Cavaliers Still Have a Believer
May 7, 2010I’m Gonna Be, Gonna Be Like ‘Bron…
May 7, 2010
Browns Team President Mike Holmgren took to the airwaves this morning as ESPN’s Mike and Mike in the Morning was broadcasting live from Progressive Field. Naturally, the discussion quickly focused on the recently drafted quarterback Colt McCoy.
When asked if the former Longhorn would be under center this season, Holmgren responded candidly.
“I said, ‘perfectly he shouldn’t play his first year,”’ Holmgren said. “But heck, if he’s the guy, he plays.”
Holmgren was referencing his post-draft discussion that surrounded McCoy. When the Browns selected the quarterback out of Texas with the 85th pick overall, the Cleveland media wasted zero time in asking when the rookie QB would see the field in 2010. I mean, what would Cleveland football be without a good quarterback controversy, right?
Thankfully, Holmgren wasted no time in telling the world that they collectively need to calm down about McCoy and his presence on the field through the upcoming season.
“Things can change, but I don’t expect [Colt McCoy] to come in and play this year,” said Holmgren. “We did not draft him, necessarily, to come in and play this year.”
Holmgren also reiterated several times over the three-day draft that he is not the coach of the football team and who plays would be up to head coach Eric Mangini. Mangini, himself, has repeatedly taken a “never say never” stance towards McCoy, which is a fair way to not place undue pressure on the rookie, but leaving options open in the event that he is needed.
“Ted Marchibroda’s big phrase was ‘never say never and never say always,’ so I don’t know,” said Mangini. “We will see. I think what Mike [Holmgren] says is what we are anticipating happening bu you don’t know.”
The progression has gone from one that seemed like McCoy would not even be given pads on upcoming Sundays to a “so you’re sayin’ there’s a chance” that would even make Lloyd Christmas double-take.
Holmgren backed up his stance by saying that rookie quarterbacks need certain situations in order to succeed. When discussing New York’s Mark Sanchez and Baltimore’s Joe Flacco – quarterbacks the the Browns will face this upcoming season – Holmgren lauded the respective defense and running game that each quarterback had on his side. Currently, the Browns are dealing with one of the worst defenses (statistically) in 2009 and a run game that seemingly only did well through the last month of the season.
McCoy, himself, has gone on record that he feels his role this season will be to come in and learn the system, allowing time to take its course and do what he is asked by the coaching staff and front office.
“I have great mentors in coach [Brian] Daboll and coach [Carl] Smith and having Jake Delhomme, Seneca Wallace and Brett Ratliff here that I can learn from,” said McCoy. That’s going to be huge for me and my success, just to come in here and do my best and learn and study.”
The additions of Jake Delhomme and Seneca Wallace will definitely provide wiggle room when it comes to McCoy’s progression. But if anything is for certain, no matter what Holmgren or Mangini say about him, the media will continue to wonder about Cleveland’s newest quarterback.
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(John Kuntz / The Plain Dealer)
18 Comments
But if anything is for certain, no matter what Holmgren or Mangini say about him, the media will continue to wonder about Cleveland’s newest quarterback.
Just like opposing defensive coordinators. They are going to be seeing Delhomme and McCoy in their nightmares!
I thought Holmgren had McCoy wrapped in a box that said, “Do not open until Christmas, 2011.”
back to the drawing board
I just love the fact that McCoy has drawn so much attention. That pick just keeps getting better and better. All the picks we had before him won’t have nearly the pressure that picks at those positions normally would have.
I’d be fine if McCoy stayed on the bench all season and learned, rather than throwing him into the fire. This is going to be another rebuilding year anyway, so why not let him mature a bit?
This is somewhat out of context. I listened to the interview today. He said pretty flat-out that the Browns do NOT have situations like Sanchez had in NY and Flacco had in Baltimore, where a rookie QB had a pounding running game and awesome defense to support him. I don’t think the staff has any intention of playing McCoy unless he has an awesome preseason/practices AND both Delhomme and Wallace suck it up AND our defense and run game play above average. I was honestly not surprised at all by his comments about McCoy.
IMO, if Colt plays this year it’s going to be a worse year than we think. But just believe this year when we’re 2-7 or so ignorant Browns fans will be calling for him to start and put pressure on the FO. Im dreading that point in the season but I guarntee it happens.
Well played JK. I can see the posts on Cleveland.com already.
Lol let’s start the “play McCoy” chants already.
Another season, more quarterback drama.
Nothing new.
He only said that so opposing teams won’t know who to prepare for going into games.
Boy I can’t wait for Delhomme to get injured and crowd to erupt in cheers…. then boo when they realize Seneca Wallace is coming in the game…. followed by Bret Ratliff.
That’s my dream scenerio to shut them up. They or Dawg Pound Mike going on hunger stike until McCoy takes a snap.
You nailed this, Scott. Thanks.
Hey… Here’s an idea, Browns fans. Now that we finally have a guy in the front office who, y’know, knows what the heck he is doing, why don’t we, as fans, at least ACT like we know what the heck we are doing? Why do we all have to act like moron OSU fans and clamor for the b/u QB the second something goes wrong? This is the NFLm not the Big Tewleven. Somebody show me where it is written that we have to act like that. I mean, it can’t be that hard. They do it in just about every other SUCCESSFUL NFL city.
@ subadai – I’m pretty sure what you meant by “moron OSU fans and clamor for the b/u QB the second something goes wrong?” you meant “act like moron Browns fans the past 11 years and clamor for the b/u QB the second something goes wrong”.
just sayin’.
@ Denny – No I meant what I wrote. I have noticed a near 100% mathematical intersection between the subset “Moron OSU fan” and “Browns fan that clamors for b/u QB the second something goes wrong.”
-just sayin/ 🙂
Not exactly sure what OSU or the Big Ten has to do with any of this but I’d say ripping on OSU fans is not the coolest thing to do round these parts… so I’m gonnna pretend you just mistyped or something
I’m not “ripping” on all OSU fans. Just the ones that don’t seem to be able to compartmentalize their personal fandom. What works for OSU in college is NOT what works in the NFL for anyone, most especially for my Browns. Those are the Browns fans that make me cringe the most. Unfortunately, they seem to be the loudest of us. I hate the bad Karma they bring… that’s all.
Well I don’t like the Browns fans who claim that BROWNIE FOOTBALL IS THE ONLY FOOTBALL IN OHIO because they are fat and stupid.
So we shall agree to mock the dumb people in each others’ respective fan bases. Cheers to that.
Could you imagine the controversy if we would have drafted Bradford. I like McCoy, I don’t care if we go 0-16, he should not step on the field this year and maybe next year too… Look at the dividends it payed in GB with Rodgers, he has turned into a premiere QB. Take the time develop him into the next Steve Young and I thing all Browns fans will realize that is what you have to do. I will not be one of those fans calling for McCoy, I will however be calling for Wallace after Delhomme throws 10 ints in the first 3 games. We have no WR’s and we better be able to run the ball this year. I find it a bit unnerving that none of our restricted free agents like Jackson, Roth, Harrison, and Vickers have signed deals yet… Am I the only one that sees this a bit unusual?