By Mary Kay Cabot, The Plain Dealer
BEREA, Ohio -- Pat Shurmur likes the way Colt McCoy has handled himself on and off the field during this summer of competition with Brandon Weeden and thinks there's a realistic chance McCoy could be around come opening day. 
"I don't think there's any hurry to get rid of anybody right now," the Browns head coach told The Plain Dealer Thursday during an appearance on PD SportsInsider on cleveland.com. "I guess the conversation becomes how he's going to handle it if he's not the starter. Colt's a professional and he's actually done everything that I've asked him to do. He's handled his work well, and in my opinion, he's handled his comments with the media well.
"He can't always control what gets said around him -- I think I've learned that as well. All you can worry about is what you say and do and I think Colt's functioned in a very professional way."
Shurmur was apparently referring to a recent tweet by McCoy's younger brother Case, who exclaimed that "Cleveland is only going downhill!" in response to a fake tweet that his brother had been traded to the Eagles.
That said, Shurmur acknowledged he can't predict how the backup QB battle plays out, where McCoy, Seneca Wallace and Thad Lewis are vying for the job. Despite speculation that McCoy will be traded, he said it's realistic that both veterans could return.
"I don't have a crystal ball, so I can't say exactly what's going to happen, but I do think they've made improvements, which is important," said Shurmur. "We've added some young talent around them that has helped make things look smoother."
He said he's noticed a difference in McCoy from last season, when he had no off-season to work with the new staff and learn the West Coast system.
"Colt made a couple of throws [Wednesday] where he threw to the fourth guy in the progression," said Shurmur. "Now, it's not obvious to anybody, but he would've gone 1-2-3 and ran last year. He went 1-2-3 and threw it to four pretty smoothly. That only happens because you go through the process and I think he's improved.
"At this point, I can see any of the scenarios that you're mentioning -- and again I can't wait to name the starter so we can stop talking about this."
He said McCoy and all of the quarterbacks on the roster fit his criteria for a backup: mobility and the ability to function without many reps during the week.
"I think [McCoy's] very smart," he said. "You're talking about all the guys we have on our roster. They're smart and they can move around and they can go out and execute without getting a bunch of reps."
He said all four are working well together.
"I watch that room closely," he said. "You need to have a good quarterback room, and I see a bunch of guys acting in a very professional way."
Shurmur addressed a number of other topics:
• On if the Browns knew about Josh Gordon's third failed drug test: "We were pretty aware of probably all of the things that have been talked about in his background. Josh has put himself -- through his own behavior -- through some adversity. We feel as though that's behind him.
"We've talked to numerous people. We have relationships with people around the college ranks at both schools that he attended. We visited with him at length. We did a lot of work behind the scenes to assure us that this type of behavior won't happen again. He understands the importance of what he's going to go through now as a pro athlete, and we're going to help him in every way possible to make sure it doesn't. We feel like this is behind him."
• On acquiring a veteran receiver/mentor: "I like the group we have. At this point we don't have our sights set on bringing in anybody specific. At the receiver position, even though you don't have great age or experience there, it doesn't mean that somebody doesn't know his job well and can't help a young person. Within the group that we have at receiver and other positions, we'll make sure those guys act like pros."
• On Josh Cribbs as a receiver: "I'm not going to try to minimize his role or say exactly what it's going to be, but we do know that he's an outstanding special teams player and we feel like that's where he's made his mark that's where we expect him to not only play well but show leadership. We'll continue to try to find ways to get him the ball on offense."
• On his camp message: "We're going to talk about doing what we can to win football games and win the division because that assures you a spot in the playoffs. And once you're in the playoffs, then you have a chance to play in and win the biggest game of them all.
"I can't control what gets outside this building or how what's happening inside this building is perceived. What I can control is helping these guys develop thought processes that keep this team together and keep us moving forward. It does me absolutely no good to worry about the rest of it."
• On finding reps for running backs Montario Hardesty and Brandon Jackson: "Every team uses more than one running back throughout the course of a game and the season. They have to have some of the same characteristics as the backup quarterback because throughout the week, they definitely don't get as many reps."
Practice update: The veterans reported Thursday and will practice Friday in a closed session. The first open practice is Saturday from 8:45-11:15 a.m. in helmets and shorts. The first full-pad practice is Sunday from 8:45-11:15 a.m.
http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2012/07/cleveland_browns_pat_shurmur_s.html
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