Colt McCoy's Time Has Come

The Cleveland Browns have been searching for their franchise quarterback since 1999. During that time, they’ve had just two winning seasons. This year’s record stands at 1-5.

With both Seneca Wallace and Jake Delhommestill hurting from injured ankles and the Browns having no chance at the playoffs, it’s time for Colt McCoy.

I don’t care what their previous plans were; the Browns need to know for sure what they have at quarterback. McCoy started and played well against the Pittsburgh Steelers in a 28-10 loss. At least he showed enough to deserve a closer look.

Eric Mangini won’t commit to naming McCoy the starter for the upcoming game against the New Orleans Saints Sunday. He wants to see how healthy Delhomme and Wallace are mid-week.

I totally disagree.

At the rate their going, the Browns will have another early pick in next year's draft. At least they should know if they have to use that pick on a quarterback. McCoy may or may not be a franchise-type quarterback but he showed some things against Pittsburgh.

Poise, accuracy, toughness and mobility are things I saw from McCoy in the Pittsburgh game. They say he is a leader as well.

What more do you want from a quarterback?

McCoy threw for 281 yards and completed 69.7 percent of his passes against the Steelers. At Pittsburgh. In his first-ever NFL game. Not bad for someone who was not supposed to play this year because he wasn’t ready.

If the Cleveland Browns are ever going to become a consistent playoff-caliber team, they need to start developing their younger players—quarterbacks especially.

A lot of the “experts”—and I use that word very loosely—say McCoy is not big enough and he doesn’t have a great arm. They are all looking for that perfect quarterback who fits their stereotype physically.

I’d rather go by what I see on the field. Sunday, I saw a kid who performed pretty well on a hostile field in Pittsburgh. McCoy has earned the opportunity to show what he can do the rest of this season.

 Article originally posted at http://www.nfltouchdown.com/