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BEREA, Ohio -- The Colt McCoy era is over. A new one -- make that older one -- began Thursday night when the Cleveland Browns selected Oklahoma State quarterback Brandon Weeden with the 22nd overall pick.

The Browns have gone from a weak-armed quarterback to a geriatric one by NFL standards. At 28 years, 195 days, Weeden is the oldest player ever to be taken in the first round of the Common Draft era, according to Elias Sports Bureau. Weeden is only two years younger than Ben Roethlisberger. He's one year older than Brady Quinn, the last quarterback taken by the Browns in the first round.

Drafting running back Trent Richardson in the first round was a no-brainer. And, even though I think Weeden can be a quality starter in this league, taking him in the first round makes little sense for a team that is not a quarterback away from contending for a Super Bowl.

The Browns have too many other needs on offense to reach for a failed minor-league pitcher. The Cleveland front office believes it found a franchise quarterback in Weeden, but you have to wonder who is going to block for him at right tackle and who is going to catch the long passes from Weeden's big arm. The Browns are right that Weeden will be an upgrade over McCoy. But, like McCoy, he might have trouble reaching that potential with the holes surrounding him.

In a span of a few hours, the Dawg Pound went from high-fiving over the selection of Richardson to scratching their heads over Weeden.

Why didn't the Browns take a wide receiver like Georgia Tech's Stephen Hill? Why didn't Cleveland pick up Iowa offensive tackle Riley Reiff or Stanford guard David DeCastro? Why did a rebuilding franchise select an older quarterback?

"We went through the process of evaluating him, we became very fond of him," Browns coach Pat Shurmur said. "We all did, from Randy [Lerner, owner] to Mike [Holmgren, team president] to Tom [Heckert, general manager] to myself. I came away saying this is a guy we'd like to have on our team. That's where we're at right now."

It was interesting that Shurmur pointed out that the owner had input on this decision. The pressure is on, and the clock is ticking.

At his age, Weeden has to start immediately. There's no time to let him sit and learn. And, because of his age, the expectation is to win immediately.

Browns officials shrugged off Weeden's age as being an issue. The number they concentrated on is 22, which is Weeden's wins in 25 starts in college.

"We feel like the kid's a winner," Shurmur said. "I wasn't concerned about his age."

The arrival of Weeden could mean the end of McCoy's days in Cleveland. The Browns gave McCoy a major vote of no confidence when they aggressively tried to trade up for Robert Griffin III last month.

The question now isn't whether McCoy will compete for the job. It's whether McCoy will even be on this team. Heckert didn't deny the possibility that the Browns could trade McCoy this weekend.

"To be honest, we haven't thought about that. We really haven't," Heckert said. "That's something we'll talk about tonight and tomorrow."

If it wasn't for Weeden's age, he would have been a top-10 pick. He has a strong arm. He's got a quick release. He is a hard worker. He is a respected leader.

There's a good chance that Weeden will be a productive quarterback and might end the string of other "franchise" quarterbacks like Tim Couch, Derek Anderson and Quinn. The problem is, teams draft quarterbacks in the first round to be the starter for the next decade. The odds are against that with Weeden, who will turn 30 in October next year.

The Browns have done such a great job in rebuilding the defense in the past two drafts that you want to give them the benefit of the doubt that they'll do the same on offense. When it came time for the Browns to pick at No. 22, Heckert said there was no decision to make especially after Baylor wide receiver Kendall Wright was drafted by Tennessee at No. 20.

"Brandon was by far the best player for us," Heckert said. "There wasn't really even an afterthought. As soon as a couple of guys went, we knew we were going to take him."

Weeden might have been the best player available at that point. He was just not the right player for the Browns.

It sounds like a simple question: Can Colt McCoy play in cold, inclement weather?

But the subject of handling the cold continues to be a hot topic in Cleveland and one that will follow McCoy until he proves otherwise with the Browns.

Playing quarterback in Cleveland is not easy. It takes good arm strength -- one of McCoy's biggest weaknesses -- because the stadium is located right off Lake Erie. That makes for heavy winds and creates more snow than usual in the key games in November and December, when many teams try to make a push for the playoffs.

McCoy, college football's all-time winningest quarterback at the University of Texas, didn't play in many cold-weather games in the Big 12. And the few McCoy had were mild compared to what he will face every season as Cleveland's starting quarterback.

McCoy's first NFL experience last year playing in inclement weather didn't go well, leaving many to question if he is the answer for the Browns. According to ESPN's Stats & Information, McCoy played three games during his rookie season in which the temperature was below 40 degrees. In those games, McCoy was 0-3, losing to the Cincinnati Bengals, Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers, and saw his passer rating drop almost 25 points compared to games played in warmer weather. McCoy also threw six of his nine interceptions in those three games.

If playing well in the cold is something McCoy cannot do, it will surely be his undoing in Cleveland.

"Even though we didn't go through with it, that was something in my year with the Browns that we very much believed in: You gotta have a [strong-armed] quarterback because we were next to the lake," said Scouts Inc.'s Matt Williamson, who worked for the Browns in 2004. "And you got to have kickers and punters that are used to playing in that type of weather. I was there with Jeff Garcia and he didn't do well."

Coming off his success in San Francisco, Garcia was just 3-7 in his only season in Cleveland and turned out to be a bad fit. But he isn't the only Browns quarterback who has struggled. Former first-round pick Brady Quinn also couldn't solve Cleveland's tricky weather conditions.

Quinn spent three years in Cleveland and his numbers were dreadful in cold-weather games. Quinn's completion percentage (46.2) and passer rating (57.8) in games in which the temperature was under 40 degrees were both significantly lower than his career averages (52.1 completion and 66.8 passer rating). That led to Quinn's eventual demise and trade out of Cleveland.

