RICHMOND — As the Redskins’ backup quarterback, Colt McCoy hasn’t seen serious playing time since 2014, when he started four games in the middle of the season.
But Washington always believed McCoy could fill in if need be — which is why the franchise signed him to a one-year extension Thursday, worth up to $7 million in incentives.
For McCoy, signing the deal was a no-brainer.
“First and foremost, this is a special place to me,” McCoy said Friday. “From top down, I love our organization and thankful to be a part of it. My wife and I and our kids, we love the Northern Virginia community. We love D.C. We’re involved in a lot of different things. This just allows us an opportunity on that side of our life to continue that. We’re thankful for that.”
McCoy’s deal was set to expire after the 2018 season. His new contract contains void and buyback provisions, which would allow the quarterback to hit the free agent market if they are met. In his last deal, McCoy had a clause that could have allowed him to enter free agency in 2018, dependent on him playing 65 percent in either of his first two years.
The Redskins, though, don’t plan on McCoy to take the field unless starter Alex Smith suffers an injury.
McCoy emphasized his job is still important, even if he doesn’t take regular season snaps.
“I take it seriously every day,” McCoy said. “I’m doing everything I can and help Alex to be the best quarterback he can be. Help our team be the best team we can be. To have an extension and have one more year to do it, I’m thankful for that.”
In 2014, McCoy went 1-3 as a starter and finished the season with 1,057 yards for four touchdowns and three interceptions. He was benched when Robert Griffin III returned from injury.
Throughout his career, McCoy has started 25 games. The Cleveland Browns drafted him in the third-round in 2010, and the Texas product spent three seasons there.
Following the 2014 season, McCoy has only made two appearances in the regular season. He took the field in a blowout loss to the Dallas Cowboys last season.
“Colt’s a great player to have here,” coach Jay Gruden said. “He’s a great back-up quarterback, he’s a great quarterback in general and if something happens to Alex — knock on wood — that I know that our team is in good hands and that position you don’t want to mess around with.”
Gruden has always spoken highly of McCoy, and the feeling is mutual for the quarterback. McCoy said he “loves” working with Gruden, adding they speak the same language. He said the stability has helped after learning five different systems in his first five years in the NFL.
In January, Gruden said he would have been comfortable with McCoy as the starter in 2018, if the Redskins couldn’t agree to a new contract with Kirk Cousins. That ultimately didn’t happen — as Washington elected to trade for Smith instead.
But the possibility of being the starter did cross McCoy’s mind.
“Yeah, you think about it,” McCoy said. “I couldn’t do much because I was under contract and I know how these guys feel about me. When you take a step back, I think I can appreciate that I have a job in the NFL and it’s a great job.
“I just want to compete, I want to play. But I think this made sense for everybody and I’m really happy about it.”
• Matthew Paras can be reached at mparas@washingtontimes.com.
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