Cleveland Browns (2008 Season)

[tsteele316]

Originally Posted by billmac91

Trent Green traded for 5th round pick.

Randy Moss traded for 4th round pick.

Kelly Holcomb traded for conditional pick.

Willis McGahee traded for 3rd and 7th round pick.

Jake Plummer traded for conditional round pick.

Does DA have a ton more value than Charlie Frye at this point? After his last 5 games of 2007, and a completion percentage hovering around 50% this year? I just don't see a team giving up a lot in compensation to take on a risky contract.

his contract is relatively cheap, and is essentially a series of one year deals. he's a young big armed qb that can be impossible to beat when he's on. everyone on your list was washed up or a headcase and not close to apt comparisons.

[3074326]

Originally Posted by tsteele316

his contract is relatively cheap, and is essentially a series of one year deals. he's a young big armed qb that can be impossible to beat when he's on. everyone on your list was washed up or a headcase and not close to apt comparisons.

How often is he on?

[tsteele316]

Originally Posted by 3074326

How often is he on?

enough that when a team hands the ball to adrian peterson 25 times a game, and really only throws downfield to 2 wr's, it's a good fit, despite what gus frerotte tells you.

[osugrad21]

DDN

Anderson has torn MCL, out for year

Ken Dorsey will start Sunday against Titans with kick returner Joshua Cribbs as his emergency backup.

By Tom Withers
Associated Press

Tuesday, December 02, 2008
BEREA ? Derek Anderson's season is officially over, yet another slap for the down-on-their-luck Cleveland Browns.
Anderson, who lost his starting job to Brady Quinn several weeks ago, will miss the final four games after tearing a ligament in his left knee on Sunday, Nov. 30, against Indianapolis.
An MRI taken Monday revealed Anderson tore the medial collateral ligament when he was sacked in the final minutes of Cleveland's 10-6 loss to the Colts. Anderson, making his first start since Nov. 2 after being benched for Quinn, will not need surgery. He will be placed in a brace and will need four to six weeks to recover.
Quinn, too, is done for the season with a finger injury. He has not yet decided whether to have surgery on his broken right index finger, which he hurt Nov. 17 at Buffalo.
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[osugrad21]

ABJ

Anderson out for season Quarterback's career might be over. Dorsey will play 11-1 Titans
By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal sports writer

Published on Tuesday, Dec 02, 2008
BEREA: As Derek Anderson limped out of the locker room Sunday, disdaining crutches despite the pain in his knee, a friend wished him luck and he answered, ''I'll see you, probably in another lifetime.''
Anderson thought he'd played his last game for the Browns, perhaps for his career. He learned Monday that's the case for the rest of this season.
An MRI revealed Anderson suffered a torn medial collateral ligament in his left knee in Sunday's 10-6 loss to Indianapolis. But surgery will not be required.
The Browns said he will wear a brace and is expected to recover in four to six weeks, which means he's headed to the injured reserve list.
Ken Dorsey, who hasn't completed a pass in the NFL since 2005, will take over as Cleveland (4-8) visits Tennessee (11-1) Sunday. Dorsey went 2-8 for San Francisco in 2004-05.
Dorsey will be without one of his go-to guys from the University of Miami, where Dorsey was 38-2 and led the Hurricanes to the 2001 national championship. An MRI showed tight end Kellen Winslow suffered a high left ankle sprain against the Colts and will miss the Titans game. He'll wear a boot for up to a week.
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[osugrad21]

ABJ

Browns play hard on Crennel's behalf They stick up for coach despite the 10-6 loss to Indianapolis Colts
By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal sports writer

