Jun 4, 2013; Berea, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Brandon Weeden (3) throws to quarterback Jason Campbell (17) during minicamp at the Cleveland Browns Training Facility. Mandatory Credit: Ron Schwane-USA TODAY Sports

The Cleveland Browns have been a bottom dwelling franchise in the NFL since their return to the NFL. Meanwhile he franchise that was once the Browns, the Baltimore Ravens have gone on to win 2 Super Bowls. In the last 5 seasons they’ve finished either 5-11 or 4-12. In fact, since coming back into the league in 1999 they’ve only made the playoffs once, and have only posted records over 5 wins 4 times.

But Brandon Weeden thinks that is all about to change.

“I think we have a chance to be really good,” Weeden told the Cleveland Plain Dealer. “I’m speaking about the whole team. Guys are flying around on that side of the ball just like we are. I think we have the potential to be really, really good.”

Of course in a lot of ways this is an effort to motivate the troops with public bravado. Similar to seeing every team in the league talk about the Super Bowl. But many think Brandon Weeden might not even be the starter next season.

“I don’t want that to change,”’ he said. “Oh, that would be tough. I’m still competing every day and competing with myself, so I’m worried about me.”

“I really haven’t changed my approach since day one,” he said. “I’m right where I want to be. Overall I think my progress was pretty good. Each practice got better for myself, not only for me for the offense. I’m pleased with it. Am I satisfied? Absolutely not.”

But he didn’t just talk about himself, he praised his teammates as well.

“They’re playing fast,” he said. “The guys outside, tight ends, backs, everybody’s really, really playing fast. They’re running routes full speed and it’s tough on those safeties and corners trying to cover them.”

In particular he bragged about wide receiver Josh Gordon.

“He’s a guy that has the ability to a top-three receiver in this league,” Weeden said. “He’s got big-play capabilities. He’s a good target, he can do so many things. He’s got a ton of ability. I’m glad he’s on our side.”

But despite all that, winning their division is an uphill battle.

Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

According to Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, the Browns have asked Brandon Weeden to take on a “leadership role”, and Weeden has accepted this challenge. The first step to becoming a franchise quarterback is to act like one, and that means showing the kind of leadership qualities that the Browns are asking Weeden to show.

I honestly think intangibles were part of the reason why the Browns decided to use a first-round pick on the 28-year-old Oklahoma State Cowboys star QB. If you search Brandon Weeden, “Alex Smith” (it shows the picture of the quarterback, not the former Browns and Buccaneers tight end) comes up as a related player. To be honest with you, I view Weeden as somebody who could be an Alex Smith kind of player. He can be a leader, a stabilizing influence at QB, and somebody who can manage the offense well without being a standout or a scrub. In essence, I think Weeden can be a solid starting quarterback, and the Browns can win with him if they commit to bringing in more talent around him at wide receiver. The most important thing is building a strong defense to support Weeden and the offense, and that’s what the Browns are doing.

Rob Chudzinski’s offensive style doesn’t seem to fit the Smith comparison, but Weeden has a better live arm than Smith (worse accuracy, though) and Chud will adapt that system for sure. The Browns are giving Weeden a longer leash than some other teams would, and he has only been in the league for one year (age has nothing to do with NFL experience). They have been called a “wild card” for Geno Smith, but I tend to agree with Tony Grossi’s assessment that this team isn’t going to draft a QB. Weeden is going to be treated as “the guy” going into the 2013 season, and Jason Campbell is going to be treated as the veteran backup. I mean, Weeden would have to really screw up for the Browns to allow Campbell to usurp him as the starter. I really like Campbell, though, so Weeden does have to keep that “make-or-break” mentality in order to give the Browns something to work with.

It’s great to see that Weeden is ready to take on a leadership role, and that’s something the Browns needed out of him anyway.

You can follow Joe Soriano on Twitter for more NFL updates and analysis @SorianoJoe.

Dec 4, 2011; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Colt McCoy (12) warms up before the game against the Baltimore Ravens at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

If you haven’t heard, quarterback Colt McCoy, who was drafted by the Cleveland Browns out of the University of Texas (Longhorns) in 2010, was traded to the San Francisco 49ers yesterday. Sending McCoy and their 6th pick to the San Francisco 49ers for their 5th and 7th round picks.

