![Daryl Ruiter: I Think [Trading Myles Garrett] is More Realistic Today Than It Was a Month Ago](https://www.audacy.com/media-library/myles-garrett-95-of-the-cleveland-browns-runs-during-an-nfl-football-game-between-the-los-angeles-rams-and-the-cleveland-browns.jpg?id=65512949&width=1245&height=700&coordinates=0%2C31%2C0%2C31)
BEREA, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – On Monday Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski told everyone not to worry about Joe Flacco’s roster status.
Well, worry no more.
Here’s our top Brownie Bites from Thursday.
Freshly signed Flacco – Flacco was signed to the 53-man roster from the practice squad Thursday ending whatever drama various members of the national media tried to concoct about his status following a pair of starts with the Browns. For those concerned Flacco could’ve been poached, the 38-year-old is unaware if anyone came calling the last two weeks but he made it clear he wasn’t interested in leaving Cleveland. “I wouldn't have went though anyway,” Flacco said. “It's been great here.” Flacco is signed through the end of the season, but he would like to continue his career in 2024. “I know I want to play,” Flacco said. “So me wanting to play is not in question.” ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Flacco can earn an additional $4.05 million in incentives - $75,000 per regular season win, $250,000 for a Wild Card win, $500,000 for divisional, $1 million for the AFC championship and $2 million for a Super Bowl victory. From Flacco’s perspective, money was never a problem. “No, I don't think so,” Flacco said. “I mean, listen, I'm not aware of any of that stuff. I kind of leave it up to Joe, my agent, and he brushes over it with me real quick and I come up and sign it.” In two starts for the Browns, Flacco has thrown for 565 yards with five touchdowns and two interceptions since being signed to the practice squad on November 20. “He's fresh as a daisy right now and feeling great and there aren't many players in the league right now that are feeling great at this time of the year,” offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt said. It has taken no time for Flacco to build chemistry and earn the respect of his new teammates. Sure, Flacco’s resume helps too. “Guys in this league, they respect guys who have been in the league a long time because they know that it's something that's not easy to do,” receiver Amari Cooper, who admitted how surprised he’s been how fast Flacco has picked up the offense and fit in well, said. “It's not easy to sustain ability for a long period of time. He's a Super Bowl winner and then coming in here, having the arm that he has, being such a great talent, guys respect that. So, when you respect a player, it's easy to build camaraderie with him.”
Hold the line – Despite losing three offensive tackles for the season – Jack Conklin, Jedrick Wills Jr. and rookie Dawand Jones, the Browns haven’t missed a beat on the edge of the offensive line. “I think our tackles played well last week,” Van Pelt said. “Really proud of James [Hudson] and Geron [Christian], both those guys. To throw it 45 times against those edge rushers and have one sack, that was really an RPO that wasn't on the line, that's really impressive.” Christian and Hudson make it possible for the Browns to not move Bitonio outside. “He's always available and he's done it, but I feel confident the way our guys are playing,” Van Pelt said. Center Ethan Pocic is dealing with a stinger too, which has forced Nick Harris into service. Credit offensive line coach Bill Callahan for keeping the offensive line together. “I think the way coach Callahan coaches is so detailed in his process from day one till now that when you plug in a new piece, they kind of have to be caught up to speed to really understand what's going on,” left guard Joel Bitonio said. “And so his focus every week we have to put someone in, like he puts in the extra time, he puts in the extra work. The guys are focused on getting extra work when they need to… I think it just starts with how detailed he is and how focused he is on the little things and that allows guys to go out there and kind of play free.”
Feelin’ his pain – Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz understands Myles Garrett’s beef with the officials. “I feel his frustration because so much of what we do is just trying to get Myles one on one,” Schwartz said. “And when you can get one on one and you get held and doesn't get called and things like that can be a frustrating thing for a player. It can be a frustrating thing for a play caller, but that's what those guys deal with.” Schwartz praised Garrett for not allowing the no calls to negatively affect his play against the Jaguars. “I would say this, particularly the last drive of that game, I don't know if I've ever seen him rush so well,” Schwartz said. “It didn't translate to a sack until the two-point play, but his win percentage, probably the last two drives was unbelievable. It was really inspiring to watch, and you could tell he was mad and he was everything else, but he was more determined and just kept on coming. I was really proud of that.”
