Flacco Critiques Teams for Not Signing Him as Starter

CINCINNATI -- Joe Flacco is not upset about re-signing with the Cincinnati Bengals on a one-year contract, but he wishes he could be competing for a starting position with another NFL team.

After being traded to the Bengals last season to fill in for the injured Joe Burrow, Flacco experienced one of the most successful stretches of his career. However, he was not signed by any teams to compete for a starting role, leading him to believe that they made a mistake.

"Believe me, I wish I was a guy somewhere," Flacco, 41, stated on Wednesday. "And I think teams are dumb for not having me be that guy." He added, "Not being one of those guys to go sign somewhere, yeah, it pisses me off a little bit. But at the same time, I'm very happy to be here."

According to sources, Flacco's contract is valued at $6 million, with the potential to reach $9 million through incentives.

Last season, the Bengals acquired Flacco to replace Jake Browning as the interim starter after Burrow suffered a turf toe injury. Flacco started six games, completing 61.7% of his passes, resulting in 13 touchdowns and four interceptions.

When Burrow returned in Week 13 against the Baltimore Ravens, Flacco resumed his role as the backup quarterback. As his 18th season came to a close and he was set to enter free agency, Flacco expressed a strong desire to secure a starting opportunity.

However, the offseason saw a number of high-profile quarterbacks, including Kyler Murray and Tua Tagovailoa, signing with teams in need of starters, leaving Flacco without a favorable opportunity.

Despite this, Flacco was not surprised by the lack of interest. "I know enough not to get super tied up emotionally with certain things and how to think about how they might play out because you really have no idea," he said. "And who knows what those teams were thinking anyway, whether I was on their radar or not. I have no idea."

Flacco acknowledged the temptation to feel bitter about the situation but ultimately chose to focus on his current role. "Maybe part of that does still motivate me to do what I'm doing," he noted. "I probably do feel that way. I feel like I have unfinished business. That's part of why I'm still here and playing and doing all those things."

Flacco will serve as a backup alongside veteran Josh Johnson, who will turn 40 in May. Both quarterbacks were late additions to last season's Pro Bowl Games, marking Flacco's first official Pro Bowl selection.

Now that Flacco is secured with a team, his attention is directed toward the upcoming season. Although he is in a backup role, he believes he can still play a significant part in the team's success. "I don't see this as the end," Flacco remarked. "That's just not how I'm viewing it in my mind. I feel like I can help a team win. And yeah, it may be in a different role here, but I do still think I can help this team win in that role."