The only Browns quarterback to have a Pro Bowl season in Cleveland since the team returned in 1999 was Derek Anderson, and he had the strongest arm of any Browns quarterback of the past dozen years.

Despite his woes in cold-weather games, McCoy scoffed at the idea that Cleveland's weather would be a factor for him late last season.

"I've played in the snow and wind in Kansas a couple times. I've played in Nebraska," McCoy explained. "We had some real wet games back home [in Austin, Texas]."

McCoy added that playing in bad weather is more mental than physical. He clearly didn't enjoy the constant questions about whether his arm strength was good enough to thrive in poor conditions.

"I guess we'll find out, won't we?" McCoy fired back last December.

But the early returns suggests it is an issue. McCoy's numbers across the board took a significant dip when weather became a factor.

McCoy's two victories as a starter came in a dome against the New Orleans Saints and an early November win at home against the New England Patriots. But back-to-back home games against division rivals Baltimore and Pittsburgh in the final two games of te season exposed McCoy's inexperience and lack of arm strength, as both teams combined for six interceptions.

Many of McCoy's passes fluttered and Ed Reed and Troy Polamalu easily intercepted his throws. McCoy, who showed good accuracy most of the year, also became erratic in the final two games and his arm wasn't strong enough to cut through the winds and fit the ball into tight windows.

According to Williamson, you may see more of the same from McCoy against Cleveland's division rivals, particularly late in the year.

"I think their passing game is still one of the worst in the league. How much offense can they generate?" Williamson said of the Browns. "Colt McCoy still has a lot to prove, and I don't think he has a real high ceiling. They don't have anyone dangerous that scares you."

The Browns have a lot riding on McCoy in 2011. If he turns out to be a bust, Cleveland's rebuilding process led by president Mike Holmgren, general manager Tom Heckert and rookie head coach Pat Shurmur could be pushed back even further.

Since the AFC North was created during the 2002 realignment, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens have been the biggest bullies within the conference. Those teams have combined for seven division titles in the past nine seasons.

With new eras beginning simultaneously for Ohio's two NFL franchises, young quarterbacks Andy Dalton and Colt McCoy will be aiming to shift the balance of power toward the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns, respectively. Quarterback is the league's most important position, and if Dalton and McCoy turn out to be the long-term solutions, it could go a long way toward potentially turning the AFC North on its head.

The Steelers and Ravens have their answers at quarterback. Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger, 29, already has led his team to three Super Bowls, winning two, and is currently in the prime of his career. Baltimore's Joe Flacco, 26, has led the Ravens to three consecutive playoff appearances and continues to get better.

That puts an immense amount of pressure on Dalton and McCoy to catch up. Their futures directly tie into Cincinnati and Cleveland's ability or inability to close the gap within the division. If both are busts, there might not be an end in sight to the dominance by Pittsburgh and Baltimore. Neither the Bengals nor the Browns have any shot of overcoming these perennial contenders with shoddy quarterback play.

"It's horrible; there's nothing good about [inexperienced quarterbacks] facing the Ravens and Steelers," said Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. "They're not carbon copies of each other, but their philosophy is pretty similar. They're going to take away your running game, and you're not going to outwork them in the trenches or move them. Then you're one-dimensional, and then you're in trouble."

Cleveland has had a number of quarterbacks eaten alive by Baltimore and Pittsburgh since returning to the NFL in 1999. Tim Couch, Kelly Holcomb, Jeff Garcia, Charlie Frye, Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn are just some of the players who were battered, beaten and couldn't maintain long-term success in the AFC North. McCoy is next in line to give it a shot this season.

Last season McCoy showed flashes of promise, but he got off to an inauspicious start against Pittsburgh and Baltimore. He went 0-3 against the Steelers and Ravens, throwing for two touchdowns and eight interceptions in those games. If McCoy has similar performances against Cleveland's biggest rivals in Year 2, he won't hold his starting job very long.

"I think he played like a rookie at times and then he far exceeded my expectations at other times," Browns president Mike Holmgren said recently of McCoy. "It coincided with the games we won and a couple games that we lost. ... Did he exceed expectations from me? I would have to say yes, because I didn't expect him to play. Is there a huge upside and much more to come? I would say yes to that, too, because he is a young man just learning to play the position in our league."

Holmgren echoes the sentiment of Cleveland's coaches and those in the front office, who remain optimistic about McCoy. But Williamson isn't convinced.

Williamson recently ranked the Browns last in his post-draft Power Rankings, leading Scouts Inc. to predict Cleveland will take Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck with the top pick in the 2012 draft. If this scenario plays out, McCoy's first full season as a starter in 2011 projects to be a disaster.

"I really worry about the guy's arm strength. I just can't get around that," Williamson said. "When the weather gets bad, he's not going to be able to complete passes in Cleveland. I think he's a real good fit in the West Coast offense. I think he has some moxie to him and I like the way he plays. But when it's December and the Steelers and Ravens are in town, you better be able to complete a deep out."

Former No. 1 overall pick Carson Palmer did have success, which is why Cincinnati is the only team other than Baltimore and Pittsburgh to win the AFC North. The Bengals won division titles in 2005 and 2009.

Palmer, who demanded a trade and threatened to retire this offseason, was particularly tough against the Ravens. He was 9-4 as a starter versus Baltimore, and the Ravens certainly won't miss Palmer if he never plays another down in Cincinnati.