Hot Hopkins – Dustin Hopkins’ hit from 55 yards Sunday against Jacksonville set a new franchise record for field goal makes in a season with 31 as well as makes from beyond 50 yards with his eighth in 2023. “He's really been the best kicker in football in my opinion. He really has,” special teams coordinator and assistant head coach Bubba Ventrone said. “I mean, we play in conditions that are not easy. Our stadium's not easy to kick in. We play games outside and weather and he's done a great job. He's been the best in the league in my opinion.” Hopkins continues to lead AFC kickers in Pro Bowl games voting according to the latest tabulations announced by the NFL.
Boomin’ Bojorquez – Punter Corey Bojorquez was credited with a 72-yard punt last Sunday that completely flipped the field and pinned the Jaguars inside their own 20. “Great, great play in the game, changed the entire field position for us,” Ventrone said. “We covered it well. We need to be a little bit more consistent with our hangs and our distances and he's done a great job.” Bojorquez is averaging 50.3 yards per punt this season with 22 downed inside the 20. “He's got a powerful leg. He really does,” Ventrone said. “His ability to hit for distances. It really is truly remarkable and we need to continue to improve on hitting with good hang and distance and direction is going to be important, especially in these next few games.”
Picture perfect – David Bell arguably made the play of last week’s win over the Jaguars when he caught a 41-yard touchdown pass, his first career score. “There's a picture, on the big screen [in the lobby] there's that picture of Dave smiling as he's going into the end zone,” Van Pelt said. “That just made my day. Like, how happy was he and how happy was everybody for him, too. I think Joel [Bitonio] was the first guy down to celebrate with him.” Bell converted a fourth-and-three when he was left wide open in the middle of the field that put the Browns in front 28-14. “I was just as happy as he was,” Cooper said. “As you can see, he had a huge smile on his face as he was entering into the end zone. And I have to say he smiled because he's been working hard. He's a hard worker. He's a very reliable teammate and he deserved it – for sure.”
Wright stuff – Defensive end Alex Wright is about to see his workload increase with the rash of injuries to the defensive line, including the loss of Maurice Hurst and likely Ogbo Okoronkwo for the season. “I don't look at it as a workload,” Wright said. “I don't look at it as I got more reps to do. I mean, once you called upon, that's your job to make sure that stuff keeps stacking up. I don't really look at it as a lot of stuff going my way. I just look at it as we got a game to play and the reps, they're going to come. So I got to do what I got to do to take advantage of every single rep. So that's just play to the best of my abilities every single snap.” Wright has 13 tackles, a sack and a fumble recovery in 12 games this season.
Quote of the day – “The game doesn't care. Obviously, the opponents don't care, but the game is Sunday for 60 minutes and it doesn't care if you're playing rookies. It doesn't care if you have injuries. It doesn't care if you're at full strength. And that's our focus.” – Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz on the volume of injuries the Browns have suffered this season.
Injury report – DNP: LG Joel Bitonio (rest, knee), K Dustin Hopkins (personal), TE David Njoku (rest, knee), DE Ogbo Okoronkwo (pectoral), DT Jordan Elliott (concussion), C Ethan Pocic (stinger), S Juan Thornhill (calf), RB Pierre Strong (illness); LIMITED: LB Anthony Walker (rest, knee), RB Kareem Hunt (groin), RB Jerome Ford (wrist), CB Denzel Ward (shoulder), LB Jordan Kunaszyk (calf); FULL: WR Amari Cooper (rest, ribs), DE Myles Garrett (rest, shoulder),
![Daryl Ruiter: I Think [Trading Myles Garrett] is More Realistic Today Than It Was a Month Ago](https://www.audacy.com/media-library/myles-garrett-95-of-the-cleveland-browns-runs-during-an-nfl-football-game-between-the-los-angeles-rams-and-the-cleveland-browns.jpg?id=65512949&width=1245&height=700&quality=70&coordinates=0%2C31%2C0%2C31)
