Cleveland quarterback Derek Anderson should rest easy tonight.
Not only does he now have the security of a multiyear contract, Anderson couldn’t be in a better situation at this point than playing for the Browns.
Anderson allowed himself to test the market as a restricted free agent today and didn’t like what he saw. There’s plenty to like in Cleveland, which is why he agreed to a new deal.
He’s got an outstanding offensive line in front of him. Great, young targets to throw to in Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow. A 1,300-yard rusher (Jamal Lewis) behind him in the backfield.
Anderson wouldn’t have anywhere near the same caliber of surrounding cast had he signed elsewhere.
And while exact terms of his contract aren’t yet known, Anderson is now set for life financially. Even if 2007 first-round draft pick Brady Quinn ultimately proves ready for a starting spot, the 24-year-old Anderson will be heading for another big payday down the road as long as he continues playing at the same caliber as last season
In my book, the Anderson and Lewis re-signings as well as the trade to acquire Green Bay defensive tackle Corey Williams makes -- gasp! --- Cleveland the team to beat in the AFC North.
Now, we need a mid-priced FA WR like Stallworth, Bryant Johnson, or DJ Hackett, or Devery Henderson...and perhaps I'm now interested in a pass rush specialist - like Boss Bailey - at this point - screw the draft - the Browns are too good now to draft an impact rookie anyway...we could steal a nice RB in the Round 3 or whenever we pick this April.
Lewis was on a one year deal last year and had that motivation, but with his 3 year deal will he run the same? I hope that I am wrong but take Shaun Alexander for example, running backs always seem tougher, meaner, and faster when running for a contract. So while he will still be a quality back, will he be a 1300 yard back? But I agree, his weapons are maturing and give great targets.
These guys may very well be the team to beat in the AFC North. (Marvez forgot to mention the biggest point with regard to who wins this division - the schedule. Neither the Browns nor the Steelers have an easy schedule, but the Steelers is still more difficult,) Then again, neither the Steelers nor the Giants (two of the last three SB winners) won their division.
In any case, we can hope that Browns/Steelers becomes a rivalry again. Before Browns fans get too terribly excited, though, maybe they should wait until the Browns actual WIN a playoff game.
Keeping Anderson was VERY smart! Now making Winslow happy is the next priority... I've always been a Browns fan, even thru the Tim Couch nightmare, but I think they may have just secured one of the BEST offenses in the NFL! Now if we can only find a defense....
Are you kidding me? The team to beat in the AFC North, they still stand no chance against the Steelers. Plus once the Steelers steal Jonathan Stewart in the draft they will have a one two punch that can't be matched. Plus the o-line will be better with aging Faneca out and having a new center in place.
Last edited by krichnaf on February 29th at 9:18 AM.
Hey brandl22, you didn't watch every game, the line got blown up in the middle by left guard and center. It was their weakest spot all year. So shut it, the Clowns are going no where like usual.
The Steelers gave up 47 sacks last year. That is bad! All fanicas fault? what is every team ignorant? why is he commanding top dollar? I think they are in the business for a reason as opposed to you. I'm saying 55-60 sacks given up by the steelers. Your gonna have QB on IR in about week 5.
Are you kidding me?! 55-60 sacks, you must be drinking Lake Erie water. Thats a joke, Faneca is going to get top dollar because of his name, but he is on the down. The past two years have been dreadful in terms of his pass blocking. His run blocking has always been good and will always be good. However, his pass blocking abilities are very bad. With the Steelers throwing more they need to make their line better in that aspect. Your just a jealous fan who wishes his team could just turn the corner already but can't.
bucs4nc, "keeping Winslow happy". Yes, indeed, there is the problem. Should the Browns pay him more than Edwards? Because that is one thing he (probably) wants. Or, should they give him the money that he had to give back by wrecking his motorcycle and losing his second year in a row to injury? Because that is something that he has stated specifically that he does want.
We were all real impressed last year when Braylon Edwards shut up, started playing football, and had a Pro Bowl year. If Kellen Winslow would just do the same, the Browns will do great things. They are still going to be pretty dam good, anyway, so don't get me wrong.
Last edited by StillerzRUs on February 29th at 9:30 AM.
Well being a browns fan my whole life I mean die hard fan.I hope and pray that we trade anderson for some draft picks.There was a report that carolina was resdy to give him big money with the trade with greenbay we dont have any draft picks that can come in and help us right away.
Steelers are getting old. No chance against them? Don't kid yourself - they have one year left before its time to start rebuilding. Are you going to throw to Hines Ward forever? Browns pile of talent has come of age. O-line will keep the line in tact/consistent and be better still. Lewis has always played like a bull and will do so till he can't anymore. Anderson is smart to stay - where else would he do better? Nothing but upside this year for the Browns.
now that my brownies have everybodys attention just wait until the third round when we get that other pass rusher opposite wimbley now that we have our other end in corey williams and you might just see donte across from braylon but don't worry picks 4-7 are for depth(dl,cb,rb) FEAR THE DAWG THIS YEAR WE BITE. DAWGPOUND FOR LIFE BEWARE THE BIG DAWG
Yeah! Corey Williams will be way better than any rookie DT. That was a HUGE hole that Savage needed to fill, and he did a great job of it. Maybe get an impact linebacker to fill in for Willie McGinest, and this team will be awesome. I just hope they can get over the hump and beat the damn Steelers next year. They certainly have the talent to do so.
