naming Joe Flacco Their Week 6 Starter over Jake Browning

So Flaco is going to start against the Bengals. He was in Berea on a flight home from London earlier this week. He’s probably showing up crack on a Monday and it’s now, hey, I’m moving to Cincinnati on a Tuesday and then on a Wednesday he’s named the starter by the head coach for Sunday’s game in Green Bay. Zack Taylor was asked about it. Excited to get him out there. We’ll start him this week. So, he’s going to take all the reps, get ready to go. I mean, it’s different than a young quarterback coming in, trying to learn the system and understand what a defense is trying to do to challenge you. Not only that, but he’s played Green Bay this year, so he’s already gone through a week of prep. So that’s the nice part is um now the communication and and the weekly rhythm is maybe different unique but uh he’s already prepared for this opponent. So he gets a chance to refresh himself on that while at the same time just learning our system and our terminology and our verbiage and how we operate. Um but also knowing that he’s he’s put now he hasn’t played there this year so the crowd noise all that stuff different but um at least he’s got some experience playing. Sure enough, yes. Flaco’s only win as a Browns quarterback this year came against Green Bay. Really, the defense was the one that kept him in a game while the offense sputtered until the very end when they got some points enough to win it. Exactly. Um, normally when you beat have a chance to beat the Packers twice in a year, you’re playing in their division. You’re playing in the NFC North, not the AFC North, but that’s the way this is going. Um, and it can only go two ways. I consider this. All right. Can only go two ways. It can work out really well. Like he’s showing up and this offense suits him and that’s Jamar Chase and that is T. Higgins and the scheme has been the scheme and these guys have been open and Jake Browning has just not delivered it in a way that Flaco is veteran enough to do it. and it’s going to look like clockwork, like he’s been there all along, or the offensive line that has been a massive question mark in the Joe Burrow era, including a handful of times during the Jake Browning era of 2025. Um, this is the absolute worst, you know, what would you say, iron deer on the front lawn that you could put in there. and this with a certain individual coming off of a uh a by-week formerly of the Dallas Cowboys. This guy all rested and his back is ready to go coming off the by-week. Ma is coming and it’s going to be a spectacular flame out. I don’t think there’s any gray area here on this one. Now that said, I will I will fully admit this again for those who might be new to our program here. Uh we turned wow 11 years old earlier this week. Okay. And in the 11-year history of the program, my worst take, hands down, still a clubhouse leader was during the bubble year of the NBA finals in the Miami Heat performed so well only to fall to the Anthony Davis, LeBron leakers. And the word on the street was the Heat were interested in Giannis. And I’m like, the way they just played with Tyler Hero, that kid, and Jimmy Butler and everybody for Coach Spoke, don’t trade for Giannis. Worst take I’ve ever heard. Right. Correct. Don’t trade for made my head explode. Right. You made that. And And you guys were like, don’t say that. Yeah. You said it. And I kept with I I couldn’t hold back. The first two days I was like, I don’t know. You were being kind. You were being kind if I had the right to say, especially because Giannis was 25 at the time coming off. No, eventually you were take you were thinking of taking the car keys away. I understand. I was going to call Susie, make sure everything was cool with I know. And she was even saying something at home like what is happening at work? Are you okay? He doesn’t know what he’s talking about. Yeah. I mean that that’s that’s not what Bruce Arens was referring to. But um that has been firmly enscconced in the clubhouse. But knocking on the clubhouse door, it’s coming close is me saying Jake Browning’s better than a third of the starting quarterbacks of the National Football League based on what he did in 2023 and how he’s going to take in the opportunity here in 2025 to fill in for Joe Burrow. And the Bengals season is not over and um and he’s going to show up and show out. And now, um, he’s been immediately benched by a 40-year-old quarterback that was benched by a now 1 and4. What are you smoking, bro? Give me some. Now, that’s maybe what Bruce Arens was referring to in advance pass. So, um, I see you all out there saying, “Didn’t you say this about Jake Brownie?” I did. Well, the thing is, you were pretty adamant. You didn’t want to. We tried to again tried to help you. May I parse it? May I parse it? May I parse it? I don’t know what parse means. Means it means let me, you know, split it up a little bit. Let me parse it up. Yeah, let me split it up. I know. I said that the season was not over. Which it is not. They’re just two and three. I mean, that’s true, guys. That’s higher register. No, that’s not higher register. They are two and three. They are two and three. is not I was going higher register for emphasis, not not to try and make me believe what I’m saying. They are just two and three. A game out of the wildcard spot in the AFC. That’s all technically true. It is not technically true. It is actually true. Technically true. But we watch actually true with still they’re still healthy, right? Jamar Chase and T. Higgins. So, they’re going to start, right? They’re going to both be out there, right? They’re going to they’re going to threaten the defense of the C Green Bay uh Packers. Correct. How do they get the ball? Okay. So, I don’t echo season, baby. The season’s not over. Jake Browning being the guy to prove that the season’s not over. Uh way off. I mean, way way off. Donkey. Wow. Wow. Donkey off. Yeah. And does that mean I’m the donkey? Is that what I’m Is that what you’re saying, Mike? Okay, so that’s the latest. The Bengals are so done with Jake Browning. They call the Browns to say, “We’ll take your benched quarterback and give you a draft choice that you you can’t even turn down.” Wait, wait a minute. You’re going to give us a fifth? We could draft the best quarterback out of Colorado with that just like we did last year. We’ll elevate him to the second string position. Unless we won’t. We We’ll figure it out for the rest of the week. But send Joe to Cincinnati. We’ll send him in division. I mean, yes. And we’re and we’re gonna they’re gonna just get him off the bus, hand him the playbook, and say, “You’ve been through these wars enough. Go find one Jamar Chase and T. Higgins and Chase Brown and the offensive line. It’s time. This is on you. This one’s on you. It’s not on the 40some guy that just is probably looking for what? An Airbnb to crash in this week in Cincinnati. Yeah, I’m sure they put him up in a Motel 6. Rich, he’s staying in Jeff Driscoll’s house. His old house, the only other quarterback ever to start for the Browns and the Bengals. Yeah, Joe Burrow’s probably got some room in his crib. I mean, whatever. You know what I mean? Right. The Batcave. Yeah. Just there you can start him. That’s how they’re so done with Jake Browning. And I’m done with that take. Uh-oh. Oh, good. I’m done. I’m turning the page. Yeah. I mean, it should have been turned. That’s enough out of you. Just saying. And you, too. Everybody, I get it. Wasn’t good. Not my best. Just admit their season’s over and we can turn the page for real. I will not do that. That is not what I’m saying. I cannot do that. I will not do that. So, if they get blown out on Sunday, then will you think about it? Two and four. That’s it. I get it. You you have a valid point. Thank you. And and technically, yes, the season is not over. 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 reacts to the Cincinnati Bengals naming Joe Flacco their Week 6 starting QB just one day after acquiring him via trade from the Cleveland Browns.

