Colt McCoy's Season Is Likely Over For The Browns

Colt McCoy Now Looking Doubtful For Browns In Week 17

It sounds like the concussion suffered in Week 14 will end Colt McCoy's season for the Cleveland Browns. McCoy hasn't played since and has yet to be cleared to practice which means he's likely going to miss Week 17.

"He needs to be medically cleared before he can practice or play and that hasn't happened," Browns coach Pat Shurmur said. "He's not passing it, so whatever that means, until it's passed he can't play and it's pretty cut and dry."

McCoy's concussion came on a vicious-looking hit from James Harrison, which resulted in plenty of discussion over the legality of the hit.

With the Browns wrapping up a four or five-win season, the conversation shifts to the NFL draft and what the Browns will do with what looks to be a top 10 pick in April 2012. Do they go with one of the top quarterbacks in the first round? Or do they stick it out with McCoy? I'd lean towards McCoy returning but you never know with so much time before we hit the draft.

Assuming McCoy doesn't play this weekend, he ends the season completing 57 percent of his passes with 14 touchdowns to 11 interceptions.

Check out SB Nation's Dawgs By Nature for more on McCoy and the Browns.

Colt McCoy Could Return For Week 17 Vs. Steelers

Cleveland Browns quarterback Colt McCoy could return for the season finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers, according to a story in the National Football Post. McCoy has been out with a concussion since Dec. 8 -- coincidentally in a game against the Steelers -- but could receive clearance to practice as soon as Wednesday.

Browns coach Pat Shurmur didn't exactly guarantee McCoy's return, but definitely did not rule out his participation in comments to the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

"I can't cross that bridge yet," said Shurmur. "We'll know more Wednesday when we start practicing for the Steelers and then we'll talk about it then. And I'm not trying to be vague. That's the case."

James Harrison received a one-game suspension for the helmet-to-helmet hit that gave McCoy the concussion, although he did remain in the game. He was not diagnosed until the next day, when he revealed that he did not remember parts of the game. McCoy has had a solid, if unspectacular year, throwing 14 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

For more on McCoy's possible return, be sure to check out Browns blog Dawgs by Nature.

Colt McCoy Hasn't Practiced In Nearly Two Weeks

Nearly two weeks after sustaining a concussion, Cleveland Browns quarterback Colt McCoy has still not been cleared to return to the practice field, Tony Grossi of the Cleveland Plain-Dealer reports.

"He was here this morning," head coach Pat Shurmur said. "Did a little physical activity."

The 212-pound McCoy took a shot to the head and neck area from 260-pound Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison during the Browns' 14-3 loss on December 8. McCoy exited the game briefly, with trainers checking out his non-passing hand, but not checking the 2010 third-round pick for a possible concussion.

In defending his team's medical staff, Browns president Mike Holmgren said no one saw the hit, which resulted in a one-game suspension for Harrison. On Tuesday, the league informed all 32 NFL teams that a certified athletic trainer will be present in the press box to alert sideline medical personnel of potential head injuries.

As for McCoy, another missed practice this week likely means another start for backup quarterback Seneca Wallace. Th Browns face the Baltimore Ravens this Saturday.

For more on the Browns, visit Dawgs By Nature.

Colt McCoy's Concussion Likely To Cost Him Another Game

For the second week in a row, Colt McCoy is unlikely to start for the Cleveland Browns due to a concussion. McCoy suffered the concussion in Week 14, after taking a helmet-to-helmet hit from James Harrison. Harrison was suspended for the hit, but he'll be back on the field before McCoy is. The Browns' starting QB missed Week 15's loss to the Arizona Cardinals and is expected to miss the Week 16 game against the Baltimore Ravens.

The Ravens, who are in a race for the AFC North crown and the top seed in the AFC, will probably be happy to see Seneca Wallace instead of McCoy. On twitter, AP reporter Tom Withers said that McCoy was sent home from practice for his concussion-like symptoms. Withers also quoted Browns coach Pat Shumur as saying, regarding Wallace, "More than likely he'll be the starter, for sure."

For more on McCoy and the Browns, head over to Cleveland Browns blog Dawgs By Nature.

Colt McCoy Ruled Out For Browns In Week 15

Colt McCoy has been officially ruled out for Sunday's game against the Arizona Cardinals due to lingering symptoms from a concussion sustained last week against the Pittsburgh Steelers. McCoy was sent home from practice Friday, as he has been all week, failing to get cleared by the Cleveland Browns medical staff. Seneca Wallace will start Sunday for the Browns, and could potentially finish out the season as the team's starter.

