Open Competition Looming For Anderson, Quinn

Though whispers persist (as pointed out most recently by Russ Lande of Sporting News) that the Browns could trade either or both of their top quarterbacks, coach Eric Mangini said Tuesday that Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn will battle it out for the top spot on the depth chart. “I talked to both of them about that and was very clear,” Mangini said, according to Tony Grossi of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. “I said if they have any questions they can come and see me. In terms of the competition and their opportunities. That’s what I told them. They understand that.” Mangini added that he’s “excited” by the prospects of an open competition between the two players. (And here we thought that Mangini only got excited by open competitions involving the bacon and the eggs vying for real estate on his breakfast plate.) This bit of news meshes with our prior understanding that Quinn, who wrested the starting job during the 2008 season from an ineffective Anderson, won’t be handed the starting gig by the new Mangini-Kokinis regime. Neither coach nor G.M. were responsible for the acquisition of either player, so there’s no reason to favor one or the other. The challenge at this point is merely to find the best person for the job. And given that Anderson and Quinn never have competed with each other on a head-to-head basis, a little competition might be good for both of them. Of course, losing the competition won’t be good for Quinn, whose compensation is tied heavily to playing time. If/when he learns that he’s not getting the starting job, he might ask to be traded. Then again, we don’t rule out the fact that Mangini would actually prefer shipping one or both of them right now to Denver for Jay Cutler, and that Mangini is merely trying to create the impression that he’s fine with either Anderson or Quinn. Indeed, Mangini made it clear on Tuesday that, when it comes to a possible trade, there are no sacred cows on the Cleveland roster. “What I haven’t ruled out is George and I looking at any opportunity to improve the team,” Mangini said. “But I in no way am saying that is specific to the quarterback situation. But we would look at any opportunity we thought would improve the team.” We assume that “resigning our positions” isn’t one of the Mangini-Kokinis options. Some fans might already wish that it were.