Cleveland Browns (2008 Season)

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Savage really hasn't drafted that well in my opinion and so it would not bother me to lose him.

In my opinion, Savage needs to bring in a coach with credibility and allow some input from that coach when it comes to personnel decisions..........

 

[LitlBuck]

In my opinion, Savage needs to bring in a coach with credibility and allow some input from that coach when it comes to personnel decisions..........

That is not his style. He selects the entire 53 man roster. I am now starting to think that Ozzie was the brains in Baltimore and not Savage. Savage is a power monger:(

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

That is not his style. He selects the entire 53 man roster. I am now starting to think that Ozzie was the brains in Baltimore and not Savage. Savage is a power monger:(

If that is the case, then he can go also..........fire both of them.........they continue to put a below average product out there every weekend......it is pathetic............

Also, get Edwards some contacts or trade him..............

Can Crennel or Savage contract a staph infection?

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

CPD

Terry Pluto: Talking to myself about Brady Quinn

by Terry Pluto Tuesday November 04, 2008, 12:13 PM

Plain Dealer file photoIt's time for the Browns to find out if Brady Quinn (center) is a better quarterback than Derek Anderson (left).


Question: So what is the real reason the Browns benched Derek Anderson for Brady Quinn?
A: Not sure, but I know why it makes sense.
Q: I'll bite ... why?
A: Because they have to pick a quarterback for next year. They have to know who is better long term -- Anderson or Quinn. They can't do it with just a few starts. Now that they have turned to Quinn, they need to turn the team over to him for the last eight games.

Q: Isn't money the only reason Anderson has been starting?
A: Here are the numbers: After signing his extension, Anderson has been paid $8 million this season between his signing bonus and salary. His next big boost is March of 2009, when he has a $5 million bonus if still on the roster.
Q: What about Quinn?
A: He was paid $1.1 million for 2007. In March of 2008, he received a $4.2 million bonus, and his salary is another $395,000 for this year. Since 2007, the Browns have about $8.5 million so far tied up in Anderson, and $6.6 million in Quinn. Money is not the real issue.
Q: So why didn't Quinn play earlier?
A: Romeo Crennel is very loyal to Anderson, who came out of nowhere to save the team last season. The coach does not like to make a lot of changes, and he tends to favor veterans.

Continued................

 

[LitlBuck]

Some very interesting stats and analysis in that article. Anderson has played very poorly in his past 16 games and was only a 50% passer coming out of Oregon State. There is more interesting statistics and analysis in the article.

 

[osugrad21]

DDN

Maybe Edwards can catch Quinn's passes

By Chick Ludwig
Staff Writer

Wednesday, November 05, 2008
After chanting "Bra-dy, Bra-dy" during the Cleveland Browns' 37-27 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, Nov. 2, fans finally get their wish when 2007 first-round draft pick Brady Quinn starts at quarterback against the visiting Denver Broncos in Thursday's nationally televised game on the NFL Network.
"It was just time, so I did it," head coach Romeo Crennel said Tuesday. "We're not throwing in the towel. We're not giving up on the season. We're going to beat Denver."
Will the switch make a difference?
Not if wide receiver Braylon Edwards keeps dropping the football.
Edwards has 26 receptions for 457 yards (a 17.6 average) and three touchdowns. But his drop of Derek Anderson's 50-yard pass in the fourth quarter sucked the life out of the Browns. Unofficially, Edwards has coughed up at least 12 catchable balls this season.
"We keep him at practice; done concentration drills; we've talked to him; get him on the JUGS (machine); he stays after (practice) as well," Crennel said. "We'll keep working on it."
Any chance Edwards will get benched?
Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

ABJ

Best of luck, Brady Quinn; you'll need it Supporting cast fails Anderson
By Patrick McManamon
Beacon Journal sports columnist

