National Football League

Browns find leader with Texas twang

Published Oct. 19, 2010 10:16 a.m. ET

foxsports

Colt McCoy stood in front of his teammates Saturday night, looked them in the eyes and told them the hay was in the barn.

Say what?

Knowing there weren't any Tuscola, Texas, natives around him at the time, McCoy had to translate.

"Some of the city folk I had to (explain the expression)," McCoy said.

It was McCoy's way of telling his teammates that the preparation was done, and it was time to go out and do the job.

McCoy didn't get the win in his NFL debut, but if it were an indication of what Cleveland's rookie quarterback is capable of doing, the Browns might have to hear more "hay in the barn" pep talks before games.

Starting in place of injured quarterbacks Jake Delhomme and Seneca Wallace, McCoy completed 23 of 33 passes for 281 yards and a touchdown while adding 22 rushing yards in Cleveland's 28-10 loss to the Steelers.

"I think Colt McCoy did himself some justice today," Steelers safety Ryan Clark said. "I think he should be their quarterback. I don't think he was rattled at all."

Not only did he account for the most yards passing against the Steelers this year, McCoy did it without two of his top receivers. Joshua Cribbs and Mohammed Massaquoi both left in the first half with head injuries.

"You can tell that he is a natural-born leader," Browns guard Eric Steinbach said. "It is good to have him in the huddle. A lot of rookies can't come in right away. They may want to be a leader, but they don't have that 'it.'"

Despite falling to 1-5, the Browns may have found their quarterback - a position they have long sought to solidify. McCoy became the 16th starting quarterback for the Browns since their return to the NFL in 1999.

"He showed a lot of poise, and I am encouraged by that," Browns coach Eric Mangini said. "This is about as hard as it gets with this environment, with as loud as it gets, with this type of defense. It's tough, and I thought he did well."

McCoy did throw two interceptions, including one on his fourth NFL pass. That occurred when he tried to thread the ball to tight end Ben Watson, and the pass was picked off by Clark.

McCoy rebounded on the next series by driving the Browns to the Steelers' 21. It resulted in Cleveland taking a 3-0 lead with a short Phil Dawson field goal.

"Colt did a real good job for a rookie coming in against a great team," Browns running back Peyton Hillis said. "He made a couple of mistakes early in the game but rebounded from it and ended well."

McCoy threw for 214 yards in the second half and had the Browns within striking distance until the final few minutes of the game.

"It seems like nothing is too big for the kid," Steinbach said. "He can take whatever situation is thrown at him."

Still, Mangini was non-committal about who he plans to use at quarterback going forward. Delhomme and Wallace have ankle injuries but should be back soon.

"I prepare every week like I am the starter," McCoy said. "Because of that, it helped to grow where I am at now. That's why they drafted me. I am ready to do what this team needs."