Marla Ridenour ran a story yesterday in which Browns head coach Romeo Crennel has proclaimed Brady Quinn his starter in 2009.  In the article, Crennel proclaims that whatever Derek Anderson does over the next five games, he's not the Browns starter in 2009.  Making things even more complicated, he says that Anderson could even make next year's squad as a backup.  Anyone else just get a cold shiver up their spine and think of Tim Couch vs Kelly Holcomb?

Reviewing Crennel's history with quarterbacks, this is just another twist down the road.  For all his faults, Crennel may have lost his job on any other team for his handling of the quarterback position during his time as the Brows head coach.

2005

July/August – Names Trent Dilfer the starter. Dilfer was to remain the starter throughout the season while the team groomed third round pick and local hero Charlie Frye.

November – Frye named starter in Week 13 after Dilfer struggled the previous few games.

2006

April – Names Frye the starter for the 2006 season after a strong showing to end the season.

May – Dilfer is traded to the San Francisco 49ers, rather controversially, for Ken Dorsey.

December – Frye hurts his wrist in a game against the Chiefs.  Anderson takes over, and leads the team to an overtime victory.  After Anderson becomes injured, Crennel waffles on whether to start an injured Frye or healthy but ineffective Dorsey in Week 17 against the Texans.  He settles on Frye.

2007

April – General manager Phil Savage drafts Brady Quinn in the first round of the draft, trading back into the first to select the Notre Dame quarterback.

July – Training camp begins with an open competition for the starting quarterback job.  Quinn is holding out, at this point.

August – Crennel "flips a coin" to determine the starter for the first preseason game, which ends up being Frye.  Anderson then starts the second game.

September – In Week 1, Frye, who had been named the starter at the end of preseason, is pulled.  Anderson takes over, and goes to a Pro Bowl season.  Frye is traded two days after being pulled to Seattle for a late round pick.

2008

February – Anderson is resigned on the eve of free agency to a three year contract.

November – After a terrible loss in Baltimore, the Crennel names Brady Quinn the starter, replacing Anderson.  Quinn starts three games, before being pulled against the Texans due to an injured finger.  His season ends, being put on injured reserve on 11/25/08.  Crennel names Anderson the starter for the remainder of the season, but that Quinn will be the starter for the 2009 season.

Summary:  Dilfer lost his job to Frye.  Frye becomes injured, and loses his job to Anderson.  Anderson then gets hurt, and hands the job back to Frye.  Quinn is drafted, and it causes a race for the starting job, which Frye wins, but not without ups and downs in preseason.  Frye gets benched, loses his job to Anderson, and gets traded to Seattle.  Anderson goes to the Pro Bowl, signs a big contract extension.  Then he loses his job to Quinn, who breaks a finger and gets benched.  Anderson gets to start five games (well, you never know what could happen), but will only be a backup if he returns in 2009.

This entry was posted on Friday, November 28th, 2008 at 7:44 pm and is filed under Cleveland Browns, Quarterbacks. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.