Quinn replaces Anderson as Browns quarterback

[09sportfan09]

By TOM WITHERS, AP Sports Writer 49 minutes ago

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BEREA, Ohio (AP)—Here’s a switch: The Cleveland Browns dropped Derek Anderson.

The inconsistent Pro Bowl quarterback, whose production this season has been slowed by dropped passes, was benched on Monday by the Browns, who will start popular backup Brady Quinn on Thursday night against the Denver Broncos in hopes of turning around a disappointing season.

The surprising and unexpected swap was announced Monday by the team, just hours after coach Romeo Crennel said he had no plans to make a change.

On Sunday, Anderson threw a costly interception that was returned for a touchdown in the final minutes of a 37-27 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. The pick prompted Browns fans to begin chants of “Brady! Brady!” for Quinn, the former Notre Dame star who has thrown just eight passes in two seasons.


Those fans are getting their wish.

A team spokesman said Crennel and Quinn would not be available for comment until Tuesday.

Earlier, Quinn was asked for his reaction to hearing fans scream his name.

“We lost the game, really that’s all that matters,” he said. “That’s something in the NFL, everyone always loves the backup. That’s just how it is.”

Browns center Hank Fraley found out about Anderson’s demotion when he got a text message during the afternoon from the QB.

“I was surprised,” Fraley said. “I’ve become real good friends with Derek and I feel for him. I told him to stay positive. He will. He’s a team player.”

Anderson had gone 132 pass attempts without an interception before he was picked off by Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs, who stepped in front of a screen pass and ran it back 42 yards for a TD. Anderson finished 17-of-33 for 219 yards and two TDs, but the 25-year-old’s stats would have been even better if wide receiver Braylon Edwards hadn’t let a certain TD pass in the fourth quarter slip through his hands with the game tied.

Edwards leads the NFL with 13 drops, and Anderson has had to throw to wide receivers Syndric Steptoe and Steve Sanders, two former backups who have played only because of injuries to Donte’ Stallworth and Joe Jurevicius.

Fraley was asked if Anderson, who has completed less than half his passes, was the fall guy for the Browns, who were expected to contend for a playoff spot coming off a 10-6 season in 2007.

“That was the coaches’ decision,” he said. “Maybe they feel like he (Quinn) will bring a spark. It’s tough because Derek is a great guy, a team leader and a captain. We just haven’t been playing well around him. It’s a shock to everybody on this team. It’s their decision and we’re going to have to live with it.”

Anderson led the Browns to 10 wins last season, and after an 0-3 start, he had guided the Browns (3-5) to three victories in their past four games before Sunday’s loss—Cleveland’s second to Baltimore this season.

Crennel had hinted about a change at quarterback following a Sept. 21 loss at Baltimore. But he stuck with the strong-armed Anderson, a former backup who threw 29 TD passes last season and made the Pro Bowl.

During his news conference Monday, Crennel was asked if he was considering a change at quarterback.

“No, I haven’t really,” he said. “I haven’t had a chance to talk to the coaches or anything. With a short week, I told them to go ahead and get started on Denver. They haven’t even looked at this game yet.”

Crennel was then asked if Anderson was still his starter.

“Yes,” he said, “as of right now.”

Former Browns quarterback Trent Dilfer, now an analyst for ESPN, feels the Anderson benching was the team’s knee-jerk reaction to fan backlash.

“Public opinion has made this decision for the Browns,” said Dilfer, who was Cleveland’s starter in 2005 before he lost his job to Charlie Frye. “I have spoken to coaches who have said, ‘This is not Derek Anderson’s fault.’ In fact, at times he’s played better than his statistics have showed. This is a function of the defense not getting off the football field; Braylon Edwards, a superstar receiver who’s supposed to make all the plays to make you better, having 14 drops at least. It’s about their playmakers, Kellen Winslow, not being there, not being dependable. It’s about people not being at their best and Derek Anderson burdening the responsibility for this.