That is where Dalton comes in. Barring an unexpected change of heart by Palmer, Dalton is projected to be the Week 1 starter in Cincinnati after leading TCU to an undefeated season in 2010.

Dalton, like many successful quarterbacks, comes to Cincinnati with confidence and a very competitive attitude.

"Obviously, everyone knows about the current situation with Carson Palmer," Dalton said. "As far as I know, it's open [competition]. We're trying to figure out who will be the guy, and I’m looking forward to it."

Dalton's biggest strengths are his accuracy and leadership, which will be needed in Cincinnati. Dalton recently said he models his game after some of the top quarterbacks in the league.

"Growing up and watching the NFL, I saw what Peyton Manning and Tom Brady have done. They seem to have full control over their team," Dalton explained. "You see how well it's worked out for them. Recently, I watched Aaron Rodgers even before he won the Super Bowl. He's a guy who took advantage of his opportunity when it was his time. I think those are three guys that I've watched and studied. Hopefully I can take something from each of their games."

Neither McCoy nor Dalton was a top draft pick. McCoy was a third-rounder in 2010, and Dalton was taken in the second round last month. Yet both are projected to start very early in their careers and, thus, will carry pressure similar to being a first-round pick.

Time will tell if Dalton and McCoy will eventually lead to a quarterback changing of the guard in the AFC North. But count Williamson among the biggest skeptics.

"They both won a ton of games in college, were wonderful college players, and you want your daughter to marry them," Williamson explained. "But they just don't throw the football as well as they have to be 'The Guy' in that division."

» NFC Draft Watch: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Each Thursday leading up to the NFL draft (April 28-30), the ESPN.com NFL blog network will take a division-by-division look at key aspects of the draft. Today’s topic: draft philosophy.

Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens often follow the philosophy of the right player at the right price. Therefore, Baltimore is not afraid to trade up in the draft or trade back if the value is right. As a result, Baltimore traditionally finds great players who were overlooked by other teams. The Ravens also are very good at scouting what I call "football character," which is somewhat different from regular character. Football character is having a certain toughness, confidence and an edge to fit into Baltimore's locker room full of strong personalities. The Ravens play with a certain attitude and swagger, particularly on defense, and it's not for everyone.

Cincinnati Bengals

Explaining the Bengals' draft philosophy can be tricky. Their approach is conservative. Rarely do you see a lot of wheeling and dealing coming from Cincinnati's draft room. The last time the Bengals pulled off a significant, draft-day trade in the first round was in 2004, when the St. Louis Rams moved up to draft tailback Steven Jackson and Cincinnati took Chris Perry. So expect Cincinnati to stay put this year at No. 4. But when it is time for the Bengals to pick players, they are not afraid to take character risks in exchange for talent. Sometimes it works out (Carlos Dunlap) for Cincinnati and sometimes it doesn't (Andre Smith).

Cleveland Browns

You didn't know what to expect from the Browns last year in the first draft under president Mike Holmgren and general manager Tom Heckert. But the pair did a solid job working together for the first time. Cleveland landed solid rookies such as cornerback Joe Haden, safety T.J. Ward and quarterback Colt McCoy in the first three rounds. All three were starters by midseason. If any trend could be read from just one year, it's that the Browns will continue to attack their biggest needs. Last year the secondary and quarterback positions were thin after the new regime cleaned house, cutting quarterback Derek Anderson and trading Brady Quinn. This year the biggest needs are defensive line and wide receiver, which Holmgren and Heckert will surely address in this draft.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Philosophically, the Steelers are great at projecting two and three years ahead. For example, they will draft tailback Rashard Mendenhall in the first round, despite the fact Willie Parker rushed for 1,316 yards the previous year in 2007. Three seasons later, Mendenhall is a star in Pittsburgh and Parker has hit a wall. Or they will draft linebackers LaMarr Woodley and Lawrence Timmons, even if they don't need them right away. The Steelers are willing to groom players for a couple of seasons before they become productive. Defensive end Ziggy Hood, a first-round pick in 2009, is another good example. Usually Pittsburgh can afford the luxury of taking the best available players. But this year the team has well-defined needs, such as cornerback and the offensive line.

Let's see what's in our mailbag from the Dawgpound and Steeler Nation.

Brad from Corpus Christi, Texas, wants to know if the Cleveland Browns would be willing to trade down with teams interested in Auburn quarterback Cam Newton or Missouri's Blaine Gabbert.

James Walker: It's definitely a possibility, Brad. There is something curious about president Mike Holmgren's sudden interest in Newton, and I believe it's to get a feel for a quarterback teams may want to trade up for. Newton and Gabbert could be considered value picks if either drops out of the top five.

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Matt from Ohio writes: Do you think if the Browns have a great draft, they might be able to contend for a playoff spot this upcoming season?

Walker: I still think the talent gap is pretty wide, Matt. I've said this before, but the Browns and Cincinnati Bengals are at least two years away from contending for the playoffs. Cleveland will be a team in transition this upcoming season. The players have to learn a new offense and a new defense under a rookie head coach. Unless the Browns catch lightning in a bottle and get really hot, I don't see them overcoming both the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens in the AFC North. But Cleveland needs to focus on having another solid draft to make the team more competitive. Perhaps the Browns can give the big boys a run for their money in 2012.

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Bob K. from Portsmouth, Ohio, writes: Do you feel Browns quarterback Colt McCoy will suffer the same fate as Derek Anderson, or do you think McCoy will have a better second season under the microscope?

Walker: Bob, there are a lot of differences between McCoy and Anderson. For starters, they are very different quarterbacks physically and mentally. They really couldn't be any different in those departments. Second, Anderson had a great Pro Bowl year in 2007. McCoy played decent for eight games. That does not make a great season. The jury is still very much out on McCoy. But the situations are not similar.

