Commentary: Cleveland Browns should think about playing Colt McCoy

With week one of the NFL season officially in the books, let the quarterback controversy in Cleveland begin.

I realize that you cannot fully judge a team, or a player, based on their performance in one game, but it’s hard not to when the statistics are so shockingly terrible.

Cleveland’s starting rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden, who was 12-35 for 118 yards against the Philadelphia Eagles last Sunday, threw four interceptions (tied for most in the NFL), averaged 3.4 yards per attempt (worst in the NFL), accounted for zero touchdowns, and had a completion percentage of 34.1 (worst in the NFL).

Weeden also boasted a quarterback rating of 5.1.

Let me say that again, 5.1.

The next worst passer rating in week one belonged to fellow rookie Ryan Tannehill of the Miami Dolphins. His rating was 39.0, or almost eight times higher than Weeden’s.

Tannehill had one more attempted pass than Weeden but accounted for 101 more yards, one less interception, and eight more completions.

Weeden’s numbers aren’t just bad, they’re leaps and bounds ahead of— or rather behind— his competition.

Backup Browns quarterback Colt McCoy must be licking his chops.

In his first start in 2010, McCoy attempted two fewer passed than Weeden, but threw for 163 more yards and actually managed to complete a touchdown pass.

Including the preseason, Weeden has started four games this year but has yet to find the end zone once.

I’m starting to wonder if he remembers where it is.

In McCoy’s rookie season, he threw nine interceptions in eight games. Weeden has almost half that total in one game.

Granted, Weeden’s first game came against last season’s top rated defense, but McCoy’s first game was against the Pittsburgh Steelers who went to the Super Bowl that year.

Looking at the Browns’ quarterback situation in the long term, McCoy has two more years of NFL experience and is two years younger.

While McCoy hasn’t blown anyone away with his numbers in the last two seasons, he hasn’t exactly been blessed with a plethora of offensive weapons around him. In his rookie season the team’s two leading receivers were a tight end and a running back.

In half a season in 2010, McCoy had more yards on fewer attempts than the other two previous Browns quarterbacks combined.

In 2011, McCoy had more passing yards than Cleveland's 2009 team and the 2008 team which included Pro Bowl receiver Braylon Edwards and Pro Bowl tight end Kellen Winslow. McCoy’s leading receiver last year was rookie Greg Little.

Ask anyone outside of Cleveland who Greg Little is, and you’re likely to get nothing but blank stares.

McCoy may not have the greatest record or statistics, but he did pretty well considering he had zero offensive weapons around him.

Weeden had better show progress, quickly, or he may find himself on the bench where he belongs.