Browns and Bengals hesitant about signing former Ravens, Super Bowl QB?

Former Baltimore Ravens quarterback and Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco is more than poised to make a return to the field even though he's closer to turning 40 than to the peak of his powers. These days, Flacco is just one more free agent out there waiting for someone to give him a chance.

Everything pointed toward a deal getting close to being reached between Flacco and the Cleveland Browns after the franchise lost starting QB Deshaun Brown a week ago to a season-ending injury. That might not happen anymore.

Recent developments saw Flacco working out with the Browns, but following the Bengals' own problems at the quarterback position having lost Joe Burrow for the year on TNF, Cincinnati entered the Flacco sweepstakes of late. Or did it? Well, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk Cincinnati has shown no interest in Flacco.

Flacco is seemingly (and obviously) willing to accept a backup quarterback role, but now that those two AFC semi-contenders have a glaring opening with no optimal solution available in their rosters, Flacco could land himself a QB1 role for the remainder of the year.

The Browns, after a workout with Flacco last Friday, decided not to sign Flacco immediately. They will start Dorian Thompson-Robinson on Sunday against the Steelers and re-assess their options on Monday, although there is speculation they will end up signing Flacco by the start of the week.

That might change with Cincinnati showing at least some interest, or at the very least, exploring all options in order to avoid tanking a season in which they are sitting at an even 5-5 record and still not entirely out of the postseason picture.

A source told Florio that it has been "crickets" from Cincy when it comes to a real interest in Flacco, but the Bengals find themselves looking at starting either Jake Browning or A.J. McCarron going forward.

I have no insider information nor any type of "source" feeding me information, but if I had to guess I'd bet on one of these two simply giving up on their current room and inking Flacco to a deal for the remainder of the season on Monday.

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