Published on Tuesday, Dec 02, 2008
BEREA: If holding the Indianapolis Colts without an offensive touchdown for the first time in five years proved anything, it's that the Browns are rallying around embattled coach Romeo Crennel.
The 10-6 loss Sunday to the Colts was their fifth defeat in the past seven games and dropped them to 1-6 at home. Another tough test looms this weekend as the Browns (4-8) visit the Tennessee Titans (11-1).
But even as quarterback Derek Anderson was limping out of the locker room with a season-ending left knee injury, Anderson stuck up for the coach who benched him after eight games this season.
''Guys aren't going to give up in here,'' Anderson said. ''Every single guy cares about each other and cares about winning. We love RAC [Crennel] and we're going to play for RAC. That's the biggest thing these last four weeks, knowing the entire situation.''
On Monday, Browns linebacker Willie McGinest said that if players were doing their jobs, they would have turned five of their eight losses into victories.
''Everybody ? I always start with myself ? if we go in and do what we're supposed to do or what we're coached to do and what we practice ? out of those eight games we've lost, we win at least five more games,'' McGinest said. ''Especially the close ones.''
The Browns have lost four games by four points or less to some of the league's best: the Pittsburgh Steelers (9-3), Baltimore Ravens (8-4), Washington Redskins (7-5) and Colts (8-4).


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[osugrad21]

ABJ

Players defend Browns coach By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal sports writer
POSTED: 06:48 p.m. EST, Dec 01, 2008
If holding the Indianapolis Colts without an offensive touchdown for the first time in five years proved anything, it's that the Browns are rallying around embattled coach Romeo Crennel.
The 10-6 loss Sunday to the Colts was their fifth defeat in the past seven games and dropped them to 1-6 at home. Another tough test looms this weekend as the Browns (4-8) visit the Tennessee Titans (11-1).
But even as quarterback Derek Anderson was limping out of the locker room with a season-ending left knee injury, Anderson stuck up for the coach who benched him after eight games this season.
''Guys aren't going to give up in here,'' Anderson said. ''Every single guy cares about each other and cares about winning. We love RAC [Crennel] and we're going to play for RAC. That's the biggest thing these last four weeks, knowing the entire situation.''
On Monday, Browns linebacker Willie McGinest said that if players were doing their jobs, they would have turned five of their eight losses into victories.
''Everybody ? I always start with myself ? if we go in and do what we're supposed to do or what we're coached to do and what we practice ? out of those eight games we've lost, we win at least five more games,'' McGinest said. ''Especially the close ones.''
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[osugrad21]

CPD

Browns Insider: Crennel buoyed by players' support

by Mary Kay Cabot/Plain Dealer Reporter Monday December 01, 2008, 8:52 PM


BEREA --- Romeo Crennel doesn't know if it's true that he'll need a miracle finish to save his job, as reported Sunday on espn.com, but he appreciated the effort his players gave against the Colts. "It makes it easier for me to come to work," Crennel said. "Those are the guys I have to work with every day. If they respect me, then I can feel decent about myself. If they perform on the field like they did on Sunday, then I know we have a chance."
In the 10-6 loss, the defense played its best game of the season, holding Indy to three points on offense and forcing three turnovers.
"It's rewarding in that when you're in this situation and your team is not doing well, everyone wants to see if your team will 'quit,'" said Crennel. "As a coach, you want your players to play hard, to give great effort and to do the things that they need to do to give themselves a chance to win. I thought that our team did that yesterday."
Crennel, 24-36, said he was unaware of the report, from unnamed sources, about what it will take to save his job.

"I don't know anything about a miracle finish, I just have to play the next game against a very good football team, probably one of the best teams in the NFL this year," he said. "If they play hard, they'll have a chance."

Cont...