McCoy took a helmet-to-helmet hit from Steelers linebacker James Harrison in Week 14 that left the quarterback dazed. The Browns staff failed to diagnose any signs of concussion at the time, and sent McCoy to finish out the game under center. After the game, McCoy's father Brad said that his son told him that he had no recollection of the fourth quarter interception he threw to effectively end the Browns' comeback chances.

The news puts an even bigger damper on what has been yet another disappointing season for Cleveland. They will play the Baltimore Ravens in Week 16, followed by a rematch with the Steelers to close out the season. Wallace started four games for the Browns in 2010 and played well, completing 63.4 percent of his passes for 694 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions.

For more on this weekend's game, head over to Browns blog Dawgs By Nature and Cardinals blog Revenge Of The Birds.

Colt McCoy Sent Home Again With Concussion Symptoms

Colt McCoy had to be sent home from practice again Friday, putting his status for Sunday's game against the Arizona Cardinals in serious question. McCoy has been sent home from practice everyday this week, unable to shake the concussion symptoms that have plagued him since last week's Thursday-night game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

 Against the Steelers, McCoy sustained a helmet-to-helmet hit from linebacker James Harrison but team doctors deemed him okay to play in the fourth quarter. After the game, McCoy said that he could not recall an interception he threw following the hit. The NFL suspended Harrison for one game for the hit. The Cleveland Browns could face league action as well for not noticing any concussion symptoms at the time.

Although McCoy has yet to be officially ruled out this weekend, it would be surprising at this point if Seneca Wallace wasn't given the starting nod. Wallace started four games for the Browns last season.

For more on McCoy and the Browns, head over to the SB Nation blog Dawgs By Nature.

Colt McCoy Still Not Practicing After Concussion

Cleveland Browns quarterback Colt McCoy was sent home from Wednesday's practice. McCoy was still showing signs of a concussion, according to Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Backup Seneca Wallace is expected to start this week when the team travels to Arizona for a game against the Cardinals. 

McCoy has not officially been ruled out for Week 15; however, he has yet to practice this week. Wallace took all of the snaps with the Browns' starters in his place.

Wallace played in eight games, starting in four of them, for the Browns last season. He was re-signed to a three-year, $9 million deal in March, giving the Browns a veteran backup for Colt McCoy. 

McCoy sustained his concussion from a helmet-to-helmet hit by Steelers linebacker James Harrison in a Week 14 game. Harrison was suspended one game for the hit, and the Browns were surrounded in controversy for their handling of McCoy's injury during the game.

For more on McCoy and the Browns, check out Dawgs By Nature. 

Colt McCoy Didn't Display Concussion Symptoms During Game, Says Mike Holmgren

Cleveland Browns Team President Mike Holmgren offered further details of the team's in-game handling of a concussion suffered by Colt McCoy at a Wednesday press conference. According to Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Holmgren acknowledged that the team did not give McCoy a SCAT2 concussions test on the sidelines because the quarterback did not exhibit signs of a concussion and the training staff missed the hit.

Cleveland came under fire for their handling of the situation from McCoy's father. Both the league and the NFLPA investigated the situation. Holmgren told the media today that he does not expect any discipline against the team. He added that the NFL and the NFLPA will work with the Browns to improve their procedures for handling similar incidents. 

Some of the training staff was busy dealing with an injury to tight end Alex Smith, which was part of the reason why they did not see the hit on McCoy. An NFL observer watching from the booth did not call down to the sidelines because the assumed the doctors and training staff had seen the hit.

When McCoy came off the field, he was complaining about his hand. Holmgren described McCoy as "lucid" on the sidelines. With McCoy reporting or showing no signs of a concussion and the training staff having not seen the hit, head trainer Joe Sheehan gave head coach Pat Shurmur the all clear to put McCoy back on the field. 

McCoy did not show signs of a concussion until after the game, according to the Browns. 

Steelers linebacker James Harrisons is appealing a one-game suspension for the helmet-to-helmet hit on McCoy that caused the injury. Harrison was penalized for roughing the passer during the game.

For more on the Browns and the McCoy situation, check out Dawgs By Nature. 

