A year ago, Derek Anderson was coming off a Pro Bowl season and proved that he was an NFL starting quarterback in the process, if not for the Browns, then certainly somewhere. Now, after enduring a benching and a season-ending knee injury in 2008, his future seems much less certain. The same can also be said about Cleveland's other quarterback, Brady Quinn, who was drafted in 2007 as the face of the franchise only to start just three games in two seasons. Earlier this week, the National Football Post's Mike Lombardi didn't rule out the possibility of the Browns drafting another quarterback this April.
Today, the Cleveland Plain Dealer's Tony Grossi talks of trading Quinn, but not for the purposes of drafting another quarterback; instead to clear up the current quarterback quandary by making it a one-man competition.
The plan? A three-team trade -- the Broncos get Quinn (Grossi's logic: Charlie Weis loves Quinn, therefore, via the transitive property, Josh McDaniels would also love him), the Jets get Jay Cutler, and the Browns get a high-round pick in return. Grossi explains:
First, [trading Quinn] would unlock the logjam at quarterback and establish the offensive leader once and for all. The Browns say they're happy with bringing both passers back, but league sources insist the team is shopping either quarterback. They say the Browns can't decide which one they really want, so they would just keep the one they can't trade and move forward.All well and good, for sure, but as I mentioned previously, this still leaves the Browns in rebuilding mode for next season. There are better ways to excite a fan base. Not only that, but why fire Romeo Crennel if mediocrity is the plan for '09?
What does it matter, anyway? The decimation of the Browns' receiving corps (goodbye Winslow, Jurevicius and probably Donte Stallworth) leaves the offense in ball-control mode for 2009.
Second, a trade of Quinn would -- must -- net the Browns an additional high-round pick, which would help rebuild the team. And if that high-round pick happens to come from the Jets, now, wouldn't that make it a perfect deal for coach Eric Mangini?
One argument: Making these moves now will pay off in the long term -- theoretically, anyway. It's just that this is a familiar story arc: new coach is hired, he upends the roster, builds for the future and a handful of four-win seasons later, the process repeats itself.



















Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
3-17-2009 @ 8:36PM
pakmass said...
oh god`!!!!!!!!!!! im a irish fan from the 70s and brady was good but.... not for my broncos, cutler needs to stop being a child and bone up to the ways of the N.F.L. if he goes im gone as a bronco fan for the past 25 yrs
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4-11-2009 @ 12:49PM
broncosfan24 said...
since cutler went and ur not a broncos fan anymore ur such an idiot a real fan of a team should stick with them always and even though cutler wen i have faith and im only twelve so i got plenty more yeares for a chance to see the broncos hold up a superbowl trophy!
3-17-2009 @ 9:05PM
globalsetback said...
it dont matter whos in cleveland the browns fans say every year what till next year
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3-17-2009 @ 9:57PM
kinkboy1121 said...
Quinn for Cutler and flop first rounders with Denver..... Grossi needs to learn football. There is no way the fans support another year of watching Derek Anderson throw 3 picks every game, then step to the podium and say we need to play better next week.... It's like DA has that syndrome we'll get em next year..... ship him... we dont want that crap.....if u can't get Culter stay with Quinn, but get Derek a one way ticket outta this town.... he's the only QB that had a thousand yard rusher, two 1000 yard receivers, a brick wall for a line around him, and he failed to reach the playoffs in a 10-6 record..... why? cause he can't beat teams in our division because he throws interceptions over the middle without any pressure in his face..... If Tony Grossi wants us to endure Derek Anderson another year.... the pd outta fire him.
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3-17-2009 @ 11:44PM
SexyRexxxy said...
Hey cleveland, paul brown named your team after the color of $h!t for a reason.. :D
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3-18-2009 @ 12:33AM
buddzkmk420 said...
You guys need to learn some football yourself. When you have an old beat up RB in Jamal Lewis, a disgruntled TE in Winslow, an under achiever in Stallworth and a man who drops balls like Edwards, what do you expect of DA or Brady Quinn? Derek Anderson is not a bad QB, but with a crappy o-line and no support, of course he's gonna look horrible. Also, I think Denver heavily screwed up in even thinking of talking about trading Jay Cutler, I hate to say it but now that Shanahan is gone, Cutler maybe now to, AND this new coach taking them away from what they've known for 20 years, (west coast offense) this team is gonna have a hard time, anyways the Browns will probably have another unexciting season but just figured i'd shed some light......
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3-18-2009 @ 12:51AM
kinkboy1121 said...
John Clayton is reporting that to trade Cutler they probably need to go through Cleveland to get Quinn..... go through.... if we don't get Cutler why would we want a stupid unknown draft choice... we might as well keep Quinn..... we could give them Anderson, but not Quinn.... if we give up Quinn we need Cutler in return, or no way will Mangini ever sell it to the fan base.... if he deals Quinn w/o getting Cutler in return Mangini might as well go swimming in lake erie in January. The fans will abandon ownership and the new coach.... the only way he moves Quinn is by getting Cutler in return and flopping 1st round spots, then you ship off Anderson to the beauty place finisher or wanted Cutler for a late 1st rounsd or 2nd, since we paid his salary for 2009.