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43 comments

  1. Joe Flacco is a legend. He went from retirement to hot commodity at 40 years old commanding a 5th round pick! Not many young QBs in NFL today have that value.

  2. I don’t know that replacing a quarterback that was benched for throwing interceptions with a quarterback that was benched for throwing interceptions will be an improvement

  6. I wish they'd be so done with Brockman. The guy is a pest. His whole attitude and demeanor and contrarian stance on everything is tiresome. I do not know as much about sports as he does, but he does not know as much about sports as he thinks he does, either.

  18. I have no clue if Flacco will do any good. But im not putting much of my longterm view on the Green Bay game. Starting after 5 days with a team is different then a week or 2 from now. Plus after this week the schedule keeps improving. I just think there will be a lot of o told you so after they lose this Sunday, then in 2 weeks when they rattle off 3 wins in a row against lesser competition, people will just have to eat there words. I bet they go 2-2 the next 4 games, then we'll see what the division looks like after that.

  19. I've got to say Joe Flacco must have amazing mental agility since his "comeback" both in terms of fitting in with different teams playbook, getting new team mates and just being flexible in his family life….and he's still a nice guy…gotta love him.

  20. Cleveland to cincy is a 430 hour drive. This isn't a big move. He probably will rent an apartment or house or even live in a hotel room. Get real the "move" is not a problem. The season will end in January and he will just count the money.

  21. Typical ESPN content now. Cincy needs a QB, they are desperate and hire a washed up turd realistically who will just win a few more games than the backup. So Rich tries to make it an all or nothing situation. They just want butts in seats, no one is delusional enough to think it's more than that.

  25. It's a typical case of break glass in case of fire after the fire department gave up and let the building burn to the ground.. and nobody remembered to bring marshmallows. 😂

  32. Yes, this looks bleak for Cincinnati. I guess, rather than worry about the trade, focus on what else is NOT working. Browning clearly is not Joe Burrow, but behind that current OL???? One thing I will say about the OL, the Bengals have done things, invested picks, signed Orlando Brown, brought in Risner, even trying a Rookie at Guard this year. Amarius Mims, a first round pick. They are still bad both as a unit and INDIVIDUALLY. Fairchild gets time to develop, however the rest of that crap? What is their excuse? Bengals extended Center Ted Karras through 2026? Why? He hasn't proven anything. These guys are not rookies. They are over compensated overrated crap. These draft picks followed by the ticker "he has all the tools." Said that about Mims, said that about Shemar Stewart, about Myles Murphy. All the tools? If you don't know how to use your own tools as a player what good are they? Duh!!! All the tools does not equal execution, it could be a start. Need players to generate a rushing attack. This team keeps at least four active TEs, still no rushing attack. Maybe if the league allowed the Bengals only to have 15 guys could they generate a rushing attack then???

  34. Joe F is going to have his back snapped due to a horrible O-line.
    Jake is going to be starting by week 9 due to Joe F being injured, calling it.

  35. Feel bad for Browning overall. Sad he couldn't recreate what he did in 2023, i honestly hope Joe F flames out to prove it wasn't Jake's fault.

  41. Joe Burrow didn't deliver this year ether he looked like he was scared on every down Flacco is going to show just how not so great little joe is

  42. These comments are hilariously casual fans that haven't watched Flacco AT ALL in the last two years. Dude CANNOT MOVE. I don't give a crap who the WRs are. He had receivers, a great OL, good OC AND a great RB in Indy last year and couldn't do anything at all.

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