Colt McCoy: Franchise Future or Future Failure?

Last April, Browns president Mike Holmgren sat in front of reporters at the team's facilities in Berea and made it clear to everyone there that new quarterback Colt McCoy would never see the field as a rookie.

Six months later, because of injuries to Jake Delhomme and Seneca Wallace, McCoy had the clipboard snatched from his hands and replaced with a helmet. He responded with wins over the defending champion Saints and the New England Patriots. 

With those wins and strong performances even in losses, McCoy became the future of the franchise in many fans' eyes. However, after throwing six interceptions in his final two games against the Ravens and Steelers, the prospects of a golden future for McCoy began to tarnish for some.

Yet again in Cleveland, there is uncertainty at the quarterback position. Has Colt no doubt earned the right to be the starter next season? Absolutely.

But what makes us so sure that starting QB No. 17 since 1999 will be our last for a while?

What makes McCoy different than Ty Detmer, Tim Couch, Doug Pederson, Spergon Wynn, Kelly Holcomb, Jeff Garcia, Luke McCown, Trent Dilfer, Charlie Frye, Derek Anderson, Brady Quinn, Ken Dorsey, Bruce Gradkowski, Jake Delhomme or Seneca Wallace, you ask?

In 2010, McCoy threw for 1,576 yards and paired six touchdowns with nine interceptions. Not very impressive numbers, but to insiders, what sets McCoy apart is his intangibles.

What makes great field generals truly great is what sits between their ears, not necessarily their physical skills.

Watching McCoy on Sundays is an experience most younger Browns fans like myself haven't seen much of in our lifetime.

He isn't Manning, Rodgers or Brees, but McCoy can at least move up in the pocket and throw the ball away when necessary. No one ever accused Charlie Frye or Brady Quinn of having solid pocket presence.

The key to Colt's future in the NFL is whether or not he can be efficient.

Only one playoff starter, Matt Hasselbeck, ranked outside the top 20 in passer rating during the 2010 regular season. The Super Bowl starters, Rodgers and Roethlisberger, ranked third and fifth respectively.

The Browns don't have to find a 4,000-yard passer to succeed, they just need a quarterback who can manage a game and be efficient in doing so. Excluding the final two games, McCoy did just that.

Another positive is the implementation of the West Coast philosophy under Pat Shurmur.

This will almost certainly capitalize on Colt's excellent short throw accuracy and ability to move around in and out of the pocket.

All prior points are irrelevant, however, if the league figures him out in year two like they figured out Derek Anderson. If he does manage to survive the sophomore slump and the inevitable (if not sometimes irrational) impatience of Cleveland fans, Colt McCoy may be the franchise after all.