Saturday, December 10, 2011

Colt McCoy's father says McCoy doesn't remember anything after hit, never should've gone back in Steelers game

By Mary Kay Cabot, The Plain Dealer
http://www.cleveland.com/browns/
December 9, 2011

PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 8: James Harrison #92 of the Pittsburgh Steelers tackles Colt McCoy #12 of the Cleveland Browns during the game on December 8, 2011 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Steelers won 14-3. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

BEREA -- Browns quarterback Colt McCoy's father, Brad, said today that Colt doesn't remember anything after taking a vicious helmet to helmet hit from Steelers linebacker James Harrison and that he never should've gone back in the game.

Brad McCoy, a lifelong high school football coach who coached Colt all through junior high and high school, said McCoy doesn't remember throwing the interception in the end zone three plays after he jogged back onto the field after missing two plays following the hit. The pick essentially cost the Browns the game and they lost 14-3.

"I talked to Colt this morning and he said 'dad, I don't know what happened," Brad McCoy said.

"He never should've gone back in the game. He was basically out (cold) after the hit. You could tell by the ridigity of his body as he was laying there. There were a lot of easy symptoms that should've told them he had a concussion. He was nauseated and he didn't know who he was. From what I could see, they didn't test him for a concussion on the sidelines. They looked at his (left) hand.''

McCoy also might have suffered a broken left hand on the hit, which resulted in a 15-yard roughing the passer call against Harrison.

Brad McCoy said he's also upset that coach Pat Shurmur said during his post-game press conference that Colt was fine to go back in the game when that wasn't the case. McCoy has suffered multiple concussions, including one in high schoo.

"After the game, the (public relations staff) made sure Colt's interview was brief and he couldn't face the lights in his press conference,'' said Brad. "The TV lights and the Stadium lights were killing him. Why would you say he was fine? That makes it even worse.''

Brad McCoy doesn't understand why the team wouldn't automatically neuro-test Colt after the crushing blow. It's not yet been confirmed that the Browns didn't neuro-test him after the hit. A call has been placed to the Browns seeking comment.

"Josh Cribbs suffered a groin injury earlier in the game and he was out for the rest of the game,'' said Brad McCoy. "Colt takes a severe hit like that and he's back in the game a play later? If he took another blow to the head, we could've been talking about his career here.''

Brad said when he first saw the hit, he thought Colt was done for the night. "And I certainly didn't think he'd be out only a play. It would've taken my high school trainer longer than that to determine if he was okay after a hit like that.''

He said Browns tight end Evan Moore had to drive Colt home after the team arrived in Berea early Friday morning. Colt drove himself to the facility this morning, but is believed to have been sent home without participating in team activities after being examined by the medical staff.

Browns coach Pat Shurmur will meet with the media at about 1:50 today. The Browns have followed the NFL's strict concussion protocol this season, including Thursday night when Ben Watson and Owen Marecic suffered concussions and were shut down for the night.

Related story:

Browns coach Pat Shurmur said QB Colt McCoy was examined on sidelines, showed no concussion symptoms

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