Colt McCoy knows that the conversation has changed in Cleveland. He was a fan favorite only a year ago. Now he's quarterback non grata.
The team reportedly tried to trade him during the draft and Cleveland Browns coach Pat Shurmur said first round pick Brandon Weeden is "headed in the right direction" towards winning the starting job. All signs point to Weeden winning the starting gig, but McCoy is determined not to let him.
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"I'm a competitor and I'm working harder than ever," he told Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain-Dealer in an email.
McCoy hasn't spoken publicly since the draft until now. He is in an awkward spot with Weeden and Seneca Wallace all fighting for snaps.
"I think there's a case to be made that Seneca, Colt and Brandon are all (here) together," Shurmur said. "We'll see. I think that's yet to be determined. We're going to watch them all compete and interact, and we’ll see what happens."
We find that scenario hard to imagine. It seems more likely that McCoy or Wallace will be traded for a late-round draft pick sometime during camp. Weeden looks very likely to start Week 1. In the meantime, Shurmur doesn't sound too worried about how McCoy fits in.
"Colt McCoy is a gritty guy," he said. "I think Colt McCoy is a fine football player and can play quarterback in this league."