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Amr Hosni from Hazleton, Pa., writes: I was wondering about Jason Worilds and Limas Sweed. What do you think their future with the Steelers looks like?

Walker: Worilds is fine, Amr. He's only entering his second season and has to wait his turn like most Steelers defenders. Worilds did a decent job on special teams and recorded a pair of sacks in limited playing time last season. Sweed's situation is more uncertain. He's entering his fourth season and young receivers like Emmanuel Sanders and Antonio Brown have earned roles in the offense. It will be a tough numbers game for Sweed this year.

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Andrew from Buffalo Grove, Ill., writes: Do you think the Steelers will go after ANY free agents, especially a cornerback?

Walker: The Steelers usually make a non-descript signing or two in free agency. But don't expect any big names like Nnamdi Asomugha. Pittsburgh has to worry about its own free-agent cornerback in Ike Taylor. To retain Taylor or let him go will be one of the biggest decisions the Steelers make this offseason.

BEREA, Ohio -- For more than a decade, it's been the same old story in Cleveland.

The Steelers come to town, the city gets hyped for the rivalry and then Browns fans are disappointed after another Pittsburgh win. Rewind. Recycle. Repeat.

Sure, the Browns split last season's series (including a rare win at home). But including playoffs, Pittsburgh has won an astounding 20 of the past 24 meetings with the Browns, including a 28-10 victory this year at Heinz Field. Cleveland (5-10) has a long way to go to close the gap as the playoff-bound Steelers (11-4) once again are heavily favored in Sunday's regular-season finale at Browns Stadium.

This once-intense rivalry has been surpassed in the division by Pittsburgh's heated battles with the Baltimore Ravens -- and it's not even close. But there is hope for the Browns.

The AFC North blog offers five ways Cleveland can help rekindle this rivalry that dates to 1950:

1. Browns must take the rivalry more seriously

Don't believe the spin coming out of Cleveland. The Browns have not taken this game as seriously as Pittsburgh has recently.

In Cleveland's first game back in its return to the NFL in 1999, the Steelers pounded the Browns in Cleveland, 43-0. That set the tone for this stellar run by the Steelers the past 12 seasons.

"Ah, man, [we take it] very serious," Steelers receiver Mike Wallace said of games against the Browns. "We know that they don't like us there in Cleveland, and we don't like them very much over here either. So it's a big-time game."

"I was just telling someone the other day, it’s just such a unique game in a lot of aspects," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. " The close proximity -- I can't say I've been involved in a bus trip in any NFL city that I've been in. It's just not the nature of our business." (Pittsburgh and Cleveland are only 130 miles apart, roughly a 2 1/2-hour bus ride. Each team takes a bus to these games.)

Added Tomlin: "Of course, the history of the two organizations and the success that they’ve had in the history make it a unique matchup." (Pittsburgh leads the all-time series, 61-56, including two playoff wins.)

I've spent a lot of time in both locker rooms the past three years, and there is a significant difference in culture and expectation. Cleveland hopes to win this game, but Pittsburgh expects to win -- and win big.

The expectation level for both organizations is a world apart, and until that changes, the Browns will not close the gap on the Steelers. For example, Pittsburgh went 9-7 last year and you would think it was 0-16 by how upset the players were. Two assistant coaches also were let go after the Steelers' nine-win season.

How would the Browns react if they were 9-7? Think about that.

2. Cleveland must find a quarterback it can count on

Pittsburgh has an advantage over Cleveland in most personnel areas. But the most important position is quarterback, and that's been one of the biggest disparities the past several years.

On one side, the Steelers have two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. On the other, the Browns have had a revolving door that includes Brady Quinn, Derek Anderson, Charlie Frye, etc.

Cleveland might have found its counter in rookie quarterback Colt McCoy. The 2010 third-round pick has had only one awful game in seven starts.

In the first meeting with Pittsburgh, many expected McCoy to fail in his first NFL game. But McCoy looked poised at Heinz Field, throwing for a season-high 281 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. He also completed 69.7 percent of his passes against the NFL's No. 2 defense. Afterward, the Steelers said they were impressed with the rookie.

"I watched the tape when we played earlier in the season, [and] I watched myself and thought, 'Man, I've come a long ways from that. I'm playing a lot better.'" McCoy said this week.

3. Develop continuity

The Browns are expected to get rid of another head coach (Eric Mangini) and make their fifth head-coaching hire in 12 years. With a new coach usually comes different players, and there has been a lot of roster turnover in Cleveland.

With so many people coming in and out of the organization, the importance of beating Pittsburgh can get lost. Meanwhile, the Steelers are a model for consistency. Pittsburgh has three head coaches since 1969. It makes good coaching and personnel decisions that provide stability, and it's understood that beating Cleveland is expected every year.

There are some career Browns such as kicker Phil Dawson, receiver Josh Cribbs and left tackle Joe Thomas who have a firm understanding of the rivalry. But too much turnover in Cleveland has made it difficult for that message to sink in with all 53 players.

4. Cleveland must win

A rivalry isn't strong unless both teams are winners. This has been one of the more lopsided division matchups in the league for the past decade.

The Browns have nine seasons with 10 or more losses and only two winning seasons since 1999. Mangini is 2-9 against AFC North opponents since joining the Browns in 2009. In their win against Pittsburgh last season, the Browns found a winning formula by making the game low-scoring and not making many mistakes. They likely will look to win that way Sunday. Cleveland isn’t good enough now to sweep the Steelers, but winning more home games against Pittsburgh would start to develop confidence and momentum.

