Contract(s) of the Day, 10/8
QB, Browns
Signed 5-year $9.25 milllon deal on 8/7/07
-$7.75mil guaranteed
Derek Anderson
QB, Browns
Signed a 3-year $24 million deal on 2/29/08
-$14.5 mil guaranteed
This isn't exactly the decision the Phil Savage and company had foresaw when they drafted Quinn. Having to choose between him and a guy they just handed $14.5 million dollars to.
84% of Quinn's entire contract is guaranteed and has already been paid to him. Over the next two years the Browns only owe him $1.35 million, unless he takes 70% of the snaps in 2009. Then, a playing time incentive kicks in -- one that could have been earned if Quinn took 65% of the snaps in 07-08 -- and Randy Lerner will have to shell out a whopping $11 million for Quinn's first real season as a starter in 09'.
The Browns' brass look foolish now for having signed a sputtering Derek Anderson and his current 49.9 QB rating for nearly a quarter of a hundred million dollars. By way, the Browns passing game is currently netting less yards per game than 10 other NFL teams do rushing.
Anderson looks more like the guy who couldn't win the Ravens third string job in 2005 instead of the next Dan Marino who shred defenses for about 13 weeks last season.
Anderson is due a $5 million roster bonus in 2009, along with his $1.5 million dollar salary. He'll have to win the Super Bowl at this point to justify that kind of salary for 09'.
Savage and company mortgaged away there draft for Corey Williams and Shaun Rodgers, re-signed Anderson, wrestled away free agents like Rex Hadnot, Terry Cousin and Donte Stallworth to win now instead of building through the draft.
It was a tough call for Cleveland though. They didn't know Anderson was going to play the way he did before they drafted Quinn. Remember when Crennel thought so much of Anderson that he flipped a coin before the final preseason game to see if Anderson or Charlie Frye would start.
The Browns are in a tough bind. Trading Anderson looks to be next to impossible at this point. They should just bite the bullet and cut Anderson as soon as the clock hits zero in week 17 or at least get a 4th round pick back for him. Keep Quinn, bring in another cheap veteran to compete with him in camp and if he proves himself, which he should, let him start all of 09' and pay up the $11 mil.
Why not? They've already paid Quinns over $8 million just to be clipboard lieutenant.
But that would be too easy. There's no way the Browns will keep Anderson and let Quinn earn that playing time incentive or else they'd pay nearly $20 million just for QBs in 09'.
What I see happening is this; Browns front office being unable to admit they botched the Anderson signing, and keeping him to start 09'. Then once enough plays are called that the incentive can't click in for Quinn, they'll throw him to the lions -- the metaphorical animal, not team -- for his $655,000 salary.
The 2008 Browns season is gone already and instead of developing Quinn for next season and cutting ties with Anderson, the 2009 Browns look like they may as well keep a spot reserved in the AFC North Basement.
But who really suffers here?
The fans.
The Dogpound gets to sit through the rest of this season and observe a "transition team." Correction, one of the leagues' most expensive, "transition teams." The front office botched a number of free agent signings, but none more critical than Anderson.
How and when they can just admit they made a mistake will be the only thing fans can hope for.
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