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Not much new here .... but I'll post it up anyway.

Browns' position analysis: the quarterbacks
http://www.foxsportsohio.com/07/02/12/Br...amp;feedID=3659

July 2, 2012

As the Browns prepare to embark their second season under Pat Shurmur there are many questions that remain. With training camp opening Sat. July 28, we’re going to take a position-by-position analysis of the current roster as the team heads to camp over the next few weeks.

We start with the quarterback position.

Candidates: Brandon Weeden, Colt McCoy, Seneca Wallace and Thaddeus Lewis.

The hottest topic around the Browns naturally surrounds the quarterback position. Until Shurmur declares ‘officially’ that Weeden is the starter, the talk will continue.

Weeden (6-3, 220, rookie, Oklahoma State) -- Weeden was taken 22nd overall and he is the heavy favorite to be the starter when the Browns open the season against the Eagles on Sept. 9. He displayed everything you want to see in a franchise quarterback during the rookie OTAs, the OTAs and the mandatory minicamp. The first thing you want to see in a quarterback is throwing the ball and Weeden showed he can make all of the throws.

However, all of what he has done so far has been in shorts without a pass rush. His biggest challenge will being able to thoroughly understanding the offense, handling pressure from the pass rush and being able to read NFL defenses.

McCoy (6-1, 215, 3rd season, Texas)—Last year’s starter, McCoy faces an uphill battle to retain his starting job. McCoy’s battle might be more for the backup position, rather than the starter. However, there is a sentiment among many that think the Browns will either trade or release McCoy before the regular season begins.

McCoy is just 25 and would appear to be a stronger backup than Wallace, given the fact that McCoy played ahead of Wallace until he was injured. That along with the fact he is under contract for about one fourth of the salary being paid to Wallace is a reason to keep him. McCoy has started 21 games in the NFL with a 6-15 record. McCoy threw 14 touchdowns last season while throwing 11 interceptions. His rating was 74.6.

Wallace (5-11, 205, 10th season, Iowa State)—Wallace will turn 32 on Aug. 6 and he has been a career backup. He took over after McCoy was knocked out last year and was unimpressive. He finished the season with a 65.4 rating. He threw two touchdowns and had two interceptions. Wallace was outspoken about not feeling like it was his job to be the mentor to McCoy in the West Coast offense, but has said he welcomes being the mentor to Weeden. He said during minicamp that he wouldn’t be happy being the third quarterback and said he didn’t think both he and McCoy would be with the team at the start of the season.

Lewis (6-2, 200, 2nd season, Duke)—Lewis is the least known commodity on the roster after being picked up after the preseason last year. He has only played in preseason games and has yet to play in a regular season game. Lewis’ only hope to stick with the Browns is if they move either McCoy or Wallace to make room for him.

Better than 2011? The Browns are convinced that Weeden’s strong arm will make the receivers and the offense better than last year. The other three quarterbacks are still on the roster with another year in the system. The Browns need to decide if they keep McCoy and Wallace to go along with Weeden. It might not be a bad idea given the fact that the Browns have had just one quarterback play all 16 games in a season since 1999.

My take-away from this article:

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The Browns need to decide if they keep McCoy and Wallace to go along with Weeden. It might not be a bad idea given the fact that the Browns have had just one quarterback play all 16 games in a season since 1999.

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Going back before 1999, anyone remember Todd Philcox starting after Vinny was hurt amd Bernie was cut? Or Don Strock being pulled off a golf course in 1988 after Kosar, Danielson, and Pagel all got hurt? You need depth at QB, as trite and hackneyed as that sounds.

I'll be happy if Weeden starts the first game this year and the first game next year. Miracles happen!

I just think it's wiser to keep McCoy if you have to make a choice between him and Wallace.

Wallace.. 32 years old, was as the writer put it, unimpressive after taking over for McCoy. McCoy is a could be, Wallace is a never really was..

If it comes down to a choice, I hope they keep McCoy too. I think he's significantly better than Wallace right now, and he has room to grow as a QB. Wallace is what he is - marginal, IMO.

