3 Million And One Reasons The Cleveland Browns Need To Cut Seneca Wallace

Posted by LG on August 30, 2012 at 9:14 am.

Cleveland Browns backup quarterback Seneca Wallace continues to promote his Colt McCoy hate campaign publicly. Wallace took to the airways to once again say he won’t be Colt McCoy’s mentor. The Cleveland Fans should be happy about that fact. McCoy at least won some games last season that is more than we can say about Seneca Wallace.

When the Browns picked Weeden in the draft this year, Wallace was the first in line to say he would be more than happy to bring Weeden along, yet in the Browns first preseason game and Weeden was struggling, it was Colt McCoy on the sidelines going over the photos with a coach and Brandon Weeden, Wallace was nowhere to be seen.  The Browns don’t need a player like Seneca Wallace who won’t help the team. Wallace’s dislike for McCoy has been clear since McCoy took the starting role away from Wallace.

Seneca Wallace has been in the NFL long enough to know that on any given Sunday a quarterback can go down to injury, if memory serves me that is how McCoy took the starting role in the first place. It Was Wallace who had to be replaced due to injury. For Wallace to continue to blast his team-mate by saying he refuses to help, it demonstrates that Seneca Wallace is not a team layer. This is the first reason the Browns need to cut their ties with him.

The other 3 million reasons Wallace should go is his 3 million dollar salary. There is no way on GOD’s green earth Seneca Wallace is worth 3 million dollars a year. It is Seneca Wallace who could use the mentor, he should have learned this preseason how to deal with adversity, he should have studied how Colt McCoy has dealt with the Cleveland Browns quarterback situation with dignity and class. McCoy just want the Browns to win. That is more than we can say about Seneca Wallace…..

http://clevelandsports360.com/wordpress/3-million-and-one-reason-the-cleveland-browns-need-to-cut-seneca-wallace/

Colt McCoy to start for Browns on Thursday

Cleveland Browns head coach Pat Shurmur has announced that rookie Brandon Weeden will sit on Thursday, giving the nod for the final preseason game to Colt McCoy. The Browns announced weeks ago that Weeden was the starter, and typically starting quarterbacks sit out the final preseason game. But Weeden isn’t your typical starter. He’s struggled the past two preseason games and many fans were hoping to see Weeden get a few more reps under his belt before the season opener.

Browns notebook: Owner-to-be Jimmy Haslam visits Dawg Pound

By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal sports columnist

CLEVELAND: Soon-to-be Browns owner Jimmy Haslam III made good on another promise Friday night.

As the Browns hosted the Philadelphia Eagles, Haslam found a prime spot in the center of the Dawg Pound at Cleveland Browns Stadium, entrenching himself eight rows up for part of the first half.

At his introductory news conference Aug. 3, Haslam vowed to mingle with the masses at Browns family night during training camp and to sit in the stands for a preseason game.

Besieged by fans, Haslam didn’t see much of the action, posing for photos and signing autographs. Haslam wore a brown polo shirt with the team logo and slacks.

President and CEO of Pilot Flying J truck stops, Haslam is awaiting league approval of his purchase of the Browns from Randy Lerner. Interviewed by Jim Donovan of WKYC (Channel 3) during the third quarter, Haslam said he had been told the vote will come during the scheduled owners’ meeting in mid-October.

Haslam is paying about $1 billion. Lerner has already moved back to New York.

Asked his impressions on the state of the roster, Haslam said on WKYC, “If you look, we have a chance to start six rookies day one, I think that says a lot about the type of talent we’re accumulating. There’s been a huge turnover in the roster. I think we went from the second-oldest team in the league two or three years ago to now the second youngest.

“It’s going to take a little time. We’re in this for the long run. We’re not going to knee-jerk, we’re going to hang with it, we’re going to build through the draft. Hopefully in two or three years we’ll have the kind of talent, the kind of team the Philadelphia Eagles do.”

