Robert Saleh Gives Browns’ Flacco, Moore Bulletin Board Material
Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco and wide receiver Elijah Moore will live out the dream of the under-appreciated man on Thursday, when they get the chance to stick it to head coach Robert Saleh and the New York Jets.
Saleh supplied both Browns starters some bulletin board material this week when asked about the prospect of facing Flacco, who he never called about rejoining the Jets after three years together, and Moore, who he utilized sparingly before trading away to Cleveland.
The Jets coach offered the qualifiers that Flacco is “awesome” and that he has the “utmost respect” for him, before promptly comparing the quarterback to a sputtering, unattractive vehicle on its last legs.
“I’ve said it before, he’s like a Ford pickup truck,” Saleh said of Flacco. “You might not like it in the summer, but in the winter months that son of a gun starts humming.”
Robert Saleh Doesn’t Regret Bailing on Joe Flacco, Despite QB’s Success with Browns
While Flacco is now the starter for what is almost guaranteed to be a playoff team in Cleveland, the Jets have fumbled through a parade of unsuccessful backup quarterbacks following a Week-1 Achilles tear suffered by Aaron Rodgers — New York’s latest purported savior who proved unable to deliver the hapless franchise to the promised land.
Those QBs include Zach Wilson, a former No. 2 overall pick made by Saleh in 2021 — his first season at the helm of the organization.
Despite that, Saleh told “Newsday” that he doesn’t regret parting with Flacco who has been a borderline elite signal-caller over four starts (3-1) in Cleveland.
“I don’t think I ever let myself go there,” Saleh said. “It’s just the decision we made in terms of the quarterback room and the way we developed it over the course of OTAs and training camp. It was just a decision we made.”
Reporters asked Flacco on Wednesday about Saleh’s choice not to ring him up before the season.
“Is what it is. Happy to be where I am. Lots of guys in that locker room I respect,” Flacco said, per Zac Jackson of The Athletic. “The only reason it crossed my mind is because people asked me, ‘Hey, are the Jets gonna call you?’”
Luckily for Flacco, the Jets didn’t call but the Browns did. The QB has thrown for 1,307 yards, 10 touchdowns and 7 interceptions (several of which weren’t his fault) across four starts in Cleveland, per Pro Football Reference. The former Super Bowl MVP is also a near lock to start his first playoff game since 2014 when he played for the Baltimore Ravens.
