You said Thursday that if quarterback Josh McCown can practice on Friday without any ill effects, than you see no reason why he wouldn’t start in Sunday’s game against the Tennessee Titans in the home opener.
 
To be sure, if he gets to that point, then he would gone through all the concussion protocol following his getting hurt in last Sunday’s 31-10 loss to the New York Jets, and thus would probably be cleared to play by the doctors.
 
But before you put McCown back into the lineup, here’s a question. That is, has he passed the intelligence protocol? Did he even go through the intelligence protocol? Do you have any idea what the intelligence protocol is?
 
It is an extremely important protocol, too. It’s basically trying to determine if a player, in this case, McCown, has enough smarts – if he has enough common sense – to play quarterback for the Browns.
 
Two different times, once in the dress rehearsal preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and then in New York, he did things that indicates he would not pass the intelligence protocol. Despite knowing that the Browns have been very thin at quarterback for some time and don’t have a capable, proven and now also healthy backup behind him, McCown recklessly, foolishly and selfishly made risky plays that caused him to take some vicious shots.
 
 Fortunately, he did not get hurt against the Bucs, but he was not so lucky against the Jets. When he was forced to leave the game in New York, Manziel had to go in and play even though he had not practiced all week and was nursing a sore elbow that continues to plague him.
 
You told McCown after the Bucs game not to do that anymore, but, for whatever reason, he didn’t listen. His absence was the reason you got routed by the Jets because the game plan you had spent all summer crafting was built around him and his skill set, which is much different than Manziel and his skill set.
 
Even understanding all that now, you are still going to start McCown against the Titans? Are you serious?
 
What makes you believe he’s going to get a dose of intelligence and finally change his ways? Is it because you believe the old adage that says, “The third time’s the charm?” Or perhaps is it that you buy into another old adage that states, “The definition of insanity is continuing to do the same thing and expecting a different result?”
 
I’ve been a big fan of yours, Mike, for quite some time now, but if you start McCown against Tennessee, then you’ve lost my support and in fact you deserve every bad thing that is likely to happen to you. Unfortunately, the team and the fans will also pay for your bad decision.
 
McCown is not the smart, savvy quarterback you guys thought he was when you out-bid the Buffalo Bills to sign him in free agency. He is instead a knucklehead.
 
Mike, do you want to be a knucklehead, too?
 
Please change your mind.
 
Sincerely,
Steve King