By Mary Kay Cabot, The Plain Dealer
BEREA, Ohio -- Pat Shurmur said he expects quarterback Brandon Weeden to come in and hopefully win the starting job immediately, and he was noncommital about Colt McCoy's future with the team. 
"We've added three (offensive) players and we expect them to compete to start and contribute what we hope to be immediately," the Browns head coach said after the team finished its Friday selections in the second and third rounds of the NFL Draft. "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."
He added that the Browns are "really impressed with what we saw with Weeden." He also dismissed a report that the Browns were shopping McCoy on the second day of the NFL draft Friday, but didn't rule out moving him in the near future.
"We've drafted a quarterback to come in and compete with him -- at this point -- and that's where it's at," he said.
He 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."
He said McCoy worked out here all week and then headed to Dallas for the weekend, as had been planned. "I expect him to be here Monday as part of the off-season program," said Shurmur.
But Shurmur was effusive in his praise of Weeden, and adamant that he's set to be their man. When asked if he can make the current crop of receivers better -- seeing as that the Browns didn't draft one -- he quickly responded, "I believe so."
If a team wants McCoy, it would probably only be willing to surrender a sixth- or seventh-round pick. The final four rounds of the draft take place on Saturday, beginning at noon. But a source said the Browns ideally would like to take a little time to think about what they want to do. They might also have to make a decision on Seneca Wallace, who's set to make $2.4 million in 2012 and $2.85 million in 2013.
"We haven't made any plans to do anything about anything yet," said Shurmur. "We haven't made any phone calls, we haven't done anything in regards to Colt."
Asked if McCoy will still be with the team when organized team activities begin May 22, Shurmur said, "let's not take it all the way out to May 22. As it stands right now, I've talked to Colt and we're getting ready to draft [more players]."
He said he talked to McCoy Friday evening, but not about his role in the wake of the Browns drafting Weeden.
"He's fine," said Shurmur. "All we talked about was what we [were] going to do with the next two picks.'"
The Browns' second-round pick, the No. 37 overall, was something McCoy could've really used -- a starting right tackle. They drafted California's Mitchell Schwartz, who has experience playing on both sides, including the last two seasons on the left and 2009 on the right. Schwartz also played two seasons with Browns center Alex Mack at Cal.
The Browns traded their third-round pick -- the No. 67 overall -- to the Broncos for Denver's 87th in the third round and 120th in the fourth round. They used the 87th pick on Cincinnati defensive tackle John Hughes, who will provide depth behind Ahtyba Rubin and Phil Taylor.
"We got two big, tough physical guys (who) are going to help us," said Shurmur.
The Browns didn't draft any of the 12 receivers that went off the board, but Heckert defended that decision.
"We'll see what happens [Saturday]," said Heckert. "We could've drafted one, but we liked other players better."
As of Friday afternoon, McCoy had no plans to ask for a trade, but would like an opportunity to compete with the Weeden for the starting job, a source said. McCoy was given the impression by the Browns all off-season that he was going to be their starting quarterback, at least heading into training camp.
If he remains as a backup, it might not be such a bad situation for him -- or the Browns. McCoy's salary is team-friendly: he's only making $540,000 and 2013: $575,000. If he's willing to back up Weeden, who's three years his senior, it might be a chance to learn the West Coast offense better. He would then get an opportunity if Weeden falters or gets injured.
But make no mistake about Weeden's role. "We have the guy that we think is our guy as we move forward," said Shurmur.
Meanwhile, Weeden conducted himself like a starting quarterback during his introductory press conference. After spending five years pitching in the minor leagues and four years at Oklahoma State, Weeden is not your typical rookie quarterback. He's married and is older than most of the players on the Browns' roster. He was the first player chosen in the 2002 MLB draft by the Yankees and left home at the age of 18 to chase his dream of pitching in the major leagues.
"My baseball background, the adversity I've been through, it really prepares me for what I'm about to go through," he said. "Being 28 years old, I use it as an advantage because my body's still fresh, I have a lot of football left in my tank. I think it's going to help in the locker room. I think it's going to help me prepare on a daily basis to become the best player I can possibly become."
http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2012/04/cleveland_browns_add_two_linem.html
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