"We've had success against them a lot of different ways in the past. Some of it's scheme," Mangini explained. "Josh has done a good job against them in the past with some of the Wildcat stuff. ... Now being able to do it consistently, that's the important thing and that’s the challenging thing."

5. The Browns must become a contender

This final step is perhaps the most difficult. Not only must the Browns beat Pittsburgh consistently to make it a rivalry, but Cleveland must win marquee games. This is what makes the Steelers-Ravens rivalry special. When those teams play, first place in the AFC North and playoff implications are in play. Ravens-Steelers games get national exposure because both organizations are consistently good.

The Browns have a long way to go for this final step, as evidenced by their one playoff appearance in the past 12 seasons. But if Cleveland is going to turn the franchise around, it must get by Pittsburgh -- and lately that's been nearly impossible.

BEREA, Ohio -- It felt as if there was a changing of the guard at the Cleveland Browns' training facility this week. After talking it over with president Mike Holmgren and offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, Browns head coach Eric Mangini named rookie quarterback Colt McCoy the starter for the remainder of the 2010 season.

Mangini gushed about McCoy's work ethic, quick learning curve and how the rookie wouldn't accept it when everyone in the organization -- from Holmgren on down -- said they didn't plan for McCoy to see the field this year. Instead, McCoy is projected to play eight games, which is half of the Browns' season.

McCoy landed his initial opportunity through injury, but he's regaining the starting job with solid play in five starts. He threw for 975 yards, completed 63.8 percent of his passes and had an 85.3 passer rating. The rookie proved to be the best quarterback on the roster and essentially forced the team into this decision.

"I wasn't really looking at this as just being the case where we're throwing a young guy in to see whether or not a young guy can do it," Mangini said. "I think Colt really did a good job with the opportunities that he had. I think he's earned the chance to play these three games."

Is McCoy the long-term solution in Cleveland? It's too early to tell.

But the Browns (5-8) and the rest of the NFL are about to learn a lot more about McCoy in the next three games against AFC North opponents. The first test is Sunday, a road game against the Cincinnati Bengals (2-11) and then there's back-to-back home games against the playoff-bound Baltimore Ravens (9-4) and Pittsburgh Steelers (10-3).

The training wheels are officially off for McCoy.

"It's no landmark day," McCoy said Thursday. "Today is the day that I know I'm the starter and I have to go out and play. I have to go out and get better and I have to go out and help us win."

McCoy's play down the stretch will affect a lot with the Browns, starting with the NFL draft. Quarterback is the league's most important position, and Cleveland has lacked stability there since returning to the NFL in 1999.

A lot of quarterbacks have passed through Cleveland's revolving door, including Tim Couch, Kelly Holcomb, Jeff Garcia, Trent Dilfer, Charlie Frye, Derek Anderson, Brady Quinn and now Jake Delhomme. Poor quarterback play is one of the biggest reasons Cleveland has just one playoff appearance in more than a decade.

McCoy showed promise, going 2-3 in five starts. But five games do not make a solid season. Three more contests will provide a half-season's worth of film to evaluate the rookie.

"The No. 1 goal of the Cleveland Browns right now has to be finding out what they have in McCoy," said Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. "They like what they've seen from him, but can he be the guy? Or do the Browns need to draft a guy or bring in a free agent? I think the Browns need to have a clear picture of that going into the offseason."

The Browns also need to find out whether McCoy can play in inclement weather. Garcia, Frye and Quinn didn't have the arm strength to throw against the heavy winds that come off Lake Erie in Browns Stadium during the winter.

McCoy's biggest asset is his accuracy, not arm strength, which raised some red flags when the Browns drafted the University of Texas product in the third round. McCoy didn't see a lot of bad weather as a four-year starter in the Big 12.

"I've played in the snow and wind in Kansas a couple times. I've played in Nebraska," McCoy explained. "We had some real wet games back home [in Austin]."

McCoy believes playing in bad weather is more mental than physical. But when he was pressed by the media this week regarding his arm strength, a confident McCoy fired back.

"I guess we'll find out, won't we?" McCoy scoffed.

Running the carousel in the AFC North also will be a great learning tool for McCoy. If Cleveland is to turn the franchise around and make a run at the postseason, it first has to win within the division.

The past three seasons the Browns are just 3-12 against AFC North opponents. It's a major reason former head coach Romeo Crennel was fired in Cleveland and Mangini is currently on the hot seat. If McCoy can get hot and pick up two or three wins against Cleveland's biggest rivals, everyone in the organization looks better heading into the offseason.

It's obvious the Browns have a lot riding on McCoy's performance in these final three games.

This week's "Thought of the Day" in the AFC North focused on the Cleveland Browns. We asked Browns fans if they're sold on the resurgence of quarterback Jake Delhomme after he put together a near-perfect drive in last week's preseason opener against the Green Bay Packers.

Here were the responses from our division inbox and AFC North Twitter:

Delhomme for president!

Dick B. from Berea, Ohio, writes: There was no reason to expect that Delhomme wouldn't be able to bounce back. Everybody has a bad year now and then. And let's face it, Mike Holmgren made the call to take Delhomme as the QB for the time being, and he has a pretty good track record doing so.

GW Bear from Lakewood, Ohio, writes: Jake is exactly what I hoped he would be -- a veteran presence in the huddle who will be a game manager throwing short, accurate passes with an occasional bomb. With our improved line, he should keep his uniform clean and provide needed leadership and stability.

