Tweet this: Tuck criticizes McCoy for online stab at Umenyiora

LeSean McCoy might regret his twit-icism of Osi Umenyiora. The New York Giants certainly seem unlikely to forget about it when they see McCoy and his Philadelphia Eagles this season.

Justin Tuck became the latest Giant to defend his teammate, saying the team will take McCoy calling Umenyiora "soft" personally when they play Sept. 25 and Nov. 20 and adding that Twitter "has made people cowards."

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"Two things: One, yes we will take that personally, and two, he might want to watch some film before he starts talking about a defensive end of Osi's quality," Tuck said Wednesday on ESPN Radio's "Mike and Mike in the Morning," according to SportsRadioInterviews.com. "I don't know where he would say something of that nature because honestly I think Osi's stats back up the fact that he is a pretty good NFL football player."

Umenyiora's stats are pretty good. He posted 11.5 sacks last season and has 60 in his career. He also has been selected to two Pro Bowls, after the 2005 and 2007 seasons.

McCoy started the feud June 16 when he responded to a story about Umenyiora wanting a new contract by tweeting: "Overrated n soft 3rd best d-line on his team honestly." That didn't sit well with Umenyiora, who called McCoy names, including a Chihuahua, a poodle, a little girl, a Twitter gangster, Lady Gaga and a woman, according to Philly.com. Giants wide receiver Steve Smith rushed to his teammate's defense by noting that his team has won a Super Bowl and the Eagles have not.

Tuck's biggest issue with the whole situation is that McCoy used Twitter to criticize Umenyiora.

"I honestly think social media makes people cowards," Tuck said. "Where I'm from, if you have a problem with somebody, you say it to their face, and that was it. I think now people are hiding behind computers and smart phones to get out something that they got on their chest. ...

"I don't know what's gotten into these young guys, but, I mean, it is what it is. I think Osi handled it the right way, and we'll handle it on the football field when we get an opportunity."

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Browns QB McCoy, RB Hillis return to practice field for Browns

BEREA, Ohio -- Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Colt McCoy was back at practice Thursday after missing one day because of the stomach flu, and running back Peyton Hillis also was back on the field after resting his sore left knee.

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McCoy was ill Wednesday and unable to participate in the full outdoor practice. He took part in the early walkthrough period as the Browns (5-9) get ready to play host to the Baltimore Ravens (10-4).

Browns coach Eric Mangini said McCoy looked a lot better and that it shouldn't be difficult for the quarterback to catch up with the game plan.

Hillis, who has rushed for 1,129 yards this season, gained 144 earlier this season against the Ravens.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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McCoy works with Browns trainers, could return to practice

Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Colt McCoy still isn't ready to practice because of an ankle injury that likely will keep him out for a third consecutive game.

McCoy hasn't played since sustaining a high left ankle sprain Nov. 21 at Jacksonville, his fifth start.

"We have a shot for him practicing this week," Browns coach Eric Mangini said Wednesday. "I wouldn't say it's a slam dunk, but I think it's a possibility."

Mangini said McCoy was able to work with trainers Tuesday.

"It's different when you're thinking about reading coverages, letting your body react," the coach said. "That's sort of the next step, and it remains to be seen."

Jake Delhomme started the past two games for the Browns (5-7), who will travel to Buffalo (2-10) on Sunday. McCoy said last week that he wants to play again this season.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Browns' McCoy plays with ankle sprain, but leaves in a boot

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Cleveland quarterback Colt McCoy left Jacksonville in a walking boot, the latest injury for the banged-up Browns.

McCoy injured his left ankle on a sack early in the third quarter. He stayed in the game and finished 17 of 28 passing for 241 yards, with a touchdown and an interception. He said X-rays afterward were negative, but he will have more tests Monday in Cleveland.

"I wasn't going to come out of the game," McCoy said. "We evaluated it and it hurt, but it wasn't something that I was going to pull myself out of the game over. I felt like I could still do the things I needed to do. It was bothering me, but I needed to be out there."

McCoy was sacked a season-high six times. Jeremy Mincey got him twice, with the first one doing most of the damage. Coach Eric Mangini even got backup Seneca Wallace warming up on the sideline, but stuck with the rookie who has played well since taking over for starter Jake Delhomme.

Delhomme and Wallace also sprained ankles earlier this season, injuries that led to McCoy taking over the starting job.

"It definitely bothered him and I talked to him throughout the course of the game," Mangini said. "And at one point I had Seneca warm up. (But) he felt like he could continue on."

McCoy scrambled for an 18-yard gain in the fourth, got pushed out of bounds by Don Carey and gingerly jogged back to the huddle.

Mincey sacked McCoy again three plays later, forcing the Browns to settle for a field goal and a 20-17 lead with 2:51 remaining.

It was another wasted chance for the Browns, who scored just 10 points off Jacksonville's six turnovers.

"Offensively, we didn't execute when we had short fields," McCoy said. "You've got to score more than 10 points off six turnovers. That's on us, as an offense and on me for maybe getting us to different plays ... I don't know. We're going to have to go back and look at it.

