Joe Flacco’s humility and class shows with heartwarming message after what could be his last start with Bengals
Joe Flacco keeps it classy reflecting on his run with the Bengals.
Joe Flacco is likely going to the bench this week for the Cincinnati Bengals if Joe Burrow is able to make his return on Thanksgiving night against the Baltimore Ravens.
There are no NFL quarterbacks who want to give up a starting title, but Flacco has become well versed in the role of stepping down. Doing so comes with equal parts acceptance and gratitude.
“As a competitor, you always want to be out there on the field,” Flacco said after Sunday’s loss to the New England Patriots. “I mean, this is what I live to do, go out on that field and play football. But at the same time, I feel really fortunate to have kind of found myself in this situation. As much as I would have loved to see us win games, I still had a lot of fun here with these guys in the locker room, going out, lacing them up with these guys has been a lot of fun, and I felt right at home, and have had a blast doing it. And I don’t think I really am looking anything past that.”
Joe Flacco steps down with grace
Despite being the subject of Cincinnati’s most unique trade in franchise history last month, Flacco was always on borrowed time with the Bengals. Burrow was working to come back at some point this season, and that return could very well happen in a few days.
Flacco acknowledges what’s likely to come following his sixth start with the team, but says what has happened in the last several weeks has been worth it all no matter that it’s ending.
“You know, I get it. I get how certain feelings could be involved with this,” Flacco continued. “But in this case, it’s easy for me to kind of put those aside and just look at the positives of the whole thing, and be excited for another teammate trying to work his way back. So it might sound like crap and like I’m lying and yeah, there is a tough part of not being out there. There always is, but I feel like I’ve put my head down and worked hard the last however long it’s been, and I’ve had a lot of fun with these guys.”
Flacco threw for 183 yards and completed 51.4% of his passes in Sunday’s defeat that dropped the Bengals down to 3-8. There’s going to be a 1-5 record attached to Joe Flacco’s time as their starting QB, and his production did drop off following his AC joint sprain, but it never felt quite that bad watching the 40-year old still sling it.
Perhaps Flacco will be needed again. No one knows for sure how Burrow’s going to respond after making his return.
If not, he’ll be remembered for entering a tough situation and making the most of out it.
And not for nothing, exiting with class and humility.
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