Brandon Weeden admits he was "surprised" by the Browns' signing of Brian Hoyer.
"I was surprised, but that's the nature of the beast," Weeden said. "It's part of this business, and if you start worrying about it, that's too much to worry about." Hoyer's addition is an undeniable sign the Browns don't believe they're set at quarterback, but despite GM Mike Lombardi's noted admiration for the former Patriot, he's not a legitimate threat to Weeden. Between Weeden, Hoyer and Jason Campbell, the deck is still stacked in Weeden's favor. Hoyer's addition is worse news for Campbell. They'll battle for No. 2 duties after Weeden "beats out" Campbell.

Brandon Weeden opened OTAs as the clear No. 1 quarterback, as expected.

ESPN Cleveland believes that if Brandon Weeden leads the Browns to a winning season, he will not be replaced in 2014.
That doesn't mean that the Browns won't draft a quarterback, but Weeden will be given a full season to prove himself under the new coaching staff. ESPN Cleveland's Tony Grossi continues to insist that the organization wants Weeden to succeed and that GM Mike Lombardi's influence is "greatly exaggerated." Weeden is in an even competition for the starting job with Jason Campbell, but he remains the heavy favorite to start Week 1.

Despite a report the Browns are putting Jason Campbell on equal footing, ESPN AFC North blogger Jamison Hensley considers Brandon Weeden "likely" to start Week 1.
Hensley takes the report -- presumably planted by the Browns -- as an attempt to "increase the heat" on Weeden and remind him "he will be not be handed anything." Hensley believes the only way Weeden would lose the competition were if he struggled in camp and preseason games. If Weeden and Campbell practice and play to a draw, the tie will go to the younger player (though not by much).

The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports that the Browns "have made it clear" they want Brandon Weeden to take on more of a leadership role.
At this point, it would be a major disappointment if Weeden wasn't able to hold off Jason Campbell and the Browns fully expect him to open the season as their Week 1 starter. ESPN Cleveland's Tony Grossi believes the new regime has committed to Weeden for 2013 and won't even draft a quarterback at all this year.

Brandon Weeden acknowledges this season is "probably the biggest time of my entire career."
"Going into year two, you've got to show you can play," Weeden said after opening the Browns' offseason program as the starter on Tuesday. "You've got to show you can make adjustments, and grow from year one." The 29-year-old sophomore shouldn't have a terribly difficult time holding off Jason Campbell, but his Cleveland future will be kaput if the Browns spend their first-round pick on a QB. NFL.com's Albert Breer considers the Browns a "wild card" for West Virginia's Geno Smith.

Brandon Weeden is atop the depth chart for the start of Browns' offseason workouts.
As expected. Veteran Jason Campbell will have an outside shot at unseating Weeden in camp, but for now it's Weeden's job to lose, and by a considerable margin. That will change if the Browns use their first-round pick on a signal caller.

ESPN Cleveland believes that the Browns are committed to Brandon Weeden for "at least" this season.
The Browns are expected to give Weeden a one-year trial to prove himself under new management, but are prepared to move on from him after the 2013 season. It would take a major collapse for Weeden to lose his starting job to Jason Campbell, despite the competition that the Browns plan to stage in training camp. ESPN's Tony Grossi "wouldn't be surprised" if Cleveland doesn't draft a quarterback at all this year.

The Browns plan to give Brandon Weeden "most" of the first-team quarterback reps in offseason workouts.
In other words, this won't be an even competition with Jason Campbell. Campbell is in Cleveland to "push" Weeden, but the latter has a firm grip on the job. Per the Plain Dealer's Terry Pluto, the Browns do not believe any draft-eligible quarterback is worthy of the No. 6 overall pick. The "assumption" is Weeden will start Week 1, with Jason Campbell behind him. The Browns hope to "immerse" Weeden in an offense highlighting his downfield passing ability from the shotgun.

Browns CEO Joe Banner confirms that Brandon Weeden will enter camp as the starter, but stressed he'll face competition from Jason Campbell and a possible draft pick.
"Brandon's the starter, and there's competition," Banner said. "He'll have to come in and play well and work hard and prove that he deserves to maintain the position he starts in." The Browns are expected to give Weeden every opportunity to win the starting job, but it would surprise no one if Campbell saw significant time under center this season.

Browns owner Jimmy Haslam believes the coaching staff would be fine with Brandon Weeden as the starter.
"I think they think the offense they'll run fits our quarterback's skill set and there's potential there," Haslam said. "They're optimistic we can put points on the board." It's becoming clearer that the Browns just aren't going to be able to find another quarterback to compete with -- and take the job away from -- Weeden this offseason outside of using a high draft pick on a signal caller.

