I haven’t specifically gone on the record saying this, but in the non-sequitar that often is the Browns QB debate, I’m a Derek Anderson guy. The reasons are simple - he had one good season, which is a lot more than Brady Quinn has had.
Of course, Quinn also had a commercial with the company that created Andro - the substance Mark McGwire was taking during the home run race with Sammy Sosa - which should count for something.
I’m not saying that Anderson should be on a long leash this season, but last year was an abomination that should just be eradicated from the history of football, not just in Cleveland, but in America. Kellen Winslow was in the huddle. Braylon Edwards was dropping passes all over the place. The entire program was a disaster. I think Anderson deserves another shot unless Quinn really blows him out of the water in the upcoming pre-season games.
Having said that, a new option that excites me even more is beginning to present itself…
That option is Brett Ratliff.
Nothing would energize me more than Mangini pissing everyone off and starting a guy that has almost no experience - but, and this is the important thing to remember - Mangini has a history with and traded to bring in to the Browns organization.
Nothing feeds a coach’s ego like making a king out of a guy he discovered - it’s exactly what Belichick did with Tom Brady, of course. It’s what Josh McDaniels, another Belichick cohort, wants to do in Denver and is also the reason Scott Pioli overpayed to get Matt Cassel.
Remember, Ratliff was set to compete for the starting job in New York this season, but the Mark Sanchez trade pre-empted that in more ways than one.
All I’m going to say is that right now everyone’s talking Quinn and Anderson, but keep an eye out for Ratliff.
I will not be surprised if he’s the starting quarterback of the Cleveland Browns when it’s all said and done.