“This is an organization that I played for for a year and I saw very closely that the organization itself is highly dysfuctional and cannot make decisions that are good for the long-term growth of the organization.”

With their playoff hopes in serious jeopardy, the Browns feel it’s time to see what they have in Quinn, who didn’t play as a rookie until the final game of 2007, when he came in for one series and led the Browns to a field goal. Quinn was 3-of-8 for 45 yards and had a TD pass dropped by Winslow.

On the first day of the 2007 draft, the Browns traded a first-round pick in 2008 to Dallas and selected Quinn with the No. 22 overall selection. Quinn had been expected to go much higher, but the four-year starter for the Fighting Irish sat in the wings at Radio City Music Hall in New York waiting for his name to be called.

In two starts during the exhibition season, Quinn completed 21 of 33 passes for 171 yards.

Fraley is confident Quinn is ready for the spotlight.

“He’s young, so you don’t know what to expect but he has worked hard and he’ll be ready,” Fraley said. “Derek and the other quarterbacks are always together, 24-7. Brady is always prepared because as a backup you are always one play away. He’s been doing it the whole season.

“I know Brady has been waiting for his turn and I’m not sure this is the way he envisioned getting it. We’re going to play hard for whoever is back there, and now it’s Brady.”

[claypantherfan]

Bad idea Anderson was doing good too at least I though they have been winning

[fuzzhead]

OK, they're 3-5 and they just gave up 37 points to a less-than spectacular Baltimore offense - partially because of Anderson.
He was playing just good enough to keep his job - he'd do something really bad, then go out and play really good. This offense is way too talented to be one of the worst in the league on paper.
Quinn is physically more talented than Anderson, plus he's something fresh and he takes some of the fan pressure off the team. He's too well-paid to just sit on the sidelines.

[OZZIEOHIO]

I still say get rid of the three stooges, and Brady wont be in there long.

[ace63]

Anderson didnt drop those passes.

[crazee-oakaholic]

finally..anderson is way to inconsistent...quinn cant do any worse..i support this decision 110%

[ace63]

Espn said this is one of the worst decisions that the browns could make . andersons had 6 tds and 1 int in last 3 games . beat up on giants. Espen said that the browns always listen to there fans and not the right decisions.
and thats the reason they wont win. ( quote from all sports casters today on espn) Edwards 14 dropped balls
winslon 13 dropped balls . worst in the nfl . I wouldnt take anderson out . You just might miss the greatest come back.

[dazed&confused]

This was the worst possible week to do this just because of the short time to prepare. Is Quinn the answer? Don't know but we'll never know if he doesn't get in and we have a lot tied up in him just to get him drafted. Ask yourself a question; can you ever see Anderson being consistent enough to get us to the playoffs, let alone win a game once there? I don't. I'd say this marks the beginning of the end of Romeo. Just hours after he states DA is still his starter we get a press release saying there is to be a change. C'mon, the only thing he has left is to negotiate a compensation package. Savage needs to watch his step or he may follow. Winslow is gone after this season, too. Edwards now has to step up and prove he is a clutch receiver and not just making the spectacular catches. My feeling is this team is adrift and needs a Tom Coughlin type coach.

[seofan_via_dublin]

If they really want Quinn, then one of the worst mistakes they could have made
was re-working Anderson's contract last off season.

If Edwards can't catch a gift wrapped pass from Anderson, how will he catch
one from Quinn.

[crazee-oakaholic]

one more day until action....go browns

[blue53]

They may be using Anderson as an excuse to make the change, but I'm thinking it has to do more with Brady is getting paid big money to be a back up QB, and was drafted to be a franchise QB.
gahs4ever, I agree, it's kind of stupid to make the change on a short week.

[BigMcCauley55]

BDT

[pepper blevins]

They should of put in quinn weeks ago!!! Anderson has not taken his team anywhere this season when the browns should have a winning record!!!!!

[dexter45]

I agree with Pepper Blevins. Quinn is a stud and can definetly lead the browns to the super bowl and win it against the giants.