Browns coach Eric Mangini admitted he's leaning toward starting rookie quarterback Colt McCoy Sunday in Pittsburgh.
Cleveland Browns' quarterback Colt McCoy is likely to start Sunday in Pittsburgh because of injuries.CLEVELAND -- Browns coach Eric Mangini said today he's "leaning toward'' starting rookie quarterback Colt McCoy Sunday in PIttsburgh.
The Browns top two quarterbacks, Jake Delhomme and Seneca Wallace, are both nursing their high ankle sprains today and are not expected to be ready to play.
Mangini said he wouldn't "rule out'' starting newly-signed Brett Ratliff, who's never taken a snap in a real NFL game, but it's more likely he'll go with McCoy since he's been with the team since draft day and has been taking reps all along. Ratliff, on the hand, was waived in the final cuts Sept. 4 and spent time with the Jaguars before landing on the Patriots' practice squad.
McCoy, the Browns' third-round pick out of Texas, was supposed to watch and learn all season, but Manginii cautioned shortly after the draft about McCoy's prospects of playing, "I never say never.'' Today he said, "you just never know'' what might happen regardless of a players' position.
McCoy is the winningest quarterback in NCAA history with 45 victories in 53 starts. If he starts in Pittsburgh, he'll face the Steelers' fourth-ranked defense.
In other Browns news, key players such as running back Peyton Hillis, nosetackle Shaun Rogers and ends Robaire Smith and Kenyon Coleman were all idle today. Mangini said he expects some of the injured players, including Hillis, to practice this week.