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Shutdown Corner - NFL

Shutdown Corner

Sun Sep 27, 2009 4:21 pm EDT

Should the Browns abolish the quarterback position?

By Doug Farrar

Going into Baltimore with the most anemic offense in the NFL, you knew the Browns were in danger of going 0-3 for the season. But even the most cynical Browns-watcher could not have expected the debacleization that occurred. Cleveland started with Brady Quinn(notes) throwing six completions in eight attempts for 34 yards (way to air it out!), no touchdowns and one interception. But with nothing going on, Eric Mangini decided to replace Quinn with Derek Anderson(notes), figuring it couldn't get any worse.

Wrong-o.

In one half of football. Anderson went 11-of-19 for 92 yards, no touchdowns, and THREE picks. He also took a sack in a rare Browns red zone play, when he ambled around, trying to avoid pressure, and fell down. Haloti Ngata(notes) thanked him for the free sack. Anderson was throwing pop flies into stacked coverage in a display of horribleness the likes of which you will rarely see. Baltimore destroyed Cleveland, 34-3. What are the Browns to do?

At this point, I think it's best to just put returner/receiver/former college quarterback Josh Cribbs behind center on every play. The Browns are at their most dynamic offensively with Cribbs in the shotgun, running their "Flash" package (their version of the Wildcat), and it isn't as if there's anyone qualified to throw Cribbs, or Braylon Edwards(notes), or anyone else, the ball. If the Browns hope to be competitive at all, they should scrap the traditional offense altogether and go option-read all the way. Or, they can alternate between two quarterback disasters in perpetuity, until the latest Belichick disciple is fired and they start this nightmare all over again.

Browns fans, you deserve better than this.

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2068 Comments

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  1. footballer327
    1. Posted by footballer327 Sun Sep 27, 2009 4:51 pm EDT

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    the browns deserve better then this? really? btw we won today :)
  2. Lew Ghost
    2. Posted by Lew Ghost Sun Sep 27, 2009 4:52 pm EDT

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    more like 0-32
  3. Gabe K
    3. Posted by Gabe K Sun Sep 27, 2009 4:56 pm EDT

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    It's depressing to watch them, I'd rather watch Beaches a dozen times in a row.
  4. Christopher C
    4. Posted by Christopher C Sun Sep 27, 2009 5:00 pm EDT

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    At least the lions looked much better than this when they went 0-16. With the exception of the one touchdown with 28 seconds left to play, they haven't scored an offensive touchdown in 10 games. That is unexplainable.
  5. MarkT
    5. Posted by MarkT Sun Sep 27, 2009 5:03 pm EDT

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    and Fire Mangini!
  6. beerlover
    6. Posted by beerlover Sun Sep 27, 2009 5:03 pm EDT

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    "Browns fans, you deserve better than this. "
    Trust me, we know.
  7. David B
    7. Posted by David B Sun Sep 27, 2009 5:06 pm EDT

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    they should just put this wounded dog to sleep. you can throw in mangini and lerner.
  8. HI
    8. Posted by HI Sun Sep 27, 2009 5:11 pm EDT

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    browns should pay us to watch
  9. rbber duckie
    9. Posted by rbber duckie Sun Sep 27, 2009 5:18 pm EDT

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    fire mangini he is cursed since turning on the pats..and i'm loving every minute of his demise. charging a player who didn't pay for a 3 dollar bottle of water at a hotel over a thousand bucks..has he no shame? He will be running (poorly running) a jiffy lube this time next year.
  10. J B
    10. Posted by J B Sun Sep 27, 2009 5:22 pm EDT

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    Had the Lions played the Browns late last season, the Lions would have gotten a win. There are some bad teams this year (the Chiefs for one), but the Browns look like they've aready given up on the season. Fire Mangini now, maybe the next coach can cobble together a couple of wins for this team.
  11. mawitthoft
    11. Posted by mawitthoft Sun Sep 27, 2009 5:26 pm EDT

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    The Browns' "misfortunes" (ahem) were epitomized in one play call: that bastardization of logic called the "quarterback sneak" at the Ravens' 47 on first-and-10 somewhat early in the game. After that, I was hoping they'd get smoked.....and they were. I am not a Browns fan nor a Browns hater (i.e. Steelers/Bungholes fan), but I just hate watching stupidity in action.
  12. dice
    12. Posted by dice Sun Sep 27, 2009 5:28 pm EDT

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    Is it me, or maybe this team is just cursed. Think about it, the original Browns moved to Baltimore and became good and won a super bowl. This latest version of the Browns picked up where the old Browns left off. Even Trent Dilfler and Jeff Garcia failed here so that should speak volumes.
    I think even hall of fame qb's Aikman, Montana, Marino and Elway would probably fail here
  13. Powell
    13. Posted by Powell Sun Sep 27, 2009 5:28 pm EDT

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    I knew they was gonna have this kinda season when they hired Gini what a horrible coach i put him rite by our coach Wade Phillips lmao
  14. Jim B
    14. Posted by Jim B Sun Sep 27, 2009 5:29 pm EDT

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    I am a die hard Browns fan..and I see the Browns the NEW Detroit Lions
    I know Bernie Kosar is old and in bad shape but can we sign him to a contract to QB this team? Or Frank Ryan, Milt Plum...hell Im 61 pay me QB money and I can be just as bad!!!!
  15. ChrisR
    15. Posted by ChrisR Sun Sep 27, 2009 5:30 pm EDT

