McCoy struggling with confidence at camp

BEREA, Ohio -- Colt McCoy worked with the first team at the Cleveland Browns offseason practice on Tuesday, but when he talked after practice he didnt sound at all like a confident starter. In his first meeting with the media since last season, McCoy came across like a sympathetic figure, a guy clinging to the faintest of hopes to start in 2012. Thats what happens when the incumbent suddenly is staring at a bigger, taller, stronger-armed quarterback who also was a first-round draft choice at the age of 28. McCoy knows that the Browns have made no secret they drafted Brandon Weeden to start, but clings to hope. I can only go by what they tell me, McCoy said. What hes been told is that hell be given the chance to compete with Weeden. But even as he spoke McCoy seemed to understand what he faces. Teams simply do not take 28-year-olds in the first round to wait behind a younger player. McCoy also knows that the team tried to acquire Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III via trade. Ive read what was said, McCoy said. Ive heard what was said. His offseason? You can imagine a little bit, I guess, he said. McCoy said he does not want the Browns saga to be a question of him and Weeden, or him and anyone. He wants it to be about what makes the team better, and what could win games. Its a noble sentiment, but a difficult one to carry through when it comes to the quarterback position. Competitions are difficult, and controversies can ruin a team. I know thats going to be the big talk here in Cleveland, linebacker DQwell Jackson said of the position. And it should be. McCoy started 13 games last season before Pittsburghs James Harrison knocked him into next week on a hit that everyone but the Steelers thought was blatantly dirty. McCoy didnt play exceptionally well, but he had to do so, as he said, learning an offense on his own while trying to bring his teammates together during the lockout. The chaos continued during the season. The Browns running game suffered with Peyton Hillis drama, and the receivers led the league in dropped passes. When the Browns drafted running back Trent Richardson third overall, McCoy tweeted his congratulations -- as if he was finally happy he was getting help. He was silent the rest of the night on Twitter. You cant make any excuses, he said. This is whats been dealt. One of my favorite quotes by the NAVY Seals is, the only easy day was yesterday. Thats just kind of how I have to live right now. He said hes tried to be the same guy every day in Cleveland, and hell keep trying. But he sure didnt sound like the same guy who started last season the unquestioned starter. He was asked about the report that the Browns promised him they would not take a quarterback in the first round -- a report the Browns denied. I dont want to go into the he said, she said stuff, McCoy said. What was conveyed to him on draft night? I got a phone call, McCoy said, and they said, Hey, just come in here and compete. He did not ask to be traded. Because he told me I had a chance to compete, McCoy said. McCoy is learning young that life in the NFL is rarely fair. He played with a half-full deck in 2011, but he didnt do enough to keep the Browns from looking for a quarterback. He did all he could, but at times seemed beside himself with the teams inability to do anything offensively. He entered the season having written a book about himself -- Growing Up Colt -- and talked Tuesday about understanding what it means to compete for a job. But one of the examples he used was when his father Brad (his coach) did not play him his freshman year of high school. McCoy admitted that when last season ended, he understood the Browns would have another quarterback to compete for the spot. That it turned out to be a 28-year-old rookie who seems destined to play almost seems to have blindsided him. He started the 11-on-11 drills Tuesday by throwing an interception to Chris Gocong. I understand the idea; if its a fair competition, thats all you can ask for, McCoy said. Regarding what everyone has said, this is a business. I dont want this to be a situation where its me vs. him. Or him vs me. I want it to be a situation of -- and I think we can all agree to this -- whats going to help our team the most. Lets make it about the Cleveland Browns being a great football team next year. If thats the case, Im all in.