Brady Quinn, Cleveland Browns / Image: Zuma Press

Brady started the season and got nowhere. And he has the numbers to prove it. After three starts, Brady has a sickly 62.3 quarterback rating. Derek filled in for five games and didn’t fare any better. In fact, he was worse with just two touchdowns to nine interceptions and a 36.2 QB rating. Are you serious? In the team’s only aforementioned win, Derek was a ridiculous 2-of-17 passing for 23 yards. I’m almost positive I could attain those same numbers against any defense in the National Football League. That’s how bad that was.

Now that we’re into the second half of the season, Brady is more than ready to get back on the field:

“I don’t spend a lot of time on the past. I think you always try to go back and be critical of yourself, but a lot of times I try to look at more fundamental things and I try to look at some (specific) things—what could I have done different in this situation? And again, I always feel confident in what I put out there on the field.”

Well, with little left to play for (except pride, blah blah), the Browns announced today that Brady would, in fact, get the starting nod against the Ravens. Under normal circumstances (like, if the team had any hope of making the playoffs), I would say Browns fans would be excited to see the popular Brady Quinn back under center. But who really cares at this point? He has nobody to throw to. And the New Orleans Saints defense has scored more touchdowns than the Browns offense this season. So, where’s the excitement coming from? At least the Browns aren’t beating themselves. They lead the entire NFL in fewest penalties. But not so fast. They have the worst turnover differential at -11. No matter how you slice it, it’s a sad state of affairs in Cleveland.

Source: ClevelandBrowns.com

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Brady Quinn Named Browns Starter Again

Brady Quinn, Cleveland Browns / Photo: Newscom

Browns head coach Eric Mangini said what he could about the situation:

“We’re not looking to move Brady Quinn. We get calls all the time that we listen to, but Brady is a Cleveland Brown, and it’s not anything we’re looking to do.”

In other words, the Cleveland Browns aren’t actively pursuing a trade for quarterback Brady Quinn. But they are getting phone calls. And they’re listening. As far as Brady is concerned, he said he’s under contract with the Browns and is focused on the team’s next opponent—the Pittsburgh Steelers. But he does have a house for sale, which he claims has nothing to do with anything other than a shorter commute to work.

Source: NFL.com

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Browns Not Looking to Trade Brady Quinn

Brady Quinn, Cleveland Browns / Image: Zuma Press

I don’t know why coach Mangini was keeping this decision a secret anyway. It isn’t like prep work for Brady Quinn or Derek Anderson is a lot different. Both are built roughly the same and play a similar style game—they’re pocket passers. Derek is a bit older and slower. But he also has a bigger arm. Brady is no Michael Vick but he will use his legs when necessary—certainly more than Derek would. But there’s no huge difference here. So coach Mangini is probably not all broken up about the word getting out. He was just being difficult. (I wonder where he learned that?)

Anyway, the decision to start Brady Quinn is not a surprise. I know it’s certainly the popular decision, generally speaking, among Browns faithful. Brady is the fan favorite. I also believe he’s more versatile and gives the Browns a better chance to win. If he should go down to injury or fail to live up to his expectations, however, the Browns at least have the comfort of turning to an experienced and capable number two option.

Source: NFL.com

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Brady Quinn Will Start at QB for Browns

Brady Quinn & Derek Anderson, Cleveland Browns / Photo: Newscom

While many perceive the Browns to be in an enviable position with two potential starters, neither player is taking command of new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll’s game plan the way the team had hoped. In fact, during two-minute drills this afternoon, both quarterbacks finished their work with interceptions.

Obviously it’s still very early in the going, but with both Derek and Brady struggling, the Browns could be looking at a longer than hoped for offensive adjustment period.

Source: Ohio.com

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Browns QBs Anderson, Quinn Still Competing

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

New Cleveland Browns head coach Eric Mangini isn’t sure who his starting quarterback will be when the team opens the 2009 National Football League regular season in roughly five months. So he’s declaring it an open competition between QBs Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn:

“I’m excited about both of them. I sat down with both of them, been able to spend some time with them. I like both guys. I like a lot of the things that I’ve learned about them in terms of through the conversations and also things that I’ve seen on tape. Without knowing exactly what they were being asked to do on each of the plays, you’re projecting a little bit. But they both seemed to have good presence, a good command of the situation. And they each did different things in the passing game and the running game I liked.”

