Eric Mangini (Sorta) Snubs Shaun Rogers, Talks About Browns' QBs

The Browns are just a few weeks into the Eric Mangini administration and there are already rumblins'. Apparently, the Browns' new head coach has already removed a mural of former Browns greats that once hung near the player's entrance, and not only that, he snubbed Shaun Rogers at a recent public function. A function, it's worth mentioning, that Rogers had hoped to meet Mangini. Oh, the humanity.

Turns out, it was just a misunderstanding. You see, Mangini had no idea that Rogers was in attendance. I can only assume this public function was a Who's Who among Cleveland-area 400-pound African Americans. Otherwise, I have no idea how Shaun Rogers isn't the most recognizable person in every room.

Not a big deal, really, and if anything, it's sorta funny. Less hysterical: Mangini was asked about his current quarterback situation. Specifically, the status of Derek Anderson:

"It's still tough to say just because a lot of things to look at in terms of this season. I like to look back at previous seasons as well. ... I also want to spend time with him and learn more about him.''

Which is a long-winded way of saying: I don't know, and even if I did, I wouldn't tell you. And then there's Brady Quinn, the presumptive starter:

"It's the same thing that we talked about with Derek. It's ongoing in terms of getting to know him better and watching him work. ... It wouldn't be a fair assessment and not something at this point you can define, with the quarterback position, especially. It's how they work, how they lead, (their) huddle presence, the system they're in, their mechanics, the way that they improve in areas and how quickly that takes place.''

Oddly, there were no questions about Ken Dorsey's place in all this. In all seriousness, even though Mangini didn't reveal much, his point is a valid one: it doesn't make any sense to anoint the team's franchise quarterback in February.

Not only because Mangini's been on the job for less than a month, but also because there's a decent chance Anderson won't be in Cleveland when the season starts. Which leads me to this: for all the talk about how Matt Cassel is arguably the best available free-agent quarterback, is he that much better than Anderson?

Yes, obviously, in 2008. But those teams that might give up high draft choice for Cassel this spring would've certainly done the same for Anderson a year ago, right? Is there any guarantee Cassel will be better than Anderson in Year 2? It's a rhetorical question, but here's my point: is it worth risking a first-rounder on Cassel when you could get Anderson for a third-round pick?