Cleveland Browns (2007 & prior)

[OCBucksFan]

Another solid draft in 2008 will go a long way towards the direction of the Browns in the next five years.

#1 priority is resigning Anderson and Lewis.
#2 priority is getting some D-line help and depth.

Yeah, and you have to look at these things in baby steps. The Browns have had some seriously bad years, I remember 7 years ago when San Diego was still trying to recover from the Ryan Leaf debacle I was just hoping for 8-8, that's all I wanted, once we got that I wanted to break .500 and get into the playoffs, now we have that and I want to win a playoff game, maybe two.

My point, a lot of Browns fans seem so down, but the reality is they had a great season, they won the games they needed to win and didn't give Dallas a #1-5 draft pick. There's a lot to take out of this, but in a month football will be gone anyways and everyones team will be done playing.

Take it for what it is, it's 10 wins, a better year than you've had in recent memory and you know what you need to build on. Some pass defense and you guys are looking at going into the playoffs next year.

 

[LitlBuck]

Another solid draft in 2008 will go a long way towards the direction of the Browns in the next five years.

#1 priority is resigning Anderson and Lewis.
#2 priority is getting some D-line help and depth.

Agree but I would put priority #2 as #1 and just worry about re-signing Lewis.

 

[Bleed S & G]

Helluva year - after week 1, I woulda never thunk it

 

[Captain Hindsight]

Agree but I would put priority #2 as #1 and just worry about re-signing Lewis.

I strongly disagree with your assessment on not re-signing Anderson.

I'm not saying that Quinn will not be a good QB in the NFL, but if you throw Quinn in as the starter next year, the Browns will only take baby steps backwards next season.

With the Browns having such a solid and successful season this year, players, coaches, and especially Browns fans will expect nothing less than a playoff berth next year.

If Quinn starts next season, I wouldn't expect to see them win any more than 7 or 8 games.

They should sign Anderson to a two-year contract (although that would be extremely difficult), and sign Lewis to a three-year one. Then address any other needs in the draft and in free-agency.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Anderson and Lewis are the main reasons we won 10 games......they are priority #1 in my opinion.......Quinn will get his chance down the road.

 

[Buckeye86]

Anderson and Lewis are the main reasons we won 10 games......they are priority #1 in my opinion.......Quinn will get his chance down the road.

That's a big salary cap hit to take for someone who's waiting in the wings. I agree that Anderson should continue to be the #1 guy, but money talks and I don't know how long they can keep Quinn's money quiet.

 

[Best Buckeye]

The Browns know what they have in Anderson , Buh Bye BQ.

 

[Mike80]

Agree but I would put priority #2 as #1 and just worry about re-signing Lewis.

And enjoy your 5 and 11 season next year.....

Seriously, Anderson is going to get tendered the 1 year qualifying offer and I don't think they'll give Jamal more than a 2 year offer at this point.

How did the Browns win games this year? they outscored people. WHO was the guy who drove that attack? Derek Anderson. He deserves at least a chance to start the pre-season next year as the starter and to play himself out of the job.

Otherwise, well, I guess they just shouldn't bother. They finally got to the brink of the playoffs, with people who the CURRENT coach put together (not like Bubba Butch and Chris Palmer's players) and I just can't believe people are saying they should dismantle the pieces that did it.

 

[Mike80]

That's a big salary cap hit to take for someone who's waiting in the wings. I agree that Anderson should continue to be the #1 guy, but money talks and I don't know how long they can keep Quinn's money quiet.

Actually if they keep Quinn another year (and honestly no one should be saying get rid of him either at this point), if Anderson does become a good QB in this league, the cap hit isn't that horrible.

 

[LitlBuck]

I strongly disagree with your assessment on not re-signing Anderson.

I guess we all have difference of opinions when it comes to Quinn and Anderson. I just believe that Quinn can make all the throws then Anderson made this past year and think that his short game is better. We just differ on that. I also think that Edwards and Winslow have a better relationship with Quinn.

I'm not saying that Quinn will not be a good QB in the NFL, but if you throw Quinn in as the starter next year, the Browns will only take baby steps backwards next season.

See above statement

With the Browns having such a solid and successful season this year, players, coaches, and especially Browns fans will expect nothing less than a playoff berth next year.

You don't think I am one of those fans. I went to my first Browns game when Len Ford was playing DE. I was also in the stands in December, 1964.

If Quinn starts next season, I wouldn't expect to see them win any more than 7 or 8 games.

They should sign Anderson to a two-year contract (although that would be extremely difficult), and sign Lewis to a three-year one. Then address any other needs in the draft and in free-agency

If Anderson would sign a two-year contract, I would do it in a heartbeat but he would be a fool to do so. I would tender him at the highest offer.

I would sign Lewis to a three-year deal depending on how much money he wants but I would prefer signing into a two-year deal if you would be agreeable.

I think a lot of Anderson's success this year was due to the Browns "new" offensive system, their OL, and their playmakers.

 

[LitlBuck]

Actually if they keep Quinn another year (and honestly no one should be saying get rid of him either at this point), if Anderson does become a good QB in this league, the cap hit isn't that horrible.

Most of Quinn's contract is incentive based and he would not be a salary-cap hit for a few years.

Our problems are now on defense and that is where we should put our money in addition to signing Lewis and tendering Anderson. We need a quality DE or two by free agency and maybe another OLB or possibly inside backer.

 

[Buckeye86]

Hmmm, I didn't know Quinn's salary was incentive based... great move on their part.

 

[Mike80]

BTW just for the fun of it, I decided to compare Derek Anderson's stats to other current NFL QBs who have been in the league for a while.

He was significantly better in the TD to INT ratio than Brett Farve.

He loses the comparison to Peyton Manning, but by the time Manning was 24 he had almost 800 more passing attempts coming into that season than Anderson did this year.

His stats are better than Tony Romos' overall, although he had a few more INTs total with more passing attempts (I didn't do the ratio but it's comparable).....

He has better stats than the corpse formally known as Steve McNair did in 1997 as well.

Not that he's going to be any of these guys, although I'd love for him to become someone even just a couple notches below Manning or Farve. What I am trying to illustrate is the guy deserves a qualifying offer and a definitive shot at the job next year.

 

[Mike80]

Most of Quinn's contract is incentive based and he would not be a salary-cap hit for a few years.

Yep any of the bonus stuff was front-loaded.

Our problems are now on defense and that is where we should put our money in addition to signing Lewis and tendering Anderson. We need a quality DE or two by free agency and maybe another OLB or possibly inside backer.

No one is saying any differently either. What I am trying to say is the guy had this season when the opposing defenses knowing they had to throw to keep up or catch up as the case may be. If the defense plays a bit better and the running game is more consistent early in the season, maybe he turns into something.

 

[Buckeyedynasty]

I have to admit that I often wonder who is more instrumental in the teams success is it the players or is it Chud and his system? Obviously the answer is that both play a big role but it seems to me that Chud's system may be more important. We had many of the same players this year that we have had and even though anderson got his chance this year it's not like he was lighting it up in previous years but look what happend to him with Chud's new offense. This years success is mostly due to a great O-line and a great offensive system. I'd love to have both Anderson and Lewis back but I can tell you without hesitation that if we can get a 1st and 3rd rounder for Anderson and use both those pics to boost the D-line then I say goodbye Anderson. Just my 2 cents. :)