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Colt McCoy News & Rumors

Good backup quarterbacks are valuable, and Colt McCoy could be that for Cleveland Browns: Terry Pluto
May 24
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"A large number of media people and fans keep insisting the Browns have to cut or trade Colt McCoy. Why? Because McCoy was the starter last year? Because a guy whose career record as a starter is 6-14 and he will "divide the locker room" if rookie Brendan Weeden takes his job? Or because McCoy will be looking over Weeden's shoulder in practice? No, he won't, unless McCoy is on a stepladder. The fact is, watching McCoy and Weeden at the Browns' organized team activities, Weeden is the superior physical specimen. He is taller, wider and has the stronger, more accurate arm. Anyone can see that, including McCoy and his teammates."
Cleveland Browns' Colt McCoy looking forward to battle for starting quarterback job
May 23
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"Colt McCoy never considered asking for a trade after the Browns drafted Brandon Weeden, because they offered him exactly what he wanted: a chance to fight for the starting job. "I got a phone call and (they) said 'Just come in here and compete,' " the Browns' third-year quarterback said Tuesday after the first practice of organized team activities. "As a competitor, that's all you need to hear, really. I understand the idea, and if it's a fair competition, then that's all you can ask for." McCoy, speaking to the media for the first time since the end of the season, said folks can imagine how he felt when the Browns pursued other quarterbacks, such as Robert Griffin III, and then drafted"
Weeden vs. McCoy gets underway in Cleveland
May 22
NFL.com
 
"After alternating snaps on the field Tuesday, Brandon Weeden and Colt McCoy spoke with reporters about a quarterback competition that's already dominating headlines for the Cleveland Browns. "I have to earn that job," Weeden told John Telich of WJW-TV. "They are not going to give me the job because of where they took me." Many feel that is exactly what will happen. The strong-armed, 28-year-old rookie has put McCoy's starting status on ice. McCoy seems to understand the odds, hinting at a tilted struggle: "If it's a fair competition, then that's all you can ask for," McCoy said."
Colt McCoy's father was catalyst for necessary change in NFL's sideline medical procedures
May 15
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 columnist Bill Livingston
"I wanted to talk to Brad McCoy, the high school coach who changed pro football Monday, but he didn't return a message I left for him. The last time McCoy spoke to Cleveland reporters, the NFL, the mightiest and most profitable league in American professional sports, changed its medical procedures. It was the only official response they could have made to conform to the imperatives of safety and empathy in a sport in which bravery, no matter how admired, seldom trumps savagery, no matter how deplored, in the end-game. Brad McCoy had a big megaphone when he told The Plain Dealer's Mary Kay Cabot that his son, Browns quarterback Colt McCoy, never should have gone back into a nationally"
McCoy's shortcomings exacerbated by lackluster Browns
May 1
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 columnist Bill Livingston
"Part of the appeal of Colt McCoy is the name. "Colt" actually is just his nickname. But Daniel, his given name, doesn't summon the same frontier connotations of broad horizons and fresh possibilities. Ki-yi-yippee-yippee-yay. Just hearing the name Colt McCoy made you think of Gordon McCrae singing "Oh, What a Beautiful Morning" in "Oklahoma!" Colt and I would both agree that should be the last mention of Oklahoma. Even after my nearly 40 years of living in the East and Midwest, we both spoke the same language. He looks like the boy next door and sounds like the boy next door in my hometown of Dallas. He knows what a blue norther is. (Time to bundle up, is what.) He knows the first word in"
You can't keep Colt McCoy away from work with Browns
April 30
NFL.com
 
"On Thursday morning, the Cleveland Browns leaked information that they expected Colt McCoy to make a "big leap forward" in 2012. By Thursday night, he was on the trade block. Monday has arrived, and McCoy is back where he started: The Browns' team facility. Tom Withers of The Associated Press noted that McCoy was present for the team's offseason program. Really, what choice does he have?"
