CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Longtime veteran quarterback Josh McCown is visiting the Cleveland Browns today and Wednesday, a league source told Northeast Ohio Media Group.
It means the Browns' process of overhauling the quarterback position is officially underway.
McCown, 35, was released last week by the Bucs with a year remaining on his two-year deal. Since then, he's visited with the Bills, Bears and Jets, but planned to take his time and visit more of the eight teams interested in him. Most other free-agent quarterbacks won't hit the market until March 10, so McCown can afford to take his time.
A 13-year pro, McCown is viewed by the Browns as the perfect mentor for Johnny Manziel or any other young quarterback they decide to bring in, a source said.
Browns coach Mike Pettine said at theNFL combine Wednesday that the Browns are looking for a starting quarterback in free agency and the draft because they can't count on Manziel right now given his situation. Manziel has been in rehab since Jan. 28, and the Browns don't know how it will all play out.
"That's probably accurate (that we need to find a starter) just because you look at the uncertainty of where he is,'' Pettine said. "Just given the small sample size we still don't know based on what he was going through whether or not he is that answer.
"There's too much unknown. I'd obviously be scared if we had a game this weekend. It's a position we're well aware of where our depth chart is. We'll look to address it here in the coming months."
In 2007, McCown was coached by newBrowns offensive coordinator John DeFilippo, who was then Raiders quarterbacks coach. McCown went 2-5 as a starter that year, with nine touchdowns and 10 interceptions. But the two enjoyed working together and would look forward to the opportunity to do so again, a source said.
A third-round pick of the Cardinals in 2002 out Sam Houston State, McCown is the older brother of former Browns quarterback Luke McCown, a fourth-round pick in 2004 who started four games for the Browns before being traded to Tampa Bay on draft day in 2005.
The Bucs, who own the No. 1 overall pick and might draft Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston, released McCown after a disappointing season in which he went 1-10 and threw 11 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. McCown, who was replaced during the season by Mike Glennon but then reclaimed the starting job, earned a 70.5 rating, second-worst in the NFL to Jacksonville rookie Blake Bortles.
The sub-par season followed a stellar year with the Bears that earned McCown his two-year, $10 million free-agent contract with the Bucs. In 2013, McCown threw 13 touchdowns and only one interception en route to a 3-2 mark for the Bears. He finished with a 109.0 rating.
If the Browns sign McCown, it could mean the end of Brian Hoyer in Cleveland. Hoyer, who's set to become a free agent next month, is expected to receive several opportunities to compete for a starting job, which is what he wants.
McCown, on the other hand, made it clear at the end of the season that he'd accept a mentor role with the Bucs if that's what they wanted.
"Whatever they ask me to do, I'll do it and do it the best I can, whatever helps this team,'' he told the Tampa Tribune. "That's my stance on it regardless of whether it's me or anyone else (who's starting).
"For a player of my age, he can't play forever anyway. So, somebody has to come in and play and be ready to go. Whether that's next year or whatever, I just want to help whoever it is that's here.''
McCown's release makes it less likely the Bucs will trade Glennon, who's been rumored to be on the Browns' radar.
Browns owner Jimmy Haslam also recently stressed that the Browns are on a mission to find a winning quarterback and will leave no stone unturned until they find their man. McCown isn't expected to play that role, but could help DeFilippo implement his system and the tutor the young quarterbacks.
Source: http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2015/02/josh_mccown_will_visit_clevela.html
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