‘That’s just my personal feelings’ – Steelers’ Mike Tomlin rips Browns GM Andrew Berry for his trade decision on Joe Flacco
It turns out the Browns’ big trade wasn’t well received around the NFL.
The Cleveland Browns just went through their second game with rookie third-round pick Dillon Gabriel as their starting quarterback, and they’re now 1-5 on the season. Gabriel’s second start in Week 6 against the Pittsburgh Steelers likely came much earlier than the Browns anticipated. Cleveland named Joe Flacco their opening day starter, which made sense given their tough schedule to start the year.
Flacco was always expected to be a placeholder for the Browns, but things ended earlier than expected after just four games. Cleveland moving on from Flacco wasn’t a huge surprise, but the timing and destination certainly were. If the Browns were going to move Flacco, it felt like a trade deadline deal would have made more sense to maximize his value. Instead, Cleveland traded him to the Cincinnati Bengals for a late-round pick swap, and he played decently in his first start for them against the Packers on Sunday. From the outside, that move didn’t appear to be well-received.
Mike Tomlin gives his honest take on the Browns trading Joe Flacco
“You know, to be honest, it was shocking to me,” Tomlin admitted on Monday after Pittsburgh’s 23-9 win over Cleveland. “Andrew Berry must be a lot smarter than me—or us—because it doesn’t make sense to me to trade a quarterback that you think enough of to make your opening day starter to a division opponent that’s hurting in that area. But that’s just my personal feelings.”
Flacco had eight turnovers in four games with the Browns, so moving away from him made sense. Gabriel hasn’t turned the ball over in either of his two starts, but the Browns have still failed to reach 20 points for the 11th straight game. Cleveland managed just nine points against the Steelers on Sunday, and kicker Andre Szmyt was arguably their best player. That simply can’t happen. That’s how you lose games—and that’s why the Browns are sitting at 1-5.
Cleveland likely did right by trading Flacco somewhere he could continue playing at 40 years old, but they probably could have found that opportunity for him by waiting a bit longer. Gabriel attempted 52 passes against the Steelers, yet the Browns’ offense produced only 248 total yards. The quarterback play hasn’t been good, but the rookie isn’t the only problem with this offense.
There’s plenty of blame to go around in Cleveland for what’s gone wrong so far this season. Shipping away two players who had a combined nine starts this year sends a message that you’re already punting on the season. Tomlin’s take on the Flacco trade is fair—trading him wasn’t the issue, but where he was traded was questionable at best. Part of that perspective comes from Tomlin knowing the Steelers are missing out on facing Jake Browning on Thursday night in Week 7, and that Flacco might be Cincinnati’s last hope at salvaging any kind of success this year.
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