Cleveland Browns QB Carousel: Colt McCoy May Start, Jeff Garcia an Option?

The Cleveland Browns quarterback carousel continues to turn with Colt McCoy tentatively slated to start Sunday versus division rival Pittsburgh Steelers.

Yet, one remark by head coach Eric Mangini may lead the Browns down a road nobody thought this front office would travel. Mangini said during his Monday press conference General Manager Tom Heckert is looking to bring in another quarterback.

That quarterback could end up being Jeff Garcia. Heckert brought in Garcia while he was in Philadelphia, so it's not a stretch to believe he might try it again.

The Browns did re-sign Brett Ratliff off of the New England Patriots practice squad, but it's unknown right now if that's the only move the Browns make, or if that's just the first move to add some kind of depth while the team looks elsewhere for a veteran like Garcia.

Not only could Garcia end up on the roster, but it's a good chance as we sit here this early in the process that Garcia could end up starting. Maybe not this week, but if Jake Delhomme and Seneca Wallace are out for an extended period, chances are the Browns are going to go with a veteran behind center before a rookie, unless McCoy is so impressive the Browns have no other choice but to keep McCoy in the game.

McCoy is looking to be the starter this Sunday versus the Steelers, and we only can hope for the best, but the fact is he's a rookie who hasn't been getting the majority of snaps during practice.

There's also the fact the Steelers have one of the best defenses in the league and will be hungry to sack a Browns rookie quarterback. Not to mention the Browns offensive line has had problems on both sides with an injury to Shaun Lauvao and left tackle Joe Thomas not performing up to his usual standards.

Garcia did a very good job for Heckert and head coach Andy Reid in Philadelphia, but now he's a quarterback in the UFL. Now 40 years old, the questions about how effective he could be at his age will have to be balanced against McCoy's ability to be effective as a rookie.

Garcia also was a quarterback for the Cleveland Browns in 2004 under the Butch Davis regime, but couldn't find any kind of rhythm or success in his one year in Cleveland and was released.

Turning to the larger issue, the Browns now have a serious problem at the quarterback position. If Delhomme and/or Wallace are down for an extended period, who else do the Browns try and bring in to be a starter or backup on the team if Garcia doesn't come.

Do they try and see if Daunte Culpepper has anything left?

What other quarterbacks are out there the front office would take a chance on?

If it gets bad enough, do the Browns give Jamarcus Russell a workout? If that's the case, is Don Strock an option?

Graham Harrell spent some time with the team the past two preseasons and now resides on the Green Bay Packers practice squad. Do you try and sign him before the Packers promote him to the active roster in the wake of Aaron Rodgers' concussion?

The worst-case scenario involving the Browns quarterback situation has happened. It's now up to Heckert to figure a way out of this mess.