Trailing 20-0 at halftime, and seeing that his offense had done virtually nothing productive, Cleveland Browns coach Eric Mangini decided he'd had enough.Quarterback Brady Quinn, who has struggled mightily over the season's first two weeks, was pulled from Sunday's 34-3 loss to Baltimore in favor of Derek Anderson. The two staged a battle throughout training camp for the starting job, which was eventually won by Quinn.
Quinn has not been effective throwing the ball downfield, and he didn't get off to a good start Sunday. He threw an interception on the Browns' first drive, and threw for just 34 yards in the first half.
Anderson came on to start the third quarter for Cleveland, and that didn't do work out better. Flushed out of the pocket, he threw a pass into coverage along the sideline, and it was intercepted. It was one of those plays where Anderson needed to throw the ball away, instead of trying to make a play -- and the first of three Anderson interceptions on the day. He finished 11 of 19.
"Nothing ever comes easy here in Cleveland," said linebacker D'Qwell Jackson. "I've learned that the last few years. This is as low as we can get right now. We're 0-3 and we can't be any worse than that."
Looks like it's going to be a long season in Cleveland, one wrought with quarterback questions.
Cleveland Browns Photos
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BALTIMORE - SEPTEMBER 27: Dawan Landry #26 of the Baltimore Ravens laterals the ball after an interception against the Cleveland Browns at M&T Bank Stadium on September 27, 2009 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ravens defeated the Browns 34-3. The lay was called back because of a penalty but the Ravens kept the ball. (Photo by Larry French/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Dawan Landry
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BALTIMORE - SEPTEMBER 27: Dawan Landry #26 of the Baltimore Ravens runs the ball after an interception against the Cleveland Browns at M&T Bank Stadium on September 27, 2009 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ravens defeated the Browns 34-3. The lay was called back because of a penalty but the Ravens kept the ball. (Photo by Larry French/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Dawan Landry
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BALTIMORE - SEPTEMBER 27: Head coach John Harbaugh of the Baltimore Ravens speaks to the referree during the game against the Cleveland Browns at M&T Bank Stadium on September 27, 2009 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ravens defeated the Browns 34-3. (Photo by Larry French/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** John Harbaugh
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BALTIMORE - SEPTEMBER 27: Ray Rice #27 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates his first career touchdown against the Cleveland Browns at M&T Bank Stadium on September 27, 2009 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ravens defeated the Browns 34-3. (Photo by Larry French/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ray Rice
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BALTIMORE - SEPTEMBER 27: Ray Rice #27 of the Baltimore Ravens runs the ball into the endzone for his first career touchdown against the Cleveland Browns at M&T Bank Stadium on September 27, 2009 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ravens defeated the Browns 34-3. (Photo by Larry French/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ray Rice
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BALTIMORE - SEPTEMBER 27: Ray Rice #27 of the Baltimore Ravens runs the ball into the endzone for his first career touchdown against the Cleveland Browns at M&T Bank Stadium on September 27, 2009 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ravens defeated the Browns 34-3. (Photo by Larry French/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ray Rice
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BALTIMORE - SEPTEMBER 27: Ed Reed #20 of the Baltimore Ravens comes off the field after an interception against the Cleveland Browns at M&T Bank Stadium on September 27, 2009 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ravens defeated the Browns 34-3. (Photo by Larry French/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ed Reed
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BALTIMORE - SEPTEMBER 27: Antwan Barnes #50 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates a play against the Cleveland Browns at M&T Bank Stadium on September 27, 2009 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ravens defeated the Browns 34-3. (Photo by Larry French/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Antwan Barnes
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BALTIMORE - SEPTEMBER 27: Todd Heap #86 of the Baltimore Ravens runs the ball against the Cleveland Browns at M&T Bank Stadium on September 27, 2009 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ravens defeated the Browns 34-3. (Photo by Larry French/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Todd Heap
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Comments (Page 1 of 10)
Been a Browns fan for 40+ years,but I cant even watch this team anymore.I hoped and prayed that Sanchez would fall to us at #5 in the draft,we would trade Quinn and Anderson for whatever we could get and start over.Well,we got Sanchez and then traded the pick for a bunch of whatevers and here we are again with an unbearable team,a retread coach and an owner who knows soccer but not football.Somebody wake me up when we have a new owner and somebody that can coach.
Just become a Steelers Fan, everone else in Cleveland is... Go Steelers!!
I've been a fan for awhile as well. I've always had one favorite team and thats the Browns. No matter how bad or much we lose i'll be a loyal fan forever. GO BROWNS!!!
