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Stability On Colt McCoy's Side In Third Season With Redskins

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Colt McCoy "came back to life" with the Redskins and in March signed a new three-year contract. Now as the team's No. 2 quarterback, he feels the most comfortable he ever has in the NFL.

Colt McCoy had opportunities to go elsewhere for the 2016 season, but the quarterback wanted to stay with the Washington Redskins.

Even though it appears McCoy is rooted as the team's No. 2 quarterback behind Kirk Cousins, remaining in Washington was key for him after so much turmoil early in his career. He's learned all of the ins and outs of Jay Gruden's offense, which something he never had during his first four NFL seasons with a new offensive coordinator each year.

In March, McCoy signed a reported three-year deal with the Redskins to remain in Washington.

"I definitely had other options, other places to go," McCoy told ESPN980 on Friday. "At this point in my career, honestly, you've kind of got to know what you're doing [and] what you're looking for. For me, this building has provided a lot for me and for my career, I kind of came back to life a little bit after Cleveland and San Francisco, and I finally feel like I'm in a place that I really have a good feel of the offense. I like the coaches. This locker room is great [and] I think that we kind of just scratched the surface of what we're capable of last year."

McCoy played in just two games last season, as he made a late appearance in the Redskins' blowout victory over the New Orleans Saints (and that was only to hand the ball off three times) and again the final regular season game of the year, a victory against the Dallas Cowboys with the NFC East already sealed up.

That's because of the success Cousins had after being named the team's starting quarterback for the season, as he set single-season team records for attempts (543), completions (379), passing yards (4,166) and 300-yard passing games (seven).

"He understood what Sean and Jay wanted to get accomplished from an offensive standpoint and you've just got to look at who he's surrounded by," McCoy said. "We have weapons in this building that have never really been on a team with this many options to throw to. We have a great offensive line and the unique thing about this place with Jay and Sean is that if you do what you're coached to do you're going to be successful. So I think that, again when I mention that comfort factor, I think Kirk has that, too, where he feels confident when he steps on the field that 'I'm going to get the ball to the playmakers on this team and they're going to make plays and I'm going to eliminate as many mistakes as I can and we're going to score a lot of points.'"

A look at the highlights of quarterback Colt McCoy's first season with the Washington Redskins, which included wins over the Titans and Cowboys.

McCoy added that those factors are also beneficial to him as a backup.

"Going into the game I don't get any reps during the week, but I have the ability to understand what we want to accomplish," McCoy said. "My goal coming back here …I want to know this offense so well that I could call the game and I don't know that I could step out there and do that tomorrow, but being the third year in the system, I almost feel like I have a pretty unique command of what's going on even though I don't get all the reps."

The Redskins' quarterback situation has slightly altered this season, as the team released Robert Griffin III in March before bringing in Indiana quarterback Nate Sudfeld in the sixth round of the 2016 NFL Draft.

McCoy knew that at some point the team was going to take a quarterback. In Sudfeld, who is the assumed No. 3 quarterback, the Redskins are getting a player much bigger in stature than either McCoy or Cousins.

"Nate is a really good dude," Cousins said. "I think he's all you could ask for for a guy coming in. he's trying to learn the offense, he's a big guy so he kind of makes Kirk and I feel small, 6-6. But he's good. I think he'll be good for the room and I'll do my best to bring him along and answer questions and kind of help him through the process, because I know as a rookie its overload. You're trying to learn everything at one time, so I'm going to do my best to help it slow down for him."

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