| Brandon Weeden. (US Presswire) |
The reporter aimed his mini video camera at Cleveland Browns coach Pat Shurmur and asked him what he would say to Browns fans "clamoring" for Colt McCoy to replace Brandon Weeden as the starting quarterback.
After one game.
One horrible game, granted. But one game.
"Clamoring for Colt?" Shurmur asked. "Brandon Weeden is our starter and he's going to get better. That's what I'm going to tell them. I'm looking right into that little camera thing. By the way, that thing creeps me out."
Not nearly as much as Browns fans were bummed out by the performance of Weeden (12-35-118, 4 INTs, 0 TDs) in his NFL debut. Weeden missed wide open throws to wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi and tight end Alex Smith in the end zone.
Either one could have turned defeat into victory. His last interception was wildly overthrown and killed any comeback hopes as the Eagles clinched the 17-16 victory.
Weeden's inaccuracy was stunning considering he hit 70 percent of his passes his senior year at Oklahoma State.
Smith recalled Weeden being "upbeat" as he left the locker room to start the second half.
"He was still cool, calm and collected in the huddle," Smith said. "It's unfortunate that he had to struggle a little bit more [in the second half]. But I expect nothing more than for Brandon to come out slinging and have the best game [Sunday in Cincinnati]."
To start or not to start Fujita: Is it a coincidence that in the first game a Browns defense infused with youth, speed and athleticism recorded four interceptions and a fumble recovery?
Probably not.
Undrafted free agent linebackers L.J. Fort and Craig Robertson recorded interceptions.
Robertson led the team with nine tackles, including five solos, two passes defensed and a theft of a pass from Philadelphia quarterback Michael Vick.
Their effectiveness leads to another question: What do the Browns do when strong-side linebacker Scott Fujita (left knee) is ready to return? Fujita boasts far more experience, but he's also older and slower. And those expecting Shurmur to answer that they stick the veteran right back into the starting lineup received a bit of a surprise.
"We have to evaluate how we play all our guys," he said.
What's with Marecic?: Those who had wondered what fullback Owen Marecic was bringing to the Browns were really wondering on Monday. He dropped a dump pass on third down in the second quarter that forced a punt and led to an Eagles touchdown.
Marecic also did little to help rookie running back Trent Richardson (19 carries, 39 yards) find room to run. But then, the offensive line was guilty of that, too.
"Owen did OK blocking," Shurmur said. "He was in for a little less than a third of the snaps because we used three receivers and two tight ends [a lot]. But he needs to catch the ball on 3rd and 2. He's got good hands. We expect him to catch the football."
Marecic was the starting fullback in 2011, but managed just five receptions for 31 yards.
Winn just wants to win: Among the many bright spots on the defense Sunday was rookie defensive tackle Billy Winn, who managed two tackles, including one for a loss, and played a role in the consistent pressure placed on Vick.
The sixth-round pick said the speed of the pro game was a challenge. He also acknowledged the defense got a bit tired being forced to play 36 minutes, but that fatigue was no excuse for giving up the game-winning touchdown off a 91-yard drive.
"In the red zone, it's a different mentality," he said. "We had to fight."
Winn refused to blame the struggles of the offense that forced the defense to return to the field time and again.
"There was nothing frustrating about it at all," he said. "It just gave us another chance to get work in and go out and make some plays."
Stay dialed in on the Cleveland Browns on Twitter at @CBSBrowns throughout the season with on-site updates from CBSSports.com RapidReports correspondent Marty Gitlin.