After insisting all offseason that Jason Campbell was competing for the starting quarterback job, coach Rob Chudzinski bypassed the veteran to roll with third-stringer Brian Hoyer when Brandon Weeden was sidelined by a sprained thumb.
Campbell now acknowledges that he was disappointed with the snub.
"Did it sting a little bit?" Campbell said Friday, via the Akron Beacon Journal. "Yeah, it stung a little bit 'cause as a competitor, you're disappointed. But then all the sudden, you find it's not about you, it's about the team, and they're trying to find out what they have on this team going forward.
"My job is to support these guys, and at the same time, try to stay prepared," Campbell added, "stay mentally in it and just be prepared to play at anytime."
Other teams will take note of Campbell's team-first attitude. Veteran backups can collect outsized paychecks as clipboard-holders for up to a decade as long as they make no waves and don't embarrass themselves when called upon in an emergency.
Don't be surprised if he gets that opportunity later this season to prove he can step in as a viable insurance policy.
The Browns' brass clearly doesn't view Weeden as the answer. If he makes no progress in reading the field, getting rid of the ball and showing increased accuracy, Chudzinski might not hesitate to make another change.
My guess is Campbell will see first-team snaps by the Week 10 bye.
The latest "Around the League Podcast" features Daniel Jeremiah and previews every Week 6 game.
