Browns president Mike Holmgren seems to be going out of his way to say rookie Brandon Weeden will have to earn the starting job at quarterback. Of course Weeden won't just be handed the job. But all ties and near ties will likely go to the new hope.

It wasn't that long ago - about two months - that the Browns were going out of their way pledging loyalty to Colt McCoy. Holmgren, while on a conference call in March, told a group of season ticket holders the Browns would not be changing quarterback. Drafting Weeden changes that.

Rookie minicamp begins Friday morning. All players look good in shorts and T-shirts, but I am looking forward to seeing Weeden gun the ball over the middle and on out patterns. He had a 97 M.P.H. fastball when he played minor league baseball and can put mustard on his throws with a football.

Another player I'll be tracking, along with of course top pick Trent Richardson, is third-round choice John Hughes, the defensive tackle from the University of Cincinnati. The Browns wanted him at 67, traded back 20 spots to pick up an extra draft pick (120) and still got Hughes with the 87th pick. He could be next man in in the rotation behind Ahtyba Rubin and Phil Taylor.