McCown: Garoppolo 'has a chance to be elite'

Josh McCown has come to terms with his release from the Cleveland Browns.

The veteran quarterback was deemed expendable this week as the Browns kick their search for a franchise pivot into overdrive.

"You need to take as many stabs at this as you can," McCown said to Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "That's why I wasn't as bummed out as I could've been when they released me. They need the roster spots to get this right and they're committed to it."

Among the quarterbacks the Browns have a rumored interest in is current New England Patriots backup Jimmy Garoppolo.

Garoppolo has one year left on his rookie contract and could fetch the Patriots a king's ransom via trade.

McCown reviewed tape of Garoppolo's performance against a common opponent, the Miami Dolphins, earlier in the 2016 season and came away impressed.

"He made some high level throws and did some things that would get you excited about his ability to maybe carry a franchise. That's definitely on the tape," McCown said.

The outgoing quarterback offered that the Browns should be aggressive in their pursuit of Garoppolo if they deem him worthy of leading the franchise.

"Jimmy has a chance to be elite," he said.