Josh McCown named AFC offensive player of the week
Oct 11, 2015; Baltimore, MD, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Josh McCown (13) shambles during the third quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Cleveland Browns quarterback Josh McCown had a historic performance on Sunday in Baltimore, and was named AFC offensive player of the week Wednesday.
McCown threw for 457 yards and two touchdowns in an overtime win against the Baltimore Ravens.
He set the record for passing yards in a game by a Browns quarterback, and became the first in franchise history to throw for 300+ yards in three consecutive games.
What does this mean for Browns fans?
Well this should end any discussion about Johnny Manziel starting over McCown. Those holding on to the last remnants of the argument could cite that McCown and Manziel have the same number of wins this season, but Manziel did not torch a defense and set a franchise record.
More from Dawg Pound Daily
- 3 Cleveland Browns players who don’t deserve another season in 2023
- How the Browns could maximize Nick Chubb in 2023
- Can Deshaun Watson get to Patrick Mahomes level for Cleveland Browns?
- 3 Cleveland Browns who should see an expanded role in 2023 and 1 who should not
- Is Marcus Davenport on the Browns radar in 2023?
A win is a win, but ignoring the statistical performance of the player is just plain wrong. McCown is firmly set in the starting position, and that should not even be up for discussion at this point.
This stance may change going forward after games against the Denver Broncos, St. Louis Rams, and Arizona Cardinals.
But it is a waste of energy to constantly clamor for Manziel, because it is clear that McCown is not here for a long time. He is already 36 years old, so he is clearly not a long-term option at quarterback.
Having Manziel learn behind McCown for even another year would be much more beneficial than having him play now and likely fail. That is not a wish for him to fail, but rather a prediction based on past results.
If he is given time to learn and mature as a quarterback, the first-round investment will have higher payoffs than if he were thrown in games right away to learn by getting pressured by defenses.
But for now, McCown is in the spotlight and had a performance Browns fans should celebrate. At least until Sunday.