BEREA - Brandon Weeden is beginning to learn how impatient Browns' fans can be, especially when it comes to whoever lines up at quarterback.
The rookie first-round draft choice took 15 snaps in his first preseason game, against the Detroit Lions, which to him wasn't enough to develop into a flow. It was plays enough, however, for fans to grow uneasy after he completed just 3-of-9 passes with one interception.
Weeden doesn't listen to much talk radio or read area newspapers, but he does have a twitter account. It went wild after his performance against the Lions.
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The Associated Press
Cleveland Browns quarterback Brandon Weeden throws during the first half of Thursday’s preseason NFL game against the Green Bay Packers in Green Bay, Wis.
"It's comical, some of the stuff I hear," Weeden said.
The reviews of Weeden's second start have been much better. In one half of work against the Green Bay Packers he completed 12-of-20 passes for 118 yards. There were at least three dropped passes, and Weeden threw two other passes away to avoid taking a sack.
"I got 40 plays in, so you're able to get into a rhythm," Weeden said. "Everybody was criticizing me for 15 plays. You can't get into a rhythm in 15 plays. I think my second quarter was even better than my first quarter. The more reps I get, the better I'll continue to feel."
Weeden is learning to take what the defense gives him, which isn't easy for someone that became accustomed to taking chances at Oklahoma State. With one of the NFL's best kickers on the sideline, Weeden would just as soon take a field goal from Phil Dawson than risk throwing an interception in the red zone.
"If we're third-and-20 in the red zone, I can force the ball to (Josh) Gordon and maybe have a chance to get the ball to the 10-yard-line and maybe for a first down, but I threw it to (Josh) Cribbs, and we kicked a field goal for three points," he said.
Coach Pat Shurmur is careful not to give Weeden too much praise. Shurmur sees improvement, but he wants Weeden and the receivers to develop better chemistry.
Shurmur is pleased with what he's seen of Weeden's ability to stand in the pocket and deliver a pass under pressure. He was leveled by blitzing cornerback Brandian Ross on a pass he was able to get to receiver Jordan Norwood.
"The biggest thing for him is getting used to our progressions," Shurmur said. "We can provide a lot of different looks in practice, but when they match up against a different style of defense, that's where the experience of going through it helps him. He's learning and doing a good job."
Weeden, shook up from the hit, said he had trouble calling the next play. The call from the sideline was a run each of the next three plays.
"I just lost my breath," he said. "I tried to call the next play in the huddle but I couldn't spit out a word. I tried to imitate it but I made a fool of myself. It was bad. My offensive line was laughing at me. I called the wrong direction. I was hurting there for a second, but I feel good today."
He probably feels better knowing that he doesn't have to read critical comments on his twitter account this week.
"I can't say I was surprised," Weeden said of the criticism he received last week. "They're passionate. Ask anyone who's ever played sports, especially this position, would agree. You can't grade an outcome of a game over nine passes, much less 15 plays. Plus, it was my first-ever NFL start. Regardless of how old I am, it's still a big jump from college football.
"They want a winner, and so do I. For that to happen I'm going to have to play well."
