Colt McCoy’s Season Is Likely Over For The Browns

With the Browns wrapping up a four or five-win season, the conversation shifts to the NFL draft and what the Browns will do with what looks to be a top 10 pick in April 2012. Do they go with one of the top quarterbacks in the first round? Or do they stick it out with McCoy? I’d lean towards McCoy returning but you never know with so much time before we hit the draft.

Assuming McCoy doesn’t play this weekend, he ends the season completing 57 percent of his passes with 14 touchdowns to 11 interceptions.

Browns coach Pat Shurmur didn’t exactly guarantee McCoy’s return, but definitely did not rule out his participation in comments to the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

For more on McCoy’s possible return, be sure to check out Browns blog Dawgs by Nature.

In defending his team’s medical staff, Browns president Mike Holmgren said no one saw the hit, which resulted in a one-game suspension for Harrison. On Tuesday, the league informed all 32 NFL teams that a certified athletic trainer will be present in the press box to alert sideline medical personnel of potential head injuries.

For more on the Browns, visit Dawgs By Nature.

For more on McCoy and the Browns, head over to Cleveland Browns blog Dawgs By Nature.

For more on this weekend’s game, head over to Browns blog Dawgs By Nature and Cardinals blog Revenge Of The Birds.

For more on McCoy and the Browns, head over to the SB Nation blog Dawgs By Nature.

McCoy has not officially been ruled out for Week 15; however, he has yet to practice this week. Wallace took all of the snaps with the Browns’ starters in his place.

Wallace played in eight games, starting in four of them, for the Browns last season. He was re-signed to a three-year, $9 million deal in March, giving the Browns a veteran backup for Colt McCoy.

Cleveland Browns Team President Mike Holmgren offered further details of the team’s in-game handling of a concussion suffered by Colt McCoy at a Wednesday press conference. According to Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Holmgren acknowledged that the team did not give McCoy a SCAT2 concussions test on the sidelines because the quarterback did not exhibit signs of a concussion and the training staff missed the hit.

Cleveland came under fire for their handling of the situation from McCoy’s father. Both the league and the NFLPA investigated the situation. Holmgren told the media today that he does not expect any discipline against the team. He added that the NFL and the NFLPA will work with the Browns to improve their procedures for handling similar incidents.

For more on Harrison and the Steelers, check out Pittsburgh Steelers blog Behind The Steel Curtain.

Cleveland Browns head coach Pat Shurmur acknowledged that quarterback Colt McCoy likely has a concussion at his Friday press conference. Shurmur also defended the team’s decision to send McCoy back into the game after suffering a vicious hit from Steelers linebacker James Harrison, according to Mary Kay Cabbot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

According to Shurmur, the Browns did their due diligence to determine whether or not McCoy was showing the signs of a concussion after the hit. Shurmur said that McCoy did not have symptoms and was cleared to return by Cleveland’s training staff. Shurmur’s quotes as reported by Fox Sports Ohio:

You can see video of the hit here.

However, there are signs that McCoy should not have returned to the game because he may have suffered a concussion on that play. McCoy’s father, Brad, talked to the Cleveland Plain Dealer and said his son doesn’t even remember throwing the interception a few plays later that essentially sealed the game for the Steelers.

via gif.mocksession.com

As you can see, Harrison led the shot with his head hitting McCoy right in the helmet. I don’t know if I’d call the hit dirty, but given his history with hits and fines, Harrison should know by now to wrap up and hit with his shoulder rather than his helmet.