Browns final preseason game, should Brandon Weeden play?

Cleveland Browns coach Pat Shurmur has stated that quarterback Brandon Weeden will not play in the final preseason game against the Chicago Bears. The reason is simple--Weeden is "very ready"--well, that's not the total story. Shurmur has been getting a lot of criticism for not playing Weeden although it is considered a standard procedure in the NFL to rest your starters in the final preseason game--thus eliminating injuries. But is this a good decision by a coach who went 4-12 last season and who's head could be on the "chopping block" now that the Browns have a new owner?

Shurmurs statement that Weeden is "very ready" opens the door for numerous questions, my favorite being "has he (Shurmur) been watching the games" because if he had it would be hard to determine that Weeden and the 1st string offense is ready for much of anything. Did he watch the "train wreck" performance in the opening quarter of the Eagles game? Yea, it is preseason and stats mean little, but really--24 of 49, 49% for 297 yards with no touchdowns and one interception? How about sacked four times with three fumbles--these are the stats for three exhibition games and this is "very ready".

But then in Shurmurs defence one doesn't risk injury to their starting quarterback in such a meaningless game, especially when that quarterback is "very ready". Such a move is reserved for quarterbacks who are not ready, need the experience and have a coach that is in "learning mode" also. Somewhat like Tom Coughlin playing Eli Manning last night (that would be the Eli with two Super Bowl rings)!

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A.J. Hunley--Senior Writer, AFC North
A.J. is Senior Writer and Editor for both the AFC North Report and the Cleveland Browns Report. He has been writing articles for several years, many of which have been featured on numerous high-profile websites. A.J. can be followed on Twitter, and you can join him on his Facebook Fan Page-- Cleveland Browns Report