[osugrad21]

CPD

Limping to the finish: Browns confirm Anderson out for season, Winslow out this week

by Mary Kay Cabot/Plain Dealer Reporter Monday December 01, 2008, 7:35 PM


Tracy Boulian/The Plain DealerDerek Anderson heard jeers from some Browns fans as he was helped from the field Sunday afternoon. On Monday, many of his teammates said they heard them, too --- and weren't happy about it.
As Derek Anderson limped out of the Browns locker room Sunday night, he said half-jokingly, "Maybe I'll see you in another lifetime." He knew he was probably done for the season -- and possibly forever in a Browns uniform.
At least the first part of that was confirmed Monday when an MRI revealed Anderson suffered a torn left medial collateral ligament in the 10-6 loss to the Colts. He won't require surgery, but will be in a brace for 4-6 weeks and will be placed on injured reserve sometime soon.
"Once Derek came back in we were all confident because we know Derek can play and it's frustrating now that we have to change again," said guard Eric Steinbach. "Derek is a tough guy and he'd battle if he could so its disappointing that the knee won't allow him to."
Tight end Kellen Winslow also underwent an MRI and was diagnosed with high left ankle sprain. He'll miss at least the Titans game and be in a walking boot for up to a week. He'll be evaluated thereafter on a week-to-week basis. With Darnell Dinkins also ailing with a high ankle sprain, it could mean more time for rookie tight end Martin Rucker.
The loss of Anderson means the Browns will dust off recent third-teamer Ken Dorsey to start against the 11-1 Titans. With Brady Quinn out for the year with a broken finger, that moves former Kent State quarterback Josh Cribbs up to No. 2 -- for now. Coach Romeo Crennel said the Browns might also bring in an experienced veteran who has some background in the system. If not, first-year pro Richard Bartel, signed to the practice squad last week, will be the third QB.

"[Bartel's] in a crash course trying to get familiar with the system," said Crennel.

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[osugrad21]

Canton

Teammates come to the defense of Anderson
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
BY STEVE DOERSCHUK
STEVE.DOERSCHUK@CANTONREP.COM

CLEVELAND Different Browns captains assumed different views of the jeering of Derek Anderson, a day after he took perhaps his final snap in Cleveland.

The Browns confirmed Monday that Anderson will miss the last four games of 2008 with ligament damage in his left knee. The 25-year-old quarterback's leg buckled when teammate Kevin Shaffer was bull-rushed backward into him in the final moments of Sunday's 10-6 loss to the Colts.

Some fans ? some drunk, some disillusioned, some seeing comedy in the misery of another disaster in another defeat ? cheered at the sight of Anderson on the ground.

One captain, himself on his last legs with the Browns, was sternly dismissive Monday.

"The fans are not here in the locker room," said Willie McGinest, who turns 37 next week and has said he will retire after 2008. "I don't care about what the fans say. I mean, fans are fans. They don't understand what a week's worth of work is to even get to the game.

"I'm not gonna get into the whole fan thing."

Another captain, Joshua Cribbs, got into the fan thing in great detail.

"I'd explain to 'em how hard our job is, how hard we fight every Sunday," Cribbs said. "It's out of our control sometimes with the play-calling and the quarterback situation.

"We respect all our fans and love 'em to death. Without 'em we'd be nothing. But (jeering Anderson) just disappoints me."

A third captain, seventh-year Browns linebacker Andra Davis, didn't like it in 2002 when Tim Couch staggered to the bench with a concussion amid a reaction similar to the one Anderson heard Sunday.

"For people to cheer for anybody to get hurt, I mean, that's ridiculous," Davis said. "You couldn't help but hear it. I mean, it's the second time. I was here when they did Couch like that."
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[osugrad21]

Canton

Browns notebook
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
By STEVE DOERSCHUK
STEVE.DOERSCHUK@CANTONREP.COM

Four and out

Romeo Crennel won't say how sure he is he has just four games left as head coach, but he knows the writing on the wall doesn't say "You're going to Disney World."

"People don't care about whether it's fair or not," he said. "They care about whether you win or lose. That's the nature of this business, and I've said that all along.

"I didn't have any rose-colored glasses on when I took the job. I've been in this league 30 years. I've seen a lot of things happen.

"Most of it has to do with winning and losing, so if you can win, you improve your chances of staying. If you don't win, then your chances are not as good."

His records have been 6-10, 4-12, 10-6 and 4-8. Nobody is making a song out of "One out of four ain't good."

For the defense

Crennel's defense forced Peyton Manning into one of his poorer games as a pro.

