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By Marla Ridenour Beacon Journal sportswriter
POSTED: 11:30 p.m. EST, Nov 28, 2007
BEREA: Going off a gut feeling might have been fitting for the Browns' last major quarterback decision: Tim Couch or Kelly Holcomb.
But figuring out what to do with Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn this offseason will require more than a coin flip.
Judging from the insight that Browns General Manager Phil Savage offered Wednesday, he's in no hurry to upset the status quo.
''I'd love to see us go forward with all three and hold on to the depth we have at the position for a while,'' Savage said, including No. 3 Ken Dorsey.
''We've got five games left, and we've got time to make up our mind how we want to handle it,'' Savage said. ''It's one of those situations that's for us to know and everyone else to find out.''
Anderson has put to rest any talk of playing Quinn, the Notre Dame star drafted 22nd overall. The Browns traded their first-round pick in 2008 and their second-rounder in 2007 to Dallas to move up to get him.
Anderson has thrown 22 touchdown passes and led the Browns to a 7-4 record, facing Sunday's game at Arizona. He will be a restricted free agent in February, which gives the Browns several options.
Cleveland could sign Anderson to a long-term contract, which would eliminate the possibility of quarterback-starved teams coming after Anderson. That idea is not as crazy as some would think because as long as Quinn doesn't play (and reach incentives) he's making $2 million a year as a backup.
Savage didn't rule out talking with Anderson's agent, David Dunn, about a long-term deal. He said he and Trip MacCracken, the team's contract andsalary-cap specialist, have a ''good relationship'' with Dunn.
''I wouldn't say that's out of the realm,'' Savage said. ''He texts me after every game, particularly when it's a win or when Derek plays well. I'm sure there will be some communication at some point.''
There are also four tenders the Browns could offer Anderson; they differ in the form of compensation Cleveland would receive if it elected not to match an offer from another team. The tenders range from a first- and third-round pick (they carry a combined salary of $2.562 million for 2008), a first-rounder ($2.017 million), a second-rounder ($1.417 million), or the round the player was picked, in this case sixth ($927,000). Anderson is making the league minimum of $435,000.
Savage said he would not be inclined to do what the Atlanta Falcons did with backup quarterback Matt Schaub: trading him to Houston for two second-round picks rather than offering him a tender.
''I think we would probably be most comfortable with that one and three scenario, rather than doing something less than that,'' Savage said. ''Then you have to have a suitor, somebody who's wanting not only to give up picks but to pay a lot of money. Sometimes that can be a double hit.''
Anderson is staying out of the talk that is consuming some fans.
''I'm not going to go into that right now. That stuff will kind of take care of itself when the season's over,'' he said. ''Right now we're trying to stay focused.''
Because the Browns don't have a No. 1 pick, and the defensive line needs reinforcements, the Browns could covets draft picks. They might risk losing Anderson and turn the offense over to Quinn next year.
Asked if he thinks Quinn is ready, Savage said: ''I think Brady would plug in and do well. You have a pretty solid front line. You have a very motivated Kellen Winslow. You have Braylon Edwards making catches; you have Joe Jurevicius on the perimeter. You have a pretty solid running game. It's a pretty enviable cockpit to be riding in right now.''
EDWARDS SITS — Browns coach Romeo Crennel elected to rest several injured players, including receiver Edwards (hamstring). Edwards said there is no doubt he'll play against the Cardinals.
''It's not nagging or anything like that,'' he said. Crennel ''saw fit to sit me down; it wasn't my decision. I'm not going to argue with that. I can play, not a problem. It's a day off to rest so I can come back 100 percent on Sunday.''
Also sitting out were defensive linemen Ethan Kelley, Orpheus Roye and Robaire Smith, cornerback Eric Wright and right tackle Kevin Shaffer. Limited was linebacker Antwan Peek. All have knee injuries.
For the Texans, strong safety Adrian Wilson (heel) and defensive tackle Ross Kolodziej (quad) were declared out, and receiver Larry Fitzgerald (groin) was limited.
