Browns' Brass Latest Comments About Brandon Weeden Show Lack of Clarity at QB

Forgive me if I don't take Cleveland GM Tom Heckert or Team President Mike Holmgren at their word when they talked about whether Brandon Weeden would start today, or even understand exactly what they were trying to say. You might remember, less than two months ago, Heckert was trying to make it sound like Colt McCoy was the answer at QB via CBS Cleveland:

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We do think Colt has a big ceiling. My job is to get better players around him and protect him and get guys who can run the ball. He has shown the ability to play in this league and with this offseason should be better.

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This after Holmgren was "very, very aggressive," according to ESPN, in attempt to trade up for Robert Griffin III, but then alleged that the "very close relationship between the people getting the deal done and the people who offered" was a reason the potential deal between the Browns and Rams was never consummated.

Perhaps Heckert was just making a show public confidence in his starting QB—a QB that would be the subject of trade rumors before April was over. Holmgren wasn't thinking of Weeden's confidence when he revealed that the QB was actually plan B at No. 22 after Kendall Wright was drafted. 

Now, on the eve of the rookie mini camp that will mark Weeden's debut in Browns colors, Heckert and Holmgren are creating a muddy picture of their approach to naming a starting quarterback later this year. 

Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports Heckert said that they "expect Weeden to be the guy", but that they're "not going to throw him out there just because we took him at 22" if it "doesn't work out that way right away." Cam Newton and Andy Dalton aside, most rookie QBs are not "the guy" right out of the gate.

So, if Weeden starts and he's not playing well, he won't get to learn on the job just because he's a first-round pick. Weeden played in a shotgun-spread offense that doesn't resemble an NFL offense in the least bit, and growing pains are to be expected. Heckert's comments indicate that those pains won't be tolerated in the name of letting a first-rounder develop.

He did leave open that McCoy would start if he was the best player at the position, but added that they felt Weeden was going to be "the guy" and start right away when they drafted him. Oh, and Heckert reminded us that the Browns aren't "in this thing to look good in our draft picks", as if playing draft picks who aren't hacking it is a way to make management look better.

Ulrich reports Holmgren echoed those comments on ESPN's Mike and Mike in the Morning show, but also brought in a factor that should be a non-factor. Holmgren said Weeden would have to compete and that it would be dishonest to tell him he was automatically the starter. Then he said because Weeden is going to be 29 this year, it "doesn't make any sense to let him sit and watch for two or three years." 

Holmgren is admitting that Weeden's age is giving the team more of a sense of urgency in his development, which runs counter to all of the comments that the QB battle would be a merit-based competition.

Weeden has to win the job, but they expected him to when they drafted him.

The Browns aren't going to play Weeden just to make the decision to draft him look good, but they'll be admitting they were wrong if they don't. To win the job, Weeden has to be better than McCoy, who has a "big ceiling". But, they also aren't going to let Weeden "sit and watch" for too long because he's old for a rookie.

The only thing I know about the Cleveland Browns quarterback situation is that they don't know what they're doing.