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    we can turn this team around all we need is 11 new players! a new Qb,Rt,Rg,Rb,marvin harrison,Le,Re,Lolb,Rolb,Cb,And SS, and we will have a winning team so lets use that 30million that we a setting on and add some tallent to this team and stop the losing season again. actually if we would of keeped the coaching staff and players from last year and they would of stayed healthy then we wouldnt ever look like we did to day thank u fans for listening to what i think about are [profane]ty team
  16. George T
    16. Posted by George T Sun Sep 27, 2009 5:33 pm EDT

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    where to I sign up? I think I could do a better coaching job than these washed up guys the browns get. I use to spend every Sunday watching them........then I realized I was just wasting 3 hours of my life just to watch them lose. I'm to the point I hate telling people who my NFL team is...........the Browns.....then the jokes begin
  17. cassiluvspurple
    17. Posted by cassiluvspurple Sun Sep 27, 2009 5:34 pm EDT

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    Man is it great to be a Raven fan living in Ohio these days. Defense still kicks ass and now we have a great offense as well. Look out squeelers!!
  18. Jim
    18. Posted by Jim Sun Sep 27, 2009 5:36 pm EDT

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    Do all fans a favor and sell the franchise to some other city. And you might throw in the Indians and Cavs too. I could care less anymore.
  19. htask1
    19. Posted by htask1 Sun Sep 27, 2009 5:44 pm EDT

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    OMG, the nightmare continues! Just when you are certain it can't get any worse it does! A travesty to their heritage. I am certain that there is talent on the team. Clearly the head of the snake is what needs to go. Time after time ownership picks the wrong GM and Coaches who then put together poor game plans, and are not taking full advantage of the talent (Whatever that talent level may be)....If this were a business the shareholders would vote for a clean sweep...It is too bad that what has been done to this team is not a criminal offense...the whole lot of them would be locked up. As for the fans it is unbelievable that a team with one of the most, if not the most, loyal fans keeps working to drive each and every last fan away.....while that may not be the intent, that is exactly what is happening.
  20. jetsfaninky
    20. Posted by jetsfaninky Sun Sep 27, 2009 5:44 pm EDT

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    Im a die-hard Jets fan, but lived in Akron for a while and got to watching the Browns when there, and that was in the Tim Couch era.
    I used to think it was just Butch Davis that screws high draft QBs for Cleveland but Im stating to think its just the Curse of the Browns.
    If your a good QB coming out of college you better hope and pray you dont get drafted by the Browns cause if their horrible O-line doesnt ruin your carrer because of Injuries then it will be ruined because of a stigma of "look how bad he was for Cleveland why would we want them".
    What happened to Tim Couch...his carrer cut short because of several injuries and the Browns never even tried to address their O-line issues. Now one of the greatest QBs in college history is a footnote in the Browns horrible recent history.
    Sorry Quinn but if you dont get out of Cleveland soon before injuries claim you, your career will be over before you know it.
    *shakes head in disappointment*
  21. jetsfaninky
    21. Posted by jetsfaninky Sun Sep 27, 2009 5:47 pm EDT

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    Im a die-hard Jets fan, but lived in Akron for a while and got to watching the Browns when there, and that was in the Tim Couch era.
    I used to think it was just Butch Davis that screws high draft QBs for Cleveland but Im stating to think its just the Curse of the Browns.
    If your a good QB coming out of college you better hope and pray you dont get drafted by the Browns cause if their horrible O-line doesnt ruin your carrer because of Injuries then it will be ruined because of a stigma of "look how bad he was for Cleveland why would we want them".
    What happened to Tim Couch...his carrer cut short because of several injuries and the Browns never even tried to address their O-line issues. Now one of the greatest QBs in college history is a footnote in the Browns horrible recent history.
    Sorry Quinn but if you dont get out of Cleveland soon before injuries claim you, your career will be over before you know it.
    *shakes head in disappointment*
  22. Scott S
    22. Posted by Scott S Sun Sep 27, 2009 5:52 pm EDT

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    What the heck is going on? We go all through the Pre-season with the QBs "In a fair battle" for the starter's job, give the job to Quinn because we "need to know if he can do it", and then turn to DA when we are a total failure as a team and expect him to come right in and lead us to victory. YEAH RIGHT.
    Anderson didn't have a chance today and the 3 picks were expected. How many people think he was asked to come in and manage this game? I'd bet the Mangini told him to air it out and not worry about it. I mean come on down 20-0 at half, what else are you going to do.
    Here is the problem, we most likely could have had a first round pick for Quinn after the 07 season and even last year maybe, but now the league has seen what he is about, nobody is going to give us much, thus meaning we wasted another of our long line of failed 1st round draft choices.
    After all that I have 2 words: Colt McCoy!
  23. lowrider2411
    23. Posted by lowrider2411 Sun Sep 27, 2009 5:54 pm EDT

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    The Browns should have never let Charlie Frye go!!!!! It was never his fault. They have no play calling,It dosn't matter who is QB(it could be Payton Manning)it wouldn't Matter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
  24. budral9
    24. Posted by budral9 Sun Sep 27, 2009 5:55 pm EDT

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    DA showed why BQ hasn't been throwing downfield: nobody is open in this horribly coordinated offense. This coaching staff is garbage.
  25. Phaded
    25. Posted by Phaded Sun Sep 27, 2009 6:05 pm EDT

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    @ Jim... why sell the Cavs? They are the only team worth watching.

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Shutdown Corner is an NFL blog edited by Matthew J. Darnell. Email him, and follow him on Twitter.

Contributors:
Chris Chase, Doug Farrar, Blair Johnson, Kevin Sullivan, Kerry Rhodes,

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