The Cleveland Browns have deliberately and recklessly traded Joe Flacco within their own division. In doing so, the Browns have not only broken an unwritten rule, they are once again the losers. A commentary.

There are things that are currently more fun than being a Cleveland Browns fan.

Root canal treatments, for example. Or lying down in nettles. The Browns are currently the laughing stock of the league.

After trading quarterback Joe Flacco to the Cincinnati Bengals, the Browns showed once again that they just can’t get a handle on the quarterback position in the long term.

Cleveland Browns: Flacco trade leaves Tomlin stunned

There are reasons why players are not usually traded within their own division – if, contrary to expectations, they perform well, not only do you look foolish, but you also have to play against them twice a year.

Not just you, but your closest rivals as well.

“It doesn’t make sense,” said the usually diplomatic Mike Tomlin after having to prepare for Flacco as an opponent.
It’s unlikely that his opinion has changed after his Pittsburgh Steelers lost 31-33 to the Bengals and Flacco, who threw three touchdowns. It’s just the next chapter in the long and unsuccessful history of Browns quarterbacks. The Browns have had 41 (!) different starters since their return to the NFL in 1999.
That’s more than one and a half per season. Flacco is only a brief interlude; in 2021, a certain Baker Mayfield was driven away—yes, that Baker Mayfield. At some point, you can’t explain it any other way than with a curse on playmakers in Cleveland—or a constant and collective failure. One of the two.

Cleveland Browns with only rookie QBs – Flacco’s fairytale career autumn

Now the Browns have only two rookies left on their active roster: Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. Bailey Zappe is also on the practice squad.

It doesn’t take a high-quality analyst to see that the Browns are once again driving their quarterback situation into the wall.

And Joe Flacco, meanwhile? He “had a lot of fun” during the game, as he later admitted. In fact, the 41-year-old appeared relaxed and cool, as if he hadn’t just defeated the biggest rival in franchise history with a passer rating well over 100. Flacco is enjoying the final years of his career, possibly even his last year. When he sat down for an interview with Prime Video, the remaining Bengals fans also had a message for the Browns: