Well, that escalated quickly.
Earlier this afternoon, I read that Mike White had been released from the Bengals practice squad.
Then, driving home, my phone started blowing up with WhatsApp messages about the trade for veteran quarterback Joe Flacco.
The deal itself is straightforward: Flacco and a sixth-round pick head to Cincinnati, with the Bengals sending a fifth-rounder to the Cleveland Browns in return.
But as it is the first-ever trade with our old Ohio rivals across 58 years of co-existence, it was a move literally no one saw coming.
How did we get here?
Cincinnati’s season has been unravelling ever since Joe Burrow went down with turf toe during the Week 2 clash with Jacksonville.
His understudy, Jake Browning, was highly regarded after a fine stint in 2023. But this year, he has struggled badly, leading the team to three straight losses while tossing interceptions like candy at a kid’s party.
Like I said a few days ago in my last article for HuddleUK, the 2-3 Bengals had to do something before the season went down the pan completely.
Meanwhile, across the state, Flacco’s brief run in Cleveland fizzled out almost as quickly. He went 1-3 as a starter, throwing for just two touchdowns and six picks before being replaced by rookie Dillon Gabriel this weekend.
That demotion suddenly made Flacco available – and the Bengals pounced.
Flacco’s backstory
You know the name. Super Bowl XLVII MVP. Longtime Ravens starter. Spells with the Broncos, Jets and Colts, and two stints with the Browns, where he won Comeback Player of the Year in 2023 after a playoff run.
If nothing else, Flacco knows the AFC North better than almost anyone. Once he dons stripes, he will have suited up for three of the division’s four teams, with only Pittsburgh missing from the set.
Why it could work
Flacco is vastly experienced, a quick learner and must have seen every defensive scheme in the book.
And he still has a big arm. With receivers like Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins at his disposal, we could see explosive plays downfield that simply have not been possible with Browning.
This gives Zac Taylor and offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher an excuse to tweak the playbook. I expect to see more under-centre snaps, more play-action and more deep shots.
In short, there is some upside if the coaching staff plays to his strengths.
Why it might not
Of course, Flacco is 40, struggles under pressure and has the mobility of a fridge. Behind the Bengals offensive line, that is a concern, both in terms of successful play and his physical wellbeing.
He is also partial to throwing the odd interception himself, with only Geno Smith and, haha, Jake Browning posting more so far this season. A case of out of the frying pan and into the fire perhaps?
Maybe so, but at this point, neither party has much to lose. And in his defence, he has not had this calibre of weapons or system flexibility in recent years. It could make all the difference.
The verdict: worth a shot
Is Flacco the magic bullet? Almost definitely not. But it gives fresh hope that something might change for the better. If he can get the ball in the hands of the Bengals’ playmakers, they have a chance – and Taylor may keep his job.
And when the alternatives included Jameis Winston, Russell Wilson, Andy Dalton and Kirk Cousins, swapping Day 3 picks to get Flacco feels like a calculated risk worth taking.
The front office needed to keep the fans – and the sponsors, no doubt – onside. They had to show they were still trying to compete in a wide-open AFC and an unexpectedly poor division.
Should the Bengals have done something three weeks ago? Absolutely. But hey, better late than never.
Given his propensity for getting up to speed quickly, we could possibly see Flacco make his debut on Sunday against the Packers, who he beat with the Browns just a fortnight ago.
Failing that, it is another short week before a Thursday night clash with the Steelers.
I will be in the Queen City for that one. If Flacco engineers a win that night, I will pay for the statue outside Paycor Stadium myself.