Jon from Columbus, Ohio, writes: Delhomme is what he is: A good quarterback who will have a decent year. Browns fans are understandably skewed when it comes to outlooks on quarterbacks. If he can give us one or two years of solid veteran presence and leadership, that's just what the Browns need. I like Jake's demeanor and team concept, as well.

Scott from Cleveland writes: Whatever Jake has left in the tank at this point in his career is a lot better than Derek Anderson or Brady Quinn.

Ryan from Bowling Green, Ohio, writes: I think that Delhomme showed us that he still has some stuff left in the tank. I am not saying that he is going to have a Pro Bowl season. But I think that he can be a solid starter at quarterback and be a good example for rookie Colt McCoy.

Not buying it!

Steve from Milltown, N.J., writes: How can anyone be sold on Delhomme after one game when the very definition of his career has been STREAKY? He puts together a few nice games and you think he finally settled down, then BAM, five interceptions in a game and two or three more [bad games] to follow. I am far from sold after a decent performance in part of a MEANINGLESS game.

MWyche2 via Twitter writes: Ever since he went to the Super Bowl, Delhomme has gone downhill. I just can't back him until I see better results.

Jonathan from Willowick, Ohio, writes: I am not completely sold on Delhomme. While his performance was great against a solid defense, I'd rather hold the cheering for the regular season. More so, I want to see how he responds after he's thrown an interception and the Browns are down. Still a lot of questions regarding this team and offense. Save the cheering for the regular season Dawgpound!!!

Mike Crum from Columbus, Ohio, writes: As a Browns fan, I'd like nothing more than to be sold on Delhomme at this point. But one series of seven passes isn't enough to convince me he is going to be the answer for the Browns. While I am extremely encouraged by his play Saturday, I have been a fan too long of the Browns to get my hopes up too high when it comes to their QB.

J.P. from Erie, Pa., writes: I think Delhomme deserves a chance, but I'm not sold on anything until the regular season.

AFC North Homer of the Week

John Finley from Easley, South Carolina, writes: I am one of the guys that has been on the Jake Delhomme bandwagon since day one. We have needed a veteran QB for such a long time, and Jake is the right guy at the right time for the Cleveland Browns. I honestly think Jake will have one of his best seasons in his career. I will also go as far to say that Jake may just do what John Elway did his last two seasons in the NFL before retiring, and that is win two Super Bowls back-to-back. Jake deserves it and the Cleveland Browns loyal fans deserve it.

AFC North final say

James Walker: I had my reservations about this $7 million move coming into the season, and I still need to see more before I'm sold on Delhomme. He was inconsistent during my time in Cleveland's training camp, but perhaps he's more of a gamer. Still, it's going to take more than one series of the first preseason game to prove Delhomme is all the way back. But if Delhomme does return to form, which would make Cleveland competitive this season, credit last weekend's brief outing against Green Bay as the beginning of the vet getting his groove back.

If you have any future "Thought of the Day" ideas, send them to our AFC North inbox.

LeBron James isn't the only high-profile athlete to leave Cleveland this year.

Former Browns first-round pick Brady Quinn recently sold his Cleveland-area home this past May, a source tells the AFC North blog. The Avon Lake, Ohio, property was first put on the market in October, which caused a media firestorm because Quinn had just been benched in favor of Derek Anderson and was the subject of trade rumors.

It turns out Cleveland did trade Quinn in the offseason to the Denver Broncos. Quinn now is in a three-way tussle for playing time with quarterback Kyle Orton and Broncos first-round pick Tim Tebow.

Quinn's tenure in Cleveland didn't pan out as expected. After being drafted in the first round in 2007, he was thought to be the Browns' long-term solution at quarterback. But Quinn spent most of his career on the sidelines and later underperformed when his number was called.

After the Browns traded Quinn and released Anderson this offseason, Cleveland completely started over at quarterback by signing 12-year veteran Jake Delhomme in free agency.

Offensive coordinators Bruce Arians, Cam Cameron, Bob Bratkowski and Brian Daboll have something in common: They're lightning rods for fans throughout the AFC North.

They are among the most talked about assistants in the division, and in many ways it's a very tough spot to be in. When things go right, the players executed. But when things go wrong, it's the offensive coordinators who get blamed for poor play calling. All four face different challenges in 2010.

Here's a look at the coordinators for each team:

Offensive coordinator: Bruce Arians

Team: Pittsburgh Steelers

Offensive ranking in '09: No. 7

Biggest challenge: The start of the season will be trying for the Steelers as star quarterback Ben Roethlisberger serves his conditional six-game suspension. With good behavior Roethlisberger could return after four games, which is the expected outcome. But Pittsburgh has had the luxury of Roethlisberger making magic out of broken plays and will need to be more structured and conventional to win during the first month of the season. Expect Arians to earn his money trying to scheme without his best offensive player.

Biggest strength: Even with the trade of Santonio Holmes, the Steelers still have a good group of veteran skill players. Hines Ward is coming off another 1,000-yard season, Heath Miller is the top tight end in the division, and tailback Rashard Mendenhall is a budding talent. Also look out for second-year receiver Mike Wallace. The NFL game didn't seem too big for him as a rookie, and Wallace seems primed to break out in his first year as a starter.

Biggest weakness: For Pittsburgh, it's scoring touchdowns. Despite a 4,000-yard quarterback, a 1,000-yard rusher and two 1,000-yard receivers, the Steelers averaged 23 points per game last season. That's not a bad number, but you would expect more points with the amount of yards Arians' unit produced last year. The offensive line struggled mightily in the red zone, and Willie Colon's season-ending Achilles injury doesn't help. Mendenhall also needs to get better at getting the tough yards, especially with Roethlisberger not in the fold early.

