Browns keep McCoy as Weeden’s backup

Associated Press

CLEVELAND

Seneca Wallace threw a touchdown on his last pass in Thursday’s exhibition. Turns out, it was his last pass for the Browns.

The veteran quarterback was waived Friday by Cleveland, a move that seems to indicate the team will keep former starter Colt McCoy as a backup to rookie Brandon Weeden. Wallace was released along with tight end Evan Moore, a person familiar with the decisions told The Associated Press.

Wallace and Moore were informed of the moves earlier Friday said the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the Browns have not yet announced their roster cuts. The team had to get down to the NFL’s mandatory 53-man limit by 9 p.m.

The 31-year-old Wallace spent two seasons with the Browns, who acquired him in a 2011 trade from Seattle, where he had played for Browns president Mike Holmgren. Wallace started seven games for Cleveland.

After coach Pat Shurmur named Weeden his starter, Wallace and McCoy were left to battle for the No. 2 job. Shurmur left open the possibility he would keep both, but decided to waive Wallace and his $2.4 million contract and keep Thad Lewis as his third quarterback. Shurmur coached Lewis in St. Louis.

Wallace completed 16 of 27 passes for 195 yards and two TDs during the preseason. In Thursday’s 28-20 loss to Chicago, he threw a 2-yard TD pass with 41 seconds left in the second quarter to cap an 80-yard scoring drive. Following the game, Wallace said he wasn’t worried about his future.

Wallace’s release was first reported by ESPN.com.

McCoy has been the subject of trade speculation for months, but it appears the Browns will keep him to sit behind Weeden. Shurmur has praised McCoy for his professionalism in handling his demotion and insists the third-year QB has improved. McCoy is just 6-15 in two seasons as a starter.

Moore caught 62 passes in three seasons for Cleveland, which signed him last September to a two-year contract extension worth nearly $3 million per year.

However, after having a big training camp in 2011, Moore had a puzzling season as the Browns struggled to figure out how to best use the 6-foot-6, 250-pounder. He had 34 receptions for 324 yards and four touchdowns.

Moore seemed to become expendable with the development of second-year tight end Jordan Cameron. Cleveland also has veterans Ben Watson and Alex Smith.

The Browns are unlikely to announce their roster moves until 2-3 hours after the deadline. But defensive backs David Sims and James Dockery said on Twitter that the team has released them.

BATCH SURVIVES STEELERS’ CUTS

PITTSBURGH

Charlie Batch’s prediction came true.

The 37-year-old backup quarterback survived the Steelers’ final round of cuts Friday, assuring the Pittsburgh native of a 15th NFL season. The move came less than 24 hours after Batch passed for 102 yards and a touchdown in a preseason victory over Carolina.

Batch said afterward “I totally expect to be sitting in the meeting Monday morning.” He’ll be there alongside Byron Leftwich as the backups to Ben Roethlisberger.

Veteran offensive lineman Trai Essex and punter Jeremy Kapinos will not be there, however, after the two were among the 21 players released as the Steelers pared their roster to 53.

Essex played 76 games over seven seasons with Pittsburgh, including 28 starts. He saw action in all 16 games a year ago as part of a patchwork line that struggled at times to protect Roethlisberger. The Steelers revamped the line during the offseason, drafting guard David DeCastro and tackle Mike Adams and re-signing tackle Max Starks in July.

Other notable cuts included defensive back Damon Cromartie-Smith, defensive lineman Corbin Bryant and wide receiver David Gilreath, a seventh-round selection in the April draft. The Steelers also let go second-year quarterback Jerrod Johnson, who was in a spirited battle with Batch for the team’s third QB spot.