Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Cleveland's QB competition
By Tim Kavanagh
Down at the pre-Super Bowl festivities last week, Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam confirmed that there would be a QB competition this upcoming preseason on his team, and right now, we only really know the identity of one competitor.
Rising second-year pro Brandon Weeden will be involved, but fellow Big 12 product Colt McCoy may not be, as some believe he's not a fit for the new offense being installed by HC Rob Chudzinski and OC Norv Turner. Then again, adept coaches are able to tailor their systems to the players on hand -- not the other way around -- so perhaps they'll see something in McCoy that warrants his sticking around.
The big question, though, is who else will be brought in? We've heard the names Alex Smith, Matt Flynn, Michael Vick, Matt Moore and Ryan Mallett mentioned, though we'll have to wait until at least March 12 for any of them to be brought in. In a post on Tuesday morning, ESPN AFC North blogger Jamison Hensley sets the stage for the Browns' offseason of QB shopping:
Jamison Hensley
Who will compete to be the Browns' starting QB?"I'm not really buying Michael Vick. There are reports linking Vick to the Browns based on his ties with Joe Banner in Philadelphia and Chudzinski's success with Cam Newton in Carolina. But offensive coordinator Norv Turner was on the coaching staff in San Diego when the Chargers passed on taking Vick in 2001. The more logical candidates are the 49ers' Alex Smith and the Patriots' Ryan Mallett. Smith played under Turner in 2006, and Mallett has been a favorite of vice president of player personnel Mike Lombardi. With Turner, Smith completed 58.1 percent of his passes for 2,890 yards with 16 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. Mallett has thrown four passes in the NFL, completing one. Smith and Mallet both could be traded before free agency begins March 12."