Forecast: I don't have particularly high hopes for Pittsburgh's offense with Byron Leftwich or Dennis Dixon under center. Teams will stack the box against Mendenhall until Pittsburgh proves it can pass. The offensive line also has questions. But once Roethlisberger comes back, this unit is talented enough to get hot in the second half of the season. But will it be too late?

Offensive coordinator: Bob Bratkowski

Team: Cincinnati Bengals

Offensive ranking in '09: No. 24

Biggest challenge: The biggest hurdle facing Bratkowski and the Bengals' offense is creating balance. It was very one-dimensional last year, particularly late in the season. Outside of Pro Bowl receiver Chad Ochocinco, there were no legitimate threats in the passing game. As a result, Cincinnati overhauled its offense via the draft and free agency by adding receivers Antonio Bryant, Jordan Shipley and tight end Jermaine Gresham.

Biggest strength: Despite the flashy additions in the passing game, the running game remains the most proven commodity for Cincinnati. Cedric Benson is coming off a career year and his first 1,000-yard season, and Bernard Scott and Brian Leonard are decent backup options. The Bengals' offensive line also is very good at controlling and moving the line of scrimmage. But the unit wasn't as solid in pass protection for quarterback Carson Palmer.

Biggest weakness: Right now the biggest question for Cincinnati's offense is at fullback. The Bengals have finally moved forward without Jeremi Johnson, who was constantly battling weight problems. Now the unproven Fui Vakapuna looks like the early favorite to win the job. Look for Cincinnati to run a lot of multiple-receiver and tight end sets this year. So the fullback position may not be as important.

Forecast: The Bengals will rely on a lot of new parts, including Bryant, Gresham and Shipley. But if a majority of these options pan out, Cincinnati could be a dangerous unit. Benson's off-field issues may be something to watch in case a suspension is looming. But other than that, expect Bratkowski and the Bengals to be much better than last year's No. 24 ranking.

Offensive coordinator: Cam Cameron

Team: Baltimore Ravens

Offensive ranking in '09: No. 13

Biggest challenge: Managing egos will be a unique challenge for Cameron. With the exception of quarterback Joe Flacco, every starting skill player for Baltimore has been to the Pro Bowl. That's a lot of talent and a lot of players who want the ball. Anquan Boldin, Ray Rice, Derrick Mason, Le'Ron McClain, Todd Heap and Willis McGahee all feel they can help the team win. But there will be weeks when Cameron must tell Boldin he's a decoy and games when Rice will get only 10 carries. How will they react? Winning solves a lot of problems. But if this team experiences a significant losing streak, look out.

Biggest strength: Versatility is something that Baltimore's offense has lacked in the past. But that's no longer the case. The Ravens should be able to win games on the ground and through the air this year, which was the goal this offseason for general manager Ozzie Newsome. Boldin's acquisition was huge for the passing game, and Rice still hasn't reached his ceiling as an NFL running back. Cameron believes Baltimore has the potential to be a top-five scoring offense, and on paper there's no reason to doubt that.

Biggest weakness: There aren't many weaknesses on this unit. But if I had to nitpick, Baltimore's depth on the offensive line isn't the greatest. Injuries happen all the time in the trenches. An injury at offensive tackle to Michael Oher or Jared Gaither, for example, would result in a significant drop-off in talent.

Forecast: There is a lot of preseason hype surrounding the Ravens, and the offense shares those extremely high expectations. This unit has talent, depth and a developing third-year quarterback in Flacco, who, if healthy, should put up career-best numbers this season. As long as Cameron can get everyone to play nice and share the football, this offense should be one of the NFL's most effective units.

Offensive coordinator: Brian Daboll

Team: Cleveland Browns

Offensive ranking in '09: No. 32

Biggest challenge: The Browns do not have a lot of talent to work with offensively. During Cleveland's four-game winning streak to end last season, Daboll had to get by with a lot of running and Wildcat formations with Josh Cribbs. Much of Cleveland's success will hinge on veteran quarterback Jake Delhomme, who had more than twice as many interceptions (18) last year than touchdowns (eight). If Daboll can get a bounce-back season out of Delhomme, that will be a good starting point for Cleveland's offense to improve.

Biggest strength: The left side of the offensive line is one of the NFL's best. Joe Thomas is considered by many to be the best left tackle in football, and Eric Steinbach has been a quality guard for years. Cleveland also hit in last year's draft with first-round pick Alex Mack, who appears to be one of the league's up-and-coming centers. This trio provides some stability to an otherwise unstable offense.

Biggest weakness: Cleveland's offense has several holes but the biggest is at wide receiver. Mohamed Massaquoi had a decent rookie year, but he's likely not ready to be a No. 1 receiver. Brian Robiskie had a good offseason but remains unproven, and Chansi Stuckey isn't a game-breaker. The Browns this week also added veteran Bobby Engram, who turned 37 this year. A case can be made that this is the worst group of receivers in the league.

Forecast: The Browns were ranked last in '09, so there's nowhere to go but up. There are a lot of question marks, and I don't see enough upgrades across the board to be optimistic about this unit. Whether Delhomme at this stage of his career is an upgrade over Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson also remains to be seen.

Mike Golic and Cris Carter break down the QB battles around the NFL.

Austin from Charleston, SC, writes: Hey JW, can you run one of those pieces soon where you show the trash talk from last preseason that just makes the fans look silly?

Our community seems to enjoy these posts. It's our way of keeping everyone accountable for their statements in the AFC North blog.

