Cleveland Browns voluntary pre-draft mini-camp in Berea

Cleveland Browns quarterback Brian Hoyer (L) seems excited to have veteran receiver Nate Burleson in camp.

(John Kuntz / The Plain Dealer)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Do the Browns need a rookie quarterback?

Yes.

Does he have to start?

No.

In fact, Mike Pettine prefers to open the season with a veteran under center -- and that makes sense.

A lot of sense.

As the Browns coach said after Tuesday's minicamp: "(Starting a rookie quarterback) is something you hope to avoid because I think you can set that player back and set your team back while we are in the 'win now' business. As history has shown, I think it's (win now) very hard to do with a rookie quarterback."

The Browns are in the "win now" business.

While intentionally keeping the definition of "win now" vague, the goal obviously is to step out of that 5-11, 4-12 ditch that has trapped the franchise for the last six years.

Pettine also talked about how he was part of teams where Kyle Boller, Joe Flacco, E.J. Manuel and Mark Sanchez started as rookies.

It's very obvious he'd prefer to postpone some of the growing pains (and early losses) by putting the ball in Brian Hoyer's hands to open the season.

Everything is always subject to change. Hoyer is making an excellent recovery from ACL surgery, but he's still coming back from major knee surgery. It was uplifting for the Browns to see him moving well and not wearing a brace during some of the drills at Tuesday's practice.

Two years ago, Matt Flynn was supposed to be the starter for Seattle.

The Seahawks picked Russell Wilson in the third round -- and he won the starting job by the end of training camp.

No one with the Seahawks saw that happening on draft day, or even when camp opened in 2012.

So it's possible a rookie starts for the Browns.

But don't bet on it, even if the Browns grab a rookie quarterback with one of their two picks in the first round.

General Manager Ray Farmer and Pettine are both rookies in their current jobs. But they have been in the league for a long time. They also weren't asleep when the team president Joe Banner, general manager Mike Lombardi along with coach Rob Chudzinski were all fired after one season with the Browns.

They know what Owner Jimmy Haslam wants -- a team that is competitive.

That's why four of the nine veteran free agents signed to contract are at least 31 years old.

The two most expensive acquisitions are Karlos Dansby (32 years old) and Donte Whitner (28 but in his 10th NFL season).

Receiver Nate Burleson (32) has played 12 years. Offensive lineman Paul McQuistan (31) has played nine years.

The goal is to put a legitimate NFL team on the field right now.

And that's why Farmer has brought in veteran quarterbacks Vince Young and Tyler Thigpen for tryouts this week. It's why they may look at other experienced quarterbacks this season.

And finally, it's why they are hoping Hoyer can be a viable NFL starter.

That way, when they do draft a quarterback -- he will not be forced into action right away.

As Pettine said, "We're in the 'win now' business." Seldom does that happen with a rookie under center.