Written by David Regimbal

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Cleveland Browns General Manager Tom Heckert met with media members for the first time since having heart surgery last month to answer questions about the upcoming free agency period and the 2012 NFL draft.

Heckert talked about the quarterback position and squashed any expectations for the Browns going after recently released quarterback Peyton Manning, "That's probably not a direction we're going to go.'' He later hinted toward shying away from signing any quarterback via free agency, so that likely eliminates Matt Flynn and Kevin Kolb from consideration.

The Browns like four quarterbacks in this year’s draft class. Luck and Griffin are the obvious candidates, but Heckert is also high on two other Big 12 quarterbacks in Ryan Tannehill and Brandon Weeden. Heckert practically gushed when talking about Weeden, praising his maturity, "I like him a lot. He's 28, but he's mature. He's won a lot of games, thrown for a lot of yards."

Heckert also said the Browns are happy to be selecting fourth overall -- and he may as well have been talking with the Rams organization rather than Cleveland media when he said, “We feel comfortable staying at No. 4 and getting a really good player. We feel comfortable moving back and getting extra picks too.'' Most seem to think that this comment -- combined with his remarks about Brandon Weeden -- hint toward a little gamesmanship toward the Rams, who hold the No. 2 pick in the draft. If the Browns want a realistic shot of attaining Griffin, they’d have to trade up to get him.

More details of Heckert’s presser can be found here and here.

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