After drafting Brandon Weeden, the Cleveland Browns need to say goodbye to Colt McCoy
April 30
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 columnist Bud Shaw
"The old saying about the backup QB being the most popular guy in a losing football town might be even more true if he's last year's starter, stood up to the hardest of knocks, and has shown a toughness about him that fits the city's self-image. It's especially true if the perception exists that last year's tough, likeable boy-next-door No. 1 quarterback had no substantial help and is now paying the price for it. That's why Colt McCoy can't be part of the Browns' 2012 plans. Sorry. Doesn't matter if he comes cheaply or even willingly. Doesn't matter if he's a good teammate or a capable Plan B in case of injury. Can't happen. Keeping McCoy around muddles the bold move made in drafting"
Source: Colt McCoy trade unlikely
April 28
ESPN.com
 
"The Cleveland Browns do not expect to trade quarterback Colt McCoy despite drafting 28-year-old quarterback Brandon Weeden in the first round Thursday night, a team source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter on Sunday. The Green Bay Packers were rumored to be interested in the former third-round pick, but a Packers source told ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen they will not pursue a McCoy deal. Browns general manager Tom Heckert had said Thursday that the team was considering moving McCoy after taking Weeden out of Oklahoma State with the 22nd pick. The selection of Weeden came after the Browns told McCoy on draft day that they wouldn't take a quarterback in the first round, a"
Cleveland Browns' off-season decisions unlikely to leave Colt McCoy seriously bruised
March 29
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 columnist Bud Shaw
"Whatever worries there are about Colt McCoy in 2012, how he'll deal with the Browns nosing around the quarterback showroom is the least of them. As a third-round draft pick, he didn't come into the league with any sense of entitlement, and nothing that happened last season could possibly have suggested a deserving incumbency to him. It's doubtful he's paying any mind now to the semantics of the Browns being "fine" with him as their starter. Fine is a downgrade from "happy" and at least four or five steps below "thrilled." No doubt he just wants another chance, a fighting chance this time."
Cleveland Browns coach Pat Shurmur: Keeping Colt McCoy as starting QB
March 27
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"Browns coach Pat Shurmur said here today that "we're moving forward'' with Colt McCoy as the Browns starting quarterback "At this point, he's our quarterback,'' said Shurmur. "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.'' Of course, the Browns haven't ruled out drafting a quarterback that will come in and compete for the starting job, including Texas A&M's Ryan Tannehill and Oklahoma State's Brandon Weeden. The Browns will be represented at Tannehill's Pro Day on Thursday, but Shurmur said he wasn't certain he'll be in attendance. The Browns will also bring all of the big-name"
Cleveland Browns President Mike Holmgren expects Colt McCoy to respond well to Robert Griffin pursuit
March 20
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"Browns President Mike Holmgren told his Seattle radio buddy Monday that he thinks Colt McCoy will rise to the challenge after the Browns went hard after Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III. "I know Colt as a person,'' Holmgren told Dave Mahler on KJR in Seattle. "He'll respond as well as anyone in the world to this. I think he's a competitive guy,'' "He understands this business. He and I had a really good talk before he left in the off-season. And he knew there was going to be competition coming into this next off-season and next training camp. "I think if you're just honest with him, then they'll be able to handle most things. Is there a little side to any of the players that gets"
Cleveland Browns coach Pat Shurmur says it's premature to say team will opt for RG3 over Colt McCoy
February 23
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"On the eve of the NFL Combine, Browns coach Pat Shurmur said draft experts are jumping the gun in assuming the Browns will trade up to pick Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III and cast aside Colt McCoy. "I think what happens is, there's a lot that gets said and written at this time and it's very interesting to everyone," said Shurmur at the Browns' training facility. "Folks are making predictions while we're still gathering information. That's the important part. That's the exciting thing about the combine." Shurmur acknowledged that the chance to spend time with RG3 is one of the things he's most anticipating in Indianapolis, where more than 300 college prospects will be evaluated by"
Mike Holmgren 'loves' Colt McCoy, but won't 'anoint' him as 2012 starter
January 6
