Cleveland Browns’ draft quarterback signing plans meet serious blow due to GM injury-NFL News
The Cleveland Browns have received a serious blow to their plans of hiring a potential draft quarterback, as the general manager, Tom Heckert, will not be attending the National Football League (NFL) Scouting Combine 2012 due to a serious injury.
The general manager was due at the Combine to assess and investigate developments at the event to help the decision making process.
Browns confirmed on Friday, February 24, 2012 that the official had a serious surgery for an anonymous injury and will not be heading to Indianapolis to attend the Combine, scheduled from February 22 to 28, 2012.
The team has not disclosed the nature of the injury, which has rather come all of sudden.
Until last week, the GM’s appearance at the Combine was confirmed. He was expected to meet some of potential draft picks, including Baylor College’s star, Robert Lee Griffin III, also known as RG3.
Despite RG3’s decision of not throwing at the Combine, Heckert could get a 15-minute opportunity to talk to the player and explore the possibility of his hiring.
Now with confirmation of the surgery, the plans around the meeting have gone in vain.
Browns did not elaborate if the team will send a replacement at the draft show to pursue the ambitions of bringing in a new quarterback without an interruption.
The only talk from them since reporting of the procedure is that the GM is progressing well and will definitely recover soon.
The team spokesman, Neal Gulkis, said:
"Tom's personal medical issues are his private affair and not for the club to comment on. As we said yesterday, he's doing fine."
Heckert is with Browns in the role of general manager since 2010 and it is for the first time that he has confronted a problem of a serious nature.
Despite the team’s assurance of betting on the main quarterback, Colt McCoy, Browns did not deny the exploring of opportunities for a new hiring.
McCoy ended the 2011 NFL season with the record of 4-9, which was not at par with the level that could content the team. This is the reason that the team has been looking into the possibilities of a fresh signing.
Colt McCoy is nursing his head injury, at the moment, and is likely to join the team before the start of the 2012 NFL regular season.
The GM, in one of the recent remarks, backed the quarterback for a comeback. At the same time, he asked him to utilise the offseason to build on the current level of form and performance.
He said that the player has already spent two years at the team and now it is time for him to give his best.
The manager hoped that McCoy would become a better player before joining the team next season.
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