Some things never change.
That is when you're talking about the Cleveland Browns, you're usually talking about the quarterback position.
Despite being the first day of rookie minicamp, there was still a lot of talk that concerning who will play the position.
Mike Pettine all but named Josh McCown as the starting quarterback for the "foreseeable future" over Johnny Manziel "because of his experience."
"It's what I've said about Johnny that we want him to have essentially horse blinders on and focus on his job, getting up every day, perfecting his craft, whatever it is whether the homework that quarterbacks have, his footwork, his releases, that he's much more concerned with himself than anything else," Pettine said. "So I think we're not going to start talking competition. Josh will more than likely be the starter going into camp and in the foreseeable future, I don't see that changing."
When pressed about being the starter for the regular season, Pettine stopped short of making that announcement.
"I'm not going to commit to a starter for Game 1 but if you have to put someone out there to start (training camp) and it would be Josh."
Pettine said the dots can be connected on who the favorite is to play once the regular season begins.
"If you're taking the starter reps that would be fair to say," he said. "We feel much more comfortable with Josh and I'm not going to get into all the circumstances about what happened in Tampa. Obviously, we were comfortable as we brought him here and signed him. We think we're going to see more of the Josh from Chicago than the Josh from Tampa."
The Browns think McCown can manage the game and keep the turnovers down.
"A lot of that has to do with supporting cast," Pettine said. "If we're playing well around Josh, that will make his job that much easier."
Pettine also said the Browns are taking their time working with Manziel and trying to ease him back into the flow of football after a nearly three month stint in a treatment facility in Pennsylvania.
"I just think we're too close to him getting out (of rehab)," Pettine said. "I just think it's too early to start expanding in what we're asking him to do and what we're wanting him to get involved in. It's baby steps here at this point. It's a new system, new coordinator, new quarterback coach, and there's plenty on his plate and there's plenty of football that's going to be played before the start of the season for us to make an evaluation."
"He's coming in and doing everything asked of him," Pettine said. "I don't think he's expecting us, from what he's come from, to push him right out there and say he's in competition for the (starting) job."
Pettine said since he's been involved more in the offensive meetings this year, he has noticed that Manziel is serious about his approach this year.
"He has the right answers," Pettine said. "He seems to be dialed in and focused and done everything we've asked of him so far."
Extra Points
Shelton, Erving Flash: Despite having a non-contact practice, Pettine said there were times in the first practice that the reasons they drafted were confirmed. The Browns drafted DL Danny Shelton 12th overall and OL Cameron Irving 19th overall.
"We know things are slow at the beginning, but with pretty much everybody we drafted there was a moment, "Oh, that's why we drafted him."
Pettine already feels the Browns will be much deeper on the line on both sides of the ball.
"We'll be much deeper on the offensive line and we'll be much deeper on the defensive line and that was a problem last year."
Erving lined up at right tackle for most of the first practice, but Pettine said he will move around to guard and center, as well.
Big Numbers: The Browns had 77 players listed on their rookie minicamp roster, including 50 tryout players. WR Taylor Gabriel was brought last year as a tryout player, who ended up making the team along with DL Jacobbi McDaniel and DB K'Waun Williams per the Browns.
"It's a win-win," Pettine said. "You give guys an opportunity to come out here that might have fell through the cracks. Last year, we found three guys on a tryout basis."
The Browns only listed four undrafted rookie free agents that they signed in OL Darrian Miller (6-5, 307) from Kentucky; OL Tyler Loos (6-5, 294) from Northern Illinois; DL Dylan Wynn (6-2, 283) from Oregon State and DB De'Ante Saunders (5-9, 187) from Tennessee State.
Besides the tryout players and the first-year players, those who were with the Browns last year on the practice squad or roster were: QB Connor Shaw, LS Charlie Hughlett, LB Keith Pough, DL Jacobbi McDaniel, OL Karim Barton, DL Jamie Meder and DL Calvin Barnett.
All of the draft picks took part in practice with the exception of seventh-round pick DB Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, who is rehabbing from a torn ACL and dislocated knee and sixth-round pick TE Randall Telfer, who is also recovering from injury.
Collins Talk: Pettine was asked if the Browns discussed taking OL La'el Collins in the draft, who is being questioned regarding a murder in Louisiana, though not considered a suspect.
"We had that discussion and gathered all the information we could," Pettine said. "It was a comfort thing and the word was out there that he wouldn't sign if he was a late pick."
Collins had said if he were to be drafted on the third day that he would likely sit out and wait to be drafted next year.
Collins, who signed as an undrafted free agent with the Cowboys, was given a first round grade according to Pettine.
QB Camp: Despite having 77 players in rookie minicamp, only one QB is on the roster in QB Connor Shaw.
"Connor has been Connor," Pettine said. "Quietly, he has good command of the huddle not a very verbal leader, but has been a well-prepared leader and it's showed up well."
Shaw spent most of the 2014 season on the practice squad, but started the season finale against the Ravens.
Two other quarterbacks were in camp, but on a tryout basis. QB Rakeem Cato (6-0, 178) is from Marshall, while QB Justin Worley (6-4, 223) is from Tennessee.