Upon Austin's request, here's another batch of classics from a year ago:

Pittsburgh Steelers

• "I will just say that I fully expect the 2009 Pittsburgh Steelers to be the greatest Steelers team in their illustrious existence. This year the Steelers will be blowing teams out with defense, with offense, with special teams and with grit and determination and the will to win again. Brady and the Pats are going to be playing second fiddle to Roethlisberger and the Steelers."
• "Steelers have a real good shot at 14-2 this year."
• "The Steelers can't ask for an easier schedule."
• "The best thing that Mike Tomlin does for the Steelers is make sure that the team understands there are no easy games in football."
• "I CAN SMELL TITLE No. 7."

Cincinnati Bengals

• "The Bungals may just be talented enough to make a play this year!"
• "Not only will the Bengals not make the playoffs, but every team that drafts [Chad Ochocinco] for their fantasy team will not make the playoffs, either."
• "The Bengals have a new motto for this season: Fight back! LOL, I’m sorry, that sounds lame."
• "Yeah it is pretty lame, but it beats last year’s "Roll over and play dead!"
• "It would be nice to think that the Bengals can turn it around this year. However, they remain a couple of players away from being a couple of players away."

Baltimore Ravens

• "Peyton Manning will do no such thing. He doesn’t have Marvin Harrison anymore, and secondly we have the fastest--yes the fastest--secondary in the league. I don't see hardly any team throwing bombs on us like they used to."
• "As I have been saying all along, what a blunder of a move Ozzie made by drafting Michael Oher. Had Ozzie passed on Oher, he could have had both an impact WR and a starting OL."
• "Ravens will win AT LEAST 12 games. RAVENS WILL...WILL...win the division this year. Anyone remember how many close games the Stealers should've lost?"
• "L.J. Smith is huge for the Ravens; especially against the Steelers."

Cleveland Browns

• "The Browns needn't worry about their fan base sticking with the team. At some point the Browns will put together a rebuilding effort that works. It may already be happening before our eyes."
• "The Browns are rebuilding the right way. They're laying down the foundation of the football team."
• "A number of Cleveland fans are confused, nervous, or dispassionate about Mangini and Kokinis' first draft, but I totally understand it."
• "A year of Brady Quinn as starter should be an improvement."
• "I would take 1. Derek Anderson 2. Joe Flacco 3. Carson Palmer 4. Ben Roethlisberger."

BEREA, Ohio -- Veteran quarterback Jake Delhomme made no secret about his intentions this year with the Cleveland Browns.

"I play this game for one reason and one reason only -- to win," Delhomme said. "That's what this game is about. There's something about walking into a locker room after a game with those 10 minutes when it's just the coaches and the players. There's nothing greater than seeing a mission accomplished for the work you put in."

The Browns are hopeful they finally have a proven starting quarterback this year. Since returning to the NFL in 1999, Cleveland has had a plethora of rotating quarterbacks that included Tim Couch, Kelly Holcomb, Trent Dilfer, Charlie Frye, Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson.

Delhomme looked good in Wednesday's practice that was open to the media. He hit receivers Brian Robiskie and Chansi Stuckey for a pair of diving touchdown receptions to the outside. Delhomme also was accurate and in command of the huddle throughout Wednesday's organized team activities.

"The things that we have heard about his leadership and our research is definitely showing up since he's been here," said Cleveland head coach Eric Mangini.

The Browns have a quiet confidence about Delhomme.

Expectations are fairly low, because Delhomme is 35 and coming off the worst season of his NFL career. Last year Delhomme threw for 2,015 yards, eight touchdowns and 18 interceptions before being benched by the Carolina Panthers.

"I love six of the seven years I had in Carolina," Delhomme said. "I'll be perfectly honest. Everything was great, [but] last season just wasn’t a lot of fun."

Much of Cleveland's success rest on Delhomme's shoulders. If he has a bounce-back year, the Browns have a good chance to improve on last year's 5-11 record. If Delhomme has another disastrous year, Cleveland could be in major trouble.

Here are the most interesting stories Saturday in the AFC North:

• Once near the top of the NFL, jersey sales for Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's jerseys have quickly dropped out of the top 25.

Morning take: I was in Pittsburgh for three days last week and didn't see one Roethlisberger jersey. I wonder if his jersey is cheaper than this one.

• Anquan Boldin is looking good in the Baltimore Ravens' offense.

Morning take: Boldin should be a great fit and the best offensive weapon to date for quarterback Joe Flacco.

• Cincinnati Bengals receiver Maurice Purify pleaded not guilty to disorderly conduct in Campbell County (KY.) District Court.

Morning take: The preliminary hearing for Purify is set for May 20. The sooner he can move past this, the better.

• Here is a look at the Cleveland Browns' projected starters on offense.

Morning take: It's not an overwhelmingly impressive group. But if they can run the football, they have a chance to cause some problems.

Here are the most interesting stories in the AFC North:

• As the Baltimore Ravens open veteran minicamp Friday, could the biggest offseason addition be new quarterbacks coach Jim Zorn?

Morning take: I would also add receiver Anquan Boldin to the list. Both Zorn and Boldin will be very important pieces in helping Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco get to the next level.

• Former Cleveland Browns quarterback Brian Sipe has advice for rookie Browns quarterback Colt McCoy.

Morning take: As Derek Anderson will attest, Cleveland is not the most quarterback-friendly city. Playing well will be key.

• Where will the Pittsburgh Steelers draft in 2011?

Morning take: I won't make it that easy for you. Click the link and find out.

• Tight ends like Jermaine Gresham of the Cincinnati Bengals are becoming hot commodities.

Morning take: A good tight end can be a quarterback's best friend. Cincinnati hopes Gresham fills that role for Carson Palmer.