This evening, the 1 of the Cleveland Browns heralded 2007 draft makes his first official NFL start.  Yes, Brady Quinn is the quarterback of the Browns.  At least for one game. 

The Browns have been a disappointment this year.  The offense - stellar last year - has spluttered badly this year.  Fingers are being pointed all over the place - the offensive line, Derek Anderson, the running game and Braylon Edwards.  Kellen Winslow III has been a distraction from time to time.  The Browns opened this pre-season with four resounding "thud" losses, and haven't been able to get anything on track offensively.  With a defense that's improving but not yet among the better units in the league, the lack of offensive production has directly led to Cleveland's 3-5 record. 

Tonight - whether it was a decision finally made by the coaching staff, the GM or the ownership - the next future QB of the Browns makes his debut.  Riding on his performance are the careers of GM Phil Savage and head coach Romeo Crennel.  There is simply no way to sugar coat it.  Either Quinn can help right this offense, or Crennel and/or Savage will be gone, and Cleveland will start new.  Again.

The fans have grown quite uneasy with the state of the Browns franchise, and with good reason.  Anderson looked tremendous to start the year last year, and the Browns 10-6 record certainly looked all the world like a jumping off point for the team.  Their 0-3 start this year immediately derailed that, and the fans are growing angrier by the minute.  But watching the performance on the field is why.  Anderson's ability at the position has looked simply bad this year.  Why?  That's hard to say.  Defenses have a book on him now, and work to make him throw to players and routes that he doesn't like.  His accuracy has been horrible.  He's made bad decisions.  They all add up to him getting benched in favor of Quinn.  But is that the right person to blame? 

Anderson deserves a lot of the blame.  He's underperformed, to be kind.  Braylon Edwards deserves even more blame.  Leading the league in drops is a very poor stat, and several of his drops have been just atrocious.  Yet, he's still your best receiver.  You bench him, and the Browns offense loses a deep threat.  Why has Edwards had the drops?  Your guess is as good as mine.  Maybe he's not focused enough.  Maybe Anderson's ball isn't to his liking.  Maybe he's just not as good a receiver as everyone thinks he is. 

Romeo Crennel is taking a big chance by starting Quinn.  He will likely get a short-term rise in offensive productivity - I think that Quinn may inject an excitement into this unit that has not had any spark all year.  He very well may be a better overall QB than Anderson, too, but the real key here is whether or not the Cleveland Brown brass will accept the learning pains that goes along with starting a young quarterback for his first season.  The Browns offense is not good enough in any one area to help protect a young quarterback.  The Falcons have a punishing ground attack, making Matt Ryan's start easier.  The Ravens have a punishing defense and ruly on the run game, making it easier for Joe Flacco to learn on the fly.  The Browns don't have a punishing running game.  They have good skill players, but they've been inconsistent, too.  Their line has not been as consistent this year.  And now a second-year player gets his first start - his first live action, the first disguised coverage schemes and blitz packages.   All of the film work will be important, but until you get out there and see it and do it, you just don't know.  So yes, Crennel and Savage are taking big risks - the type that defines a year.  If Quinn plays even to expectations, and the Browns somehow manage to right this season, then their jobs are safe.  If he plays well for a couple of weeks and then looks horrible, and drops the Cleveland record to a 6-10 mark, say, then you can equally bet Crennel will be walking the sideline somewhere next year, but as a defensive coordinator and on a different team.  That's just how it's going to be.

Personally, I kind of hope Brady Quinn plays well.  I hope that the Browns find some spark and get better.  I don't root for Cleveland, mind you, but I much prefer to watch good football teams play the game.  I hate watching bad teams.  It's just not good football, and this decision I hope is about improving the team and the quality of their play.  I'll be watching tonight to see how Quinn does.  I imagine that all Cleveland faithful are wondering some of the same things, too, and you can bet they'll be paying close attention.  Now how much understanding to they give him?  That remains to be seen, too.