Now, Phil Dawson, also a former Cleveland Brown, was recently picked up by the San Francisco 49ers to kick for them, replacing David Akers. Both Colt McCoy and Phil Dawson attended and played for the University of Texas Longhorns so when Colt was drafted, Dawson took him under his wing.

The two former Cleveland Browns are team mates once again, but this time on a contender who nearly took home the Lombardi Trophy last season. Phil Dawson, as we know will be the starting kicker, but McCoy will once again get the back up role, behind 25 year old break out star from last season, Colin Kaepernick.

I support all my Texas Longhorns who get picked up by any team in the league, no matter if it’s the Green Bay Packers, New England Patriots, whichever. When McCoy was drafted by the Cleveland Browns, I was pretty excited, but worried at the same time.

The way McCoy ended his college career shocked not only myself, but people of the Texas Longhorns nation. After taking a hit in the National Championship Game against Alabama early on in the game, hurting his shoulder and pretty much his father pulling him, to make sure he wouldn’t do any more damage and was ready for his NFL career. Which is understandable, the kid has done a lot for that team and continued to give us Texas Longhorns fans something to cheer about.

Now the situation he is in, is really a win-lose situation. No, he will not start or take the starting position away from Colin Kaepernick, but the system McCoy will be apart of, should mold him into a quarterback he has the potential to be in the National Football League. I’m not knocking the Cleveland Browns, I actually think, Yes, I actually think the Cleveland Browns have something going for them and could possibly be a solid contender in the future as long as they keep making the right moves. But McCoy didn’t really have the weapons he has now, plus bringing in former Chicago Bear, Jason Campbell, who got his first regular season start against the San Francisco 49ers last season, was brought in to back up Brandon Weeden.

Being behind a guy like Colin Kaepernick and possibly Scott Tolzien (see how things go during camp/preseason), should balance the young talent they have on this team. Determined to reach the NFC Championship and Super Bowl again, McCoy, in my opinion will benefit from this trade, not only for a chance to be a part of a Super Bowl caliber team, but a possible starter again for another team in the league. His numbers aren’t as bad, but at the same time, I don’t think they were as good as anybody expected. I am still and always will be a believer in Colt McCoy and I am happy that he is now in a system that could help him develop more.

The numbers on McCoy as of today are the following: 409-702 (completions-attempts) 58.3 percentage, 21-20 (touchdowns-interceptions), 4,388 passing yards and a 74.8 career passer rating. He also went 6-15 as a starter for the Cleveland Browns, playing 8 games his rookie season and starting 13 in 2011 before he was nearly destroyed by James Harrison.

This could possibly be the best move of Colt McCoy’s career, until he gets brought in by another team in need of a starting quarterback. But the question is, does anybody believe Colt McCoy has what it takes to be a starter in this league? Call me crazy, but I do.

Oct 16, 2011; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Jason Campbell (8) fractures his clavicle after being tackled by Cleveland Browns linebackers Chris Gocong (51) and Scott Fujita (99) in the second quarter at the O.co Coliseum. The Raiders defeated the Browns 24-17. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports

Hello Cleveland! Pencil in the Browns for the 2013 NFL playoff hunt.

Jason Campbell just flew in from Oakland and boy are his arms tired. No, but seriously folks… I’m not kidding (and I only said playoff hunt).

Campbell is not the long-term solution at quarterback in Cleveland, and he’s not going to be the one to lead them to the promised land (should this downtrodden franchise ever get there) but he will be a good stopgap to bridge them to the day they can finally land their franchise QB of the future.

Jason Campbell might not be an elite QB, or a vocal leader, or a franchise savior. In fact, he’s not a lot of things. And there’s been debate, one that will be renewed in Cleveland, about whether or not he’s even a viable starting quarterback. He won’t make anyone in Cleveland forget about Lebron James (or even Bernie Kosar). But Campbell is tough, mentally and physically, mostly because his road so far in the NFL been tough.