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"Mike Holmgren and Tom Heckert still think Colt McCoy can develop into the Browns' franchise quarterback, but he isn't there yet. "I think he can be, he could be," Holmgren, the team's president, said during a 75-minute press conference on Thursday. "I'm not ready to say that yet. You know what we did this season (4-12) and he played and he did some very fine things and he played young at times. ... Was I pleased? Yeah, in a lot of the stuff he did. My opinion of Colt has not changed. I think he has a lot of intangibles. "Ultimately, though, as with not only the quarterback position but every position, you're kind of judged on -- and the quarterback more than anybody -- on how well your"
Colt McCoy will have to win starting QB job next season
January 4
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"It's game on for Colt McCoy. After being handed the Browns' starting quarterback job in 2011, he's going to have to win it in 2012. "There's going to be some competition and I expect that Colt will improve just like I expect Seneca [Wallace] will improve and whoever the quarterbacks are here," said coach Pat Shurmur in his exit press conference Tuesday. "The best quarterback will play when we start the season." Shurmur stressed that he thinks McCoy will improve in the West Coast offense with an off-season to work in it -- something the quarterback didn't have in 2011. "As we go forward here with Colt, he's done some really good things," said Shurmur. "[We'll] get him back healthy, and get"
Colt McCoy ruled out, Seneca Wallace will start vs. Steelers
December 31
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"Browns quarterback Colt McCoy (concussion) has been ruled out of Sunday's season finale against the Steelers, and Seneca Wallace will make his third straight start of the season. McCoy seemed to hold out hope on Thursday that he might at least be on the sidelines for the game. But he still hasn't been cleared medically for football activity. Coach Pat Shurmur said McCoy improved as a quarterback as the season progressed, but declined to provide much of an evaluation of his season. He re-iterated that it will be done after the season. It means McCoy will miss the final three games after suffering his concussion Dec. 8 against the Steelers."
Colt McCoy talks publicly for first time since concussion diagnosis: 'I want to be here'
December 30
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"Browns quarterback Colt McCoy hopes the crushing helmet-to-face-mask smash from Steelers' linebacker James Harrison on Dec. 8 wasn't the last big impact he'll have in a Browns uniform. McCoy suffered a concussion on the hit and because of lingering concussion symptoms, he is expected to miss his third straight start Sunday when the Browns host the Steelers. McCoy on Thursday spoke to the media for the first time since being diagnosed with the concussion on Dec. 9. McCoy is hoping that when the fog clears and the dust settles, he'll still be the Browns' quarterback of the future. "It's unfortunate that I wasn't able to play these last two games, but I think that's a question you can ask"
Colt McCoy has not been medically cleared to play
December 29
Akron Beacon Journal
 
"Browns coach Pat Shurmur met with reporters today before his team practiced in preparation for its regular-season finale at home against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Here are some of the highlights from the news conference: •?Quarterback Colt McCoy has not been medically cleared to play, Shurmur said. McCoy has not practiced since he suffered a concussion Dec. 8 as a result of the helmet-to-facemask hit he took from Steelers linebacker James Harrison. McCoy has been attending meetings, lifting weights and running, but he has not passed his daily baseline concussion test, Shurmur said. "He's not passing it," Shurmur said. "Until it's passed, he can't play. … He's much better and he feels a lot"
Colt McCoy not cleared to practice for Steelers, Wallace likely to start
December 29
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"Despite a strong desire to come back and finish the season against the Steelers, Browns quarterback Colt McCoy hasn't been cleared from his concussion to practice or play. It puts an end to speculation about whether the Browns would start McCoy if healthy. It also means that Seneca Wallace will most likely get his third straight start to finish the season, and first ever against the Steelers. "He's trying to get back as quickly as he can," said coach Pat Shurmur. "And he's expressed that. He wants to get out there and get competing. He's expressed that, sure." Shurmur said McCoy's feeling a lot better and is lifting and running, but he's still not passing the concussion tests, which are"
Pat Shurmur won't rule out Colt McCoy vs. Steelers on Sunday
December 27
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"Colt McCoy is making progress from his concussion and still has a chance to start Sunday. But will the Browns start their second-year QB against James Harrison and the Steelers' No. 1-ranked defense? McCoy, who sat out games in Arizona and Baltimore, hasn't yet been cleared to practice, but coach Pat Shurmur said Monday that if he's able to practice on Wednesday "there's a chance he can play." But Shurmur was still unwilling to commit to McCoy, even if he gets the green light from the medical staff. "I can't cross that bridge yet," said Shurmur. "We'll know more Wednesday when we start practicing for the Steelers and then we'll talk about it then. And I'm not trying to be vague. That's the"
