Now that the 2007 season gets smaller and smaller in the Cleveland Browns rearview mirror, we here at www.DawgBones.com want to start looking ahead. In a weekly feature we are calling Browns Spotlight, we are going to take a look at the Browns current positional situations and whether or not they need to be upgraded or left alone. We will also explore whether or not we feel that the team would be best suited to fill their needs via the NFL Draft or free agency. We hope you all enjoy and look forward to hearing all your comments and concerns in The Bone Yard forums.

For the past 2 years we have started this series looking at the QB position. Year in and year out it seems to be the biggest area of debate, even though this past season we saw the best QB play the team has seen since the early 90's.

Last season we quickly dismissed journeyman QB Ken Dorsey as a possible option to start for the Browns. Dorsey in fact was cut from the team during the teams final roster cut in training camp, but was brought back when the team ultimately found itself in need of another QB. Dorsey recently signed a 3 year extension with the Browns and Browns fans know if he sees the field in 2008 it will be a very long season for them and the Cleveland Browns.

Coming out of training camp and the pre-season the teams QB position was far from settled. At one point head coach Romeo Crennel insisted his starter would be determined by flipping a coin. It appeared that is exactly how he decided to start the year with Charlie Frye as the teams starting QB. It never seemed more evident than in week 1 at home against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Frye was absolutely horrible in the quarter and a half he played going 4 of 10 for 34 yards and an interception. He was sacked 5 times in 15 drop backs to pass and Crennel had seen enough. Frye was benched and the next day he was traded to the Seattle Seahawks for a 6th round pick in the 2008 NFL Draft. Dorsey was signed the same week.

When Frye was benched Crennel inserted Derek Anderson in relief. Anderson looked far from great against the Steelers, but in 29 drop backs to pass he was sacked just 1 time and the difference between him and Frye was apparent. Crennel told Anderson that he would start the next week when Frye was traded and that he was the teams starter the rest of the way. Derek Anderson responded like no one could have imagined. Over the next 15 games Anderson and the Browns won 10 of them and missed the playoffs with a 10-6 record due to a tie breaker. The 10 wins were 6 more than the team had tallied in2006 and the most the team had amassed in any season since returning to the league in 1999. Anderson was named as 1st Alternate for the AFC Pro Bowl team and threw for over 3,700 yards and 29 TD's. The 2007 season was clearly a coming out party for the former 6th round pick. Anderson is now a RFA(restricted free agent) heading into the 2008 season.

The question about the Browns QB position heading into 2008 should be a no brainer, but it's not. Part of that is due to the contract status of Anderson. Will the Browns be able to sign him to a long-term deal or will they have to tender Anderson and see if any other team offers him a deal? Another reason for the QB debate is Anderson's back up, QB Brady Quinn.

Quinn was selected by the Browns in the 1st round of the 2007 NFL Draft, #22 overall. The Browns traded their 2008 1st round draft pick and a 2nd rounder in 2007 to get back into round 1 and take Quinn. It was a steep price to pay, but Quinn was thought of as the future "franchise QB" for the Browns. Of course that was before Anderson's success in 2007. Quinn did not see the field until the team last game of 2007. When Anderson injured his hand Quinn came in for 1 series. A series in which he led the Browns on a 10 play drive that ended in a Phil Dawson field goal after 2 of Quinn's throws were dropped in the end zone. Quinn's brief, but successful play, has many wondering if he is ready to start for the Browns and if he would be better doing so than Anderson.

Though we may not know yet who will b e starting for the Browns in 2008 smart money says it will be Anderson. Regardless if it is Anderson or Quinn the team is in very good shape at the position moving forward. Due to that the Cleveland Browns will not be entertaining acquiring a QB in the 2008 NFL Draft. Names like Ryan, Woodson, Henne, Brennan, Brohm and Dixon are the best in the class of 2008 QB's and none will be more pro ready than Quinn after sitting for 1 year and assimilating the Browns offense.

The Browns will only look for another veteran QB in free agency if in fact Anderson is signed by another team and the Browns fail to match the offer. For sake of argument let's say he was signed a way and the Browns needed to sign a veteran, who would it be? The list of free agent QB's is topped with names like Daunte Culpepper, Josh McCown, Todd Collins, Cleo Lemon, Billy Volek and Rex Grossman. So who would you sign? J. P. Losman wants out of Buffalo and Chris Simms will more than likely be released by Tampa Bay. If it were up to us we would look at Volek from San Diego as he is familiar with the system that offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski is running. He would give you a veteran behind Quinn that could win games if called on to start.

We really don't think the Browns will waste money on any QB in free agency unless his name is Derek Anderson, but stranger things have happened. The draft will not be an area that the team addresses the position either. For the 1st time in many years the Browns QB position is a position of strength for the team.

Back to DawgBones.com