Brandon Weeden wasn't drafted to sit on the bench, but the Cleveland Browns insist he won't be handed a starting job.
"We don't give anybody anything," coach Pat Shurmur told The Associated Press on Thursday, indicating the 22nd overall pick will compete with Colt McCoy at quarterback.
Shurmur is anxious to see Weeden show his stuff Friday when the Browns open their three-day rookie minicamp.
"We drafted (our rookies) with the idea that they could come in and start or until they start, could be effective role players," Shurmur said. "But, they have to come here and do it. By doing it, that's when we talk about competing. That's where they are at and they understand that."
Time for an honest question: Are we looking at an open competition here?
Absolutely not.
Despite the qualifying language from Shurmur, team president Mike Holmgren was less vague Wednesday: "We didn't draft Weeden -- I mean, because of his age -- he can't sit and watch for two or three years, but he's got to prove it."
Yes, he needs to perform, but all of this sets up the inevitable: Barring injury or some outrageous meltdown, Weeden gets the call Week 1.
That is the plan in Cleveland.
Whether McCoy has been given a fair chance in two uneven seasons is another conversation. He'll need to outshine Weeden in every possible way to reverse the current course.