Speaking at the league meetings Tuesday, new Browns coach Rob Chudzinski said he's focused on "creating competition" at quarterback.
"Creating competition," of course, is different than "adding" competition, and another sign the Browns aren't holding out hope of upgrading on Brandon Weeden this offseason. Chud did say he's still open to adding another QB. "I'm not ruling (anything) out at any position." Look for Weeden to "compete" with Colt McCoy and perhaps a mid-round draft pick in camp, and to "earn" one more shot at locking down the Browns' starting job.

ESPN Cleveland's Tony Grossi believes that the Browns are "resigned" to putting Brandon Weeden on a one-year trial with the new coaching regime.
This coincides with what the Cleveland Plain Dealer speculated earlier this week. The Browns have vowed to bring in competition for Weeden, but they could struggle to find an upgrade over him in the draft and free agency. Derek Anderson, Matt Flynn, and Matt Cassell have all been loosely connected as targets this offseason.

The Cleveland Plain Dealer says the Browns "would like to upgrade" on Brandon Weeden if they can, but admits he's still the favorite to start Week 1.
Beat writer Mary Kay Cabot mentions Matt Flynn, Matt Cassel, and Matt Moore as potential options for competition at the position, but Cassel isn't on "the front burner" and Moore has "other destinations in mind." Cleveland will keep "their eyes and ears open," though. Weeden will face competition from someone.

Brandon Weeden says he knows he's a "better player than the way I played all year."
"I'm not satisfied with the way I played all year," Weeden said in a Tuesday radio interview. "So being the competitor that I am, I see a lot of areas of improvement. And I know I have to get better in order for this organization to win games." Weeden's comments come on the same day teammate Trent Richardson said his quarterback struggled to read defenses in 2012. No amount of public campaigning will save Weeden from a quarterback competition.

Teammate Trent Richardson says Brandon Weeden struggled to read defenses in 2012.
Richardson's comments come via NFL Network's Steve Wyche. "He said as a rookie, (Weeden) really had trouble reading defenses from time to time and they had to skew their offense a little bit, sometimes somewhat predictable." Richardson does believe Weeden will be back as the Browns' starter in 2013. Richardson's comments are just the latest indication that Weeden has a lot of people to win over, from top-to-bottom in a remade Browns organization.

Brandon Weeden said he has no problem with the Browns bringing in competition for the starting quarterback job.
"That's the way it should be," said Weeden. He went on to say that he "completely expects" to be the starter no matter who he is competing against. Weeden's powerful pitching arm is a good fit for the Norv Turner/Rob Chudzinski vertical, downfield passing philosophy, but last year's 72.6 quarterback rating is a red flag.

Browns CEO Joe Banner indicated that he hasn't ruled out Brandon Weeden as the team's quarterback of the future.
The Browns have vowed to bring in competition at quarterback this offseason, but haven't completely turned the page on Weeden as their starter. "We see potential that we're going to try to work with it and see what it's going to develop into," Banner said. "We have a huge vested interest in him being successful. He's in the window where you need to see if he's going to be the long-term answer."

New coach Rob Chudzinski admitted Friday the Browns will listen to trade offers for Brandon Weeden and Colt McCoy.
Asked specifically if the Browns will field inquiries, Chud said "we're looking to improve our team in any areas, by any means of doing that." Cleveland's new regime has systematically passed on endorsing 29-year-old "sophomore" Weeden, and reportedly doesn't believe McCoy is a "viable starting option." Neither Weeden nor McCoy would fetch more than a mid-round pick.

Speaking at the Combine Friday, new Browns coach Rob Chudzinski said he was "excited" about Brandon Weeden, but again declined to name him the starter.
Chud said he "wants to see Weeden on field before he commits to him as a starter," and reiterated the team is open to adding outside competition. "We're going to put the best guy out on the field who gives us the best chance to win." If Weeden remains in Cleveland and re-earns the starting job, it will only be after staving off a litany of competitors.

According to the National Football Post, "some around the league" believe the Browns may try to trade Brandon Weeden.
Per the NFP's "insider network," the "belief" is that the new braintrust of Joe Banner and Mike Lombardi "don't think much of Weeden." It's hardly breaking news that Lombardi wasn't a Weeden fan during his NFL Network days, but there still haven't been any concrete reports the going-on-30 NFL sophomore is on the block. The Browns would struggle to receive a day-two pick in return if they made Weeden available. The Browns have made it clear Weeden will face competition in Cleveland.

ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. said Brandon Weeden may have been the No. 1 quarterback in the draft if he came out this year.

According to CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora, the new Browns regime "badly" wants to upgrade on Brandon Weeden.
It's no secret that new VP of Player Personnel Mike Lombardi isn't a Weeden supporter, and also worth noting that La Canfora and Lombardi were tight at NFL Network as tag-team reporters. So La Canfora's information here is probably solid. Weeden is well aware he'll face a challenge for his starting job in 2013 training camp. The challenger will likely be acquired via trade or the draft.

Brandon Weeden is eager for the competition to remain the Browns' starting quarterback.
"I expect competition. That's the way professional sports are. Unless you're Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees or these guys, you might as well expect for somebody to try to come take your job," Weeden said Friday during an appearance at Oklahoma Christian University. New coach Rob Chudzinski has called it "premature" to name Weeden the starting quarterback for next season, and owner Jimmy Haslam suggested someone will be brought in to go against Weeden. The Browns have the No. 6 pick in this year's draft or could pursue another quarterback by trade or in free agency.

ESPN's Trent Dilfer suggested on NFL 32 that new Browns OC Norv Turner will be able to get the most out of 2012 second-round pick Brandon Weeden as a good fit for Turner's vertical offense.
Dilfer spent a year in Turner's offense (2006), backing up Alex Smith. "Norv Turner, offensively, is gonna get the most out of Brandon Weeden," he predicted. "That's chucking the ball down the field, that's what Norv likes to do, that's what Brandon Weeden can do. I like this 'fit' in Cleveland." Weeden, indeed, has a strong arm for a vertical passing attack. It remains to be seen whether the Browns will commit to him as a starter, however.

Browns owner Jimmy Haslam reiterated the team "will have competition" at quarterback.
When asked if the team plans to add a quarterback to the mix, Haslam said, "We're going to have competition at the position, and competition makes us all better." Now, all four of Haslam, HC Rob Chudzinski, OC Norv Turner, and VP of personnel Michael Lombardi have refused to commit to Brandon Weeden. Colt McCoy's salary spiked this offseason, and Thad Lewis is the only other signal caller on the roster. Cleveland has already been linked to Alex Smith and Ryan Mallett this offseason.

Browns OC Norv Turner said he's "impressed with" Brandon Weeden and thinks "he's going to be a good player in the NFL."
"When I look at the tape I see a guy who can be a really good player," said Turner. "He's going to have an opportunity to go compete, play and grow and I'm excited to be working with him." Not exactly a ringing endorsement, but it's the best Weeden has received since the new staff has been implemented in Cleveland. Turner had a first-hand look at Weeden in Week 8 when his Chargers traveled to Cleveland. Weeden had one of his worst games of the season, completing 11-of-27 passes for 129 yards and a sparkling 55.9 QB rating.

Coach Rob Chudzinski again declined to commit to Brandon Weeden as his 2013 starter.
"I think it's premature to say that," Chud said. Although the strong-armed Weeden has the general skill set a Norv Turner/Chud offense requires, the new regime does not appear high on him. Freshly hired VP of Player Personnel Mike Lombardi was very critical of the Weeden pick while serving as an NFL analyst last season. The only other quarterbacks on the Browns' roster are Colt McCoy and Thaddeus Lewis.

New Browns VP of Player Personnel Mike Lombardi was noncommittal on the future of Brandon Weeden at Lombardi's introductory press conference Friday.
Lombardi was negatively outspoken about Weeden during the season. "I think it's gonna take some time to study him, I gotta go back through and watch practice tapes," Lombardi said. "... It's gonna take me some time to really formulate my opinions on him." Weeden, a 29-year-old second-year player, finished his rookie season with 14 touchdowns, 17 interceptions, and a 57.4 completion rate.

New Browns VP of player personnel Michael Lombardi called the selection of Brandon Weeden at No. 22 overall last year a "panicked disaster."

New coach Rob Chudzinski was noncommittal at his introductory press conference Friday when asked whether Brandon Weeden would be the Browns' starting quarterback in 2013.
In fairness to Chud, he probably didn't do much Weeden-watching this past season or leading up to the 2012 draft because his Panthers didn't play the Browns, and they weren't in the market for an early-round quarterback last April. Chudzinski did describe his design as a "vertical, downfield passing game and a balanced offense." Weeden has requisite arm strength for a vertical attack.