Browns Face Backlash After Trading Joe Flacco

The Cleveland Browns traded veteran QB Joe Flacco to division rival Cincinnati, a move Tom Pelissero says GM Andrew Berry framed as clearing cash, gaining modest draft capital and accelerating evaluation of rookie quarterbacks (Flacco and a 2026 sixth for a 2026 fifth). Flacco responded immediately, engineering a 52-yard, eight-play game-winning drive and finishing 31-of-47 for 342 yards and three touchdowns in a 33-31 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. The win snapped the Bengals’ four-game skid and featured Ja’Marr Chase’s franchise-record 16 catches for 161 yards, intensifying the embarrassment for Cleveland. The result sparked outrage in Cleveland, where radio host Tony Rizzo demanded the front office be fired and criticized owner Jimmy Haslam and GM Andrew Berry. Critics highlighted the oddity of trading a quarterback to a divisional rival and pointed to the Browns’ poor offense and broader concerns about the franchise’s personnel decision-making.