Rookie QB: ‘Ego thing’ to blame for nine picks

Associated Press

BEREA

Five games, nine interceptions and numerous other mistakes into his NFL career, Browns rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden finally realizes he can’t throw the ball the way he did in college.

There’s no room for recklessness in the pros.

Weeden gets that now.

“It’s an ego thing,” he said. “I just need to get rid of the ego and take what they give me and move on and not be as stubborn. Just throw the football away and move on.”

Weeden knows he must be less risky for the Browns (0-5) to have any chance of snapping their 11-game losing streak dating to last season. The first-round pick, who turns 29 on Sunday when Cleveland hosts the Cincinnati Bengals, has thrown costly interceptions the past two weeks.

Blessed with a powerful arm, Weeden has always been able to fling the ball whenever and wherever he wanted. At Oklahoma State, no window was too tight for Weeden, who would simply load up and fire the ball to receivers.

But in trying to do the same thing with the Browns, the former minor league pitcher has made errors — costly ones that have hurt the Browns chances to win.

He’s inexperienced, but that’s not an excuse for carelessness.

“I’ve played five games, I can’t play the rookie card. It’s long gone,” Weeden said. “When you’re in college and guys are open all the time, it’s easy to be aggressive. In this league not everybody’s open.”

Weeden threw two interceptions in last week’s 41-27 loss to the Giants. The first one, on a 3rd-and-1 play in the second quarter, triggered an avalanche of points for New York, which turned a 10-point deficit into a 10-point halftime lead. Weeden failed to throw the ball to Jordan Norwood in the flat for a potential first down and then threw high and wide to rookie Josh Gordon and was picked.

If Weeden had just held onto the ball, run it out of bounds or thrown it into the bleachers, the Browns could have settled for a field goal. Instead, Weeden’s mistake was magnified when the Browns fumbled a kickoff and it wasn’t long before they were walking to the locker room losing after leading 14-0.

NOTES

LB D’Qwell Jackson returned to practice after suffering a concussion, but the Browns were missing seven players at practice, including defensive starters DT Ahtyba Rubin and LB Scott Fujita, who had his shoulder examined. The Browns are also down three WRs as Mohamed Massaquoi (hamstring), Travis Benjamin (hamstring) and Jordan Norwood (foot) remain sidelined. Norwood was on crutches and in a walking boot. He did not speak with reporters. ... With Norwood out, WR Josh Cooper could be elevated from the practice squad. Cooper played with Weeden in college. “If it does happen, I’ll be ready to go,” he said. ... DT Phil Taylor is scheduled to return next week for the first time since undergoing surgery on a torn chest muscle.