Joe Flacco is currently the starting quarterback for the Browns and has played a part in leading them to one of their best seasons in recent history.
The Browns entered Week 17 with a record of 10-5 and a chance to clinch a playoff berth with a victory over the Jets. Flacco has gone 3-1 in his four starts and has thrown for at least 300 yards in each of his three victories.
Flacco has looked the part of a quality starting quarterback. That's impressive considering that he is 38 years old, but also because his career nearly came to an end before the season.
Before Flacco took the reins in Cleveland, he had been an unsigned free agent who hadn't received much interest. Even the Jets didn't want to sign him after Aaron Rodgers' season-ending Achilles injury.
MORE: How Joe Flacco can earn up to $4 million in bonus money on new contract
But one organization that did consider adding Flacco to the fold? That would be the long-running TV show "Inside the NFL."
What is 'Inside the NFL'?
"Inside the NFL" is a weekly television series that has run since 1977. The program features highlights from the previous week's games as well as analysis and commentary from the former players who host the show. There are also occasional interviews with both current and former NFL personnel, both players and staff alike.
The footage for the program is provided by NFL Films, which captures exclusive moments on the sidelines that other broadcasts can't capture.
Currently, "Inside The NFL" is hosted by former Steelers safety and ESPN personality Ryan Clark. He is joined by a quartet of former players turned analysts — former Bengals receiver Chad Johnson, former Bears quarterback Jay Cutler, former Dolphins receiver Channing Crowder and former Rams and Eagles defensive end Chris Long.
"Inside the NFL" currently airs on both The CW and Paramount+. It originally aired on HBO from 1977 to 2008 and also was on Showtime from 2008-21 before it migrated to Paramount+.
POWER RANKINGS: Browns overtake Chiefs ahead of NFL Week 17
Joe Flacco's TV audition, explained
So, how did Flacco cross paths with the "Inside the NFL" crew? Clark revealed on ESPN's "Get Up" recently that the quarterback had tried out for the program during the offseason.
"I'm glad we didn't take him," Clark said before noting that Flacco was "throwing the skin off the football."
Ryan Clark reveals that before joining the Browns, Joe Flacco tried out for "Inside the NFL."
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 11, 2023
"I'm glad we didn't take him" pic.twitter.com/j89HqUw43M
Naturally, Clark's admission led reporters to ask Flacco whether he had auditioned for the program. The 38-year-old confirmed that he did.
“They were actually doing a thing at NFL Films, which I live 15 minutes from," he told reporters. "So it was a good little way to go kind of feel it out and see if it was something that you’d be interested in doing, could get better at, whatever it may be."
Flacco didn't seem to demonstrate much interest in being on the program. He wasn't even sure he was going to audition when he was invited to do so.
"Fifteen years ago, it would have been just a hard no, but it still took some convincing for me to get over there," Flacco explained. "But at the end of the day, it was an experience that was probably worth having."
But did that experience change Flacco's mind about potentially being an NFL analyst at any point moving forward? Not exactly.
“I really don’t want to have to ever do that stuff," Flacco said. "Fifteen years ago, I would have told you no chance at all. These days, I think you at least entertain the option, but yeah, I know. I don’t know if you guys know me at all, but that’s the last thing I really want to do with my life."
So, it would seem that Flacco's main desire is to keep playing quarterback. And if he continues to ball out, he could be compensated handsomely for that.
MORE: Updated NFL playoff picture entering Week 17
Joe Flacco contract details
At present, Flacco is playing on a one-year deal with the Browns that is worth a prorated amount of $370,800, according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. That said, the contract contains within it incentives that could push its value up to more than worth $4.05 million, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Flacco has bonuses tied to wins for the remainder of the 2023 regular season and 2024 postseason. Notably, Flacco can make $2 million if he can lead the Browns to a Super Bowl victory.
Below is a look at the reported incentives tied to his contract:
| Game | Winning incentive |
| Regular-season wins | $75,000 per game |
| Wild-card round | $250,000 |
| Divisional round | $500,000 |
| AFC championship | $1 million |
| Super Bowl | $2 million |
Flacco's contract for the rest of 2023 is rather team-friendly, as it is tied to Cleveland's success.
But how much could Flacco make as a free agent? Given his performance, it wouldn't be a surprise to see him land a deal that makes him one of the highest-paid backup quarterbacks or spot starters for the 2024 NFL season.
Two potential comparisons for a Flacco deal are the one-year, $8 million contract Jacoby Brissett inked with the Commanders and the two-year, $14 million pact Taylor Heinicke signed with the Falcons.
That said, if Flacco keeps winning and can mount a Super Bowl run, he will probably have a chance to push his average annual value (AAV) into the eight-figure range.
