INDIANAPOLIS -- In Colt they trust.
Which means the Browns are going to window shop this weekend at the NFL Scouting Combine, but they both think and hope their Quarterback of the Future is already on the roster.
A nearly-hour long talk at the NFL Scouting Combine with new Browns head coach Pat Shurmur and general manager Tom Heckert covered a wide range of topics, but there seemed to be a consensus on the game's most important position.
Colt McCoy is the Browns' starting quarterback whenever football resumes in 2011, and they hope Colt McCoy is their quarterback for a long, long time.
"I'm extremely excited about working with Colt and Colt being our guy," Shurmur said.
Both Shurmur and Heckert said the Browns will study all of the available quarterbacks in this draft but that the plan is to move forward with McCoy as the starter.
"He's very talented, works extremely hard, football is important to him," Shurmur said. "He's an accurate passer. He understands the game. He has all the things you're looking for when you're looking at who's going to be your guy."
Shurmur said he became a fan of McCoy during the draft process last year, when Shurmur was the Rams offensive coordinator and the Rams were in the market for a quarterback. They ended up going with Sam Bradford at No. 1 overall and the Browns drafted McCoy in the third round, something that Heckert admitted was a surprise.
The Browns thought highly of McCoy and were surprised he was still available with the 85th overall pick. They'll do their homework on all of the quarterbacks again this year -- "You're always looking at the quarterback position in every draft," Shurmur said -- and will be ready, just in case a McCoy situation presents itself again.
Though Heckert said he "wouldn't hesitate" to draft a quarterback at 6 if the Browns believe the right player was there, he said the strength of the draft indicates to the Browns that they're going to get a high-level player with the sixth pick and are prioritizing other positions.
"We think Colt is going to be good, we really do," Heckert said. "But on the other hand, if you think a guy (in the draft) is going to be great, you'd be silly not to look at him."
The quarterbacks here weighed in on Friday morning, conducted formal interviews Friday night and will do so again Saturday night. All except Missouri's Blaine Gabbert are expected to throw during the quarterback workout Sunday.
SORTING THE ROOM -- McCoy only played last season after both Jake Delhomme and Seneca Wallace went down with ankle injuries. Wallace is due to become a free agent, but the Browns feel he's a good fit and hope he'll return.
Delhomme is under contract but might have to take a pay cut if he wants to stay. Heckert wouldn't directly say that, but he said the Browns don't have to make a final decision anytime soon.
On Wallace, Heckert said "he got a chance last year, played well and it's unfortunate that he got hurt. We like him. We'd like to have him back."
Heckert said "all indications" are that Wallace is open to returning.
"I'm a Seneca Wallace fan," Shurmur said. "He's a West Coast Offense quarterback."
Bringing back both Wallace and Delhomme, Heckert said, "isn't super far out of the realm." He said he believes Delhomme likes Cleveland, likes mentoring McCoy and wants to return.
Heckert said the shoulder issue that gave McCoy fits in December is "fine."