"If you want to take anything positive out of this, we fought up to the very end. Just because things weren't going well for us, we didn't hang our heads. We kept fighting and trying, down to the very last play."

Cleveland, coming off a loss to the New York Jets in overtime, had a final chance to win in Jacksonville. But Sean Considine tipped McCoy's pass away from Ben Watson at the goal line with a few seconds remaining.

The ball bounced off Watson's chest and landed in Considine's arms.

"They dropped everybody back," McCoy said. "You can't throw short routes because we have no timeouts. You've got to take a shot like that. It's risky."

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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Mangini waiting to reveal starter after McCoy impresses in win

BEREA, Ohio -- Browns coach Eric Mangini isn't ready to hand the offensive reins over to rookie quarterback Colt McCoy just yet.

Mangini said Monday that he's been impressed and pleased with McCoy, who won his second game on Sunday when the Browns (3-5) thrashed the New England Patriots, 34-14. McCoy, thrust into the starting lineup because of injuries to Jake Delhomme and Seneca Wallace, is 2-1 in three starts with wins over Drew Brees and Tom Brady, two of the NFL's top quarterbacks.

Mangini, though, was not ready to name McCoy his starter for Sunday's game against the New York Jets (6-2).

"He's making the discussion harder and harder each week," Mangini said.

Mangini wants to wait to see what kind of progress Wallace and Delhomme have made before he has a thorough analysis on McCoy's role for the remainder of the season. He plans to meet with offensive coordinator Brian Daboll and team president Mike Holmgren before announcing his decision.

McCoy was 14 of 19 for 174 yards and did not throw an interception against the Patriots. He also did not have a turnover in his previous start, when the Browns stunned the New Orleans Saints.

Mangini believes McCoy has won over the trust of his teammates, some of whom may have been leery about starting a rookie.

"The guys have seen now that, given that responsibility, he can respond to that responsibility," Mangini said. "You don't know with a rookie how that's going to go. He becomes more and more trustworthy as we go, and I think the best indication of that is being able to give him a little bit more each week without trying to give him so much that it becomes counterproductive."

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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Mangini has no qualms starting rookie McCoy vs. Patriots

Browns coach Eric Mangini has no qualms starting third-string, rookie quarterback Colt McCoy against the AFC-leading New England Patriots on Sunday in Cleveland.

"He's been in a couple of tough arenas -- going into Pittsburgh for his first game, that's about as tough as it gets," Mangini said.

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McCoy will get the call because neither Jake Delhomme nor Seneca Wallace was able to practice all week as they recover from high ankle sprains.

Mangini left open the possibility that Wallace could be active for the Patriots game.

"I think Seneca has a shot this week (to be active), but it's an outside shot," Mangini said.

This will be McCoy's first start at home. He's 1-1 with a loss to the Steelers and a win over the New Orleans Saints, who fell for several trick plays during a 30-17 loss to the Browns two weeks ago.

The Browns had hoped to have Wallace back this week, but he has not yet been cleared by doctors.

Wallace hasn't played since injuring his ankle Oct. 10 against the Atlanta Falcons, his fourth consecutive start filling in for Delhomme, who rolled his ankle in the season opener at Tampa Bay. High-ankle sprains typically take four to six weeks to heal, and Wallace is just one month into recovery.

Starting tackle John St. Clair (ankle) also didn't practice Friday. Mangini held out hope that all three injured players could return soon.

"We just follow what the trainers and doctors say," Mangini said. "The week he (Wallace), John and Jake had was the best they've had in terms of movement."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Browns rookie QB McCoy to make first NFL start vs. Steelers

Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Colt McCoy will start his first NFL game this weekend, a team source told NFL Network insider Jason La Canfora on Thursday.

It would take a dramatic turn of events with Jake Delhomme or Seneca Walllace -- both of whom are nursing ankle injuries -- for things to change, according to the source.

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Browns coach Eric Mangini said Thursday that he was pleased with McCoy's first practice as a potential starter. The coach hasn't officially announced that McCoy will start, but he said his lean is "more pronounced" to the rookie quarterback making his NFL regular-season debut Sunday in Pittsburgh against the blitz-happy Steelers.

Mangini said he is happy with McCoy's progress and that the third-round draft pick would take the bulk of the snaps during practice Thursday.

McCoy will be the 16th different quarterback to start a game for the Browns since 1999. The team re-signed Brett Ratliff this week off the New England Patriots' practice squad as a backup, and with the way things are going for Cleveland, it's not farfetched to think he could see some playing time if McCoy is hurt or struggles.

Wallace doesn't know when he'll be able to play, but he believes the former University of Texas star can hold down the fort until he returns.

"He played at Texas, it's like America's Team, like the Dallas Cowboys," Wallace said of McCoy. "He's been in the limelight before. It's not college, you're going to Pittsburgh. It's going to be tough, but with his type of character and the kind of person he is, he'll be able to deal with it."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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