SB Nation Cleveland - 2012 NFL Trade Rumors: Browns May Put Colt McCoy On The Trading Block

Colt McCoy 'Working Hard' After Brandon Weeden Impresses In Rookie Camp

2012-05-16T14:24:40Z

Ever since Oklahoma State QB Brandon Weeden was picked up in the NFL draft by the Cleveland Browns, it's been assumed that he was going to get the starting job. Why else would you pick a 29 year old rookie with the 22nd overall selection if not to give him the starting job right away?

After rookie camps, Weeden's impressive performances and strong arm made the inevitability of his getting the job even larger. However, Colt McCoy, the Browns starting QB from last season and former second round pick, might have something to say about people giving the job to Weeden already and is 'working harder than ever' in order to earn the job himself.

After Weeden was picked the rumors were that McCoy would get traded, but Pat Shurmer obviously felt that McCoy would at the very least make a great backup to Weeden if he usurped the starting job.

To his credit, McCoy's coach thinks that he can still win in the NFL:

Browns coach Pat Shurmur told an audience at the Pro Football Hall of Fame luncheon on Monday that Weeden is "headed in the right direction'' for the starting job, but that he believes McCoy can still win in the NFL.

"Colt McCoy is a gritty guy," he said. "I think Colt McCoy is a fine football player and can play quarterback in this league. They’re both guys (Weeden and McCoy) that I want on this team and I want to see them compete. The best one will play when we play Philadelphia in September.''

Seneca Wallace is in the picture as well, though he's about as long a longshot as you can get to somehow outplay McCoy and Weeden for the job.

More on the Cleveland Browns and their pseudo-QB controversy can be found over at Dawgs By Nature. More news and analysis on the NFL in general can be found over at SB Nation's dedicated NFL hub.

Browns Do Not Expect To Trade Colt McCoy, According To Report

2012-04-28T16:48:54Z

The Colt McCoy trade rumors started flying as soon as the Browns drafted Oklahoma State quarterback Brandon Weeden No. 22 overall on Thursday night. There was an initial report that Browns were engaged in trade talks with the Packers, but both Pat Shurmur and Tom Heckert vehemently denied that they had talked to anyone outside of the organization about a McCoy trade on Friday.

Adam Schefter's latest tweet indicates that the Browns will hold on to McCoy for now. Via @AdamSchefter:

Despite using a first-round pick on Brandon Weeden, the Browns do not expect to trade quarterback Colt McCoy.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 28, 2012

Shurmur said on Friday night that he expects Colt to be in Berea on Monday for workouts, via OBR:

"I expect Colt to be here on Monday for the off-season workouts."

For more on the Cleveland Browns, head over to Dawgs By Nature. More news on the NFL can be found at the SB Nation NFL hub, and more news on the 2012 NFL Draft as it continues through the weekend can be found at the SB Nation NFL Draft hub.

2012 NFL Draft: Browns Hope Brandon Weeden Will Start, According To Report

2012-04-28T16:02:42Z

The Cleveland Browns hope first-round pick Brandon Weeden to win the starting job immediately, according to a report from the Plain Dealer's Mary Kay Cabot.

In her article -- titled "Cleveland Browns hopes [sic] Brandon Weeden starts immediately, noncommittal about Colt McCoy's future" -- Cabot quoted Browns head coach Pat Shurmur saying he expects Weeden to compete for the No. 1 spot:

"We've added three (offensive) players and we expect them to compete to start and contribute what we hope to be immediately. We'll see how it plays out. We got a running back (Trent Richardson), a quarterback and right tackle [Mitchell Schwartz]. We feel like we got three players that are going to be there for us."

Weeden was something of a surprise first-round pick, as most pundits expected him to slip to the second round. His college numbers were certainly gaudy enough to warrant a first-round choice: He threw for more than 9,000 yards over the past two seasons, tossing an incredible 71 touchdowns.

There were, however, some red flags. Firstly, Weeden's age. He was the oldest ever player drafted in the first round. What's more, Weeden put up all those outlandish stats running a breakneck spread offense at Oklahoma State. He was nary under center in college and usually had as many receiver targets as offensive lineman.

Cabot's article also shot down rumors that the Browns discussed the Weeden pick with incumbent quarterback Colt McCoy.

[Shurmur] also said a report by ESPN's Adam Schefter that the Browns told McCoy Thursday that they wouldn't draft a quarterback in the first round "was absolutely false. For the record, we don't consult our players about what we're doing in the draft. I think it's ridiculous to assume that we would say those things. I just want to be strong about the no."

The McCoy trade rumors are still churning.

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2012 NFL Draft Rumors: Mike Holmgren, Pat Shurmur Address Colt McCoy Trade Rumors

2012-04-27T19:59:29Z

The Colt McCoy trade rumors heated up as soon as the Browns handed in their No. 22 pick on Thursday night, adding Brandon Weeden. Tom Heckert acknowledged on Thursday evening that the the front office had not yet talked about trading McCoy, but did say those were discussions they would have that night. Then, reports surfaced on Friday morning that the Browns and Packers had initiated talks about a potential trade for McCoy.

Pat Shurmur denied the reports about talks already ongoing, via @MortReport:

"I can categorically tell you that we have not engaged in any movement in regards to Colt"- Browns head coach Pat Shurmur
— Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) April 27, 2012

Mike Holmgren equivocated when asked about McCoy's future with the club, telling Tony Grossi he may still stick with the club. Via Tony Gross of 850 ESPN Cleveland WKNR:

Browns President Mike Holmgren did not speak in front of the media at the press conference introducing Trent Richardson and Brandon Weeden, but I had a few words with him. I asked about whether the team would be able to trade Colt McCoy. Holmgren answered: "I don't know. He might be here. We'll see."