Punish Browns, too, Harrison says
December 22
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison believes the NFL should discipline the Browns for how they handled the aftermath of Harrison's helmet-to-helmet hit on quarterback Colt McCoy. Harrison practiced Wednesday for the first time since being suspended for one game after his collision with McCoy on Dec. 8. Harrison said he understands that the hit was illegal but wondered why the Browns let McCoy return to the game so quickly despite the severity of the collision. The 2008 NFL Defensive Player of the Year says if he was suspended, the Browns should also face penalties from the league. Meanwhile, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is optimistic he'll play Saturday when Pittsburgh"
Browns' Shurmur declines to commit to QB Colt McCoy when he's recovered from concussion
December 20
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"Browns coach Pat Shurmur declined to commit to quarterback Colt McCoy as the starter when he's recovered from his concussion. "I'm going to cross that bridge when they're both healthy," said Shurmur. "Right now, until Colt's healthy, we're going to go with Seneca." Asked specifically if McCoy will start Saturday against the Ravens if healthy, Shurmur said, "If Colt is OK — when Colt is OK — we'll talk about that," said Shurmur. "How's that? Good answer?" He said McCoy is improving, is day to day and hasn't yet been cleared to practice. He also said he'll know more today about his availability."
Seneca Wallace's performance against Arizona could provide insight into Colt McCoy's future with Cleveland
December 18
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"If Browns quarterback Seneca Wallace lights it up today in Arizona in this West Coast offense that he knows so well, what will it mean for Colt McCoy, who's home with a concussion? The end of his season? The end of his starting job with the Browns? What if coach Pat Shurmur's points-challenged offense -- ranked 30th in the league with 13.6 points per game -- suddenly erupts and the Browns defeat the red-hot Cardinals, who've won five of their last six? "At this point, you become very narrow minded," said Shurmur. "[Wallace] is our quarterback [this week]. We're going out to Arizona to try and win a game and we'll deal with that next week." One thing's for certain: The Browns will use"
Colt McCoy will miss Arizona trip with concussion; Seneca Wallace will start
December 17
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"Browns quarterback Colt McCoy and fullback Owen Marecic both stayed home from Arizona with their concussions and sat out practice for the third straight day Friday. McCoy was sent home for the fifth time since suffering the concussion Dec. 8 against the Steelers. He will be replaced by Seneca Wallace, who will make his 19th NFL start Sunday against the Cardinals. Marecic remained at the Browns' facility during the day but will be replaced by Eddie Williams, who was signed off the Browns' practice squad. "I saw [McCoy] this morning," said coach Pat Shurmur. "He's still having some symptoms [including headaches], and that's why we sent him home. I wouldn't know exactly how to characterize"
Report: NFL determines Browns did not test QB Colt McCoy for concussion until after game
December 14
Akron Beacon Journal
 
"Browns coach Pat Shurmur insisted the team's medical staff followed protocol when clearing quarterback Colt McCoy to re-enter the game Thursday night after he was hit in the facemask by the helmet of Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison. However, an initial review by the NFL determined the Browns did not administer the standard SCAT2 concussion test on McCoy until Friday morning, ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported today on "Sunday NFL Countdown." Citing unnamed sources, Mortensen also reported McCoy's situation likely will be the catalyst to assigning an independent neurologist to each NFL game in the future. When asked by e-mail whether the NFL has determined McCoy did not undergo"
Browns QB Colt McCoy absent from practice today with concussion
December 12
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"Browns quarterback Colt McCoy was absent from practice today because of the controversial concussion he suffered in the Steelers game Thursday night. Two of his teammates who suffered concussions that night also were absent from the indoor session: tight end Ben Watson and fullback Owen Marecic. It was the third concussion for Watson this season and the second for Marecic. McCoy's concussion is controversial because the Browns have said they administered the proper concussion tests before sending him back into the game, but a report Sunday by ESPN's Chris Mortensen said they didn't. Sources told Mortensen that the standard SCAT2 test wasn't conducted until Friday morning."
