Josh McCown focused on Browns despite interest by Cowboys
BEREA, Ohio -- Josh McCown is well aware of the talk that the Dallas Cowboys are interested in trading for him, but his attention is on the Cleveland Browns.
"For me, my job and my heart (are) here, doing everything I can to help the Cleveland Browns be good," McCown said Thursday at training camp.
McCown said since his family is from Texas, his phone has been "blowing up" with friends and family asking about the trade talk. Dallas needs a backup to Tony Romo afterKellen Mooresuffered a fractured fibula Tuesday.
Sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter and Ed Werder that the Cowboys have interest in McCown, but the Browns are reluctant to trade him.
McCown sounded like he's reluctant to be traded as well.
"Like I've told you guys before, you spend five minutes in this city and it's easy to be all-in," McCown said.
He also said the team addressed the trade talk with him, but would not detail what was said other than "we're on the same page."
Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones has said that Dallas doesn't want to give up a quality draft pick for a backup and won't rush into a trade.
McCown's future has been a topic of discussion since the Browns signed Robert Griffin IIIin March. On Tuesday, coach Hue Jackson said that Griffin's progress was in part due to help from McCown, but added McCown being a mentor "has nothing to do with him remaining on the team."
"That'll be an organizational decision about all of our quarterbacks," Jackson said. "At the same time, Josh McCown is very important to me. Just because here's a guy with a lot of skins on the wall. He's done a lot of great things in this league and understands it.
"I think we know how all of this goes. This is not just about who you like. It's about what's best for our organization. He's done a tremendous job and what a good football player. I'm really grateful to have him here and be around him."
McCown, 37, has been working with the second team behind Griffin during camp. Griffin, who has had ankle and knee injuries in his brief career, was healthy last season but did not play a down for Washington.
The Browns also have quarterbacks Austin Davis and rookie Cody Kessler.
McCown started eight games for the Browns in 2015, but also had rib and collarbone injuries. He threw for 2,109 yards with 12 touchdowns and four interceptions.
"As a person of faith I just say, 'Hey this is the day right in front of me,'" McCown said. "I'm going to live that out as best I can and move on to the next day. I just believe God's got the rest of that, and that will all sort itself out in the way it's supposed to."