Published on Wednesday, Nov 05, 2008


Let's all wish Brady Quinn well.
Because these are the players with him on the Browns' offense:
A No. 1 receiver who leads the league in drops, some of them crushing.
A No. 2 receiver who leads the league in money collected per game played, and not played.
A No. 3 receiver who . . . never mind, there isn't one.
A tight end who does not feel it wise to always run the pattern called and instead goes to where he thinks the ball should go and expects the quarterback to decipher where he's going while defensive linemen try to crush said quarterback's liver.
A right tackle who couldn't hold up a guy long enough on a screen pass Sunday to allow the quarterback to throw the ball with proper timing.
An offensive line whose play has dropped off noticeably from a year ago, with a struggling center and an injured left guard and a backup left guard who is not close in ability to the starting left guard.
Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

ABJ

Quinn's debut flashy Quarterback tested quickly. Crennel maintains decision is solely his
By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal sports writer

Published on Wednesday, Nov 05, 2008
BEREA: Brady Quinn's first play of his first practice as the Browns' starting quarterback Tuesday seemed as orchestrated as the machinations some believe surrounded it.
Opening as usual with the ''Flash'' package, the call was a direct snap to Joshua Cribbs, who threw it to Quinn lined up in the shotgun. Supposedly not as strong-armed as Derek Anderson, Quinn lofted a bomb to Braylon Edwards, who had to accelerate to get to the ball in the end zone.
''It's [bleeping] warmups, Brady,'' Edwards moaned.
Browns coach Romeo Crennel insisted that his decision to bench Anderson on Monday afternoon was entirely his, based on the team's 3-5 record, its offensive ranking of 28th in the league and its offensive production of 17.8 points per game (16.3 without returns for touchdowns).
''It's my decision,'' Crennel insisted. ''I informed the organization what I was thinking; they told me it was my decision and they would back whatever decision I made. We've been talking about this for a while now. Usually I try to be pretty thorough about what I do evaluating things. I felt like it was time.
''I felt like we needed a different dynamic on the offense. The play was inconsistent, and as our record indicates we're an inconsistent football team. I've told you all along the supporting cast impacts Derek's play, but he's the quarterback, and along with that position comes added responsibility and added scrutiny.''
Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

ABJ

Benched Anderson puts team first QB says he plans to stay focused and ready to play, doesn't place any blame on coach or teammates
By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal sports writer

Published on Wednesday, Nov 05, 2008
BEREA: After the most painful news conference of his career, Derek Anderson headed for the solace of the equipment room. There was a slight limp in his step as he passed by the long row of lockers, his body a portrait of dejection.
''I haven't played great. I expect a lot more from myself,'' Anderson said. ''It kind of took me a little bit by shock.''
But the Browns' quarterback, who was benched Monday after going 13-10 as a starter during two seasons, wasn't ready to abandon his team. Brady Quinn, a first-round pick in 2007, will take over Thursday against the visiting Denver Broncos.
After signing a three-year, $24 million contract on Feb. 29, Anderson might be expecting a trade in the offseason. He's due a $5 million roster bonus in March. But he's not counting the days to his departure.
''I love the guys in the locker room; that's the reason I came back here,'' Anderson said. ''It wasn't about anything else, it was more about playing with these guys. I have fun with them. They're my guys and that's who I want to be with.
''Obviously I'm a little frustrated. But I'm a captain of this team. I have to stay focused and make sure we keep working.''
Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

CPD

Crennel: Quinn is 'my decision ... and we're going to beat Denver, that's what we're going to do'

by Tony Grossi Tuesday November 04, 2008, 6:13 PM

John Kuntz/The Plain DealerBrowns head coach Romeo Crennel insisted the switch in starting quarterback to Brady Quinn was his decision alone, backed by GM Phil Savage.
It was so out of character for coach Romeo Crennel to change quarterbacks that the prevailing perception is that the switch to Brady Quinn was mandated from above. "Nobody saw it coming," said linebacker Willie McGinest, who knows Crennel better than any of the Browns. "It's a decision somebody decided to make, or a collective group decided to make. It is what it is."
Asked if he felt it was strictly a coach's decision, deposed starter Derek Anderson said, "I respect Romeo and what he's done, and that's as far as I want to go with that."
Yet Crennel and General Manager Phil Savage insist it was Crennel's choice to begin the Quinn era with the Browns struggling at 3-5.
"I felt we needed a different dynamic on the offense. That's why I made the decision," Crennel said. "Some of the things that had to do with it was our record, offensive ranking and offensive production.
Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