For a team that finished 4-12 last season, figuring out who’s going to be their starting quarterback might not be their biggest problem. More importantly, they need an offensive line who can protect said QBs and receivers who can catch the football. It’s pretty fundamental. But this is a crucial decision. Both players have proven worthy of the job if they can stay healthy. Derek had a breakout 2007 season and received a big contract as a result — three-years, $24 million with a $5 million bonus he collected this month. But he struggled before being replaced by Brady after eight games last season.

Brady is certainly the fan favorite. Plus he’s in the midst of his own five-year, $20.2 million contract. Coach Mangini is doing the right thing by making this an open competition, but my guess is it’s Brady’s job to lose. There is no way he isn’t the starting quarterback for the 2009 Cleveland Browns. But how long he lasts as the starter and how far he can take the team is anyone’s guess.

Source: NFL.com, Photo: Newscom

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Derek Anderson or Brady Quinn?

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

The Cleveland Browns’ luck has gone from bad to worse. Any quarterback controversy officially ended last week when then-starter Brady Quinn’s season ended with a injury. He had replaced Derek Anderson nine games into the season and the “Brady Quinn Era” had begun. Now, no sooner did Derek get his starting job back than his season looks like it’s over after he suffered an MCL sprain today during the 4th quarter of a miserable 10-6 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. Afterward, Browns head coach Romeo Crennel called it like he saw it:

“I’m not encouraged by the way he came off the field.”

That means it’s Glenn Dorsey’s turn to quarterback the Browns the rest of the way, but I don’t know that it matters much at this point. Outside of getting some experience for next season and the always exhilarating playing for pride, the Cleveland Browns’ season essentially ended last month. At 4-8, Cleveland is jockeying for position in the 2009 NFL Draft.

Source: ClevelandBrowns.com, Photo: Newscom

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Derek Anderson Likely Out For Season

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

Cleveland Browns quarterback Brady Quinn will miss the rest of this season with a broken finger. He injured it a couple weeks ago against Buffalo (Brady broke the tip of his finger and messed up a tendon), then did further damage by playing with it last week against Houston. Still, he doesn’t regret his decision to play against the Texans:

“I knew that was a consequence if I went in and played. That was something that I was willing to risk. If I had a chance to do it over, I would do it again ….. It’s frustrating. I can’t begin to tell you. I’m hurting right now because I love to play the game. I wish I could be with my teammates. I feel bad for the fans because I really wanted to be out there and continue to play and continue to grow in this league. Hopefully, this will allow me to grow stronger and something good will come from this.”

That’s good to hear. Brady is still the man in Cleveland. Naturally, it would have been better for the team and for Brady’s future if he had been able to finish the season and collect five more games worth of valuable experience, but the Browns will have to hope that his three starts against Denver, Buffalo and Houston will serve him well heading into 2009. As Brady decides whether to have an operation on the finger or just have it immobilized in a splint, the Browns’ playoff fate has already been decided as they continue in what has been a very disappointing season.

Source: ClevelandBrowns.com, Photo: Newscom

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Brady Quinn Will Miss Rest of Season

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

In the end, quarterback Brady Quinn wasn’t the answer. At least not on this night. It was just another demoralizing, frustrating loss for the Cleveland Browns. But in the process of dropping to 3-6 on the season, Brady played about as well as could possibly have been expected in his National Football League debut as a starting QB — a 34-30 loss to the Denver Broncos last night. He even shouldered the blame afterward (even though I hope he understands he can’t prevent his teammates from fumbling or dropping passes — oh, and he doesn’t play defense):

“I told everyone, this one is flat on me. I know I am good enough that I can make a play at the end and win. I felt comfortable out there, it’s my home away from home.”

Brady was set-up to succeed. He was playing at home in front of a crowd who has been chanting his name since he was drafted last year. Plus, amidst this feel-good vibe, he was working against a banged-up Denver defense that was giving up almost four touchdowns/game on average — one of the NFL’s worst. But keep this in mind. Brady had very little practice time with the first team (he’s been a backup for a season and a half plus this is a short week for the Browns) and therefore virtually no experience with the first team receivers. It didn’t seem to matter except for a few timing issues where increased reps would’ve probably made a difference. Plus, the running game got going early and that’s any quarterback’s best friend. Jamal Lewis, Josh Cribbs and Jerome Harrison combined for 156 yards on the ground. And the Browns would not commit their first penalty until the end of the third quarter. So, there was a lot working in Brady’s favor.

