Joe Flacco’s ‘Ridiculous’ Stance on Mentoring Young Browns QBs Sparks Controversy

Veteran quarterback Joe Flacco, now 40, stirred the pot in Cleveland with a candid take on mentoring the Cleveland Browns' younger quarterbacks, including rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders, alongside Deshaun Watson and Kenny Pickett. When asked about guiding the next generation, Flacco didn’t mince words: “If I say, ‘I don’t want to be a mentor,’ I look bad. If I say, ‘I do want to be a mentor,’ I look like an idiot that doesn’t care about playing football,” he told reporters. His stance? “I’m not a mentor; I play football.” Flacco emphasized that while he’s happy to share his 18 years of NFL experience, it’s not his job to ensure the youngsters listen.

Flacco’s bluntness didn’t sit well with former Baltimore Ravens teammate Chris Canty, who called the response “ridiculous” on ESPN’s Unsportsmanlike. Canty argued that mentoring strengthens the team, saying, “You’re only as strong as your weakest link.” He questioned Flacco’s durability at 40, noting there’s no guarantee he’ll stay healthy for a full 17-game season. The criticism stings, given Flacco’s storied career, including a Super Bowl run with Canty in Baltimore and a 2023 AP Comeback Player of the Year award after a 4-1 stint with the Browns.

With Cleveland’s quarterback room brimming with youth, Flacco’s focus remains on the field, not the whiteboard. But as the Browns eye their future, his veteran presence could still shape the team—whether he calls it mentoring or not.