During pregame warm-ups, Haslam spent a lengthy time on the field talking to Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie. Haslam also planned to accept an invitation to pick the brain of New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft. Haslam and Browns President Mike Holmgren also spoke to Eagles coach Andy Reid, a close friend of Holmgren’s.

http://www.ohio.com/sports/ridenour/browns-notebook-owner-to-be-jimmy-haslam-visits-dawg-pound-1.329378

Browns Quarterback Colt McCoy Plays Better Than Weeden Remember Concussion Gate?

Posted by LG on August 18, 2012 at 8:14 am.

Have you ever seen a case where a quarterback like Colt McCoy gets blamed for an entire failed season the way Pat Shurmur, Mike Holmgren and Tom Heckert are doing to Colt? Have you seen the Browns this season in the two preseason games? Have you seen how good Colt McCoy looks, the way he handles the pressure and the way he is able to scramble to get the team down field? McCoy still has the longest rush this year in the preseason. Something you’ll never see Brandon Weeden do is scramble out of trouble, with the Browns offensive line Cleveland is going to need a quarterback that can run away from trouble. Yet the Cleveland Browns coaching staff and front office are willing to throw away a perfectly good quarterback like Colt McCoy. Why? Because of the way the Browns were embarrassed during the Colt McCoy concussion.

You can’t ignore the numbers McCoy is putting up this preseason and you can’t ignore how good McCoy looks at moving the Browns down field. Now is where all you Cleveland fans who have drunk the Kool Aid come in and say,”McCoy is Facing 2′s and 3′s” Save it. Brandon Weeden didn’t face all 1′s the other night in G.B. either, don’t let this scripted act to get you to swallow Weeden as the better quarterback blind you from the truth.

McCoy’s family pissed off the Browns front office by going to the media and doing interviews about the way Pat Shurmur put Colt McCoy back into the Pittsburgh game with a concussion and Colts dad was not satisfied with the way Shurmur handled McCoys concussion, when he talked the Browns organization as a whole got a black eye. Lets face it fans, Shurmur couldn’t handle managing the clock last season let alone a guy who had his bell rung.  You could tell Pat Shurmur is still thinking about that, look at how he is handling the Mohamed Massaquoi situation. Shurmur gets on the defensive right away when asked about the MoMAss injury.

Because the Browns were put through the wringers last season by the NFL and the entire top brass had to be questioned form top to bottom about the procedures they used when James Harrison hit McCoy and gave him a concussion, they have a very bad taste in their mouth for Colt McCoy. Now the team is trying to say they have a great rookie quarterback, they seem to think the fans don’t know numbers and the team can just rid themselves of McCoy and the fans are too stupid to know any different.

Look at the numbers people, football is a game of stats. The Numbers don’t lie. Colt McCoy is a better quarterback than Brandon Weeden. The Browns coaching staff on the offensive side of the ball stink and because of Shurmur’s embarrassment last season he is throwing the better of the two quarterbacks under the bus. Sure McCoy played against some 2′ and 3′s this season. He also had 2′s and 3′s out on the field with him. Put Colt out there with the first team and he would do well.

The Browns entire offense stunk last season, it wasn’t all Colt McCoy. The Browns had no running game, no receivers that could catch the ball, and no imagination in play calling what so ever. Be honest, you can’t possibly blame all this on Colt McCoy. Be Honest on your assessment about who the better Q.B. is too, the numbers say it is Colt McCoy, because Pat Shurmur took a instant disliking to Colt the moment the NFL Proctologist showed up at Shurmur’s door to examine the way he handled the Concussion McCoy had. Shurmur needs to forget that crap and put the best players on the field to give Cleveland a chance to win games. Now many of you equate my want to win to Weeden hating. Nothing could be further than the truth. I don’t hate anyone, I just see who the better Q.B. is by the numbers and know Shurmur’s dis-like for McCoy is going to cost the Browns wins. Can Weeden play in the NFL? Sure one day maybe, but for now he isn’t ready….Don’t let this strong arm stuff fool ya folks, when was the last time you saw the Browns throw a 70 yard pass down the field? Shurmur call 5 to 10 yard pass plays 99%of the time.

