Browns quarterback Colt McCoy, starter or just a smokescreen?

The Cleveland Browns administration has thrown their support behind Browns quarterback Colt McCoy, a support that without a doubt is welcomed by the young and often times struggling quarterback. These endorsements of McCoy would lead one to believe that Browns president Mike Holmgren along with GM Tom Heckert agree that Colt is a capable quarterback and will remain the starter in the up-coming season. The question that comes to mind--is this due to their belief that McCoy can truly be "the  guy", they have ran out of options or is it merely a smokescreen?

The off-season, the NFL Draft, these are the times that teams brain trusts will hunker down in their war rooms formulating plans, releasing press releases and making statements directed at opposing teams admin solely to coverup their true intentions, a chess game--real "cloke and dagger" somewhat like "I Spy", hopefully in the Browns case not more like "Get Smart" (a show I truly loved). Smokescreen or reality the case of McCoy is an interesting one.

"I like Colt McCoy as a player. I think he’s a fine player and has a chance to be a fine player in this league. Last year I thought one, he got beat up pretty good. We didn’t protect him quite as well. I thought our running game after Peyton Hillis got hurt wasn’t helping him enough in my opinion. And then we had the lockout.”  Browns President Mike Holmgren  

This statement has been plastered in numerous articles claiming it to be solid support of McCoy by Holmgren. He does state that McCoy could be a fine player in this league, as president of the Browns and speaking about a Browns player I wonder why he didn't stress that Colt could be a "fine player for the Browns"--enough nit-picking!

After making such a serious run for Robert Griffin III and failing to move up in the NFL Draft to the position needed to draft Griffin III is this new-found support merely a reflection of the end result--kind of like fishing--the one that got away. In other words has this support blossomed because the Browns missed the target--at least for now!

"At this point, he's our quarterback. We're looking forward to him being our guy and I'm looking forward to seeing him improve. We believe he has a chance to be a fine player in this league.''-Browns Coach Pat Shurmur

At this point, after failing to snag RGIII, Colt is our quarterback until the next "sure thing" rises in the draft. Now that RGIII is merely an after-thought in the dreams of Browns fans seeking to replace McCoy with that super improved, limited edition franchise quarterback all eyes turn to Ryan Tannehill, Brandon Weeden with many suggesting Kirk Cousins also. After researching these three prospects can anyone truly say that either would be an up-grade at the quarterback position, or are they climbing the draft charts merely because the explosive media love-fest has died down for RGIII now that the RGIII lottery is over?

Support for McCoy, a smokescreen or reality? A team such as the Browns, holding a valuable #4 pick in the draft that is seeking to add picks by trading down will usually stress interest in a player such as Tannehill hoping to draw offers from teams seeking a quarterback--faking interest to draw the highest bidder. If this is the case the Browns are resembling Maxwell Smart more-so than the CIA for their support for McCoy via the media is counter-productive. A team such as Miami would possibly be willing to approach the Browns about a trade if they felt the Browns truly had interest in snagging Tannehill--this due to Miamis' need for a quarterback.

It appears that McCoy will enter the 2012 season with genuine support from the Browns brain trust, support that is driven by a failed attempt to acquire RGIII along with what can be considered a remaining quarterback class that leaves little options for the Browns other than drafting a "project QB" in the latter rounds. The "season of decision" is rapidly approaching McCoy as this season will determine his future with the Browns. The Browns pursuing Griffin III reflects that McCoys support is not set in stone and shows that him being replaced is merely placed on hold until he proves their is no need for the Browns to seek the next "flavor of the week" in 2013.

A.J. Hunley  ( Senior Writer, C.B.R.)

*Quotes from Cleveland Plain Dealer

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