The future Hall of Famer used 21 passes to gain just 125 yards and was intercepted twice. His passer rating was 46.8.

Manning's passer rating was lower than that just once in the previous five seasons. The Colts fared only a bit better on the ground, rushing for 90 yards at 3.1 per carry.

Crennel's pride in these numbers was reflected when he was asked what he would say to Browns fans in these troubled times. His response:

"If they watched this past game and saw how the guys played, how they executed, how they had a chance to win against a very good football team ... if they see how they played and performed against that kind of team, then the rest of the season we hope to get the same kind of performance and effort and have chances to win the games. That's what we're all trying to do."

Winslow watch

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[osugrad21]

Canton

Dorsey is looking forward to chance at Browns QB
Calls start 'tremendous challenge'
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
By STEVE DOERSCHUK
STEVE.DOERSCHUK@CANTONREP.COM

CLEVELAND In terms of seeing, experience is Ken Dorsey's friend.

In terms of doing, rust looms as an imposing foe.

With Derek Anderson's following Brady Quinn to the injured reserve list, Dorsey becomes the Browns' starting quarterback, probably for the final four games, definitely for Sunday's game at Tennessee.

And those Nashville cats are 11-1 largely because they abuse quarterbacks.

"It's gonna be a tremendous challenge for us ... one I'm looking forward to," Dorsey said.

Pardon him for wondering if his challenges were all behind him. He spent three years with the 49ers, where he had a chance to prove he had a big enough arm to win in the NFL the way he did as a national champion in college.

He went 1-6 as the starter in his second pro season, 2004. The 49ers responded by reaching for quarterback Alex Smith at No. 1 overall in the 2005 draft.

The Browns shipped out unhappy Trent Dilfer in 2006 in exchange for Dorsey, who appeared in one game as a first-year Brown, throwing one pass.

It's debatable when he reached bottom.

It might have been the 2006 season finale. Anderson had been hurt in the previous game, and Charlie Frye was iffy with a wrist injury. A wounded Frye started ahead of a healthy Dorsey.

It might have been Sept. 1, 2007, when Dorsey was cut. He was brought back 10 days later after Frye was traded. His primary perceived value was to mentor 2007 first-round pick Quinn.

Now, he'll be asked to spark an offense that has been flat most of the year. His only three passes of 2008 came in the final moments of Sunday's loss to the Colts.

"It's definitely never easy to come into a situation like that," Dorsey said, "but that's our job."

He'll get a full week of practice snaps under watch by coordinator Rob Chudzinski, who was an offensive coach at Miami when Dorsey was 38-2 as a starter there.

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[LitlBuck]

Originally Posted by toby34a

This injury has taken DA from a first and third rounder last year to a fifth this year. I don't think we'll get any more for him, and he's too expensive to keep. Hell, we may even have to cut him.

All I can hope for is that the Browns fire RAC, ditch DA, and draft either Malaluga, Laurinitis, Jenkins, or Vontae Davis.

Originally Posted by billmac91

Does DA have a ton more value than Charlie Frye at this point? After his last 5 games of 2007, and a completion percentage hovering around 50% this year? I just don't see a team giving up a lot in compensation to take on a risky contract.

There are not many good QB's coming out in the draft this year and there are plenty of NFL teams that need QB's. In addition, some NFL teams love guys with Anderson's arm. They even discount his intelligence when they see the gun that he has.

[buckeyboy]

Originally Posted by LitlBuck

There are not many good QB's coming out in the draft this year and there are plenty of NFL teams that need QB's. In addition, some NFL teams love guys with Anderson's arm. They even discount his intelligence when they see the gun that he has.

OK, but I still don't see more than a fourth or fifth rounder for DA. I wish they had traded him last year for the first and third.

[LitlBuck]

If they would have tendered him last Spring, everyone who thought that Anderson was the greatest QB in Cleveland since Brian Sipe would have gone crazy. They will get more than a fourth or fifth rounder depending upon the severity of his knee.