CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Orange and Brown Talk podcast made an important distinction this week about the Browns’ quarterback situation — what was presented as an open competition might actually have more layers than fans realize. Dan Labbe and Mary Kay Cabot dissected the stark contrast between Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett’s demeanors when discussing the starting quarterback position, exposing a potential disconnect in messaging from the Browns’ front office. “Kenny Pickett was very adamant that when they acquired him in the trade with the Philadelphia Eagles, they told him in no uncertain terms that he was having an opportunity to come in here and compete for the starting job,” Cabot noted during the podcast, highlighting Pickett’s assertive stance. This confidence stands in sharp contrast to Flacco’s more reserved approach. As Labbe observed, “Joe sounded like a guy who wants to win this job, but he was not as demonstrative about it as Pickett has been.” The podcast hosts questioned whether the Browns’ front office might have delivered different messages to each quarterback. While Kevin Stefanski insists there are “no preconceived notions about who is going to start at quarterback,” according to Cabot, the players’ contrasting attitudes suggest otherwise. This quarterback competition represents uncharted territory for Stefanski’s regime. Previous seasons always began with clarity about the starting position, but 2025 brings genuine uncertainty. How will Stefanski handle splitting first-team reps during OTAs and training camp? Will he establish a pecking order early, or will this truly be an open battle until the final preseason snap? The podcast discussion veered into the complex psychology of “Flacco Fever” — the cult hero status Flacco earned during his miraculous late-season run in 2023. This unprecedented fan devotion creates a challenging dynamic for any quarterback competing against him. “I think that any quarterback that comes in here and starts for the Cleveland Browns right now, whether it be Kenny Pickett or a rookie that comes in here, I think that that player is going to have to really navigate and try to overcome the Flacco Fever, because it is a very real thing,” Cabot explained on the podcast. The situation echoes last season’s quarterback room dilemma. The hosts speculated that the Browns deliberately chose Jameis Winston over Flacco last offseason to avoid potential fan discontent if Deshaun Watson struggled while Flacco stood on the sidelines. Now, a similar dynamic could unfold with Pickett. “If he throws two interceptions in the opener, people are going to be screaming for Joe Flacco to get that job back,” Labbe predicted, noting Stefanski’s historical reluctance to make quick quarterback changes. The podcast also revealed timing might have played a role in the mixed messaging. Flacco himself seemed surprised by his Cleveland return, describing how he discovered the news after a day of golf without checking his phone. This suggests the Browns might not have anticipated bringing Flacco back when they first acquired Pickett. As OTAs and training camp approach, this quarterback battle will dominate Browns headlines. While many assume Flacco holds the edge after his stunning 2023 performance, the podcast makes it clear this competition is far from decided. Want to hear more about the Browns’ quarterback conundrum? Listen to the full Orange and Brown Talk podcast episode for additional insights about how this quarterback competition could reshape Cleveland’s 2024 season. Here’s the podcast for this week: If the player above doesn’t work, you can listen to this week’s podcast here. Note: Artificial intelligence was used to help generate this story from the Cleveland Orange and Brown Talk Podcast by cleveland.com. Visitors to cleveland.com have asked for more text stories based on website podcast discussions.