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Going back before 1999, anyone remember Todd Philcox starting after Vinny was hurt amd Bernie was cut? Or Don Strock being pulled off a golf course in 1988 after Kosar, Danielson, and Pagel all got hurt? You need depth at QB, as trite and hackneyed as that sounds.

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I have always maintained that if you get to the 3rd string QB for more than 1 start in a game you can afford to lose, you are in trouble. I'd go with Weeden, McCoy and Lewis... if I thought keeping Wallace might win us that one game that could put us in the playoffs, I might try to keep him instead of Lewis... but we aren't there yet. Keep Lewis, accept that if we get to him we aren't going to win and if we do.. well that would shock us all...

And I think there is $2million other reasons as well.

As I have stated before...I keep Wallace. Age isn't a factor because McCoy won't sign another contract with us to be the back-up. So he has what...2 years?? Wallace will still be playing then. He has 4-5 more years, if not more.

Money isn't a factor. Wallace makes what most decent back-ups make. We have no cap issues, so saving money isn't going to do anything for us over the next year or two.


The only time you really need a back-up who can come in and win is if you are a playoff type team. We aren't. And I actually think Wallace is better and gives us a better chance.


Here's how it is guys. We already have a qb who understands his role as a back-up. (Yes, he understands...he will back-up Weeden where he wasn't so sure Colt was better than he) At this point in his career he understands it is what it is. We can keep him 4-5-6 more years. McCoy is out of here long before we dump Weeden if that is the outcome to all of this.

We don't need to be thinking we need to go back to McCoy. If we need to do anything in 2- 3 years, it needs to be someone new.


McCoy is a distraction. My hope is he is thanked for his service by mid month if he can't be traded for something, anything.


The fact we aren't getting 7th round offers tells me the rest of the league knows our only smart move is to not have him on the roster.


The only way we get something good for McCoy is if a team or two get QB's hurt in camp. Colt has been a good egg and I hope we do right by him, and that isn't keeping him around for the sake of keeping him around. Better to be cut now rather than 2-3-4 weeks in to camp.

You're right, we do part ways.....on this issue at least. I think he is good by back-up standards and think he is a good teammate.



As I tried to explain, I totally understand his attitude towards Colt and the comments he made.

I never understood why we traded for Wallace AND signed Jake. Seemed like Average QB overkill...

And I wouldn't doubt that Seneca came here, being traded for by the guy that drafted, assuming he was finally getting "his shot" only to be told the 30 something guy that sucked in Carolina last year was the starter...

Tough pill to swallow..

I say let camp begin and let the best back up QB be the backup. I am opposed to letting political or financial considerations make my choice for me.

If Colt blows everyone out of the water then he should be the starter. If he stinks the most.. then see what you can get for him in a trade.

Well my friend, that sounds great, and you know I respect you, but Colt can blow people out of the water or anything else, but he isn't starting.

How do you know Colt won't be here in 2 or 3 years? Alot can happen in that time and even if he leaves there are alot of QBs out there better than Senaca Wallace. BTW when someone hires on with the Browns their job is to help the team not rip teamates for personal gain.

Colt seems to truly believe that he is a starting NFL QB. When his contract is up here, he'll probably go in search of a starting gig somewhere else. Whether or not he'll find one is another question altogether. However, I doubt that the Browns will wait for him to come back to them.They'll probably draft a guy to groom as the backup/potential future starter as early as next year.

If they are only going to get 2 years out of McCoy, or 2 years out of Wallace, does it really make all that much of a difference in the long run?

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How do you know Colt won't be here in 2 or 3 years?

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I have ESP. He won't be here 3 months from now.

I see nothing about Colt McCoy that instills any confidence in me. Frankly, I don't see anything in Wallace that does either, except that he did play somewhat well during his first year here, has played well in Seattle, and he does have experience in the system.

I do think that Wallace would be less disruptive.

