CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Browns' asking price for quarterback Josh McCown is too steep for the Cowboys for now, according to a report.
The two clubs talked trade on Thursday, but the Cowboys' rejected the Browns' proposal, according to ESPN's Ed Werder.
Werder reported that the Browns prefer to keep McCown and attached a high price, one that the Cowboys aren't willing to pay at this time.
But as always in these situations, things could change at a moment's notice. If some of the Cowboys' other options fall through, they might be willing to give the Browns what they want. Other names that have surfaced in the search to replace Kellen Moore (broken fibula) include Mike Glennon, Michael Vick and Josh Freeman.
The Browns, in the mode of stockpiling picks, are likely seeking at least a third- or fourth-round pick for McCown, a 14th-year pro.
On Thursday, McCown, 37, made it clear that he wants to remain a Brown, despite the fact he grew up a Cowboys fan.
"Obviously the Cowboys, if you grew up in Texas, is near and dear to everybody's heart,'' McCown said. "But once you cross over into the business portion of this life, those allegiances kind of fly out the window and you have a job to do.
"For me, my job and my heart is here and doing everything I can to help the Cleveland Browns be good. So that's what I'm about. And like I've told you guys before, you spend five minutes in this city and it's easy to be all-in, because of how the people feel about this team.''
Likewise, the Browns are happy he's still here and that he wants to remain with the team. McCown has had a tremendous impact on Robert Griffin III, both from a leadership and football standpoint. He's also mentored backup quarterbacks Cody Kessler and Austin Davis, and just about everyone else on the team.
"There's nothing to it as far as we're concerned,'' coach Hue Jackson said after practice. "I've heard about it. But I feel good that he's here. He's a Cleveland Brown, and I know nothing else about the other part of it."
Jackson was happy to hear that McCown is eager to remain in Cleveland and not clamoring to play for his hometown team, where most of his extended family lives. Had McCown pushed for the trade, the Browns might have tried to accommodate him.
"Hopefully we've created an environment for all of our players to really want to be here whether it's in the quarterback room, running back, tight end, defensive backs, anywhere because again I think this is a tremendous opportunity for any football player with our ownership, with Dee and Jimmy (Haslam) and Sashi (Brown) and the rest of our executive group and myself. I would hope that this is somewhere that a lot of players want to be and want to stay."
The Browns like McCown for more than just his mentorship ability. If Robert Griffin III gets injured, he can step in and run the offense effectively.
Last season, he finished 14th in the NFL with a 93.3 rating before a season-ending broken collarbone. He became the first Browns quarterback to throw for 300 yards in three straight games, and set the single game club record with 457 yards passing.
He went 1-7 on a horrible Browns team, but wasn't the reason they lost. He had no running game to speak of for the first 12 games, and an underperforming defense.
But the Browns are also high on third-round pick Cody Kessler, and if they feel he's ready to play, they might be more willing to part with McCown. The problem is, they won't know for sure how prepared he is until he sees significant action in a preseason game. The first one is Aug. 12 in Green Bay.
"Man, they're working their tails off and they're improving,'' McCown said of Kessler and Davis. "Especially for Cody. Austin's been through it now a few times where he's learning offenses but they're asking all the right questions. What you want to see is some consistent improvement every day and you certainly see that with those two guys for sure.''
The Browns, under no pressure to deal McCown, might also get a better offer later in the preseason or early in the season if a starter goes down. So there's no reason to settle for less than their asking price at this point.