BAXTER HONORED — Defensive back Gary Baxter was chosen as the Browns' winner of the Ed Block Courage Award.
BEREA: Going off a gut feeling might have been fitting for the Browns' last major quarterback decision: Tim Couch or Kelly Holcomb.
But figuring out what to do with Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn this offseason will require more than a coin flip.
Judging from the insight that Browns General Manager Phil Savage offered Wednesday, he's in no hurry to upset the status quo.
''I'd love to see us go forward with all three and hold on to the depth we have at the position for a while,'' Savage said, including No. 3 Ken Dorsey.
''We've got five games left, and we've got time to make up our mind how we want to handle it,'' Savage said. ''It's one of those situations that's for us to know and everyone else to find out.''
Anderson has put to rest any talk of playing Quinn, the Notre Dame star drafted 22nd overall. The Browns traded their first-round pick in 2008 and their second-rounder in 2007 to Dallas to move up to get him.
Anderson has thrown 22 touchdown passes and led the Browns to a 7-4 record, facing Sunday's game at Arizona. He will be a restricted free agent in February, which gives the Browns several options.
Cleveland could sign Anderson to a long-term contract, which would eliminate the possibility of quarterback-starved teams coming after Anderson. That idea is not as crazy as some would think because as long as Quinn doesn't play (and reach incentives) he's making $2 million a year as a backup.
Savage didn't rule out talking with Anderson's agent, David Dunn, about a long-term deal. He said he and Trip MacCracken, the team's contract andsalary-cap specialist, have a ''good relationship'' with Dunn.
''I wouldn't say that's out of the realm,'' Savage said. ''He texts me after every game, particularly when it's a win or when Derek plays well. I'm sure there will be some communication at some point.''
There are also four tenders the Browns could offer Anderson; they differ in the form of compensation Cleveland would receive if it elected not to match an offer from another team. The tenders range from a first- and third-round pick (they carry a combined salary of $2.562 million for 2008), a first-rounder ($2.017 million), a second-rounder ($1.417 million), or the round the player was picked, in this case sixth ($927,000). Anderson is making the league minimum of $435,000.
Savage said he would not be inclined to do what the Atlanta Falcons did with backup quarterback Matt Schaub: trading him to Houston for two second-round picks rather than offering him a tender.
''I think we would probably be most comfortable with that one and three scenario, rather than doing something less than that,'' Savage said. ''Then you have to have a suitor, somebody who's wanting not only to give up picks but to pay a lot of money. Sometimes that can be a double hit.''
Anderson is staying out of the talk that is consuming some fans.
''I'm not going to go into that right now. That stuff will kind of take care of itself when the season's over,'' he said. ''Right now we're trying to stay focused.''
Because the Browns don't have a No. 1 pick, and the defensive line needs reinforcements, the Browns could covets draft picks. They might risk losing Anderson and turn the offense over to Quinn next year.
Asked if he thinks Quinn is ready, Savage said: ''I think Brady would plug in and do well. You have a pretty solid front line. You have a very motivated Kellen Winslow. You have Braylon Edwards making catches; you have Joe Jurevicius on the perimeter. You have a pretty solid running game. It's a pretty enviable cockpit to be riding in right now.''
EDWARDS SITS — Browns coach Romeo Crennel elected to rest several injured players, including receiver Edwards (hamstring). Edwards said there is no doubt he'll play against the Cardinals.
''It's not nagging or anything like that,'' he said. Crennel ''saw fit to sit me down; it wasn't my decision. I'm not going to argue with that. I can play, not a problem. It's a day off to rest so I can come back 100 percent on Sunday.''
Also sitting out were defensive linemen Ethan Kelley, Orpheus Roye and Robaire Smith, cornerback Eric Wright and right tackle Kevin Shaffer. Limited was linebacker Antwan Peek. All have knee injuries.
For the Texans, strong safety Adrian Wilson (heel) and defensive tackle Ross Kolodziej (quad) were declared out, and receiver Larry Fitzgerald (groin) was limited.
BAXTER HONORED — Defensive back Gary Baxter was chosen as the Browns' winner of the Ed Block Courage Award.
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