It sure sounds as if Josh McCown will be the starting quarterback for the Browns when they host the New York Jets on Sunday at FirstEnergy Stadium.
Cleveland Browns quarterback Josh McCown throws in the first half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
That’s both good news and distressing news.
It’s good in that the 0-7 Browns desperately need a win, and the New York Jets, with the second-worst record in the AFC at 2-5, are the only remaining team on Cleveland’s schedule that, at least on paper, could be had. The pathetic Jets don’t scare anybody, not even the young, inexperienced and beat-up Browns – and perhaps not even Alabama. New York’s two quarterbacks, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Geno Smith, aren’t going to make anyone forget Joe Namath, or even Richard Todd.
McCown, with his experience and savvy and the fact he can put up big numbers passing even if it doesn’t often result in a win, gives the Browns the best chance to win. That will tell you everything you need to know about the team’s quarterback situation.
However, even if McCown does play well on Sunday and help lead the Browns to a victory, the fact remains that the sooner he is back on bench and rookie Cody Kessler, who is currently in the concussion protocol, has returned to the lineup, the better the club will be, especially in the long term, which is the only term that really matters right now.
The Browns aren’t going anywhere until they find their franchise quarterback. Because of his age – he is 37 – McCown is obviously not a candidate to be that guy. Kessler is. But the only way to find out if he’s the one is to have him play as much as possible. Standing on the sideline on Sunday really doesn’t help him, that process or the Browns.
