Flacco to the Bench, Gabriel to the Fire, Shedeur Still in the Shadows

Look, I get it. The Browns were desperate to shake things up. Flacco out there looking like he’s still running drills at Del Boca Vista instead of Huntington Bank Field.

The man's been in the league since flip phones were cool, and you could see the rust with every throw.

The numbers don’t lie — two touchdowns, six picks, a QBR that makes you wanna squint like you’re reading bad Wi-Fi bars.

So Stefanski says, “Forget it, let’s roll the dice with Dillon Gabriel.”

Cool. I ain’t mad at it. Gabriel was a baller at Oregon — third in the Heisman, almost 4,000 yards, kept turnovers low. Dude earned his shot.

But here’s the thing nobody wants to say out loud: this still feels like a setup for Shedeur Sanders.

Because let’s keep it all the way 100 — if Gabriel comes out looking shaky against the Vikings, what’s the Browns’ next move? Flacco ain’t the future.

Gabriel? Maybe.

But Shedeur? That’s the one y’all keep playing around with.

This league had Shedeur pegged as a first-rounder all last year.

What happened? Oh right, suddenly he “slid” to the fifth round.

And since then? They’ve treated him like an intern.

His numbers in the preseason were solid: 17-of-29, 152 yards, 2 touchdowns. He looked poised. Comfortable. Like he belonged.

But the second he flashes, the cameras get cut, the interviews end early, and the league keeps it pushing like nothing happened.

Meanwhile, Cam Ward — the number one overall pick — is out here looking like straight-up booboo.org, and crickets. Ain’t nobody calling him a bust yet.

But Shedeur? He has to fight for oxygen in the room.

It’s nasty work.

I’m telling you right now: the Browns will have no choice but to unleash Shedeur this season. 

And when they do? It’s going to be one of those “remember when” moments. Because as much as folks love to write the narrative, talent always finds its way through.

So yeah, salute to Gabriel. Hope he shines.

But don’t act like Shedeur isn’t lurking.

Don’t act like the league isn’t trying to hold him back.

And don’t act surprised when he gets that shot and flips the script on everybody.

Book it.