What impressed me the most about Brady’s game was his ability to make quick decisions with the football and to buy extra time for his receivers by scrambling and being a mobile quarterback — something Derek Anderson was not known for. When Brady was in the pocket, his presence was almost like that of a veteran. And he was able to make the progression from his first to second receiving option admirably. Brady finished 23-of-35 for 239 yards and two touchdowns. But more importantly, he didn’t turn the football over. No interceptions and no fumbles. Brady played a very solid football game. Granted, it was only one game, but it was a good start.

As for the Browns, it came down to mistakes — fumbles and dropped balls led to their demise. This team is kind of an enigma. Take Kellen Winslow for example. Kellen was having somewhere close to the game of his life but by no means out of the realm of what he’s capable of on a weekly basis. He had two touchdown grabs and was picking Brady passes off his shoestrings with ease. Ten catches for 111 yards and two TDs is a good night’s work. It’s an All Pro’s night work. But when you cap it, as Kellen did, with a 4th quarter fumble around midfield and then let a crucial 4th down pass sail through your hands to ultimately end the game on your following and final possession, it’s hard to get too excited about much of anything. But Brady Quinn’s performance will keep Browns fans hopeful.

Sources: ClevelandBrowns.com, NFL.com, Photo: Newscom

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Brady Quinn Debut Review

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

Cleveland Browns quarterback Brady Quinn can put down the clipboard, unhook the wires and get into the game now. The Browns confirmed today that Brady will be the starting QB against the Denver Broncos as the NFL’s Thursday night schedule begins this week. Brady will replace an inconsistent Derek Anderson who didn’t have a terrible game (17-of-33, 219 yards, 2 TDs) against the NFL’s second best defense yesterday, but he threw a costly late interception that was returned for a touchdown and sealed the Browns’ fate in a 37-27 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Apparently, head coach Romeo Crennel has seen enough and is ready to give-in to a city who has been clamoring for Brady since he was drafted by the team last year.

Let me start by saying I think the timing of this decision is a bit unusual. It points to desperation in Cleveland. Derek hasn’t had a great season. His passer rating is rather miserable (68.9), but he had gone 132 pass attempts without an interception before he was picked for six yesterday. So it’s not like he’s making a ton of mistakes. Plus, receiver Braylon Edwards dropped a sure touchdown pass in the 4th quarter with the game tied. That wasn’t Derek’s fault. Braylon drops balls all the time. So, maybe it’s not so much Derek’s poor play as it is the team needing some kind of change that might spark them. And at 3-5, they need a spark. I’m not sure Brady’s going to fare a whole lot better in the second half of the season than Derek did in the first half. What he might do for the team is give them a lift. Sometimes a change at the quarterback position will do that for a team.

I’ve said before that I’m all for this switch because it’s inevitable anyway. At some point, Brady Quinn is going to be the starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns. In fact, I think the Browns should’ve made this decision before the season even started. I know Derek Anderson had a Pro Bowl 2007 season. He’s a good quarterback. And he will play (and probably succeed) somewhere other than Cleveland next season. But this was Brady’s team without even taking the field. If that makes any sense.

Source: ClevelandBrowns.com, Photo: Newscom

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Brady Quinn Era Begins in Cleveland

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

Cleveland Browns quarterback Brady Quinn and left tackle Joe Thomas appeared at a rally for Republican presidential candidate John McCain this past week. Meanwhile, linebacker Willie McGinest (along with Cleveland Cavs star Lebron James) were pumping voter registration at a Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama rally recently. Will this promote division in the Browns locker room? Head coach Romeo Crennel gathered his squad and told them not to let politics become a dividing force within the team:

“Their politics are their politics as long as they don’t interfere with the team. My main concern is that they don’t get on the soap box here in the locker room. That’s why the ballot is a secret ballot when you go vote.”

This political season has sparked some very heated debate and I agree with coach Crennel to warn his team of the potential division the election could create. I see it in my own life everyday. Some people who used to speak to me no longer do because of my political affiliation. Is that insane? But it happens. And it could happen to the Cleveland Browns if they aren’t careful. Then again, considering their 1-3 start with the defending Super Bowl champion and currently undefeated N.Y. Giants in town for Monday Night Football in two days, maybe they need a good shaking up.

Source: The Chronicle-Telegram, Photo: Newscom

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Romeo Crennel Discourages Political Talk