Joe Flacco has brushed aside speculation linking him with the New York Giants, saying his attention remains on the Cincinnati Bengals and their upcoming game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Giants have been connected to veteran quarterback options after Jaxson Dart suffered a season-ending injury and Jameis Winston struggled while taking over the offense. Flacco, Cincinnati’s top backup behind Joe Burrow, has surfaced in those discussions in part because of his past connection with John Harbaugh during his Baltimore years. But the 41-year-old made clear that he has not been told of any possible move.
“There is nothing real to it,” Flacco said, explaining that the rumors were convincing enough for friends to send messages suggesting they would see him in New York. He responded that the reports were not accurate.
Flacco said he finds the chatter amusing but has not spent much time considering it. “Those decisions are not mine,” he said. “I’m with Cincinnati, and that is where my focus is. I have to improve every day, learn the plan and prepare for Pittsburgh.”
A trade would be difficult to justify for the Bengals. Burrow has dealt with injuries during his career, and Cincinnati would be left with considerably less experienced depth if it moved Flacco. Josh Johnson is available on the practice squad, but Flacco would be the stronger option to keep the offense functioning if Burrow were forced out of the lineup.
Flacco also knows how quickly the league can change. He said he was not aware that he would be moved from the Cleveland Browns to the Bengals last season, leaving open the possibility that unexpected transactions can happen. Still, there appears to be little motivation for Cincinnati to part with its primary reserve quarterback.
New York, meanwhile, recently extended Winston and is expected to give him an opportunity to stabilize the offense before pursuing outside help. A deal for Flacco would require the Giants to surrender an asset for an aging quarterback unlikely to alter the broader direction of a season already damaged by Dart’s absence.
Experienced backups routinely become trade-rumor candidates when a starting quarterback is injured. In this case, however, Flacco’s importance to the Bengals and the limited upside for the Giants make a move appear unlikely.