CPD

Browns Insider: Steinbach, Rogers ailing

by Mary Kay Cabot Tuesday November 04, 2008, 9:21 PM


Guard Eric Steinbach and nose tackle Shaun Rogers were among four Browns starters who sat out Tuesday's practice and are questionable for the Broncos game.
Steinbach and Rogers rested with rib injuries, fullback Lawrence Vickers was idle with his sprained ankle and defensive end Corey Williams sat out with a shoulder injury.
"Eric has a pulled muscle in his rib area," said Crennel. "Pulled muscles sometimes can be difficult. He is not going to practice today. He is questionable for the game and we will see how it responds."
The Stallworth watch: Receiver Donte Stallworth was limited and said he's hopeful he can play after missing the Ravens game. "The short week doesn't help, but I'm hoping I can go out and get something done," he said. ... Tight end Darnell Dinkins was limited with a hamstring injury.
Marshall blasts Porter: Broncos receiver Brandon Marshall blasted Miami linebacker Joey Porter, who called him "soft" and said he mopes and cries if he doesn't get the ball enough. Porter made the remarks after Miami beat Denver Sunday.

Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

CPD

QB switch brings mixed reactions in Browns' locker room

by Mary Kay Cabot Tuesday November 04, 2008, 7:58 PM

Chuck Crow/The Plain DealerBraylon Edwards rejected the notion that this drop against Baltimore on Sunday contributed to the eventual demotion of Derek Anderson.
Receiver Braylon Edwards took exception to the notion that perhaps Derek Anderson would still be the starter if he hadn't dropped the fourth-quarter bomb against the Ravens on Sunday. "Yes, I wish I could've caught that pass," he said. "Should I have caught that pass? Yes. Have I thought about it? Yes, but if I catch that pass is DA still the starter? I mean, what kind of question is that?"
In general, if more guys had made plays, would Anderson still be the guy?
"I don't know if it's just making plays to help Derek," said Edwards. "I mean, if Romeo [Crennel] felt like that was the move to make, then that's the move to make. Who knows why he made the move? Who cares, to be honest. It's the move that he made and Brady's our guy."
Edwards said the Browns support Crennel's decision "to change things up, to try some kind of dynamic. We stick by DA and that's still our guy, but now we've got to stick by Brady and bring him along and try to help him on Thursday."

Asked how Anderson was playing, Edwards said, "I think he's playing okay. I don't think as a whole we're playing where we need to play to finish games or win games. We all were playing up and down."

Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

CPD

Anderson 'frustrated', but backs Quinn, Crennel

by Mary Kay Cabot Tuesday November 04, 2008, 7:37 PM

Mark Duncan/Associated PressDerek Anderson went through drills Tuesday afternoon saying he fully supported Brady Quinn in Quinn's first NFL start on Thursday.
Derek Anderson, who tried to smile and crack a few jokes through his pain, admitted he didn't foresee his benching Monday. "It kind of took me by shock," he said Tuesday. "[But] we're 3-5. A lot of times it goes to the quarterback and I understand that. I expect Brady [Quinn] to play well."
Anderson could've mentioned dropped passes, a lack of receivers and no running game early on, but instead praised his teammates. It's one of the reasons they all like him so much.
"You just keep giving guys opportunities," he said. "I give all these guys in here the credit. I love 'em. I'm going to keep throwing the ball to those guys and eventually everybody's going to start making plays. It's just a matter of time. You don't tuck it and run it."

