Joe Flacco believes he can still be a starting quarterback
Joe Flacco has fully embraced his role as Sam Darnold’s backup, but that doesn’t mean that he’s ruled out starting in the future.
A year after showing little in being Drew Lock’s mentor in Denver, Joe Flacco has done a complete 180 and embraced such a role as Sam Darnold’s backup in 2020. However, the former Super Bowl MVP still thinks he’s capable starter in the NFL.
“For sure,” Flacco said Thursday on a conference call with reporters.”I mean, we’re talking about [being a backup] and that is my role, to help the team out, but I obviously still believe I’m a starting quarterback.”
Once a long-term starter in Baltimore and a lame-duck starter in Denver, Flacco has accepted the nature of his reality. Coming off neck surgery at 35 years old, Flacco will be reduced to a backup role in 2020, which is the perfect situation for him. Flacco has a chance to rebound as he backs up Sam Darnold, who has missed six games over his first two seasons due to a foot injury and a bout with mononucleosis. The Jets are 0-6 in Darnold’s absence.
“You never know what three years down the line is going to look like,” Flacco said. “So I have that confidence and I still have the [desire] do that.
“But at this moment, that’s not my role. My role is to help the team get better and to help a young quarterback see things as clearly as possible and help him with his journey to be a longtime NFL quarterback.”
