Cleveland Browns GM Tom Heckert says the Browns won't pursue Peyton Manning

By Mary Kay Cabot, The Plain Dealer

CLEVELAND -- Browns general manager Tom Heckert said today the Browns won't pursue Peyton Manning, who was released Wednesday by the Colts.

"Not really,'' said Heckert in an informal meeting with the media today. "That's probably not a direction we're going to go.''

Heckert also re-iterated what he said at the end of last season: that the Browns are unlikely to sign a big-name free agent quarterback. That would seem to rule out a strong pitch for Packers backup quarterback Matt Flynn, one of the biggest names set to hit the market on Tuesday.

He said the Browns like four quarterbacks in this draft, including the obvious top three of Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III and Ryan Tannehill. The fourth appears to be Oklahoma State's Brandon Weeden, who's 28, because Heckert gushed about him.

"I really like him a lot,'' said Heckert. "We're going to see him (throw) tomorrow. "He's mature and he's telling you it's a positive. He's a really interesting guy. He's super smart.''

But he emphasized that the Browns are still high on Colt McCoy and haven't made the decision to replace him.

"We still think Colt can play in this league and it's our job to help him out,'' said Heckert. "If we catch more balls, if we protect him more'' he can be much-improved.

Heckert addressed a number of other topics during his 30-minute interview, his first since undergoing heart surgery last month and his first with the media since the end of the season. He said:

* Even though the Browns are up for anything with their No. 4 pick, all the talk about the Browns moving up to No. 2 to draft Griffin III "is crazy. We feel comfortable staying at No. 4 and getting a really good player. We feel comfortable moving back and getting extra picks too.''

* Right tackle Tony Pashos underwent ankle surgery on Tuesday and he's not sure how that position will shake out out.

* The Browns will try to re-sign Peyton Hillis, but probably not until after he hit the market on Tuesday.

* The Browns will stick to their philosophy on free agency. "We're not going to sign a ton a free agents. We're not going to go crazy.''

* The Browns haven't ruled out trading their No. 22 pick. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that the Browns currently don't want to surrender that pick to move up to No. 2. "Never say never,'' Heckert said.

* His ultimate goal with franchised kicker Phil Dawson is to sign him to a long-term deal. He said he hasn't talked to him since applying the tag last week,

* He's still discussing what to do with left guard Eric Steinbach, who's coming off back surgery and set to make $6 million this year.

* He wants to re-sign free agents Mike Adams, Dimitri Patterson and the other players set to be free on Tuesday.

* Linebacker Marcus Benard is under contract and doesn't need to be tendered.

http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2012/03/cleveland_browns_gm_tom_hecker_11.html