McKown? Really?

After seeing the guaranteed portions of what Josh McKown is to be paid by the Cleveland Browns, I have a lot of questions.

Many people who cover the Browns tend to assume a lot, but I can't.  All I can do is speculate, and try to fill in the missing puzzle pieces based on real clues and logic.

In this article by Casey Drottar of ESPN Cleveland, Casey thinks that Josh McKown's expectation of being the starter is bad news for the Browns.

I can't argue with that.  I believe that Brian Hoyer is, overall, a better quarterback, and furthermore will get better still.

But here's what I don't know: What was Hoyer offered?  The sides did talk, and that means that some tentative offer was made.  

Was this offer similar to McKown's?  If so, then the hell with Brian Hoyer, because if he thinks he'll get more from anybody else, he's delusional.

But if the Browns' offer was less than what McKown accepted, then the hell with Ray Farmer, who signed an inferior quarterback for more money.

Now for my clearly identified shot-in-the-dark speculations:

1: Hoyer's camp didn't outright reject whatever offer was made, but was cool to the Browns.  Without burning any bridges, they made it clear that they wanted to keep shopping around.  Ray Farmer needed to tie up this loose end.
He clearly regards Hoyer and McKown both as "bridge" quarterbacks.  The coaches themselves want a strong defense and run-first offense, and a merely competant quarterback can succeed--up to a point--in this system.
McKown was simply the first to sign.

2: For some reason, Farmer did favor McKown over Hoyer, and may well have offered Hoyer a little less.

3: Hoyer is much younger, and sees himself as a starter.  He feels that in Cleveland, while he might win the starting gig again, he will be replaced.  He was probably unwilling to sign for more than one year with the Browns.

4: Textageddon had nothing whatsoever to do with this.  That is idiotic.

I'm mostly just guessing about all but number four.

Now for the more in-depth, and (I'd bet a small amount given the right odds) accurate speculations:

Farmer is trying to lure free agent wide recievers to the Browns, and needed to settle the issue quickly.  Some veteran quarterback had to be in place, and McKown at least tore things up in Chicago.  He might not be the greatest, but he's better than "?" for a wide reciever thinking about becoming a Brown.

Ray Farmer knows that he's probably not going the the Superbowl with either Brian Hoyer or Josh McKown.  But he does already have most of the other parts and pieces in place for a real contender.

He'll get closer yet after his second draft and free agency period.

A strong running game, and a newly augmented recieving corps will enable a journeyman to win a lot of games, ala Trent Dilfer.

In McKown, he probably signed the more willing and cooperative journeyman for about the same money he would have settled on with Hoyer, had his side negotiated in earnest.  

Farmer isn't done yet.  McKown is a worst-case long-term starter.  He has eyes for Mariota, Foles, and possibly another quarterback he can draft in the second round.

That's not all the possibilites:

Manziel could be much better in his second season.  I'm not assuming that this guy is washed up after two starts.  It's nothing Ray or Mike can count on, but it is a possibility.

Now for the craziest possibility:  Connor Shaw. I seem to be the only guy in Cleveland who heard new offensive coordinator DeFelipo mention the "west coast" offense.

Shaw can definitely run that kind of offense.

I know from Jim Miller that a quarterback can build up his arm-strength, and Shaw should have a little more mustard than he has in the past.  He'll never have the arm to be an elite quarterback, but if we're talking Josh McKown as the presumptive starter...don't count this kid out.

Shaw is one of the most prolific quarterbacks in NCAA history.  He no doubt has a chip on his shoulder.  For the long term, the Browns will look elsewhere for their future franchise quarterback, but in the short term, he could be better than McKown in a WEST COAST system.

Think Jeff Garcia.

Another thing about Josh McKown is that he's a better mentor than Brian Hoyer.  Hoyer is still competing himself.  He's a good man, and probably never withheld anything from Manziel, but he's still the undrafted guy who gets no respect himself.

McKown is in a different place.  He's had his time.  He's a strong christian.  His ego is no longer on the line, and he's willing to help Manziel, Shaw, or anybody else as much as he can.

When the Browns hired McDonald as the Browns quarterback coach, Rich Gannon (NFL Radio) ranted "Who is this guy?"

In general, Rich hates that there are few really good quarterback coaches in the NFL.  Reviewing his own long, often rocky career, he cites coaches he himself had that were "no help at all.  Just marking time trying to be the next coordinator".

I have to respect that, coming from a Superbowl MVP.

McKown will help.

With Jordan Cameron's injury history, I can't say I'll be unhappy to see him leave in free agency.  I am nervous about Skrine, who will get some serious offers as a starter outside.  I hope that Ray is willing to pay the guy that kind of money, because he's worth it, even if Gilbert does bump him inside.

Buster Skrine is regarded throughout the league as a top-flight cornerback despite his short stature.  Ray has 50 million to play with, the bulk of which he is mandated to spend, and "overpaying" Skrine is a smart way to do that.

Speaking of free agents, NT/DT Stephen Paea (Oregon state-currently with da Bearss) would be a great grab.  He's still young, and as far as I know still holds the bench press record at the combine.

His sub-310 lb. size is meaningless, as he manhandles much bigger centers and guards.  He's also 6'1", which gives him great leverage.

The link I provided is from his own combine--and not really that insightful, as it said he lacked the size to line up as a nose tackle in the NFL.  

Nose tackle is about leverage, as Bob Golic (who never weighed over 270 lbs) would be quick to tell you.  Some top nose tackles have been 6'5", 335 lb. bohemoths who use their reach to keep blockers at bay, but the real prototype is a shorter guy like Paea.  

And listen: Nose tackles don't have to be fat, okay?  They just have to have leverage, be strong as hell, and use their hands well.

Paea can not only hold down the 2-gap nose, but is disruptive as hell.  He gets sacks and tackles-for-losses, and he's still an ascending player.

In Pettine's flexible scheme, he can play defensive tackle as well.  Some say he could play 3-4 DE, and that's probably true, but there his short stature is a disadvantage vs. much taller tackles and in more space, so the hell with that on this team.

If Ray can steal Paea from da Bearss, he could color both DT and nose pretty well covered for the Browns, and focus more on other positions in the draft.

I still like Phil Taylor, but he's hurt a lot too, and lacks discipline.  Paea is durable as hell, and sticks to whatever the plan is.

Just sayin