Browns general manager Andrew Berry 'would have no problem having' Joe Flacco back

BEREA, Ohio — Joe Flacco won over the hearts of the Cleveland Browns fan base with the way he played quarterback over the final month of the season. He also won over the hearts of those inside the team facility, right up to general manager Andrew Berry.

However, when it comes to a decision on the veteran being back on the roster for the 2024 season, Berry is not using his heart to make that call. Not considering the Browns' continued all-in support for Deshaun Watson, who is coming off season-ending shoulder surgery.

"I should start by saying this," Berry said during his end-of-the-season news conference Monday. "We'd absolutely love to have Joe back. He's a good quarterback, but I guess maybe a little bit similar to Jacoby (Brissett) last year. It depends, right? I want to bring all of our good players back, but there are constraints to that. I'm really kind of both sides of the aisle but would have no problem having Joe back."

Flacco, who was signed to the practice squad on Nov. 20, took over as the Browns' starting quarterback in Week 13 at the Los Angeles Rams after rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson sustained a concussion the previous week. After losing that game, the Browns won their next four games to secure a playoff berth, with the 16-year veteran throwing for at least 300 yards in all four games.

After sitting out the regular-season finale at the Cincinnati Bengals, Flacco threw two interceptions that were returned for touchdowns by the Houston Texans in the Browns' 45-14 AFC wild card loss. He did still top the 300-yard plateau in that game, throwing for 307 yards.

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"Joe, he played winning football for us," Berry said. "He did a great job of coming in and really playing at a high level that allowed us to go on a run at the end of the year. Play really good football in December, even if maybe we ended a little bit with the thud against Houston in the wild card round. But really pleased with what Joe did on the field, pleased with who he was as a teammate."

The Browns currently have two quarterbacks under contract: Watson and Thompson-Robinson. Berry made it clear he would not be opposed to having three quarterbacks not just under contract, but on the active 53-man roster.

Berry also emphasized how important the organization holds the backup quarterback position.

"In terms of the quarterback room, we've always valued the quarterback position." Berry said. "I think probably if you look at our history over the last four offseasons, we've always been towards the top of the league and backup quarterback expenditures or resources, whether it was case for the first two years, obviously Jacoby last year and then even this year coming into the year with (Joshua Dobbs) and Dorian.

"So it's something I believe that backup quarterback really is a top-30 position on the roster, and we do believe in carrying three, and that's something that we'll probably do moving forward."

Coming out of August and into the season, after Dobbs was dealt to the Arizona Cardinals, the plan was for the Thompson-Robinson to be Watson's backup. However, Thompson-Robinson went from the backup to Watson to, technically, the No. 3 quarterback behind Watson and P.J. Walker in October after a disastrous first start in Week 4 against the Baltimore Ravens that was necessitated by Watson's rotator cuff strain.

Thompson-Robinson was named the starter after Watson sustained a season-ending broken glenoid in his throwing shoulder in the Browns' Week 10 win at the Ravens. That lasted two games — a win over the Pittsburgh Steelers and roughly three quarters in a loss at the Denver Broncos — before he was knocked out with the concussion.

Berry wouldn't commit to any set order in the quarterback spot behind Watson.

"It’s probably too early to say, honestly," Berry said. "We're a week after the season and we'll go through the roster and part of it does depend on availability and cost. What I can give you is, I think it's fair to say that we'll have three quarterbacks on the roster. What that looks like can be a little bit variable just based on how the marketplace bears out."