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Quarterback solid in brief stint during loss to Jets
By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal sports writer
Published on Friday, Aug 08, 2008
CLEVELAND: Most of the sports world cared only that just-traded quarterback Brett Favre was standing on the New York Jets sideline in khaki shorts, a T-shirt and a white ball cap with a play card in his hand.
But Browns fans had more on their minds. One of their primary concerns was whether quarterback Derek Anderson would start the preseason the way he finished the 2007 season.
Calming their fears, good D.A. returned. Backup Brady Quinn also moved the ball well, but Cleveland opened with a 24-20 loss to New York before an announced crowd of 70,668 at soggy Cleveland Browns Stadium.
Cornerback Dwight Lowery put the Jets ahead with a 62-yard punt return with 10:02 remaining. The rookie from San Diego State also intercepted a Ken Dorsey pass intended for rookie tight end Martin Rucker in the end zone with 4:02 to play after the Browns had driven to the Jets 9.
Cleveland's last-gasp drive ended when Dorsey's pass for receiver Steve Sanders was picked off by cornerback Hank Poteat with 2:15 left.
The game was suspended because of lightning at 8:02 p.m. Both teams headed to the locker rooms with 4:11 left in the first quarter before a torrential storm came in off Lake
Erie. Most fans headed for the concourse, although several remained under the second-level overhang.
When play resumed at 9:02 p.m., Jets coach Eric Mangini stayed with his first-team offense, while Browns coach Romeo Crennel went with second-teamers on both sides of the ball.
A year ago, Anderson threw 29 touchdown passes, led Cleveland to a 10-6 season that fell one game shy of the playoffs and went to the Pro Bowl. But he threw four interceptions in the costly, wind-blown loss at Cincinnati and another in the finale against San Francisco.
Now after signing a three-year, $26 million contract with $14.5 million guaranteed, Anderson knows he's the uncontested starter. He came out relaxed and in control, showing the Browns all they needed to see with a nine-play, 62-yard touchdown drive on the opening possession.
Anderson played only that series before the storm hit. He completed 4 of 5 passes for 20 yards, compiling a quarterback rating of 122.9. The march was capped with a spectacular catch by receiver Braylon Edwards for a 2-yard score. Edwards ran to the corner of the end zone but was initially looking inside toward the goal post, but spun around and caught the ball with his left hand.
Edwards also drew a 25-yard pass interference penalty on cornerback Justin Miller that set up a Browns' first down at the Jet 13. New No. 2 receiver Donte' Stallworth caught two passes for 14 yards from Anderson. When Anderson failed to connect with running back Jamal Lewis on a swing pass, offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski called the same play on the next down.
Jets quarterback Brett Ratliff tied the score 7-7 with 13:01 left in the second quarter on a 71-yard touchdown pass to receiver David Clowney. Ratliff went right at Cleveland's backup defensive backs on his second snap and Clowney outran cornerback A.J. Davis and safety Nick Sorensen.
With 12:05 left in the fourth quarter, Ratliff and Clowney hooked up on another bomb, this time for a 70-yard touchdown. Defensive backs Steve Cargile and Mil'Von James gave chase to no avail.
The evening also seemed productive for Quinn, who produced 10 points during his two-plus quarters of work. He completed 13 of 17 passes for 133 yards with an interception and a rating of 73.9. His interception went off the hands of receiver Syndric Steptoe, but Quinn was also at fault for leading Steptoe too much.
Running back Jason Wright finished off Quinn's touchdown drive with a 1-yard scoring run that put Cleveland up 14-7. Quinn's favorite targets were receiver Travis Wilson and Rucker.
Dorsey took over for Quinn with 44 seconds left in the third quarter.
Crennel also rested kicker Phil Dawson for most of the game. Jason Reda, a rookie from Illinois, went 2 for 2 on field goal attempts, connecting from 26 and 39 yards.
The highlight of Dorsey's time was rookie receiver Paul Hubbard's 44-yard reception near the Jet sideline. Hubbard, a track star who walked on at Wisconsin and was picked by the Browns in the sixth round, got his hand and shoulder inbounds as he fell.
In the fourth quarter, New York tight end A.J. Schable suffered a blow to the head in a collision with Cleveland offensive lineman Cliff Louis. Schable was immobilized and carted off while players from both teams watched with concern.
Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Read her Browns blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/browns/.
CLEVELAND: Most of the sports world cared only that just-traded quarterback Brett Favre was standing on the New York Jets sideline in khaki shorts, a T-shirt and a white ball cap with a play card in his hand.
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