The only downside for Anderson is Quinn. As soon as DA has a bad game the fans will be all over him, wanting Quinn to start. Of course it's like that anywhere. The fans think they know more than the coaches about who should be starting.
Horrible Move! Anderson was a 1 hit wonder. At the end of the year he was showing he was a interception magnet. I think Brady would be much better at the starting QB. Oh well it shows why Cleveland never does anything playoff or otherwise :( I was actually starting to root for Cleveland some with Brady waiting in the wings.
Agree on Corey Williams. That guy was totally worth a second round pick. We should have used that pick on D-end anyway, and this guy already has solid experience at the position. I wish my boss was as skilled as Phil Savage.
Hello?!?! No way Corey Williams plays the nose. He has to play the d-end because he's to small to play the nose in a 3-4. On the end is his only chance of doing something.
Anderson probably will be traded before free agency ends, and for sure before the draft. With this 3 year deal he is more tradable. No team was going to give him a longer deal and give up a 1st and a 3rd. He has not proven himself enough to project as a franchise QB worth huge $, but for 13.5 some team may be willing to give up a 1st round pick. After the Williams signing there is no way Savage is going into the draft without a 1st or 2nd round pick. Get ready for the Quinn era starting this year.
I am really excited about the Browns 08 season. DA has gievn hope to the team, city, and the fans for better things to come. Like anything, all good things take time. Even though DA is signed, I bet Quinn will be playing within a year. All the great QB's today were on the bench for 2 yrs (EX: P. Manning and Romo).
And, I don't know about anyone else, but I am tired of hearing about the same old teams all the time; Patriots and the Steelers! The Browns are up and coming.
leave it to a Squealer fan to believe that losing a 7 time Pro Bowler AND breaking in a new center will be good for their team. Big Ben hit the turf 47 times last year, PLUS 6 more times in their lone playoff game. I'm no offensive line guru, but I highly doubt the guy making the Pro Bowl was the problem. And as for your new passing attack. Pittsburg tried the same thing several years ago, went 6-10, and then went back to Cowher type football. The only problem now, is that you don't have Cowher to fall back on. All us Cleveland fans can say is this... enjoy Bruce Arians, because you deserve him.
Hey, this move helps the Steelers. That joker DA has a QB rating of 82.5 and his completion percentage is a joke at 54%. The Browns 2007 season was a one-year abberation that can only get worse. Stats don't lie.
berndawg17: you are not smart. I can't rememebr who won a playoff game last...the Brown-skids or the Bungles??? You're joker QB will show his true colors in 2007 liek he did when he choked and blew the skids chance of making the playoffs by throwing FOUR ints angainst the hapless Bungles.
signing Dork Anderson will wind up being a massive waste of monsy especialyl with that pretty boy dork Quinn sitting on the bench with his big contract crying and causing a QB controversy after the Brown-Skids start out 0-3.
No one else was interested in Derek that's why he signed. Now he has a multi-year contract, Phil has leverage to trade him and it will happen! Phil drafted Jonathon Ogden and Ray Lewis in the same draft with the Ravens. They won a Super Bowl with Trent Dilfer at QB-very mediocre like Derek. Derek will be gone for a 1st round draft pick this year.
Toadster - the answer to your question would be the Browns in 1994.
I am always interested in being educated by a superior sports fan, so please explain to me how a QB with a 73.9 rating is good enough to win a Superbowl? My uneducated guess is that it has something to do with teamwork and chemistry and has nothing to do with your QB's rating. Stats are for kids and fantasy players, so keep reading them and maybe your Steelers will come back and show all the other AFC North teams how to do it in 2008.
Top of the AFC North. That is a bold statement for a team that seems to always find a way to fail at living up to their expectations. I think this was a good move for Cleveland if they can find a way to trade DA and get a great defensive player or a few early round draft picks. The guy is unproven and probably won't pan out in the end. He really didn't look good at all in the end of the season. I hate to tell you Browns fans this, but I think he was showing his true colors. The truth is, the Browns have the offensive weapons to throw in any average quarterback and have success. However, their defense is TERRIBLE. I don't understand why teams that play in cold weather late in the year (Cinny and now Cleveland) want to build offensive powerhouses that rely too heavily on passing the ball. You play to win the chance to play your playoff games at home, build a tough defense and a good running game. That will bring you greater long term success. Anyways, I find it tough to claim that a team is going to lead their division when they couldn't beat the team that has held a lock on that division for a long time even once the year before. I guess we will all see real soon.
berndawg17- dork.
There is one clear defined way to win the SB with a ratig of 73.9....and it is to have a great defense that holds the Patricheats o 14 pts. You & your number 30 defense wouldn't know that though. And as far as Eli, he threw 6 tds and one INT in the playoffs and SB. His postseason rating was 95.7 (when it counted)....he didn't throw 4 picks against the Bungles and destroy his team's chance of making the playoffs. Anything else you'd like to know surf?