"Coach" Mangini is too busy making his players miserable to get them ready for a game. A poor excuse for a Coach, he's more like a little dictator. Fined a player $1,700.00 for taking a bottle of water from the hotel room mini bar a few weeks ago. He'll be fired and end up as someones coordinator because the good-old-boy network is alive and well in the NFL. I wouldn't let him coach a Pop Warner team. He stinks.
Sanchez was a reach at 5 ... Don't worry, Sanchez has hit his ceiling. He's not getting any better than he is and he beat 3 teams with below average defenses... it's not the end of the world. The browns will find their QB soon enough. It wont be Quinn or Anderson but they will find their guy and he will be better than Sanchez. Sanchez is Joey Harrington all over again.
Hey Jason you are wrong Browns win are lose is our team and its like winning a super bowl to see those steelers lose again and to the Bengals even better still in Ohio
Amen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You think you got it bad>... We're stuck with Tony MOMO, I mean Romo!
It must suck to be a Brown's fan!!! To be a "Clowns" fan for 40+ years tells me that you've lived a pretty sad life!!! Their losses couple with losing the original team, barren winters, and loss of jobs! Would turn me into a hopeless loser!
The Cowboys on the other hand.....
Mangini created this in the pre-season by not committing to Quinn and building his confidence. The team never knew who the QB was! The Browns are the Browns...should have unloaded ANderson after his fluke pro-bowl year when he was valuable. If you weren't going to do that then why draft Quinn in the first place. Terrible leadership that's all that needs to be said about the organization!
i'm right there with you bud! been a fan for MORE than 40 years. there is NOTHING worth watching from a cleveland team. mangini needs to go, wedge needs to go. all the blame can't be placed on quinn though. we haven't had an offensive line for years. oh, for the days of ozzie newsome, kevin mack and the likes of them. maybe a little velcro on their gloves would help. also, instead of a goal line we could have something resembling a locker room. they can find their way THERE!
Brian Brohm, buried in Green Bay, is a far better QB than Quinn will ever be. There are several like Brohm sitting on benches all over the league. with several years of experience, but never the opportunity to play. Dump both Anderson and Quinn and fetch one of those folks. George Ratterman, was a second stringer for Cleveland behind Otto Graham for years. He was every bit as good as Graham, better ball-handling with the running game, and Paul Brown paid him big bucks (for the time) to keep him away from rivals.
unwatchable been watching for about 50 years thinking about not watching anymore
Mr. Lerner you need to sell the team.... you are an embarrassment.... your choices for coaches are dismal..... we have suffered three blows now.... and Romeo Crennel now looks like he knew more then this coaching staff.... it is very evident this team is quitting on Mangini.... they just do not care, except when they cash their million dollar checks.... Brandon Macdonald plays like a girl biting swiping at the opposing players like a little brownie.... all the players that we got for our five pick look like they belong in the projects cause they have no work ethics, our head coach stinks, our def coordinator stinks, our offensive coordinator stinks special teams blows.... good luck selling season tickets next year Lerner.... people in this town are through with the crap you sell us..... move to England you rich friggin snob you've ruined our city long enough.... both qbs are brutal and Mangini had to know this from the tapes he reviewed before the draft.... and how does he not draft Sanchez..... football is over in Cleveland for however long Eric Mangini is the head Coach.... Mr. Lerner you failed miserably.... you have a team that quit each game this season.... the Ravens were laughing about how pathetic the Browns were.....just like Quinn got benched do you have the courage to fire Mangini today. As long as your the owner people will not embrace your team.... they are quitting on both sides of the ball.
Right on!
I couldn't agree more. Eric Mangini is proof this organization has no clue.
Brady Quinn. There was a reason he fell so low in the draft
Amen! He would have fallen lower if Charlie Weis hadnt convinced his friend Romeo Crennel to trade for the pick that drafted Quinn. This guy has always been over-rated. There are no Eastern Michigans, Akrons, or military acadamies for him to feast on in the NFL. Quinn always laid an egg against even an average defense.
I used to love watching the Browns! These past few seasons; however, have been utterly miserable for a Browns fan to watch. I moved to Massachusetts years ago and STILL root for my beloved Brownies, but it gets more painful every year...
When are they going to figure out how to play like a team and win some games?
It is heartbreaking to watch the Browns play a quality team. Every time, a Browns receiver always had a Raven covering him. The ravens receivers sometimes had a Brown almost in the picture. Give Brady some time and some open receivers and let's see then what he can do. He is a quality young man and has the leadership ability to get the job done.