After playing through a few different offensive systems in college at Auburn, he was drafted by the Redskins and suffered through a large chunk of the dysfunctional Dan Snyder era while having a new offensive coordinator and/or head coach every season. He was never cut out to the be the QB savior or star Washington so desperately needed, but other than “time as a starter” he wasn’t given much of a chance behind a suspect offensive line with few weapons to work with beyond Clinton Portis and… well the Redskins didn’t do much of anything right between the day Snyder purchased the team and the day they traded up to draft Robert Griffin III (outbidding these Browns, by the way).

So while Campbell might never be mistaken for Tom Brady or Peyton Manning, he may have had a ceiling similar to that of Eli Manning. Peyton’s little brother now boasts two Super Bowl rings in large part because Giants GM Jerry Reese understood that dominant offensive and defensive lines, along with a strong running game, a smart/tough QB, and stability at head coach can still be a formula for success. It’s not a knock on Eli, but if he’d been drafted by the same Redskins that Campbell played for, he wouldn’t have a ring. I’m not saying that if Campbell had gone to that same Giants team that they would still have won two Super Bowls, or even one, but… Brad Johnson and Trent Dilfer have rings.

During his time getting killed in Washington, Campbell displayed a physical toughness to shake off all the hits and the mental toughness and maturity to ignore the criticisms. Of course most fans and scouts have seen enough of Jason Campbell to know that “he is who we thought he was” (an okay/serviceable QB capable of starting) and probably not much more. Captain Checkdown.

(A little Odd QB Comparison tangent here: Campbell’s career QB rating is 82.5, Jay Cutler’s is 84. They both became starters a few games into the 2006 season. Through 2008, Campbell was 16-21 as a starter; Cutler was 17-21. Cutler was then famously shipped off to Chicago and a year later Campbell was sent to Oakland. One major difference: when Denver listened to phone calls about possibly acquiring then-Patriot Matt Cassel and/or trading Cutler away, little baby Jay pouted and ignored communication attempts from his new coach and Broncos owner Pat Bowlen. When Washington looked into replacing Campbell around that same off-season, all he did was keep working hard and saying all the right things about improving his game and understanding that there are business sides of the NFL that were out of his control. In other words, Campbell was mature and professional even back then, while Cutler acted like an petulant child. And yet Cutler was celebrated as The Franchise Quarterback on the Cusp of Greatness in a blockbuster trade to Chicago, while Campbell was ignored as a lame bust on the way to the black hole in Oakland.)

I’m not sure which is the fire and which is the frying pan, but could anyone play in two worse situations than pre-Shanahan Washington or Al Davis’s dying days in Oakland? That said, Campbell was looking good in 2011 as he had the Raiders offense humming and out to a 4-2 start before he broke his collarbone and never suited up in Silver and Black again.

He spent last season in Chicago backing up none other than Mr. Cutler. And now, still only 31, he’s heading to Cleveland to compete for the Browns starting job with Brandon Weeden.

I’ll say it now: Campbell is going to win that competition and give the new Browns brass a reason to bench Weeden (drafted by the previous Browns brass) and they will be competitive with a heavy dose of Trent Richardson running the ball and a revamped defense keeping them close enough for Campbell to “manage” them to a few more wins than some might expect.

Cleveland has built an impressive coaching staff with former Cardinals defensive coordinator (and almost head coach) Ray Horton opposite offensive coordinator (and former head coach) Norv Turner working under new head coach Rob Chudzinski. At the top of the umbrella is new GM Mike Lombardi, who I think is poised for a successful return to the league after 5 years studying the league for the National Football Post and NFL.com. Campbell knows the system, and he’ll not just benefit from the organizational stability and coaching staff, but the aforementioned Richardson will keep defenses honest and the Browns defense will keep the games close.

Their division shouldn’t be as brutal as it’s been the last several years. Baltimore and Pittsburgh are… having some growing pains, and Cincy always just lingers. Their schedule is manageable. Beyond two likely losses at New England and at Green Bay, their other road foes are the Jets, Vikings, and Chiefs. And they’ll host Jacksonville, Miami, Buffalo, Detroit and Chicago. It’s way too early to know who will be good, and how good, but it’s not hard to find 9 wins on that list.

And, there’s really not much pressure. It’s the Cleveland Browns and he’s Jason Campbell. This is not exactly Peyton to Denver or the prove-it-or-lose-it situations that guys like Weeden, Mark Sanchez, or Blaine Gabbert are in. If the Browns can get a little lucky with some offensive contributors through the draft and remainder of free agency, Campbell might just himself in yet another tough situation: a playoff game.

