BY JEREMY SOMERVILLE
  BROWNS BEAT WRITER

Weeden Named Starter: Days before the preseason opener, the quarterback "competition" (at least for the starting spot) is over. After Mondays practice, Browns head coach Pat Shurmur announced to members of the media that, "Brandon is the starter and we're moving forward. We're rolling and I'm not looking back."

So after just 10 practices, the 22nd overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft will begin rolling forward as the new face of a struggling franchise. His first task against live competition comes this Friday night when the Browns open the preseason against the Detroit Lions.

Colt McCoy to the Bench: Now that Weeden is officially the starter, the man who held that position last season, is relegated to bench duty. But just how far down the depth chart he will be is still to be seen.

After announcing Weeden as the starter, Shurmur went on to say that the only QB competition this preseason will be to determine who is the number two gunslinger on the depth chart, McCoy or 10-year veteran, and Mike Holmgren favorite, Seneca Wallace.

Quotable: After practice an obviously irked McCoy felt as if he didn't get a fair shot, telling the assembled media, " I have not taken any snaps with the first group. I thought coming in it would be a competition."

Yes, it's obvious Colt never received a true and fair shot, but c'mon, we all knew Weeden was the guy, McCoy should have as well.

Gordon to Get First Team Reps: When the Browns selected Baylor wide out Josh Gordon in the second round of the supplemental draft, many experts thought that he would make minimal impact this season as he got back into football shape.

Those experts underestimated the work ethic of Gordon.

Headed into the first preseason game it looks as if Gordon will be getting some run with the first teamers and is already looking to be the teams primary offensive playmaker. Shurmur was sure to mention that Gordon will play with the number one guys in the preseason opener.

Among those number one guys will be four offensive rookies, Gordon, Weeden, as well as running back Trent Richardson, and right tackle Mitchell Schwartz.

The future of the Browns will be in the spotlight immediately, for the organization and fans sake lets hope they are ready.

Random Thoughts From Camp: McCoy has heart. He will battle, be a good teammate, and work his ass off, but will never feel right as a part of this organization if he truly believed he was in a competition. Still, with that being said, he is better than Wallace and should beat him out easily. He still has a future with this team, albeit as the back up, but in Cleveland we all know that the back up is usually the most popular guy...Linebacker James-Michael Johnson is impressive. He is instinctive, athletic, and should be fun to watch Friday night...Eric Hagg looks like he could grab the free safety spot. I said before camp he was a guy to watch and so far he has not disappointed...Practice on Tuesday will be moved to the afternoon so that members of the team can pay their respects to Garrett Reid, son of Eagles coach Andy Reid, who tragically passed on Sunday at only 29 years old...  

jsomerville@lakecounty-sentinel.com or follow Jeremy on Twitter  @CTownSportsTalk

POSTED 08/06/2012  23:07