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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Shurmur defends treatment of McCoy

Cleveland Browns coach Pat Shurmur strongly defended his team’s handling of Colt McCoy after the quarterback sustained a concussion during Thursday night’s loss to Pittsburgh.

Scrambling from pressure, McCoy was laid out by a vicious helmet-to-helmet hit from Steelers linebacker James Harrison late in the fourth quarter. McCoy left the game for just two plays but returned after being examined and cleared by the Browns’ medical staff, which Shurmur said followed the NFL’s exacting guidelines on concussions.

McCoy didn’t begin showing symptoms of a concussion until after the game, Shurmur said.

On his third play after returning, McCoy, whose head was snapped back on the crushing blow from Harrison, threw a costly interception in the end zone.

Around the league

Detroit tight end Brandon Pettigrew was fined $25,000 by the NFL for abusive conduct toward an official in Sunday’s game at New Orleans. The league also fined receiver Nate Burleson $7,500 for grabbing a Saints player by the face mask, and Oakland defensive lineman Richard Seymour $30,000 for punching Miami offensive lineman Richie Incognito. … Texans star receiver Andre Johnson will sit out Sunday’s game at Cincinnati with a strained left hamstring. Johnson hurt himself chasing down a deep pass from rookie T.J. Yates in last week’s 17-10 win over Atlanta. … Minnesota running back Adrian Peterson and quarterback Christian Ponder are listed as questionable for Sunday’s game at Detroit.