Dec 16, 2012; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns running back Trent Richardson (33) against the Washington Redskins at Cleveland Browns Stadium. The Redskins won 38-21. Mandatory Credit: Ron Schwane-USA TODAY Sports

The Cleveland Browns thought they were in for some revolutionary change when they drafted Brandon Weeden and Trent Richardson in the first round of last year’s draft.

NFL Network reporter Steve Wyche talked to Trent Richardson off camera, and relayed the comments Richardson made off camera on NFL AM.

“He also told me a little bit more about Brandon Weeden,” Wyche said, via the Cleveland Plain Dealer. “He said as a rookie, [Weeden] really had trouble reading defenses from time to time and they had to skew their offense a little bit, sometimes somewhat predictable.”

But despite that seemingly scathing criticism of his teammate and quarterback Richardson is standing behind Weeden and remains optimistic about the future.

“I think he’ll be my quarterback,” Richardson said. “We can’t put too much on Brandon, especially as a rookie. . . . We want to make sure he believes, he knows he’s going to be our quarterback. When it comes to stuff like that, we’ve just all got to be behind him.”

And even made a bold prediction as how the team will fare.

“For the most part, I’m pretty sure that we’re going to be a playoff team,” he said. “I expect it. We are hoping, and we are knowing that we are going to be there next year.’

It hasn’t gotten much better for Weeden. He is 6-for-17 with 48 yards and two interceptions. His passer rating is a pathetic 4.4. Hopefully for the fans and both teams involved the second half gets better. The Browns currently trail the Eagles 10-3.

Jun 12, 2012; Berea, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterbacks coach Mark Whipple (left) and offensive coordinator Brad Childress (right) watch as quarterback Brandon Weeden (3) hands off to running back Trent Richardson (33) during minicamp at the Cleveland Browns training facility. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-US PRESSWIRE

It’s 75 days until the new NFL season begins but for a football mad guy like me that’s just too long so I’ve taken it upon myself to go over each NFL schedule and try and predict for all of you what may happen once the season rolls around.

We begin this week with the AFC North and the Cleveland Browns who went 4-12 in 2011. Here’s how I think their season will go:

• Week 1 vs Philadelphia Eagles – Loss
• Week 2 at Cincinnati Bengals – Loss
• Week 3 vs Buffalo Bills – Loss
• Week 4 at Baltimore Ravens – Loss
• Week 5 at New York Giants – Loss
• Week 6 vs Cincinnati Bengals – Loss
• Week 7 at Indianapolis Colts – Win
• Week 8 vs San Diego Chargers – Loss
• Week 9 vs Baltimore Ravens – Loss
• Week 10 BYE
• Week 11 at Dallas Cowboys – Loss
• Week 12 vs Pittsburgh Steelers – Loss
• Week 13 at Oakland Raiders – Win
• Week 14 vs Kansas City Chiefs – Win
• Week 15 vs Washington Redskins – Loss
• Week 16 at Denver Broncos – Loss
• Week 17 at Pittsburgh Steelers – Loss

Overall record for the Cleveland Browns in 2012: 3-13

As always the Browns have a rather tough schedule being in the AFC North but this year it’s even tougher as they face the NFC East. It’s the start of the season that will be what breaks the back of this team as they begin with six matchups who have extraordinary defenses giving rookies Trent Richardson and Brandon Weeden no time to acclimatise to the NFL.

There’s also the matter of the late bye in week 10 by which the Browns will not only be out of any title race but in all likelihood regretting the trade of Colt McCoy that is expected any day now. This is a team that still has a lot of rebuilding to do and I’m afraid it’s nothing but misery for fans this year. But cheer up – at least you get the reprieve of facing the AFC West whom the Browns split games 50-50.

Next up on the schedule previews – the Cincinnati Bengals later this evening.

