With regard to the role of “third quarterback” for the Cleveland Browns, it appears that there is a slight misunderstanding between Browns head coach Pat Shurmur and veteran back-up quarterback Seneca Wallace. With last year’s starter Colt McCoy still in the fold, and one of this season’s first-round draft pick Brandon Weeden expected to start, Shurmur feels that all of his quarterbacks are of the mentality that his players will graciously do what they’re asked.
“I don’t see the urgency [in naming a starter],” said Shurmur on Tuesday afternoon, “but in terms of the backup situation, I can see a scenario where all three of the players you’re talking about will be here. I think that’s fair.
“My understanding is that [Wallace] would be [accepting of the third-quarterback position]. It’s important that room is right. There will be a starting quarterback and there will be guys working behind him. I have no reservation about however it works out. I think those guys will handle it in the right way.”
But once the microphones were aimed in the direction of Wallace, his response to the identical set of questions had a bit of a different tone.
“”Probably not,” said Wallace when asked about all three quarterbacks being on the roster come Opening Day. ”Can any of you guys see all three of us being here?”
And of the willingness and desire, if needed, to be the third quarterback?
“No, not really,” Wallace said. ”We all know the third guy doesn’t dress Sundays, and if it comes down to that decision, obviously neither [Colt McCoy or myself] want to be that third guy.”
McCoy, who started 13 games last season before missing the final three with a severe concussion, refuses to allow himself to consider the possibility not starting, recently telling SI’s Dan Patrick that there is a quarterback competition in Berea.
“From my perspective I don’t want to make this about me vs. another guy,” McCoy said. “I’d much rather talk about what’s going to help the Browns this fall win football games. At the end of the day that’s all that really matters, that’s all the fans really care about, and that’s all our organization cares about I hope is whatever is best for our football team to win games.
[Related: Could the Browns offense benefit from contract years?]