James Harrison Suspended One Game For Colt McCoy Hit

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison has been handed a one-game suspension for his hit on Colt McCoy

Browns Head Coach Pat Shurmur Defends Decision On Colt McCoy; League Will Get Involved

Cleveland Browns head coach Pat Shurmur acknowledged that quarterback Colt McCoy likely has a concussion at his Friday press conference. Shurmur also defended the team’s decision to send McCoy back into the game after suffering a vicious hit from Steelers linebacker James Harrison, according to Mary Kay Cabbot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

According to Shurmur, the Browns did their due diligence to determine whether or not McCoy was showing the signs of a concussion after the hit. Shurmur said that McCoy did not have symptoms and was cleared to return by Cleveland’s training staff. Shurmur’s quotes as reported by Fox Sports Ohio:

We go through the strict protocol to evaluate whether there are concussion-like symptoms.

If he would have shown symptoms of a concussion then I wouldn’t have put him back in the game. It would have been out of my hands anyways because I would have been told he can’t go back in the game.

The quarterback did not exhibit any signs of a concussion until after the game, according to Shurmur, hence the request that reporters not shine their lights on McCoy during his post-game press availability.

It’s a dicey situation for the Browns. The team came under fire following the game from Colt McCoy’s father, Brad. He criticized the team’s handling of the situation, noting that McCoy had signs of a concussion following the hit.

Shurmur expressed empathy for Brad McCoy’s concerns and said that he would be reaching out to his quarterback’s father.

League spokesman Greg Aiello said today that the NFL would be looking into the matter, according to Tony Grossi of the Plain Dealer. The NFL will “discuss it with the team,” per Aiello.

With an angry parent and a league sensitive to how concussions are handled, the matter is unlikely to just fade into the background for the Browns.

Many throughout the league were already questioning whether or not McCoy is the answer at quarterback in Cleveland. This incident and a deep quarterback class in the 2012 NFL Draft should only add fuel to the debate.

Colt McCoy Had Signs Of A Concussion, Father Says

WIth just under six minutes remaining in the Cleveland Browns Thursday Night Football loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Browns QB Colt McCoy was on the receiving end of a vicious hit from Steelers LB James Harrison. McCoy hit the dirt and briefly exited the game before returning.

You can see video of the hit here. 

However, there are signs that McCoy should not have returned to the game because he may have suffered a concussion on that play. McCoy's father, Brad, talked to the Cleveland Plain Dealer and said his son doesn't even remember throwing the interception a few plays later that essentially sealed the game for the Steelers.

"He never should've gone back in the game,'' said Brad. "He was basically out (cold) after the hit. You could tell by the ridigity of his body as he laying there. There were a lot of easy symptoms that should've told them he had a concussion. He was nauseated and he didn't know who he was. From what I could see, they didn't test him for a concussion on the sidelines. They looked at his (left) hand.''

Browns coach Pat Shurmur said after the game that McCoy was fine but the Browns PR staff apparently asked reporters not to shine their lights on McCoy in the postgame press conference. Sensitivity to light is a symptom of a concussion.

"After the game, the (public relations staff) made sure Colt's interview was brief and he couldn't face the lights in his press conference,'' said Brad. "The T.V. lights and the Stadium lights were killing him. Why would you say he was fine? That makes it even worse.''

The Browns may have some explaining to do with this one. The league has put in extra measures to avoid players re-entering a game with a concussion but, if McCoy's father (and others) are accurate, they got it wrong on this one.

I suspect the Browns will explain their thinking at some point.

ANIMATED: James Harrison's Hit On Colt McCoy Will Probably Be A Costly One

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison hasn't been fined for an illegal hit in quite a while, be he can be sure he'll get one in the mail from the NFL this week. On a play in which Cleveland Browns quarterback Colt McCoy was rolling out of the pocket, McCoy dumped a pass off to only get absolutely crushed by Harrison.

via gif.mocksession.com

As you can see, Harrison led the shot with his head hitting McCoy right in the helmet. I don't know if I'd call the hit dirty, but given his history with hits and fines, Harrison should know by now to wrap up and hit with his shoulder rather than his helmet.

On another note, Colt McCoy came back into the game a few plays after the hit. Immediately after the hit, McCoy laid on the ground for quite a while and looked clearly dazed on the sideline. It's curious with the crackdown on concussions that McCoy would be allowed to re-enter the game. A few plays after McCoy returned, he threw a bad interception in the endzone.

For more on the Browns head over to Dawgs By Nature. For more on the Steelers, check out Behind The Steel Curtain. Follow the rest of the Week 14 NFL action at SB Nation NFL.