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May 22, 2012; Berea, OH, USA: Cleveland Browns quarterback Colt McCoy (12) and quarterback Brandon Weeden (3) during organized team activities at the Cleveland Browns training facility. Mandatory Credit: Eric P. Mull-USPRESSWIRE

As soon as Roger Goodell announced that the Cleveland Browns had selected quarterback Brandon Weeden in the first-round of the 2012 NFL Draft, it seemed all but certain that he would be given every opportunity to oust Colt McCoy as the team’s starting signal-caller. However, it seems that Weeden could win the job earlier than any of us imagined.

At today’s minicamp practice, Browns head coach Pat Shurmur mentioned his time with the St. Louis Rams as an offensive coordinator, where he started rookie quarterback Sam Bradford. It’s very possible that it was a hint as to who Shurmur will name as the starting quarterback heading into camp.

“He’s quickly getting a feel for his receivers,” Shurmur said. “When you have new players that you really like, and that’s why you picked them, you just need to see them come in and do it before you make that move.”

All reports are indicating that Weeden has been impressive in OTA’s and that he has won over the coaching staff. The praise for Weeden has even led for other journalists to claim that Weeden was the most realistic and main target for the Browns all along — we all know that’s not true.

But as it stands now, Weeden could enter training camp as the team’s starting quarterback, which would make the Colt McCoy trade talk and rumors heat back up.

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May 22, 2012; Berea, OH, USA: Cleveland Browns quarterback Brandon Weeden (3) and quarterback Colt McCoy (12) during organized team activities at the Cleveland Browns training facility. Mandatory Credit: Eric P. Mull-USPRESSWIRE

In what was expected to be one of the most hotly contested quarterback controversies this summer, the Cleveland Browns seem to be playing favorites. At a banquet for Cleveland Browns fans, General Manager Tom Heckert says that Brandon Weeden starting is the plan.

“You can write about it and talk about it however you want,” Heckert said. “The best guy is going to play and we fully expect Brandon to be that guy. That’s our goal is to have him be the guy. I think when we say, open competition, the best guy’s going to play, that’s just the way it is. But we drafted Brandon Weeden to be that guy.

“(You) draft a guy 22nd in the draft, you think he’s going to be that guy.”

With that mindset it seems like Cleveland is not giving Colt McCoy much of a chance to retain his starting position. McCoy has gone 6-15 as a starter, and missed the last 3 games of last season with a concussion after staring the first 13 games. The Browns were also very activly trying to move up in the draft to acquire either Andrew Lock or Robert Griffin III.

Heckert went on to praise Weeden’s performance in rookie minicamps recently.

“He’s got a strong arm, he’s accurate, he’s smart and picking up the offense was nothing for him,” Heckert said.

Cleveland is hoping Brandon Weeden can be a breakout rookie for them, much like Andy Dalton last year of the instate rival Cincinnati Bengals. However Weeden faces the same problems that most likely plagued McCoy. Greg Little, Mohamed Massaquoi, and Evan Moore as targets. But with Trent Richardson in the back field, a strengthen running game might be able to help Weeden succeed.

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May 11, 2012; Berea, OH, USA: Cleveland Browns quarterback Brandon Weeden (3) works out during rookie training camp at the Cleveland Browns training facility. Mandatory Credit: Eric P. Mull-USPRESSWIRE

One of the criticisms of Brandon Weeden going into the draft was that he wasn’t a very athletic quarterback and the system he was successful running at Oklahoma State didn’t lean itself towards the pro game. Early on in his time with the Cleveland Browns, this is proving true.

During an early practice Weeden had some issues with fumbling the ball. Hardly surprising when he hasn’t had much time under center but it is a crucial area he will have to work on in his development if he is to become the starting quarterback for Cleveland straight away as no doubt was intended by drafting him in the first round.

Speaking to Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal, Weeden expressed his opinion of the change from the shotgun-based offense he’d run in college:

“It’s getting comfortable. But I’ll be honest, I like being under center more because you can see what’s going on and you get the ball immediately. If I had to pick one of the two, not that I don’t like being in the shotgun, but I like being under center.”

Even with this issue, Browns coaches were pleased with what they saw from the 28 year old rookie. His big arm that had made him an MLB drafted pitcher was on display for all to see as he sent rocket passes to new rookie teammates Trent Richardson and Travis Benjamin. It is the velocity of his throws that have propelled Weeden’s stock to the point of being a first round pick and should he iron out his formation issues this is a quarterback with a bright future in the NFL.

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