The Browns “fully expect” rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden to be the starter in 2012. Last year’s starter, Colt McCoy, hopes for a full and fair chance to change the Browns’ expectations.
After Tuesday’s opening OTA session of the 2012 offseason, McCoy said he didn’t ask for a trade after the team used the 22nd overall pick on Weeden because McCoy was told he’d have a chance to compete for the starting job.
“This is the card that’s been dealt,” McCoy said regarding his status as the underdog to Weeden, via the Associated Press. “I can just say that I’m working as hard as I can. You never know what to expect. One of my favorite quotes by the NAVY Seals is, ‘The only easy day was yesterday.’ That’s just kind of how I have to live right now.”
McCoy believes he’ll get a fair shot to unseat Weeden. “They just said, ‘Hey, come in here and compete.’ As a competitor, that’s all you need to hear, really. Just come in with your head on right and give it all you can every day. I want my teammates to see the same guy every day. Amidst some difficulties as a quarterback, you’ve got to be able to thrive in those situations. At the same time, you’ve got to kind of regard them as routine. Those things are going to happen throughout your career.”
Still, it’s hard to believe McCoy will be the starter unless he dramatically outperforms Weeden. Especially after the Derek Anderson/Brady Quinn debacle of 2007, the Browns surely won’t be inclined to give McCoy a chance to play well enough to render Weeden a wasted pick.
Likewise, if McCoy ends up as the backup to Weeden, it could make plenty of sense to trade him before he becomes even more popular in Cleveland than Drew Carey.