Is Colt McCoy's Future With the Cleveland Browns in Jeopardy?

A recent wave of articles have sprung up on the Internet regarding the possibility of Colt McCoy being cut by the Cleveland Browns. The sole source of this sudden speculation seems to be an article written by Tony Grossi of the Cleveland Plain-Dealer. In the article, Grossi opines on all things Browns as this year's training camp draws to a close. At the end of his far-reaching analysis he writes, "Players who appear to need good showings in the last two games to make the roster include linebacker David Veikune, tight ends Robert Royal and Alex Smith, running backs Chris Jennings and James Davis, quarterbacks Brett Ratliff and Colt McCoy, and receiver Carlton Mitchell."

This throw-away comment set the Internet message boards abuzz. Yahoo Sports ran an article on its Shutdown Corner Sports Blog concerning the matter, and to read it, one would think Colt's future with the Browns could be in serious jeopardy. Yahoo's piece cites the fact that Browns personnel "are reportedly more impressed with veteran newcomers Jake Delhomme and Seneca Wallace." The idea that this seemed newsworthy to Yahoo's contributing author should demonstrate his depth of knowledge concerning the Cleveland Browns.

Yes, the Browns' coaching staff is more impressed with Delhomme and Wallace. That would be why they are the number one and two QBs on the team's depth chart. This has been the idea since team president Mike Holmgren and GM Tom Heckert brought in the pair during the offseason. The drafting of a third-round quarterback in April was not going to change that.

The fact that Jake and Seneca have played as well as they have this preseason has solidified their positions on the depth chart. This is of little consequence to Colt McCoy's future in Cleveland, though. The same minds that brought in Delhomme and Wallace drafted Colt McCoy. They drafted him not to be the starting QB this year, or, necessarily next year. Colt was drafted to hopefully be the Browns starting quarterback of the future. 

Colt McCoy has played poorly thus far this preseason. He's done so with second and third string talent around him. He's done so during the preseason of a season in which he's not expected to see the field. His leash is long, and he's a long way from having to worry about his spot on the Browns' final roster.

Neither Colt nor Brett Ratliff, the other player vying for the third-string QB spot, will likely play Saturday at Detroit. Delhomme and Wallace should get all of the offensive snaps, barring injury, of course (or a possible Flash Package cameo). Game four against Chicago on Thursday, Sept. 2 will belong to McCoy and Ratliff.

Will Colt's final performance of the preseason have an impact on the final 53-man roster? Absolutely. If Colt shows progress, both in the game and in the week of practice leading up to it, he will win the third-string QB job and Brett Ratliff will be cut. What if Colt fails to show enough progress to earn the coaching staff's confidence in him as the third-string QB? The Browns will then boast four quarterbacks on their final roster.

Browns head coach Eric Mangini offered some insight into the quarterback situation.  "I've kept four as a head coach and have been on teams that have kept four as an assistant coach," Mangini said today. "I have also been on [teams that only kept] two."

Colt McCoy's roster spot is secure. That may mean that a player at another position finds himself on the outside looking in. It is far too early to give up on a kid with Colt's pedigree.