The Cleveland Browns' signing of Josh McCown last week was met with some eye rolls and sarcastic comments regarding the franchise's revolving door at the quarterback position.
The 35-year-old quarterback understands that people are skeptical of a career backup who has now parlayed a good eight-game stint with the Chicago Bears in 2013 into two multi-million dollar contracts.
"I get it,'' McCown told The Cleveland Plain Dealer over the weekend. "I understand people's perceptions of me. I don't back off it or shy away from (the 1-10 starting mark with the Buccaneers in 2014). I understand people's frustration. But my mindset is to come in here, grow and improve as a football player, and help this team win football games.
"When I've been able to operate in a system that's organized and been around for awhile like I did in 2013 with the Bears, I've been able to play at a high level.''
The three-year pact, with $6.25 million guaranteed ($5.25 million in 2015) suggests that the Browns are signing McCown to play in some capacity this year and help mentor the quarterback of the future -- whether that be Johnny Manziel or another young signal caller.
Mentor is a role that fits McCown well.
"It's always my mindset with any room that I go into as a quarterback, especially at this point in my career, just to help those guys that are in that room to be better, because it helps our team to be better," he said. "I'll give them the knowledge I have to help equip them. Obviously whatever the expectation is for Johnny or Connor (Shaw), I just want them to know I'm there and to be able to help them any way I can. That's the main thing."
It's all well and good for the Browns to hire a mentor. What they truely need is someone who can perform on Sundays.
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