Dillon Gabriel has shown noticeable improvement in processing over the last 10 days, particularly in his ability to work through progressions and diagnose coverage structure pre- to post-snap. He has also been excellent with his footwork, ball handling, and the setting of pass protections.

“Listen, I can be an a——, but not necessarily in that way,” Flacco said. “I feel like I try to be a good person, so all I can do is do my job to the best of my ability. If that means I’m not the guy, well, yeah, I might feel a certain way about it, but I’m not gonna be bitter about it towards other people that didn’t do anything to me.

Beyond his talent, Flacco’s attitude is what sets him apart from past veteran quarterbacks who have come to the Browns and failed. He is not ill-fitted to the offense like Jeff Garcia in 2004, insecure like Trent Dilfer in 2005, or burdened with a knucklehead rookie like Brian Hoyer was in 2014.