Report: McCoy situation could lead to independent neurologists at games
December 11
Pro Football Talk
 
"As anyone who frequents this site on a semi-regular basis knows, we firmly believe that the NFL needs to dramatically improve the procedures for determining whether a player has suffered a concussion or, as the case may be, concussion-like symptoms. I was disappointed to hear Jason La Canfora of the league-owned TV channel predict that the inexplicable ability of Browns quarterback Colt McCoy to re-enter Thursday night's game two plays after being blown up by Steelers linebacker James Harrison won't be a "watershed" moment for the league when it comes to concussions. Roughly an hour later, I was encouraged to hear Chris Mortensen of ESPN predict that the McCoy case could be the catalyst"
Shurmur: QB Colt McCoy has symptoms of concussion; team followed protocol
December 10
Akron Beacon Journal
 
"Browns coach Pat Shurmur met with reporters today to discuss his team's 14-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Here are some of the highlights: •?Shurmur said quarterback Colt McCoy began to exhibit symptoms of a concussion after the game. Steelers linebacker James Harrison was penalized for roughing the passer when he used his helmet to hit McCoy in the face mask with 5:38 left in the fourth quarter. McCoy was replaced by Seneca Wallace for two plays. Three plays after McCoy returned to action, he threw an interception in the end zone with 3:11 remaining. After the Browns flew back to Cleveland early this morning, a team spokesman said McCoy did not have a concussion. However, Shurmur"
Pat Shurmur says Colt McCoy was examined on sidelines, showed no concussion symptoms until later
December 10
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"Browns quarterback Colt McCoy suffered a concussion on the helmet-to-helmet hit by Steelers linebacker James Harrison on Thursday night, but Browns coach Pat Shurmur said he sent him back into the game because he showed no concussion symptoms during a sideline exam. "If he would have shown symptoms of a concussion, then I wouldn't have put him back in the game, absolutely not," said Shurmur, who goes by the decision of the medical staff. "We go through the strict protocol to evaluate whether there are concussionlike symptoms." McCoy's father, Brad McCoy, told The Plain Dealer on Friday that his son didn't remember anything after the hit, including the interception in the end zone that"
Colt McCoy can't recall James Harrison's hit, injures his left hand
December 9
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"James Harrison did it again. Another helmet to helmet hit, another Browns player down writhing in pain. Last year it was wide receivers Mohamed Massaquoi and Josh Cribbs. Both were smashed in the head by Harrison's helmet and both were knocked out cold. Both suffered concussions. Harrison was fined $75,000 for the hit on Massaquoi. Thursday night, he drilled Colt McCoy helmet-to-helmet and McCoy remained down on the field for a minute. Harrison was flagged 15 yards for unnecessary roughness and can expect his fine from the league office next week. "Honestly, I don't remember (the hit)," McCoy told the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram after the game. McCoy remained out for two plays and the came"
Colt McCoy can't recall James Harrison's hit, injures his left hand
December 9
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"James Harrison did it again. Another helmet to helmet hit, another Browns player down writhing in pain. Last year it was wide receivers Mohamed Massaquoi and Josh Cribbs. Both were smashed in the head by Harrison's helmet and both were knocked out cold. Both suffered concussions. Harrison was fined $75,000 for the hit on Massaquoi. Thursday night, he drilled Colt McCoy helmet-to-helmet and McCoy remained down on the field for a minute. Harrison was flagged 15 yards for unnecessary roughness and can expect his fine from the league office next week. "Honestly, I don't remember (the hit)," McCoy told the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram after the game."
