First I want to get something out of the way. This Sunday we play all of starters as usual and we go for our 10th win of the season. We do it for two reasons, first winning 10 games is a pretty good accomplishment and secondly and most importantly--WE CAN'T ASK THE COLTS TO PLAY THEIR BIG GUNS IN WHAT IS A MEANINGLESS GAME FOR THEM WHEN WE ARE NOT WILLING TO DO THE SAME. It is that simple. So that means Derek Anderson plays Sunday against the 49ers. We can't make it look to the rest of the league that we are using this as an experimental game in anyway. So Brady Quinn goes his rookie year without taking a snap. We have made our bed, now we have to sleep in it. That's reality and that leads me to the main point of this post.
The Browns made the decision this year to sit Quinn. Anderson played at times very well and at times very poorly. He was at his worst when we needed him most. I would be very curious to see what his QB rating is beginning with the second Steeler game to this point. I am sure it is in decline.
In my humble opinion Anderson's biggest flaws lie in three areas--decision making, accuracy and leadership. He does not seem to go through his progressions properly and we have seen how he struggles with putting the ball on the mark. Most of the time you see our receivers having to make acrobatic catches to keep drives alive. They have to go up and take big hits, rather than catch the ball in stride. But I don't want to dwell on this part of Anderson's game, rather I want to look at what leadership means to the quarterback position.
If you look at Pittsburgh, their best player clearly is Ben Rothlisberger. He is carrying them right now. And he is tough to beat when it counts the most. He is the leader of their team, the guy everyone else looks to in the huddle, the guy leading the charge. It pains me to write this, but they are our chief rival and we have to look at who is keeping us from getting where we want to go. Hines Ward is not the leader of the Steelers. Willie Parker is not the leader of the Steelers etc...etc...
Now take the Colts or the Patriots, two other obvious rivals the Browns have to overcome if they want to someday get to a Super Bowl. Who are the leaders of that those teams. The answer is obvious, Peyton Manning and Tom Brady, respectively. It is not Joseph Addai or Randy Moss etc..etc...
My point is THE LEADER on the Browns should not be a wide receiver (Braylon Edwards) or a tight end (Kellen Winslow), regardless of how talented they are. It just isn't healthy for a team and the main reason for that is the quarterback is the one person who handles the ball on every snap. Think about it. The best designed play can be aborted by a dropped snap from center, a missread of coverages, an errant throw, by not getting the offense out of bad play call or alignment etc...
The quarterback should be the "bell cow" of the franchise. He should be the leader of the offense. If you think of the Patriots who comes to mind first--Tom Brady, the Colts--Peyton Manning, the Steelers--Rothlisberger, the Packers--Favre.
As the leader, the quarterback has to have the personality for the job. His temperment is critical. Others in the huddle have to know they can have an opinion, they can offer advice, but the buck stops with the QB--and it helps if he has star quality. There is a pecking order in any organization or team, and the offense of a football team is no different. the QB in almost all cases has to be the guy. Super Bowls are usually won by a team that has that kind of guy (Elway). There have been exceptions (Dilfer), but that dynasty didn't last very long.
Everyone knows who on this Browns team has the POTENTIAL to be the biggest star. It helps that he has the most jersey sales on the team and he hasn't even taken a snap yet. Stars don't get questioned as much. In part because they are stars and mainly because they are leaders.
You know where I am going with this. Brady Quinn is a no nonsense guy. He will take command of his huddle and run the show. He won't panic and I believe he will play his best when it means the most. Some will argue why didn't he win against SC or in big bowl games. He just did not have the supporting cast. His last game against SC he played his ass off. He carried Notre Dame. Granted that was college and this is the pros. I am the first to admit he has not proved it at this level. Whether he will be accurate enough with his throws remains to be seen.
But I firmly believe when Quinn takes the reigns. This will be his team. Others will have to defer to his judgement on what has to be done. He will carry the team and that is the way it should be. Anderson is a good quarterback, better than half the starters in the NFL, perhaps better than two-thirds. But the Browns need and deserve better than that. Quinn might be that guy. He has the higher ceiling.
Browns fans know what made Bernie Kosar great. It was his leadership, smarts and toughness. It wasn't the physical side of his game. That's the model. Quinn is like that, except his physical tools are better. We haven't had a leader on this team where it needs to be--at the quarterback position--since Kosar. I believe we have that guy now.
So Phil, go ahead and tender Anderson at the highest level. Take that first and third if someone bites and go ahead and work your draft magic. Decision made and we will be a better team for it.
GO BROWNS...