Brian Dulik: Browns have two good quarterbacks, but Anderson is clearly the main man
Brian Dulik | The Chronicle-Telegram
Exactly 12 months ago, Derek Anderson was fighting for his professional life on a Browns team going nowhere fast.
The former Oregon State standout was not only an afterthought in the quarterback derby between Charlie Frye and Brady Quinn, he was in competition with Ken Dorsey for the final spot on the roster. Worse yet, Anderson’s preseason playing time was being determined by pregame coin flips.
“Thanks for bringing that up,” he quipped Wednesday.
What a difference a year makes.
Frye finds himself battling for a backup job with the Seattle Seahawks, while Quinn has been designated the second-stringer in Cleveland.
Anderson, meanwhile, is coming off his first appearance in the Pro Bowl and is the king of the local football world as the Browns starting quarterback.
“I’m excited about camp and I’m excited about the opportunities we have in front of us this year,” he said following the team’s first training camp practice in Berea. “We’re going to keep pushing through it this next month-and-a-half right into the (regular) season. The general buzz around is people are as excited about this season as we are. That’s a good thing.”
It is a good thing, both for Anderson and his teammates — none of whom could have imagined being in this position of strength last July. All involved hope the higher expectations lead to higher intensity on the field and to higher levels of performance when the real games begin Sept. 7.
Until that time, though, Cleveland’s players will have to be motivated by the lively crowds that come to Berea and bark their way through the workouts. A capacity gathering of 2,524 fans got things started on a high note Wednesday, some of whom were even chanting “D.A.”
“I think the team has confidence knowing that guys are in place now who can make plays,” coach Romeo Crennel said, referring to Anderson and his top offensive weapons. “We’ve got some proven guys coming back, guys who have gone to Pro Bowl, and guys who have been in a season where they have been able to win 10 games. All of those things are positive for us.”
To his credit, Anderson said he welcomed the added pressure people are heaping on his large shoulders. Then again, as the “Moose from Scappoose” noted, he has no choice but to accept it everywhere he goes.
“We actually had a Browns Backers event in Portland that I went to back home, and those guys were all fired up,” he said, shaking his head at the memory. “There were a lot of people there that were from Cleveland. It was quite interesting.
“I can tell you all of the guys here understand the opportunity that’s ahead of us and they don’t want to let that slip.”
No one more so than Anderson, who is well aware that Notre Dame poster boy Quinn is waiting in the wings if he falters.
While the Browns’ starting signal caller was enjoying the quiet life in his native Oregon last week, his backup was in Los Angeles, chatting up Tony Romo and Jessica Simpson as a special guest at the ESPY Awards.
Off the field, the two men couldn’t have more different lifestyles. On the field, they both want the same job. For Anderson, that job is the one he currently has.
“It would be tough not playing again this season, no doubt,” said Quinn, who threw exactly eight passes as a rookie in 2007. “I can’t stress it enough. I feel prepared and I feel ready to play quarterback in the NFL. Getting out there (in the season finale against San Francisco) made me hungrier than ever.
“I feel good, strong and healthy, better going into camp than I’ve felt going into any season in my career.”
So does Anderson, who said he developed “4½-pack abs” by working out in the offseason with a variety of personal trainers, as well as a message therapist to improve his flexibility. The latter seems symbolically fitting as Anderson and Quinn both must make room for the other during training camp and beyond.
But long term, there is room for only one of them in Cleveland. Considering the plight Anderson was in one year ago, he’s willing to live with that scenario — and plans on coming out on top.
“The more you’re in there, the more you understand,” he said. “I always expect the most out of myself to come out and do well. I’m ready to go, to continue to improve, and overall, just grow as a quarterback.’’
Contact Brian Dulik at sports@ohio.net.
| |
|
Filed by Brian Dulik | The Chronicle-Telegram July 24th, 2008 in Sports. Popularity: 7% |
 Email this story
 Print this story
Read comments and discuss this story
Report an innappropriate comment
|
In order to comment, you must agree to our user agreement
and discussion guidelines.
You must be registered and logged in to post a comment. If you aren't already registered, click here. If you are registered, click here to log in.
Write a Comment