'The deck is stacked' against Cleveland Browns QB Colt McCoy, says NFL Network's Mike Mayock
December 8
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"It's tough to decide if Colt McCoy can be the Browns' quarterback of the future, because he doesn't have a deep threat like Pittsburgh's Mike Wallace or Cincinnati's A.J. Green, according to NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock, who will work Thursday's game in Pittsburgh. "I think the kid's got the deck stacked against him a little bit right now," Mayock said in a phone interview. "They don't really have anyone like a Wallace or Green that can stretch the field for them vertically, and that's a difficult thing when you're a quarterback. Basically, you're kind of playing small ball. You're trying to run the football and move the chains with a lot of play-action and underneath stuff. And at some"
Time is running out for Colt McCoy to pass his Cleveland Browns audition
December 7
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 columnist Bill Livingston
"Pittsburgh used to be called "Hell with the Lid Off," but then the steel industry declined and, apparently, the infernal torments relocated to the hearts and minds of Browns players and fans. A year ago, Pittsburgh was the game in which Colt McCoy got his first start, right there by the rivers' confluence. He fared at least as well as Daniel (his real first name) in the lions' den and became another hope/hype for the future. Thursday night, McCoy returns to Pittsburgh. The lions are big favorites. McCoy has not looked like he's the answer to the ongoing quarterback crisis. Sports Illustrated's Peter King gave him a "D" grade recently. Reader email is divided, but more and more wonder when"
QB Colt McCoy, RB Peyton Hillis appear to be OK during team drills
December 7
Akron Beacon Journal
 
"The Browns (4-8) practiced today in preparation for their road game Thursday night against the Pittsburgh Steelers (9-3). Reporters were allowed to watch about 30 minutes of practice. Here's what you need to know about the open session: * Quarterback Colt McCoy wore a black sleeve on his sprained right knee. McCoy, who's pictured above and to the left, looked fine dropping back and moving during team drills. * Running back Peyton Hillis (hip) also looked all right as he participated in team drills. Hillis, who's pictured above and to the right, was limited in practice Monday."
Browns off to a limping start in short week before Thursday's Steelers game
December 6
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"The Browns will go limping into Pittsburgh on Thursday night, thanks to a quarterback with a gimpy knee and a running back with a strained hip. Coach Pat Shurmur said he expects Colt McCoy to play in Pittsburgh despite a sprained right knee suffered Sunday against the Ravens, but wasn't so optimistic about Peyton Hillis, who's "day-to-day" with the hip injury. McCoy was spotted limping Monday afternoon at the Berea facility while walking down some stairs. The Browns have only one full day of practice -- on Tuesday -- in preparation for Thursday's primetime game. "We'll just have to see," said Shurmur of McCoy. "[There's] no structural damage, and he's a little bit sore. He'll be"
Browns coach Pat Shurmur: QB Colt McCoy sprained right knee; not expected to sit out vs. Steelers
December 5
Akron Beacon Journal
 
"- Quarterback Colt McCoy, who's pictured above, sprained his right knee against the Ravens and is day-to-day, Shurmur said. McCoy didn't suffer any structural damage, Shurmur said. "I think he's probably just sore," Shurmur said. "I wouldn't say that he'd miss the game (against the - Running back Peyton Hillis strained his left hip Sunday and is day-to-day, Shurmur said. "He's sore today, so we'll just see how he does through the week here," Shurmur said. "It'll be a short week. This 'see how he does through the week' thing is a few hours, I think.""
Browns quarterback Colt McCoy wary of defensive pressure by Baltimore Ravens
December 1
Akron Beacon Journal
 
"Asking Browns quarterback Colt McCoy what he remembers about the Baltimore Ravens' defense is like asking him to relive flashbacks of his worst nightmare. In McCoy's eight starts as a rookie last year, it was the Ravens' defense that really baptized him into life in the AFC North, feasting on his relative inexperience. McCoy threw three interceptions (one on the Browns' opening possession) in the 20-10 loss and finished the game with a 27.0 passer rating. Two things stick out for McCoy. "Their front seven is really good, they just are," he said. "They rotate in and out, so they're fresh. They're playing really well. They have a lot of sacks, had nine last week."
