The Cleveland Browns have named veteran Joe Flacco their starting quarterback, relegating rookie Shedeur Sanders to the bench. The decision is the right one at this point in time and there is no alternative – a commentary.

The cat’s out of the bag.

The Cleveland Browns have decided on their starting quarterback just a few weeks before the new season.

Despite impressive performances in training camp and at the start of the preseason, rookie playmaker Shedeur Sanders has been left behind and will have to settle for the backup role behind veteran Joe Flacco, at least for the time being.

Even though the son of NFL legend and Hall of Famer Deion Sanders will have to wait his turn, the decision is actually the only option for the franchise at this point in time.

Shedeur Sanders: Cleveland Browns protect rookie from pressure and spotlight

With the 23-year-old under center right from the start, Cleveland would have virtually put itself in the crosshairs.

The expectations for the young prospect with the prominent last name would be enormous overnight. And with that would come immediate pressure to perform. Mistakes or teething problems would quickly cause unrest and discussion in the media and on social media.

Making Sanders the starter now and putting him directly in the spotlight of the best football league would be extremely negligent on the part of the Browns.

After his fall in the draft from a potential first-round pick to the fifth round, it is wise to give the player time to get used to the unfamiliar climate and level of the league.

Head coach Kevin Stefanski and his team are protecting the player with their sensible decision and ensuring that Sanders can be introduced to the starting role step by step.

Whether he will eventually take over as starter during the regular season, depending on how the season progresses, or whether he will spend his entire rookie season learning in the second string is something that only a crystal ball can answer at this point.

Either way, the Browns are keeping the reins firmly in their own hands with this smart move and could react to any eventualities at any time, as additional time to acclimatize can only benefit Sanders.

Cleveland Browns: There is still no way around Joe Flacco as starting QB

From a purely sporting perspective, the decision to go with Flacco makes even more sense.

The 40-year-old is entering his 18th NFL season and has the necessary experience and leadership skills to confidently lead the team into the 2025 season. The 2012 Super Bowl champion and MVP has played 196 regular season games with the Baltimore Ravens in his illustrious career – you can’t get much more experience than that.

Flacco is no stranger to starting in Cleveland either. Before joining the Indianapolis Colts in the preseason, he was already at the helm of the Browns’ offense when he played five consecutive games from Week 13 in 2023. During that time, the Browns went 4-1 with him as their starting quarterback.

And let’s not forget: the highlight of his tenure in Cleveland so far was the victory over the New York Jets in Week 17, which secured the Browns a place in the playoffs – their first postseason appearance since 2020.

The franchise is thus on the expected path, if you don’t let yourself be blinded by the hype surrounding young prospect Sanders.

Meanwhile, Flacco appeared extremely confident just a few days before the starter was announced, as if he already knew he had been chosen: “To be honest, things have been going pretty well for me the last few weeks. I’ve gotten more playing time, settled in, and feel like I’m playing at a pretty high level.”