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Joe Flacco isn't the long-term answer at quarterback for the Denver Broncos. At 33, the MVP of Super Bowl XLVII is firmly on the downside of his career, and hasn't played at a level that befits the distinction of franchise signal-caller in several years.
For a team in a sudden state of transition after going 6-10 last season and firing its head coach, though, the Broncos could probably do worse than Flacco as their starting quarterback – and he's out to prove it to his new team before doing anything else.
“My first priority…I'm going to show everybody in this organization, and more importantly the players on my team, that I can play, that I can play quarterback,” Flacco said, per ESPN's Jeff Legwold. “That I can lead this team with the talents and skills that I have.
“The most important thing is to get everybody to buy in and believe that you're the guy,” he continued.
Denver agreed to trade a mid-round pick to the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for Flacco on February 13th.
The 11-year veteran lost his longtime job as Baltimore's starter midway through last season, when rookie first-rounder Lamar Jackson replaced him as a starter due to injury and ultimately was named the team's full-time starter.
In nine games last season, Flacco threw for 2,465 yards, 12 touchdowns, and six interceptions while completing 61.2 percent of his passes. He was sacked 16 times, and averaged just 6.5 yards per attempt.
Flacco replaces Case Keenum as the Broncos' starter, who flamed out in the Mile High city after just one season.
