The Browns checked off one box regarding their new quarterback plan Thursday, making an active-roster deal official with Joe Flacco. But the contract does not profile as a prorated veteran-minimum accord.
Flacco, whom the Browns named the starter for the season’s remainder, agreed to a one-year deal. The 38-year-old passer will officially join Cleveland’s 53-man roster; he had spent the past two games as a gameday elevation from the practice squad. Considering Flacco’s new status, this move was expected. But the Browns will dangle come additional carrots for their fourth QB1 this season.
[RELATED: Browns QB Transactions Since 2022]
This contract can max out at $4.05MM, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter, with Browns wins being the driver here. The team included language that will lead to Flacco collecting $75K for each Browns victory over the final four regular-season games. If the Browns are to advance to the postseason, Flacco would have a chance to make more money. A wild-card win would produce a $250K Flacco payment, per Schefter, who adds a divisional-round win would provide him with an additional $500K.
The Browns have not won a divisional-round game since the original franchise defeated the Bills in a 1989 shootout. Neither Browns franchise has won a conference championship game (post-merger, that is), but Schefter adds Flacco would receive $1MM for Cleveland winning the AFC title and $2MM for a Super Bowl LVIII conquest.
Flacco said he is not aware of any other team attempting to sign him off the Browns’ practice squad. Considering the form he has shown in Kevin Stefanski‘s offense early, the 16th-year veteran said (via cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot) he would not have gone elsewhere had another team called. After two games, the Browns saw enough to end any debate regarding Flacco or Dorian Thompson-Robinson as the starter.
While playoff success has been scarce for the Browns since they rebooted in 1999, the team sits in the top wild-card spot presently. At 8-5, Cleveland is a game up on a sextet of 7-6 teams jockeying for postseason position. Despite the Browns playing with backup tackles and a backup running back, Flacco stepped in and played well in his two starts. The Browns will be without Dawand Jones and Jedrick Wills the rest of the way, with the fourth-year left tackle undergoing knee surgery that will keep him from coming off IR later this season. Flacco will nevertheless attempt to keep this damaged car on the road over the final four regular-season games.
Geno Smith was a nice “feel good” story last season and I’m hoping Joe can have a similarly solid comeback with the Browns.
Chump change.
Up to $4 million for (at most) about two months is nice work if you can get it
Ok High Roller. To make $4 million would take me about 32 years…
All contracts should be incentive contracts.
Wish all sports can payout like that. Maybe it would give more drive to the over paid players?
Flacco should have stuck it to them. He was a sap agreeing to incentives.
Perhaps the league can manage without another prima donna QB who needs darkness retreats and media attention before agreeing to play for a team.
You mean whacking off in a cave in central Oregon while binge watching x-files is not how to make decisions?
Can players sign single game contracts? If so, maybe he should keep doubling his per-game price.
Who else was gonna pay him more?
I wonder if the people calling for all contracts to be incentive driven have ever worked for just tips or commissions? Wonder if they have ever seen how much money the owners make?
Lots of people have been conditioned their entire lives to lick rich boots while ****ing on their fellow workers.
Especially when a worker finds their way to big money, these pawns will always side with the owner. Always.
Just like they were taught.
You sound jealous. If you don’t like the current situation then go earn a few $billion and then show everyone else how a good owner should run things.
@high altitude.
Spoken like a true sucker. The world needs people like
Trump needs a donation for his defense fund
The world doesnt revolve around Trump. I voted for the dude. I dont talk about him 24/7. Get over him. Serious. Stop the liberlas obsession over a man.
Good for Joe, real Pro and the Browns. Too bad Jets didn’t re-sign him. Maybe they would still have been in playoff hunt instead of another miserable season.
Aaron’s ego wouldn’t handle having a backup who was actually competent.
Flacco had a great game – which frankly can’t be explained by his play over the last 2+ years, which was mediocre at best.
I doubt anyone would have any interest in sports if the results were always as expected.
I’m not a Browns fan but wouldn’t it be something if he won the Super Bowl being part of both Browns franchises?
The original Browns ceased operations after the 1995 season. Flacco didn’t enter the league until 2008 as a Raven.