Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
Let the quarterback controversy erupt for the Cleveland Browns.
The Browns currently have Brandon Weeden as the teams first-string QB, regardless Cleveland head coach Rob Chudzinski would not commit to the second-year QB, telling the Canton Repository, “We’ll just see as we go forward. I expect both of these guys to compete. I don’t know any other way,” when asked about the possibility of Jason Campbell earning a starting role.
With Weeden being just under two-years older than Campbell, it’s no fluke that Campbell could earn first-string duties. Campbell last started for the Oakland Raiders in 2011, until being ousted by an injury and the addition of Carson Palmer. That year, Campbell was on pace to set career high marks, gaining large support from the Raiders’ fan base.
“I was off to the best season of my career,” Campbell said. “To wake up and find out about the trade [for Palmer] and know I wasn’t starting anymore, it was a tough pill to swallow … I feel I was really taking off, really blossoming, really having an opportunity to control the line of scrimmage and see some things and change a couple plays here and there based off what I’ve seen before and having experience in that offense.”
Chudzinski’s inability to provide clear details about the starting quarterback is an obvious indicator that Campbell could earn another chance to blossom. Chudzinski confirmed saying, ”We’re going to proceed as we’re proceeding right now.”
With the Browns having made a vast amount of improvements during this off-season via free agency, tells me that Cleveland wants to win now. Accounting Weedens struggles in 2012, the Browns staff may find it more beneficial to start Campbell who has never once thrown for more interceptions than touchdowns in a season. Weeden did so in 2012, throwing 14 touchdowns and 17 interceptions.
The tools to win are there for the Browns — the X-factor — is the quarterback position.
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