AFC North acid test begins Sunday for Cleveland Browns and QB Colt McCoy
November 27
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"Browns coach Pat Shurmur has challenged quarterback Colt McCoy to carry his team through the AFC North gantlet that begins Sunday against the 6-4 Bengals. "I'm looking for him to lead the charge in terms of 'show improvement and win the game' and I think that's what we're looking for as we go forward," said Shurmur. "The way I look at it, we're 4-6 and we're trying to win this game as we push into the second half of this season. Hopefully we get on a roll here and then we can do something beyond January 1. We're putting all our efforts into beating the Bengals and Colt is no different." The Browns have given McCoy this season to prove that he can be the quarterback of the future -- and"
Colt McCoy's shoulder okay, Peyton Hillis, T.J. Ward out for Bengals
November 22
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"Colt McCoy's sore right shoulder was okay Monday and he didn't need an MRI or any other major evaluation, coach Pat Shurmur said. "He's fine," said Shurmur. "He got banged around a little bit." On his way out of the locker room to meet with the trainer, McCoy agreed, "but still a little sore." He first hurt the shoulder when he was hit from behind in the second quarter by linebacker Daryl Smith. He took another shot during a third-quarter sack and then had it checked on the sidelines after making the tackle after an interception by Dawan Landry. After the game, he said, "the more I got hit throughout the game, the more it bothered me, but it's going to be all right.""
Browns quarterback Colt McCoy proving more than his toughness now
November 21
Akron Beacon Journal
 columnist Marla Ridenour
"Colt McCoy wouldn't say whether it was precipitated by a watershed moment. The Browns' second-year quarterback didn't divulge whether his improved play the past two games was prompted by a pull-no-punches talk with coach Pat Shurmur, his position coach Mark Whipple or perhaps even president Mike Holmgren. Maybe McCoy merely saw his opportunity to be an NFL starter slipping away. Considering his usually optimistic disposition, chances are it was not the latter. But after treading water in the best of times and regressing in the worst of times during the first eight games this season, McCoy is finally starting to look like the quarterback of the future. With six games remaining, there are"
Colt McCoy shrugs off pain and a pick to spark Cleveland Browns' deciding drive
November 21
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"Colt McCoy walked off the field after a third-quarter sack, his right arm dangling by his side and spiked his helmet to the ground. It was the second time his right shoulder had been drilled during the game, and he was frustrated. But the Browns' quarterback wasn't about to let the pain or an interception in the red zone keep him from throwing a game-winning 3-yard touchdown pass to Josh Cribbs on the next drive. "It was just frustrating," said McCoy, who almost seemed short of breath a few times during his post-game press conference. "The more I got hit, the more it just kind of was bothering me. But it's going to take a lot of for me to come out of the game.""
Browns' McCoy, Rams' Bradford go from rivals to friendly foes
November 10
Akron Beacon Journal
 
"It took an NFL work stoppage, but that's when two college rivals tossed aside their pride and began to bridge the gap to friendship. When the NFL lockout kept players from talking to coaches and barred them working out in team facilities, Browns quarterback Colt McCoy reached out to his old nemesis out of desperation. What McCoy, formerly of the University of Texas, found was that St. Louis Rams quarterback Sam Bradford, formerly of the University of Oklahoma, needed his help just as much. "Sam really liked [Browns coach] Pat [Shurmur] and said a lot of great things about him," McCoy said. "When I came here, I was excited to get to start to work with him. We kind of flipped offenses, so we"
Undaunted McCoy exposed to too many hits
November 7
Akron Beacon Journal
 columnist Marla Ridenour
"After the game, Colt McCoy had the presence of mind to tell two Browns reporters to have a safe trip home. Considering the hits he had just absorbed, he could have been sitting in front of his locker crying. That's not a shot at Tim Couch, the first quarterback of the Browns' expansion era to practically have his teeth knocked out every week. It's merely a statement of a frightening reality. The Browns seem headed down the same road with McCoy as they did with Couch. Any chance McCoy has to prove he's the future of the franchise is being compromised by the fact that they can't keep him upright. Forget one Mississippi, two Mississippi. At this point, Ohio is a stretch."
Cleveland Browns QB Colt McCoy endures a long, painful day vs. Texans
November 7
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"After one of the dozen times Colt McCoy was drilled during Sunday's 30-12 loss to the Texans, CBS cameras captured his parents in the stands, looking as if they feared for their little boy's life. They had every reason to be afraid. McCoy was blitzed early and often and slammed to the ground 12 times -- on four sacks and eight hits after the throw -- and got up slowly a couple of times. It always seemed like the next hit might be his last play of the game. He's now been hit 52 times after the throw -- fifth most in the NFL. But somehow, he kept popping up and getting right back after it."