After one quarter of football in Green Bay Weeden was 3 for 8…..After the 2nd the Browns play calling of 2,3 5 yard pass plays helped to pad his numbers. That is what made him look better than week one. After the first quarter against the 1′s Weeden was no better than week one. Check the numbers yourself…..

http://clevelandsports360.com/wordpress/browns-quarterback-colt-mccoy-plays-better-than-weeden-remember-concussion-gate/

Cleveland Browns' error-prone exhibition opener not worth fretting about (too much)

By Terry Pluto, The Plain Dealer

DETROIT -- OK, Browns fans, take a deep breath. Now repeat after me: "It's just the first game."

Another deep breath.

"It's just the first preseason game."

One more.

"It's just the first quarter of the first preseason game for a first-year quarterback."

That's why I'm not going to obsess over every Brandon Weeden throw, fumble and interception. In the Browns' preseason opener in Detroit, Weeden looked exactly like what he happens to be -- a rookie quarterback with a good arm and a lot to learn.

The 28-year-old Weeden opened with a sharp 12-yard completion to Mohamed Massaquoi. I was anxious to see more of Massaquoi, who received raves from Pat Shurmur in training camp. Only Massaquoi left the game with a "head injury." Not a good sign for a guy who has had three concussions in the last two years.

Weeden also connected on a perfect 34-yard pass down the sidelines to rookie Travis Benjamin. Young Mr. Benjamin from Miami looked more like a four-year NFL veteran than a fourth-round draft pick. He showed good hands on passes. He returned punts and kicks. Most of all, he looked fast ... and quick.

Fast running a straight line downfield. Quick making some moves to get open. And on this night, the Browns didn't have many guys who looked fast or quick on the artificial turf of Ford Field.

Jordan Cameron is another who seemed very comfortable on this surface that accents athleticism. He caught a 16-yard pass from Weeden, a 42-yarder from Colt McCoy. Cameron has impressed the coaches almost from Day One of the minicamps, and the former USC basketball player really makes you believe the Browns have found a big-play tight end.

But wouldn't you know it? Cameron came down hard on his back catching that pass from McCoy, and left the game.

Who'd have guessed that the two guys catching the ball making the best first impressions would be Benjamin and Cameron. But both also had strong training camps.

Jordon Norwood also had some nice moments with a couple of catches and returns. He caught the eye of the coaches at the end of last season, and could surprise by taking snaps away from one of the other more highly regarded slot receivers.

If you're a Browns fan, there are reasons to worry -- well beyond Weeden's 3-of-9 passing for 62 yards and two turnovers in his three series. Rookie Mitchell Schwartz and the right side of the offensive line was pushed around. They never could get much of a running game in gear.

Most of the defensive backs appeared a step slow and a little timid. Second string Lions quarterback Shaun Hill had a 114.2 rating. But the Browns also allowed 115 yards on 18 carries in the first half.

The defense has been savaged by injuries: Chris Gocong (Achilles), Phil Taylor (pectoral muscle) are out long-term. The Browns didn't use five of their usual defensive starters, so that may have explained part of the troubles.

But it doesn't excuse the Browns having eight -- that's right -- penalties in the first half. A couple of the flags were iffy from replacement refs. Nonetheless, this would be a good night for the Browns to borrow a chapter from Eric Mangini's old coaching book and have some of these guys run home from Michigan. They had three false starts, an illegal formation, and just looked too sloppy.

As sometimes happens in the preseason, the backup quarterbacks seem superior to the starters. McCoy was 6-of-8 passing for 88 yards, and had a 20-yard run. Seneca Wallace scrambled and found rookie Brad Smelley for a touchdown in the third quarter, the first time the Browns reached the end zone in the preseason.

It's so hard to draw grand conclusions from these early games because the key players are on the field so little. Other starters simply don't play. But playing in a dome does reveal a team's speed, and the Browns still need more of it.

http://www.cleveland.com/pluto/blog/index.ssf/2012/08/cleveland_browns_error-prone_e.html

The Browns and what to do with Colt McCoy?

