INDIANAPOLIS -- One day after coach Rob Chudzinski indicated the Cleveland Browns would be open to shopping quarterbacks Brandon Weeden and Colt McCoy, CEO Joe Banner spoke of a different plan.
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Banner told Mary Kay Cabot of The Plain Dealer on Saturday that trading assets is unlikely. The Browns plan to give Weeden, specifically, "the best chance to succeed," according to Banner, who expressed faith that the 29-year-old signal-caller will improve in his second year with the help of offensive coordinator Norv Turner and a better cast of skill players.
"We see potential there we're going to try to work with," said Banner, who stressed the Browns are "not shopping any of our players."
Banner -- who also indicated the Browns have no plans to use the franchise tag -- was asked if the change in direction on Weeden represents a smokescreen. After all, the new regime inherited this quarterback group, and it wouldn't be surprising to see them add plenty of competition.
"I will not lie to anybody here," Banner told a group of Browns reporters in Indianapolis for the NFL Scouting Combine. "I will not mislead you. ... I may not answer or be complete in my answer."
The Browns have been all over the place on Weeden, but a draft class light on quarterback talent, combined with a thin crop of free-agent passers, might have Cleveland thinking about developing its own players for at least another year.
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