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3-18-2009 @ 3:08AM
Mr.G said...
Hey numbnuts rexxxy - it smells like your breath too.Go take a rinse douchebag.
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3-18-2009 @ 6:44AM
gaxfla said...
I guess there was a reason Brady Quinn slid down so low when he was drafted. The guy hasn't started a whole season yet and he is already being unloaded (supposedly), and there thinking about drafting another QB. WOW
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3-18-2009 @ 6:50AM
svetahor said...
The Jets win in this trade! The Broncos might come out pretty good, depending on Quinn's development. Anderson is a flop! One good season when Quinn came in late. Quinn needs playing time. When he finally came in last year, the Browns were already a devastated team. Broken finger ended much needed playing time. Point is that the Jets get a proven QB, the Broncos "may" get a good one, and the Browns remain fodder for the Steelers!
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3-18-2009 @ 7:06AM
Jim said...
As a Pittsburgh fan living in Cleveland, I say GO BROWNS!! First you screw up AGAIN by hiring Eric the idiot BEFORE you hire a capable GM and now Quinn for a draft pick??? LOL My Steelers will ALWAYS have one less team to beat in this division. Hey Randy, how's that soccer team of yours doing?? First the Cheap traitor Modell and then the bumbling fools, The Learners!! The best fans in Football do not deserve this, but I ain't complaining!! GO STEELERS!!
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3-18-2009 @ 7:14AM
moohele99 said...
Jay Cutler is an A--Holio
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3-19-2009 @ 9:05AM
gonzo said...
Everyone in the know expects Browns to sign Michael Vick to put some fight back into the browns. The dog pound can't wait until he is released from jail later this year. Rumors are his agent is already shopping him around at a basement price. Instead of chanting who let the dogs out, they should be chanting "How much is that doggy in the window!!!"
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3-18-2009 @ 7:53AM
bsan72163 said...
I have been a Bronco fan for 30 years now I bleed orange and blue and I think Jay Cutler needs to grow up and stop being a big baby about the trade rumors and Josh McDaniels needs be get things strighten out with is quarterback
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3-18-2009 @ 11:34AM
nexxtlevell said...
Hey why DENVER? Yeah Cutler wants to leave bud don't automatically shove a qb at the team, that has not played much at all.
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3-18-2009 @ 12:37PM
Puck said...
Whatever happened to coaches coaching players instead of schemes? This trashing of entire seasons for a fantasy land of the future is stupid, and reveals a dire lack of creativity and human recognition. Yes indeed, I am a Wolverine, Lion and Piston fan. No pity required, just recognition of this stupid mind set that infects so many levels of society.
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3-18-2009 @ 1:06PM
Mr.G said...
This is not even a real rumor,it's just something Tony Grossi threw out to be batted around by his readers (his own words,not mine).There is not 1 shred of truth or fact to this "report" whatsoever.I can flat out guarantee you 2 things will happen in regards to Browns QB's. #1 - Derek Anderson will be traded to any team that offers more than a 3rd round pick for him. #2-Brady Quinn will NOT be going anywhere,period.
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3-18-2009 @ 3:01PM
kinkboy1121 said...
The Broncos dismayed owner that shortly after firing Shanahan called Cutler the face of the organization, and Cutler's team, has reached out to Shanahan for advice on how to handle this mess by the new young, inexperienced head Coach... There is a way to keep Cutler in Denver and it would be radical..... fire the new head Coach, and go with an interim head coach, then make a play for Cowher, Holmgreen, perhaps Andy Reid.... but with that said, looks like Denver has hired their version of Romeo Crennel and Phil Savage, and just signed a host of aging veterans just like they did..... this could be a decade of bad times for the Broncos.... Ibet the raiders, chargers and chiefs are broken up over the mess at Mile high staduim.... you would think Josh McDaniels being from Cleveland wouldve learned you don't run the QB thats the face of the franchise outts town as soon as you step off the bus, just ask your cheating Mentor Bill Belicheat, how it turns out..... it's like stamping your exit interview card..... here's something to throw and the wall and see if it sticks..... if Cutler leaves town and becomes a superstar, and the new qb in Denver struggles, the hiring of Josh McDaniels will look like a prank pulled on Pat Bowden by Belicheat to destroy another franchise like Romeo Crennel did... The Belicheat roots have proved so far to be rotted wood that can't grow anything, but discontentment..... Pat Bowden do yourself, and your fan base a big favor, call up Randy Lerner and ask him how he feels about losing, cause my friend, we are about to trade places as Cleveland rebuilds, and Denvers burns in the basement of the AFC WEST..... LMAO cause in Cleveland us fans no hell when we see it.... the drive.... the fumble..... and the the Romeo bumble..... Belicheat sets another franchise back 10 years with his protege
LMAO...... drive this baby........... Cleveland rides again!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh p.s.... Eric Mangini is waiting on your call Josh to bail you out win Quinn....but it's gonna cost you guys bigtime....lol
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3-18-2009 @ 3:01PM
Mr.G said...
Puck" Does the name Rich Rodriguez ring a bell? Does that mean the Wolverines are now "infected"? Just asking.
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3-20-2009 @ 1:46AM
LIONS #1 FAN said...
Jay Cutler should come to detroit we would welcome him with open arms .
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