Berea, OH – August 4, 2025
Tensions hit a boiling point at Cleveland Browns training camp today when two rookies nearly came to blows during a heated rep — and veteran quarterback Joe Flacco wasn’t having any of it. What followed was a brutal wake-up call for the entire team.
The chaos unfolded during 11-on-11 drills when fifth-round defensive end Tyrese Johnson took a late cheap shot at sixth-round tight end Marcus Bell after the whistle. What started as a shove quickly escalated, with both rookies ripping off helmets and needing to be separated by teammates.
That’s when Joe Flacco stepped in — and tore into the team.
“You think this is how you get noticed?” Flacco barked across the huddle. “Fighting each other doesn’t get you a job. It gets you cut.”
Then came the message that echoed across the field:
“IN CLEVELAND BROWNS, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT ROUND YOU WERE DRAFTED IN. SHOW UP EARLY, SHUT UP, AND GO TO WORK. THAT'S HOW YOU EARN YOUR HELMET.”
Witnesses say Flacco’s words hit like a sledgehammer. The 40-year-old QB, brought in for his experience and leadership, proved why he’s still one of the most respected voices in the locker room.
“I’ve been on Super Bowl teams and I’ve been on teams that fell apart,” Flacco told reporters post-practice. “And it always starts here — in camp. Get it right, or get out.”
Head coach Kevin Stefanski nodded in agreement, calling Flacco’s outburst “exactly the standard we want.”
With expectations soaring and competition at every position, Joe Flacco just made one thing clear — in Cleveland, there’s no room for egos, just effort.