In the off-season, when Anderson signed a new three-year deal worth $24 million -- including $13 million guaranteed -- he thought he'd have the same supporting cast plus Donte Stallworth. Instead, he lost Joe Jurevicius for the season (knee), Edwards has dropped 13 passes and Stallworth (quad) has missed most of the season.
Still, in the past five games, Anderson went 3-2 with seven touchdowns and two interceptions for an 84.6 rating. The pick-six he threw against Baltimore when his protection broke down was his first interception after a career-high 132 passes without one.
"I played poorly the first couple weeks -- I'll be the first one to tell you guys that," he said. "But we were starting to come around. It's a team game and I can only control what I can control."

Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

CPD

Quinn feels for Anderson, rejects 'excuses' of short week prior to facing Broncos

by Tony Grossi Tuesday November 04, 2008, 5:52 PM

Mark Duncan/Associated PressNew starting QB Brady Quinn greets offensive lineman Kurt Quarterman (63) during the Browns' practice Tuesday afternoon in Berea.
Brady Quinn found out first from Derek Anderson, walking out of his meeting with coach Romeo Crennel. "He said he's behind me, backing me. That's obviously something you want to hear," Quinn said.
Theirs has been an uncomfortable relationship from the start, but not an unworkable one.
Anderson was a waiver pickup and worked his way up the depth chart, from No. 3 to No. 2 to No. 1, over the course of three years. Quinn was a celebrated first-round pick, acquired after a bold trade. Quinn jerseys populate the store racks. Quinn signs the most autographs and inspires the chants from the home crowd.
"I feel for him," Quinn said. "I was upset for him. A lot of people see this as a sport and a business, but there's definitely friendships that extend way off the field. He's like family to me. So it's tough to see him go through that and see the way he was treated here."

Quinn said he was surprised by the move, but he doesn't have time to dwell on the suddenness. His NFL starting debut will come Thursday night in a nationally televised spectacle against the Denver Broncos.
"I don't think any time you have a short week it helps with preparation," he said. "You're short a few days. The biggest thing for us is to try to get mentally on the same page out there, with routes and things.
"There's a lot of challenges heading into this game. Those are things a lot of people can use as excuses. I'm not one to do that."

Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

Canton

Browns dealing with quarterback switch
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
BY STEVE DOERSCHUK
[email protected]

Broncos at Browns; Thursday, 8:15; Cleveland Browns Stadium; TV NFL Network, WUAB Channel 43

BEREA The Browns will be home to face Denver on Thursday night, and they seemed at home as they laughed and joked while warming up for Tuesday's practice.

First, though, there was a no- man's land to slink through.

Players mostly wanted no part of the media on the day Brady Quinn suited up as the No. 1 quarterback for the first time.

When the first wave of reporters walked in during the mandated media period, Kellen Winslow Jr. ? one of the few players present in a ghost town of a locker room ? was the first to walk out.

"I'm not falling in that trap," he said, eyeing tape recorders like kryptonite.

Braylon Edwards walked in. Someone asked a fair question: Did he feel partly responsible for Derek Anderson losing his job? It can be argued Quinn still would be waiting his turn had Edwards hung onto a touchdown bomb that could have given Cleveland a springboard off a 27-27 tie with the Ravens.

"What kind of question is that?" Edwards said.

Left tackle Joe Thomas, drafted ahead of Quinn in last year's first round, said it doesn't matter who throws the passes.

"The preparation is the same," he said. "The effort is the same."

A couple of players confided being stunned by Monday's news that Anderson is out, amid a 3-5 season, on the heels of Anderson's 10-5 record as the 2007 starter.

A media crowd gathered around the Anderson and Quinn lockers ? close enough for them to shake hands ? long before either appeared. Seeing this from near the shower, a cluster of three players cracked jokes and howled in laughter.

It was the circus sideshow amid a serious Browns event.
Cont...