As for McCoy himself, he reportedly said this morning that he's not seeking a trade, and wants to come in to camp and compete for the starting job with the 28 year-old Weeden. Via @JasonLaCanfora:

Colt McCoy not seekin trade, ready to compete with Weeden. Browns could move him (GB and PHI have explored drafting QBs) but McCoy not askin
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) April 27, 2012

NFL Draft 2012: Browns Introduce Trent Richardson And Brandon Weeden At Press Conference

2012-04-27T19:00:17Z

The Browns' two 1st Round picks arrived in Berea, and both just concluded a joint press conference, as the Cleveland media gets to know the two new faces of the franchise. Both Brandon Weeden and Trent Richardson said they were happy to be done with the process, and ready to take the field for the Browns.

Weeden was asked if he had run into or talked to Colt McCoy. The Oklahoma State product said he had not spoken with McCoy, and that any rumors about the starting job, or potential trades, are left to the front office and he would stay out of it. He did say he was there to compete, and was ready to help win football games. After the press conference, Weeden joined NFL Network for an interview and addressed the Colt McCoy question again:

We're in this situation - Colt's a great player. Obviously, that's out of my control. What I can control, is coming in, learning the system, competing, and just doing whatever I need to do to help this team win games. That's all I can control, and that starts in two weeks when we get going.

Richardson was very impressive, coming across as an intensely hard worker who's ready to do anything to succeed. He said his college coach, Nick Saban, a former Browns assistant, told him he would now be playing in an atmosphere that mosts resembles the mania of college football. The weather change is nothing to worry about, according to Richardson, who simply stated "Football is football, whether it's hot or cold. Someone has to score touchdowns and someone has to kick field goals."

The Alabama running back talked about all he's had to go through, being raised in a single-parent home and raising kids himself at a young age in a rough neighborhood. He takes nothing for granted, and that definitely seems to fuel his determination to succeed. He did talk about have to play through a significant injury in high school, when he tore two tendons and had screws placed in both ankles. Doctors told him he may never run again, but he said he rebounded even stronger - gaining speed and never having another issue with it again.

It also sounds like Richardson will wear number 33, acknowledging that running backs in the NFL cannot wear 3, as he did in college.

Colt McCoy Trade Rumors: Packers Reportedly Looking At Browns QB

2012-04-27T15:10:47Z

The Cleveland Browns drafting of 28 year old Brandon Weeden in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft put the future of their QB Colt McCoy in question. Especially with the conflicting reports of whether or not McCoy knew that the Browns were going to go for a QB in the first round, it looks like McCoy's time in Cleveland is coming to a close.

Fortunately, there are other teams looking at the young former Texas QB. After losing Matt Flynn to free agency, the Green Bay Packers are lacking a back up and are reportedly looking at McCoy. The Packers have several late round picks to use to lure the Browns into a trade.

McCoy has been uninspiring in his 21 NFL starts so far in his young career. He has thrown 20 touchdowns and 20 interceptions with a passer rating of 74.5.

For more on the Cleveland Browns, check out Dawgs By Nature. For more on the NFL Draft, check out the SB Nation NFL Draft Hub or Mocking The Draft.

2012 NFL Draft Rumors: Colt McCoy On The Trading Block?

2012-04-27T14:15:19Z

The Cleveland Browns drafted 28 year old quarterback Brandon Weeden with the No. 22 pick in the 1st Round on Thursday night, immediately prompting questions on the future of Colt McCoy. The Browns apparently told McCoy that they would not select a quarterback in Round 1, according to a report from Adam Schefter. Via @MaryKayCabot:

#espn's adam schefter reports that the Browns told Colt McCoy on draft day that they wouldn't take a QB in first round.
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) April 27, 2012

But the Browns went ahead and took Weeden, who will almost certainly have a shot at the starting job right away. And he may not even have to compete for the job. According to Bob Holtzman of ESPN, Browns General Manager Tom Heckert said they wouldn't have drafted him if they though he'd be a backup. Via @EvanSiva of ProFootballTalk:

#Browns GM Heckert told ESPN's Bob Holtzman about 28-yr-old Brandon Weeden, "You don't take him if he's not going to start." So long, Colt.
— Evan Silva (@evansilva) April 27, 2012

Heckert was very candid on Thursday night when he addressed the media, stating that the Browns would starting talking about a Colt McCoy trade that night.

2012 NFL Draft: Tom Heckert Says Browns Will Discuss Trading Colt McCoy

2012-04-27T12:01:01Z

The Cleveland Browns made a bold decision by drafting Brandon Weeden with the 22nd overall pick of the 2012 NFL Draft Thursday night. According to Browns General Manager Tom Heckert, it was a decision that the organization made with complete confidence.

#Browns Pat Shurmur said everyone in organiation was very excited about Brandon Weeden, incl randy lerner.
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) April 27, 2012

#Browns Heckert: "(Weeden's) eventually going to be a starter for us. That's why we drafted him.''
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) April 27, 2012

And what about Weeden's fellow Big XII alumnus, Colt McCoy?

#Browns' Heckert said team hasn't yet talked about trading Colt McCoy. Will talk about ittonight.
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) April 27, 2012

Should be a fascinating spring and summer around the organization.

For more on the 2012 NFL Draft, stay with SB Nation Cleveland's story stream and visit SB Nation's Browns blog, Dawgs By Nature. For a complete list of 2012 NFL Draft results as they happen, visit SBNation.com. For more on Weeden and Okie State, head over to Cowboys Ride For Free. For even more comprehensive coverage of the NFL Draft, visit Mocking The Draft.