Making the Right Choice in Finally Naming Brandon Weeden the Browns’ Starting QB
Completing 18 of 25 passes for 229 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions in two preseason games is a pretty good way to silence any critics and put an end to a “quarterback competition” that was a farce from the start.
That’s exactly what Browns quarterback Brandon Weeden has done so far this preseason, and head coach Rob Chudzinski has finally seen the light, naming him the starter for the team’s season opener September 8 against the Miami Dolphins.
"“Brandon has earned this and that’s extremely important to me that he did,” Chudzinski said. “He has gained my complete trust. He has gained his teammates’ complete trust and this organization’s trust. We’re all behind him and we’ll all be behind him to support him.”"
It was certainly the right decision to make, not just from a performance perspective, but from a timing one as well. Head coaches often create these competitions as a way to light a fire under a player, to make him “earn” the job. Weeden simply played so well that he forced Chudzinski’s hand earlier than the coach likely expected. Had he waited any longer to make the glaringly obvious decision, his own skills might have been called into question.
Now, the Browns can move forward knowing Weeden will be under center, where he belongs.