Imagine, if you will, Joe Flacco slinging the ball around the field in a Jets uniform right now.
Imagine if Flacco, who played for the Jets from 2020 to 2022, was called upon to fill in for Aaron Rodgers after Rodgers ruptured his left Achilles tendon four plays into the season.
Imagine if the Jets made that call to Flacco they never made.
Imagine where the Jets might be right now, entering their Week 17 game on the road Thursday night in Cleveland, where Flacco happens to be playing now, in the process of saving a Browns’ season that was in jeopardy of going up in flames in quarterback-injury hell.
You’d have to imagine that, with Flacco quarterbacking the Jets instead of Trevor Siemian — who’s replaced the ineffective and concussed Zach Wilson, who was previously replaced by Tim Boyle — the Jets wouldn’t already be eliminated from the playoffs for the 13th consecutive season with a lousy 6-9 record.
This is all conjecture, of course. All hypothetical.
But, in light of the 1,307 yards and 10 TDs the 39-year-old Flacco has thrown for 10-5 Cleveland in the past four games (the last three victories), it’s human nature to wonder if the Jets’ brass — general manager Joe Douglas and head coach Robert Saleh — have any regrets about not bringing Flacco back.
Regrets?
The Jets should have a few, yet they insist — at least publicly — that they don’t.
“Never regret,’’ Saleh said Tuesday. “You always go into things with what you hope being a sound decision. Every decision we make comes with deep thought and logic. But no, there’s no regret.’’
When asked if, as he’s watched Flacco light it up the past three weeks, he wonders what might have been for the Jets had they called Flacco and brought him back after Rodgers went down instead of trying to rely on Wilson (eight TD passes in 12 games compared to the 10 Flacco has in four games), Boyle (cut) and Siemian, Saleh said, “I don’t think I ever allow myself to go there.’’
Saleh, always a class act, has to be sick to his stomach seeing what Flacco is doing, but in his heart he’s happy for the veteran quarterback.
“We love Joe, love him, love the way he prepares, really pumped for him and the success he’s having,’’ Saleh said. “[Not bringing him back] was just a decision we made in terms of the quarterback room and the way we developed it and the guys we had in training camp. It was just a decision we made.’’
It was, as the results have shown, a bad decision.
In fairness to the Jets, though, Flacco had a 1-8 record as their starter from 2020-22, though he did throw 14 TDs to just six INTs.
His best moment as a Jet ironically, was in a remarkable 31-30 comeback win in Week 2 last season in Cleveland, where he threw four TD passes and for 307 yards.
That’s the Flacco his former Jets teammates recall.
“A lot of great memories playing with him,’’ Jets second-year receiver Garrett Wilson, who caught the 15-yard game-winning pass from Flacco with 22 seconds remaining to beat the Browns, said Tuesday.
“It was a wild game and one that probably for the rest of my career I’ll always think back on as the game that gave me a lot of confidence.
“I loved playing with him,’’ Wilson went on. “He’s a great player, he’s seen it all, he’s a Super Bowl champion and you can tell the confidence he has in himself and the way he goes out and backs it up. He’s a fun guy to play with — one of those dudes I tried to latch onto and build a relationship with.’’
Flacco’s former Jets teammates expressed little surprise at his success since being signed off his couch by Cleveland in November.
“I’m sure for some guys it’s like riding a bike as far as spinning the ball, and he’s one of those guys,’’ Wilson said. “I talked to him after last season was over and he told me he wanted to go somewhere and play and have an impact, and he stood on that. He’s waited his turn and for his opportunity and took off running with it. I would say people here that no one’s surprised.’’
Except for perhaps Douglas and Saleh.
Jets linebacker C.J. Mosley, who played his first five NFL seasons in Baltimore when Flacco was the Ravens starter, is hardly surprised at what Flacco is doing.
“He’s a decorated veteran who’s earned his stripes and I think it’s cool that he still brings that drive, leadership, that thing to win football games in the NFL,’’ Mosley told The Post on Tuesday. “He still has that capability. His talent always shows. We know what we’re up against.’’
Jets guard Laken Tomlinson, who blocked for Flacco last season, called his run in Cleveland “impressive,’’ adding, “It’s pretty cool to see a guy like that coming off the couch and helping his team.’’
Then Tomlinson added this caveat: “But he still hasn’t played our defense yet. That’s going to be interesting to see — especially working with them last year. This week, good luck against our defense.’’
Good luck to the Jets, who have no regrets.
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