My own personal QB analysis:

While we don't have a proven starter, we do have the greatest QB depth in the league with three legitimate #2 QB's

I hope they trade Colt for the simple fact that I'm sick of all these threads talking about him. If he's gone, there's no controversy whatsoever. 1-Weeden 2-Wallace 3-Lewis. Let's play some football.

I agree.

Let's hope the FO is smart enough to keep the best 2-3 guys. Period. We have to have the best Plan B possible in case Weeden (a) gets hurt or (b) flat-out sucks. If Wallace is the guy, fine. If McCoy is the better guy, I'm OK with that too. Just set the pecking order heading into camp and let's move on.

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I hope they trade Colt for the simple fact that I'm sick of all these threads talking about him. If he's gone, there's no controversy whatsoever. 1-Weeden 2-Wallace 3-Lewis. Let's play some football.

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I like Colt. But I echo this sentiment. It would be best for all concerned if he was on another team.

(Crystal) BallPeen swami has spoken. I will take it on faith that he knows all and tells all. Got a record to go with that for the season?

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As I have stated before...I keep Wallace. Age isn't a factor because McCoy won't sign another contract with us to be the back-up. So he has what...2 years?? Wallace will still be playing then. He has 4-5 more years, if not more.

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If you wanna keep wallace that's fine, but the reasoning doesn't hold up. McCoy has 2 more years, so does Wallace. In two years, neither might even be in the league so you worry about today.....today. At some point in the next two years, we'll find another back up that can step in.

Your assumption that Wallace playing for 4 or 5 more years is just that, an assumption. maybe, maybe not.

Wallace was indeed unimpressive last season with the same guys around him that McCoy had.

So what's the big deal about keeping Wallace over McCoy. There really isn't any rational reason to chose one over the other unless the staff feels that one is better than the other.. I really don't think money will matter if they decide on Wallace. If they think he's the best fit, they'll pay him and that will be that.

But honestly, at this point, I wouldn't be surprised by anything...

I guess I'm in the minority here b/c I want to keep Colt as a backup.. the guy is 24. If anything happens to Weeden, I'd like him to fill in as oppose to Wallace.

It would be up to the head coach to let everyone know that Weeden is the starter, and Colt is the backup.. and don't stray from that. Simple.

at "crystal ballpeen", though namecalling is not allowed

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What controversy?

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Crystal Ballpeen

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/201...d-in-cleveland/

Colt McCoy: I want to finish what I started in Cleveland

Posted by Michael David Smith on July 4, 2012, 3:29 PM EDT

It’s widely believed that first-round draft pick Brandon Weeden is the quarterback of the future in Cleveland, and that Colt McCoy doesn’t have much of a future with the Browns. But McCoy doesn’t see it that way.

McCoy, who’s back home in Texas this week running a youth football camp, told the Abilene Reporter-News that he’s still holding out hope that he can be the Browns’ franchise quarterback, and looking forward to a future in Cleveland.

“I really like Cleveland,” McCoy said. “I’ve always been a guy that wants to finish what he starts.”

McCoy said all he wants is the opportunity to compete with Weeden and Seneca Wallace and prove that he’s the Browns’ best bet at quarterback.

“That’s part of my nature,” McCoy said. “You’re getting everything I have, whether that’s working, preparing, studying or practicing. Unfortunately, a lot of things are out of my control. The main thing for me is not to worry about those things I can’t control. I have to go in, do my job and have high character and compete my tail off, if the opportunity’s available. Other than that, there’s not much you can do. So that’s what I try to do every day.”

Still, McCoy seems to realize that the Browns want an upgrade over what he has provided them.

“It’s been a rough ride thus far,” McCoy said. “We’ve had our ups and downs. I’ve had three [offensive] coordinators going into my third year. Two head coaches in two years. There’s been some ups and downs and things you have to fight through. Most are things out of your control. But for me, I would just like a little consistency. I love the town. I love the fans. I think they truly deserve a winning football team. That’s what I want to do. I want to be there for the ride of turning that thing around. We’ll see what happens.”

What we’ll probably see is McCoy leaving Cleveland. But he’s not ready for that.