BernDawgCrud-
You are right, bad (stats) QB's always win the SuperBowl, You know? Guys Like Manning, Manning, Brady, Roethlisberger, Elway, Young, Montana, Aikman, Warner, Farve,and even the old timers who pplayed under different pass defense rules like Staubach, Unitas & Bradshaw...the list goes on. These guys all sucked and had ratings around 82.
If DA hasn't "proven" anything worthwhile to some you ungrateful Brown fans,tell me, exactly WHAT has Brady Quinn proven?
NOTHING!
I hope DA gets traded to a team who's fans can appreciate his efforts and you end up with your pretty boy Quinn and he ends up a bust.
That's what you all deserve.
I don't much follow the AFC, but I couldn't miss the Colts laying down for the Titans to keep the Browns out of the playoffs. It's bad enough having to win the games that you play without being stabbed in the back like that.
toadster makes a great point. The playoffs, and of course the superbowl, are all about getting hot at the right time. If you look at the last 3 superbowl champs, not one of them was the best team during the regular season. The Steelers just got in by the skin of their teeth, the Colts were good 2 years ago, but not half as good as they were the year before, and the Giants just barely made it into the playoffs this year. However, all three teams had all of their key players in time for the playoffs, looked much better in the second half or even just the fourth quarter of the season and were playing their best football. If you can stay alive in the first half of the year and start to really gel in the second half you are much better off than being extremely hot early in the year. Just an observation, has nothing to do with the article.
toadster - looks like you got it all figured out... except how to make a point and sound intelligent. maybe if the Steelers had you on the sidelines, the Pats wouldn't have cheated their way to victory.
And when exactly did the Steelers peak? Before or after they lost 4 of their last 5 games. I wonder what happened to Ben and Tomlin when it counted? Ben's final line in Jacksonville - 3 picks, 6 sacks (40 yards lost!!!), and it took 42 attempts to get his 337 yards. You know what.. you're right... stats don't lie.
with the chance of one of the QBs getting hurt....we all know people get hurt in the NFL, its not a bad idea at all to have 2 QBs under the age of 25...I don't know why all you DA haters are pissed.....2 QBs when 1/2 the NFL doesn't have 1. Things are looking good for the browns....but I still have a feeling they might only go 500 next year
all good QB's but not great... and all had subpar QB ratings. get off your cloud and stop arguing for the sake of arguing. DA is by no means a Manning, Brady, Farvre or Staubach... but neither is Ben. If you think so, then you're not an ####... you're an ####.
the point that i was trying to make that you either don't understand, or just don't really have the ability to understand is this - stats don't mean Sh**. DA struggled mightily at the end of the year, but it doesn't appear he was the only QB that blew his teams chances. Either way, he's 24 years old and probably has a brighter future than a guy named toadster that thinks after a couple fantasy football seasons, he should be running his own nfl franchise.
Sorry folks but Cleveland is a losing town. No matter what sport they cannot get over the hump. Call it bad luck but the only way a Cleveland team can win a championship is to move outa town. They are a good practice team for the Steelers though!
The Browns will add a linebacker and it could very well be Calvin Pace from Arizona. I think he would be a very good fit. It appears that they have just enough to get past the team accross the border to the Southeast, but linebacker should shore up any doubts of that. (I can't wait to see how they plan to defend kickoff returns this year)
Now about pittspuke; they are screwed without Faneca. Maybe 60 sacks this season??? The Hamburglar will get a broken leg or a torn ACL. Part of it is his own fault. He thinks he's Yogi Bear and he should hybernate in the off season. I can hear him calling out now, " Hey Boo Boo, where is that picnic basket"! It doesn't get any better than it does in good old pittspuke!
Bernt Dawg ####-
Ben in 5-2 in the playoffs...2 AFC championship appearances and a SB victory.
His Career rating is is 92...throw out the year after the wreck, appendectomy, ansd concussion and it is 100.3
Ben has come back twice against your Busch league team the past two years and simply TORCHED (ala your Bernt Dawg #### name) you guys in the 4th quarter. It's fun to watch. I don't play fantasy phag football and really don't even know what it is much less how you play it.
Stats DO mean something...thats why the guys with the best QB stats USUALLY have their team in CONTENTION for the PLAYOFFS or SUPERBOWL. Thats the way the NFL wants it. No franchise QB = No soup for you. All of the words I have capitalized are words Brown-#### fans are not familiar with.
What will really be sad is that the Browns are going to the playoffs and pittspuke will drop off the face of the earth, again. ie: pre mid 70s then 80s up to Cowher turning things around. Seems like no one can remember how bad their teams have been all these years, they just bring up the good. That's ok because there are plenty of people out there that know better and are more than happy to point out how bad they have really been for decades!
Alex Marvez is a Senior NFL Writer for FOXSports.com . He's covered the NFL for 13 seasons as a beat writer and is the president of the Pro Football Writers of America.
