Colt McCoy is learning from his coaches and veteran mentors what to do before his home debut as a starting quarterback. Drawn from the files of other Browns quarterbacks since the team's return, here's a sample of what not to do.
Browns quarterback Colt McCoy was No. 1 with fans after the team beat New Orleans, and he can stay that way as long as he avoids serious blunders.Injuries trashed that plan, however, and on the eve of McCoy's home debut against the Patriots, it's time, me being a helpful guy and all, to point out a few things about other Browns quarterbacks over the years . . . so McCoy can know what not to do.
All the timely tips below are based on either observation of the players involved or on comments by Browns officials about them.
1. When receivers are running deep sideline routes, don't throw the ball out of bounds, giving them no chance to catch it. (Seneca Wallace, consistently, 2010.)
2. Don't throw the ball when a tackler is on you like a full body tattoo. In particular, don't throw it to the other team. (Jake Delhomme vs. Tampa Bay, 2010.)
3. Right now, it's all peaches and cream between McCoy and the fan base. There will be some hard times, though. No matter how bad it gets, don't cry. (Tim Couch vs. Baltimore, 2002.)
4. If a former Browns quarterback offers to tell you how he coped with the ups and downs, don't tell him you're a big boy who played in the SEC -- or Big 12 -- and thanks, but no thanks. (Couch to Bernie Kosar, 2002.)
5. Heisman, Schmeisman. McCoy won everything in college but the Heisman Trophy. The last Browns quarterback to win college football's biggest award lasted exactly one half of the 1999 opener as the starter in a 43-0 loss. He returned with Detroit two years later to throw seven interceptions. Yes, the Browns won that day. (Ty Detmer.)
6. It's a good idea to move past midfield more than once a game. (Doug Pedersen and Spergon Wynn vs. Pittsburgh, 2000.)
7. Don't break your leg, even in a "teeny-tiny" way, on a quarterback sneak. (Kelly Holcomb vs. San Francisco, 2003.)
8. Nothing indicates that this will be a problem, but if you're late to a meeting and a hulking offensive lineman, on whom you depend for your well-being, harumphs in displeasure, don't tell him you've been to the Pro Bowl -- or, in your case, the BCS Championship Game -- and who does he think he is? (Jeff Garcia to Ross Verba, 2004.)
9. It's not a real good idea to call out your team's No. 1 draft pick even if he sits out training camp, or to feud with him until it gets to the point where you won't throw the ball to him even if he's open. (Garcia again, with Kellen Winslow, 2004.)
10. It also helps to avoid those 0.0 quarterback rating games. (Garcia vs. Dallas, 2004.)
11. If guys are open deep, speaking hypothetically, of course, lead them so they don't have to come back and win jump balls for your zeppelin passes. (Couch, career-long offense.)
12. If you throw four interceptions, don't run off the field after each one with your hands clamped to your helmet, like either your head is going to blow off or you just realized Chicken Little was right. (Derek Anderson vs. Cincinnati, 2007.)
Colt McCoy celebrates with Benjamin Watson after the tight end caught McCoy's first NFL touchdown pass in Pittsburgh. It might seem obvious, but more touchdowns and fewer interceptions are always a good thing for Browns quarterbacks.13. Not good to get punched in the face in the weight room by a teammate. (Brady Quinn by Shaun Smith, 2008.)
14. The stuff that worked at Texas against the Aggies and Red Raiders is usually not a good idea at this level. (Charlie Frye, busting his MAC attack moves on NFL defenders, career-long offense.)
15. You're in serious trouble if you can't move the ball as far as the distance from the pitcher's mound to home plate in baseball. (17 yards total offense by Luke McCown and Garcia in 2004 vs. Buffalo.)
16. Speaking of short distances, you can't have a weaker arm than the kid pegging the paper with the old column in it on the lawn. (Ken Dorsey, 2008.)
17. Don't make a commercial, in which you toss sandwiches to fans from a float in a victory parade in a weird, foodie version of Mardi Gras, when you're not even playing. (Quinn, 2007.)
18. If the Browns should beat Bill Belichick and the Patriots Sunday, don't let it go to your head. One of the most forgettable quarterbacks in the inglorious history of the reborn Browns also won such a game. (Pedersen, 2000.)
19. Two words: Trent Dilfer.
20. Two more: Bruce Gradkowski.
Make the fans remember you for better things than most of these guys did.