A team in search for a leader is still waiting on Colt McCoy
November 6
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 columnist Bud Shaw
"What a difference a year doesn't make... Colt McCoy makes his 16th NFL start Sunday in Houston. Since he's had two head coaches and two offensive coordinators and has operated under polar opposite philosophies, 16 games constituting a "season" is misleading. Nevertheless, it's a benchmark and a good time to ask what we've learned about McCoy under Pat Shurmur that we didn't know from watching him play last season. The answer: hardly anything. Nothing conclusively damning, but not much encouraging either. We know he can take a punch. That he's mobile. That he's smart. That he can "manage a game," which is a catch phrase meaning the head coach doesn't really trust the quarterback. That maybe"
Struggles of Browns QB McCoy illustrate disparity in pro, college games
November 4
Houston Chronicle
 
"Colt McCoy protests that it's just "still football at the end of the day." But what the second-year Cleveland Browns quarterback now knows is how long these NFL days can be. McCoy's not playing at Kansas anymore, Toto. The former Longhorn starts his first game in Texas as a paid professional against the Texans on Sunday, and don't let it be said he's not making every effort to deliver a successful homecoming for the many friends and family members expected at Reliant Stadium. By the time he got around to speaking with the Houston media Wednesday, after a succession of meetings and video study, it was nearly 6 p.m. in Cleveland."
At the center of the offense, Colt McCoy must flourish
November 3
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"Although Colt McCoy shines in the shotgun and no-huddle, Browns coach Pat Shurmur is determined that his quarterback learns to play well under center this season so he can run the West Coast offense most effectively. "In our offense we have plays under center and then we have plays in the shotgun," said Shurmur on Wednesday. "He does both. I think it's important that you'd be able to execute under center as well as you do in the shotgun. ... He's obviously more comfortable in the shotgun because that's what he's done has done his whole life." McCoy, who became the NCAA's all-time winningest quarterback at Texas, knows it's vital for him to keep honing his under-center skills."
San Francisco's Alex Smith is proof that it's too early to write off Cleveland Browns quarterback Colt McCoy
November 2
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"In 2005, the San Francisco 49ers made Alex Smith the first pick in the NFL Draft. Over the next six years, Smith had a record of 19-31 as a starter. He lost the job at least three times. He missed an entire season because of injuries. He played for five offensive coordinators. When Jim Harbaugh was hired as the 49ers coach before this season, he announced that Smith would be his starting quarterback. San Francisco fans moaned. They wanted another quarterback to go with the new coach and new offensive coordinator. From 2005 to '10, the 49ers had a 37-59 record. In that same span, the Browns were 34-62."
Colt McCoy and the Cleveland Browns can grind together, but can they someday be great?
October 24
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 columnist Bud Shaw
"Colt McCoy swears he's progressing in Pat Shurmur's offense on a weekly basis, though Sunday he looked more like the quarterback as game manager favored by Eric Mangini. McCoy even trotted out a corporate-speak slogan to capture what's happening on his side of the ball: "Stepping forward into growth" was how he put it. That unofficially gives the 2011 Browns a second title that many outside of Berea no doubt find difficult to decipher, the first being "West Coast Offense." Eventually, the question needing to be answered is whether McCoy is a quarterback who needs every last piece in place to win consistently, let alone big, or whether he can lift the play of those surrounding him. The"
Future uncertain for Browns offense, including Colt McCoy
October 20
Pro Football Talk
 
"Mike Holmgren and Pat Shurmur are in Cleveland to fix the offense above all else. That's why it's been a surprise to see quarterback Colt McCoy and the Browns running game take a step back after Eric Mangini's firing. Only Kerry Collins has a lower yards-per-attempt average than McCoy this season. Browns president Mike Holmgren made it clear Thursday McCoy is still being evaluated to see whether he's really a franchise quarterback. "Let's let him play and see how performs and we'll evaluate it at end of year," Holmgren said via Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain-Dealer."