Cleveland Browns head coach Pat Shurmur has not named Brandon Weeden as the starting quarterback for the Browns, but then he doesn't need to. All this "chatter" about a QB competition in Cleveland is just that, a bunch of chatter. The Browns drafted Weeden with one thing in mind--an immediate improvement at the quarterback position. So where does this leave Colt McCoy?
Browns coach Shurmur has stated that he sees improvement in the performance of McCoy:

"I've seen him do things in this camp that he didn't do a year ago," Shurmur said. "He's comfortable in the system and in progressions. If he doesn't go to his one or two [receiver], he's finding his third instead of taking off and running."
Provided McCoy is improving he would be an ideal back-up for Weeden, this of course provided Weeden is not a "bust" and turns out to be a wasted pick. The benefit to keeping McCoy is rather simple as he is familiar with the offense and comes at a much cheaper rate than Seneca Wallace, McCoy receiving $540,000 this season while Wallace receives 2.4 Million.

However it is possible that the Browns brain trust have no intention of keeping Colt and have hopes that if he performs well in pre-season he may be on another teams radar, a team needing a QB due to injury or lack of performance from their existing starter or back-up.

Whether to maximize his trade value or add depth at the QB position the Browns have a great deal of interest in McCoys development hoping he continues to improve. Should this improvement be based on their desire to keep McCoy as a back-up or simply use him as "trade bait"?

http://www.clevelandbrownsreport.info/2012/08/the-browns-and-what-to-do-with-colt.html

Cleveland Browns' Pat Shurmur says there's no rush to thin QB ranks

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

Cowboys aren’t interested in Colt McCoy

With the Cleveland Browns willing to accept pretty much anything in order to dump quarterback Colt McCoy, you would think there would be at least a few teams interested.  So far that doesn’t seem to be the case.

One team that you can cross off the list of potential landing spots for McCoy is the Dallas Cowboys, according to Calvin Watkins of ESPNDallas.com.

It looks like Stephen Mcgee will be the Cowboys’ third quarterback going into training camp.

http://profootballzone.com/nfl/cowboys-arent-interested-in-colt-mccoy/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ProFootballZone+%28Pro+Football+Zone%29

Good backup quarterbacks are valuable, and Colt McCoy could be that for Cleveland Browns: Terry Pluto

By Terry Pluto, The Plain Dealer

CLEVELAND, Ohio — A large number of media people and fans keep insisting the Browns have to cut or trade Colt McCoy.

Why?

Because McCoy was the starter last year? Because a guy whose career record as a starter is 6-14 and he will "divide the locker room" if rookie Brendan Weeden takes his job?

Or because McCoy will be looking over Weeden's shoulder in practice?

No, he won't, unless McCoy is on a stepladder.

The fact is, watching McCoy and Weeden at the Browns' organized team activities, Weeden is the superior physical specimen. He is taller, wider and has the stronger, more accurate arm.

Anyone can see that, including McCoy and his teammates.

That's critical because players are bottom-line guys. They want to win and win now. If Weeden looks like the better player, they will want him to start -- regardless of how much they respect McCoy, or if they believe McCoy was not given a fair shot.

In pro sports, talent rules.

Is McCoy thrilled with being in camp, knowing the team is committed to Weeden?

Of course not.

Does he sense that, for all the talk of "competition" for the starting quarterback's job, it belongs to Weeden unless something drastic happens?

Yes, he does.

Does he like it?

Obviously not, but he handled questions about it professionally, trying very hard not to say anything controversial.

While he talked about earning a starting job as a high school and college quarterback, this is the first time in his life that McCoy knows someone else will take his spot in the lineup. That's never happened to him.

But it happens to most NFL quarterbacks at some point.

How many times has everyone from Derek Anderson to Frank Ryan to Rex Grossman to Ryan Fitzgerald to Kyle Orton to Vinnie Testaverde to Tim Couch been in and out of the lineup?

Yes, Tim Couch.

