Well this is interesting.It looks like the online sports world's personal whipping boy, Brady Quinn, may start against the Cowboys next week because Derek Anderson is still recovering from the vicious concussion he suffered in the Browns' second preseason game on August 18th when they were absolutely obliterated by the Giants.
Neither GM Phil Savage nor Romeo Crennel is eager to detail where Anderson stands in relation to the concussion that felled him Aug. 18. After Thursday's Chicago game, Romeo Crennel said "nope" when asked if he could predict whether Anderson will face Dallas next Sunday.
Savage: "The expectation is that D.A. will be back and ready to go." (Pressed to say if that means "ready to go" against Dallas) "I feel he'll be ready to play this weekend."
Savage: "The expectation is that D.A. will be back and ready to go." (Pressed to say if that means "ready to go" against Dallas) "I feel he'll be ready to play this weekend."
As anyone who follows preseason football knows, which would not be me, Quinn has started the Browns two other preseason games since Anderson went down.
And while Anderson was anything but awesome during his brief preseason run, Quinn hasn't exactly showed anyone why he felt he was so deserving of being a top 10 pick in the 2007 Draft.
In his first preseason start against the Detroit Lions Quinn was 14 for 24, which is all right, but he averaged only 4.4 yards per catch. It also didn't help that he did nothing of note against the Lions defense, which isn't exactly the class of the NFL.
Quinn improved in his final preseason game against the Bears, going 7 for 9 for 65 yards, but most of his passes were simple dump offs that were turned into decent gains. Quinn didn't throw a single touchdown pass in his two starts. He was also said to be fairly erratic in camp for most of the preseason.
I've never been a big Quinn fan at all. I think he's inaccurate, not the best decision maker, and can't win big games. And there are plenty of people who agree with me.
The fact is that Cleveland desperately needs Anderson to be healthy when the season starts because he's without question the best quarterback this team has and gives them the best chance to win.
But it's also apparent - given their terrible preseason and defensive issues - that the Browns' 2007 season might have been a fluke. Obviously, if I'm the Browns, I don't want to make that call until about mid-season. So until then, I wouldn't want Quinn on the field because if I'm forced to play him for even a game or two early in the season, that could easily be what prevents the team from making a serious run for the playoffs. Although, the Browns may not have a choice.
Either way, it'll be interesting to see what happens in Cleveland. This team looked so full of promise at the end of last season and now they look like they might be about to fall off a cliff.
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