2012 NFL season: Brandon Weeden likely to be the new scapegoat for Cleveland Browns – NFL feature
It did not require much thinking for Cleveland Browns to confirm their new offence leader rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden at training camp this year.
All claims of the team of allowing, rather facilitating, a competition between the rookie and incumbent QB Colt McCoy were exposed by a startling disclosure of the latter that he had never been given an opportunity to take snaps with starters
group on the offensive line.
It nevertheless was not the new episode of unfairness met to Colt; he had been through the similar situation throughout offseason. He was probably too naive to get the message that his reign was over since the last year, or he may be was
unwilling to accept the reality. At the end, his determination of giving tough competition to Weeden on the offensive line was shattered.
This, however, paved the way for the rookie to jump to the top too quickly. He seemed to have well anticipated it, and immediately boasted over having won the offence leadership in the competition. This also showed the rookie to be naive
to understand that it was a matter of routine for Browns to try out a new leader on the offensive line, almost on yearly basis. They have tried as many as 16 QBs in the last 13 years. Colt was their latest offence leadership bust.
Everyone is hoping and wishing Weeden to turn around Browns’ prospects. In wake of the past experience, there is a little hope though. It is pertinent to recall the same level of excitement the team had at the time of Colt’s arrival in
the town. They had boasted to have found a true leader then, but a couple of seasons later he has become a scapegoat of their poor run.
There is a fear Weeden might be on the same course, although it is too early to speculate success or failure for the rookie. Second year coach Pat Shurmur seemed to be convinced of his talent more than anyone else in the side. This may
be the reason for him to choose the rookie to be the leader in haste.
It is unclear if the decision had some sort of contribution or influence of Browns’ new owner Jimmy Haslam, who accepted Browns’ ownership from former owner Randy Lerner.
Soon after new owner’s arrival in Cleveland and meetings with coach, vice president and other officials, he said he aimed to put Browns back on winning track. Some commentators foresaw an overhauling of the team in the offing.
A particular challenge for the new QB is to take Browns out of the phase of lull and saturation that the team had been through for at least last four seasons. Every year it is the same story of four or five wins and the team heads back
to the headquarters amid talks of transition and rebuilding, which is yet to yield results.
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