In 2002, the Browns were 9-7 and made the playoffs with Couch. But he was injured, and Kelly Holcomb had a huge playoff game during a loss in Pittsburgh. The next season, coach Butch Davis opened the year with Holcomb.

There was no outcry that Couch had to be traded. He stuck around, won the job back and eventually lost it again as his body was turned to raw meat after all the sacks and pounding of his early days with the Browns.

The rarity is the quarterback who starts and remains a starter for the same team for most of his career.

McCoy should realize that, just as he must know that no team was demanding his services -- or he would have been traded already.

So why should the Browns walk away from a 25-year-old quarterback who has started 20 games and should improve in his third season? The only reason to do so is if McCoy creates a distraction with his attitude, and that doesn't appear to be the case.

Besides, it's likely the backup will start some games -- no matter who opens at quarterback. Only once (Couch in 2001) did a Browns quarterback start all 16 games.

Yes, the Browns have Seneca Wallace, another veteran quarterback.

Weeden praised Wallace for being extremely helpful in the early days of camp, a good move for Wallace's career.

But if there is a choice between a 31-year-old Wallace making $3 million a year and McCoy at $550,000 -- remember, these contracts are not guaranteed -- why not go with McCoy? He is younger, cheaper and far more likely to take a step forward in his career than Wallace.

If McCoy is smart, he will "compete" for the starting job, embrace the backup role if that's his assignment, and the Browns would be wise to give him the chance to do so.

http://www.cleveland.com/pluto/blog/index.ssf/2012/05/good_backup_quarterbacks_are_v.html

Browns Fans: Don't Kid Yourself, Brandon Weeden IS The Guy.

Joe Chaffin--Analyst C.B.R.

This isn't anything new to the average Cleveland Browns fan, but Brandon Weeden will start on September 9th against Mike Vick and the Phillidalphia Eagles. There has been plenty of speculation on whether this QB competition was "real" or not. And it's totally 100% not "real". Yes, Colt McCoy took the first initial snap of the OTAs this morning but that means absolutely nothing.

Whether you agree with it or not, they're going to make Weeden "earn" his starting role. Even though the entire front office and coaching staff knows he's starting Week One. It doesn't make that much sense to me to have an open competition with two guys when you already know who's going to win it regardless of the production in the off-season.

Weeden and McCoy have been taking snaps back and forth throughout the first OTA but don't expect that to last too much longer. We need to have Weeden take as many snaps with the first team as possible just like Andrew Luck in Indy, RGIII in Washington, and Tannehill in Miami. We didn't draft a 28 yr old in the first round if we didn't think he was the guy.

 
Even our own GM Tom Heckert said "We fully expect Brandon to be the guy." So there's obviously no reason in thinking about a competition anymore. Brandon Weeden is the starting QB for the Cleveland Browns. Period. And I still wouldn't be surprised if Colt McCoy was no longer a Cleveland Brown come opening day.
But this "competition" is garbage and I don't buy it even a little bit . Go Browns!

http://www.clevelandbrownsreport.info/2012/05/browns-fans-dont-kid-yourself-brandon.html

Cleveland Browns' 2012 preseason opponents, in order: Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers on the road; Philadelphia Eagles, Chicago Bears at home

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Browns have announced their opponents for the 2012 preseason schedule.

It's the same group of teams that Cleveland faced during the 2011 preseason.

The Browns' first two exhibition games will be on the road, against the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers. Cleveland then plays home exhibition games against the Philadelphia Eagles and Chicago Bears.

Detroit and Chicago have become regular preseason opponents for the Browns. This will be the 11th straight preseason that the Browns and Lions play, and the ninth straight time that the Browns and Bears will meet.

Dates for the specific games have been announced within a window of a few days. Exact game dates and the game times will be announced in the near future.

 

Game 1: Aug. 9-13     at DETROIT LIONS            Ford Field

Game 2: Aug. 16-20   at GREEN BAY PACKERS      Lambeau Field

Game 3: Aug. 23-26   vs. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES   Cleveland Browns Stadium

Game 4: Aug. 29-30   vs. CHICAGO BEARS           Cleveland Browns Stadium