Mike Holmgren would like to see Colt McCoy play sometime in December. But if he doesn't, he says at the very least McCoy has earned the right to compete for the starting quarterback job next year.
View full sizeColt McCoy's strong showing in his five games as a Browns starting quarterback "does not preclude us from taking another quarterback in the next draft -- even if the decision is made that Colt's the future," says Browns president Mike Holmgren.MIAMI, Fla. -- Can Colt McCoy make the throws that Jim Kelly made this time of year in Buffalo? Can he spiral through snow showers in a December game in Cincinnati that he has to win?
Can he pierce the unpredictable, unforgiving, frigid Lake Erie blasts at home with a game on the line in January?
With possibly three stronger-armed quarterbacks available in the April draft, the Browns have to be sure -- or surer than they are now -- about McCoy's ability to perform in these conditions.
But he might be laid up another two to four weeks with a high ankle sprain, Browns President Mike Holmgren admitted.
"I would like to see him in these conditions, first of all, but I don't believe we're going to play him unless he's 100 percent with his leg," Holmgren said. "But, absolutely, if you're going to play in Cleveland or Green Bay or Pittsburgh ... anyplace where weather is part of it late ... yeah, there are challenges there and you have to find out if you can do it.
"It's certainly a whole lot different than Austin, Texas [where McCoy played four years in college]."
Before you can ask, "Can McCoy be the one to take the Browns to the Super Bowl," there must be an answer to: "Does he have enough arm to win in Cleveland in December?"
"I kind of agree," Holmgren said. "I'd like to see him in weather games, but the reality is we might not be able to do that this year. But you know what? Honestly, I'm not particularly worried about that. I think he'll do just fine. It's not a huge concern with me."
This is a judgment that only a set of eyes trained from observing Joe Montana, Steve Young and Brett Favre up close can make. It's probably Holmgren's most critical decision as president.
Like everyone else, Holmgren saw the deep ball McCoy threw against the wind in Jacksonville. It was underthrown and should have been intercepted. So Holmgren was asked to explain his confidence in McCoy.
"As he gets older, he'll get stronger and his arm will get stronger," Holmgren said. "But I've seen him make throws -- now, there've been a couple where you go, 'OK, maybe not.' -- but most of the time he's delivered the ball quite well, so far."
We may be talking about only two or three bad-weather games a year. But they most certainly will be crucial ones whenever the Browns get really good.
"I think a quarterback that doesn't have a rocket for an arm -- and most guys don't, a lot of guys have great strength and no accuracy," Holmgren said. "I'd always go for accuracy."
But is he sure enough about McCoy to pass on trying to acquire one of the expected Big Three quarterbacks of the coming draft -- Andrew Luck of Stanford, Ryan Mallett of Arkansas and Jake Locker of Washington?
"It is a critical opportunity," Holmgren said. "I'm not going to paint ourselves in a corner on anything involving our draft or quarterbacks. But I was thinking maybe [McCoy] wouldn't play at all this year. So I think we're a little ahead of the game in the fact he was able to play against really good teams.
"Immediately, I learned a couple things about him, things I actually knew but he reaffirmed them. The game's not too big for him. He handled himself beautifully in those games. The judgment part of his game I thought was excellent. We had very few turnovers he was responsible for. That was encouraging to me.
"I don't think he's been asked to make all the throws yet, particularly in weather. But I think he's going to be OK. I really do."
Holmgren reiterated that he's said since April that drafting McCoy "does not preclude us from taking another quarterback in the next draft -- even if the decision is made that Colt's the future.
"I think what he's done ... before anyone anoints him ... what he has done has absolutely allowed him to compete for the starting position with whomever, at the very least. At the very least.
"Had he been able to stay healthy and had nine or 10 games under his belt, then it's maybe more of a slam dunk," Holmgren said.