It’s not clear if he remembers that night in Pittsburgh.

The Browns’ young quarterback wants to move on from a concussion that ended
his season, spawned a controversy and prompted the NFL to do more to treat
injured players.

McCoy, though, did praise Cleveland’s medical staff for its handling of his
concussion despite the team not testing him for a head injury on the sideline
and sending him back in the game after sitting out just two plays.

“Our medical staff does an outstanding job and that should never be in
question,” said McCoy, speaking for the first time since he was diagnosed with
the concussion.

McCoy didn’t want to talk about the vicious hit by Harrison, who lowered his
head and delivered a crushing blow to the QB’s facemask, knocking his feet out
from under him and sprawling him on his back. McCoy also declined to reveal any
of his symptoms or why he hasn’t been allowed to return to the field.

“I just don’t want to go there guys,” McCoy said. “I really don’t want to
recreate anything. I don’t even want to think about it. I can tell you that I’m
feeling a lot better, especially of late. I really feel like I’m coming out of
this, and I hope to at least be able to be out there this weekend and help my
team.”

McCoy was asked if he thought Harrison’s hit was a cheap shot.

“No,” he said. “I really have no opinion. I think the league has handled
that, and I’m doing the best that I can to move forward and do the best I can to
get healthy and get back and help our team.”

McCoy was equally vague when asked if Harrison deserved more than the
one-game suspension he received.

“I really have no opinion on that,” he said. “That’s a league matter.
That’s completely out of my control.”

Wearing a flannel overcoat and jeans, McCoy stood in front of his locker for
nearly 10 minutes. He was typically polite and alert while addressing his
injury, which has overshadowed the final month of Cleveland’s season. Other than
driving away from the team’s facility, McCoy had not been seen since that
fateful night at Heinz Field.

McCoy would not say if he has sought any outside medical opinions on his
injury, and took the chance to again compliment the Browns’ medical personnel.

“I don’t want to go there, but our staff here has really been first class
through all this and they are doing a great job and again I really am making
really good progress,” he said. “They’ve said the same thing to me and I’m
telling you the same thing. I’m feeling much better.”

McCoy had an inconsistent second pro season, his first running coach Pat
Shurmur’s West Coast offense. McCoy expects to be evaluated in the offseason by
Shurmur, general manager Tom Heckert and president Mike Holmgren like any other
player.

“There’s two things I can control: One, I can control how hard I work, how
hard I prepare; and the second one is I can control how I feel,” he said. “I
want to be here. I love this city. I love my teammates. I’ll do anything. I want
to be here, so after that … speculation has never gotten me anywhere. I’m a
factual guy. That’s all I’ve got.”

The Browns were criticized in many corners for their handling of McCoy’s
concussion. In the days that followed, the NFL sent a medical team to Cleveland
to meet with the Browns and representative of the Players Association also took
part in discussions to see what more could have been done.

Holmgren said the team did not test McCoy for a concussion during the game
because trainers and doctors were busy treating other players and did not see
Harrison’s hit.

Those meetings led to the league instituting a change in its game-day policy
on injuries. Teams must have a certified athletic trainer in the press box to
monitor play and provide medical staffs with information to help them assist
injured players.

Also, in the hours after McCoy was injured, his father condemned the Browns
for not checking McCoy more thoroughly and sending him back into the game. Brad
McCoy made his comments to the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

McCoy was asked if his father’s remarks have done damage to his standing
with the club.

“No,” he said. “But I will say I have talked to my dad and I have
addressed some things with my dad and what we talk about I’m going to keep
private.”

It’s been frustrating for McCoy to be away from his teammates. He said he’s
watched the past two games from home and doesn’t know if he’ll be allowed to be
on the sideline for the Browns’ season finale. Still, it won’t be the same as
playing.

“The hardest part is not being able to travel or be with your team or be
out there at practice with them or be in games,” he said. “You work so hard
all year long to be able to just be out there and contribute, so that’s been the
hardest part.”