The Browns are trying to spread their ex-quarterbacks throughout the NFL, thereby weakening the rest of the league. They are doing a great job of it. By my count, there were eight ex Browns still slinging the pigskin in the NFL last year. This does not include Brady Quinn who is contemplating un-retiring, nor ex-Wildcat qbs Joshua Cribbs and Marqueis Gray. The Browns history shows that they have an intense hatred for the backup quarterback, and can not wait to get rid of him. Last year's backups, Johnny Manziel and Connor Shaw, didn't seem to be better than, say, Derek Anderson or Colt McCoy. Maybe that will change in 2015.
The Browns are unusual because most years they start three quarterbacks during the season. Partly this is due to their lack of interest in pass protection, and perhaps a subliminal desire to see their nominal starter get killed. Last year they started Hoyer, Manziel and Shaw, and the year before they used Hoyer, Campbell and Weeden. Prior to that they used Weeden, McCoy and Thad Lewis. They seem to greatly fear a "quarterback controversy" and so their way of handling the problem is to get rid of the backup quarterback.
The Browns are unusual because most years they start three quarterbacks during the season. Partly this is due to their lack of interest in pass protection, and perhaps a subliminal desire to see their nominal starter get killed. Last year they started Hoyer, Manziel and Shaw, and the year before they used Hoyer, Campbell and Weeden. Prior to that they used Weeden, McCoy and Thad Lewis. They seem to greatly fear a "quarterback controversy" and so their way of handling the problem is to get rid of the backup quarterback.
Colt McCoy was definitely the star of the group, having a short run with the lousy Washington team. I refuse to use their nickname because it is insulting to Native Americans, while the team is insulting to football fans. But McCoy got four starts and passed for over 1000 yards, enraging Dan Snyder who is a big fan of RG3.
Colt McCoy played well for a weak Washington team in 2014.
Quickly now, which NFL quarterback was undefeated as a starter in 2014? If you answered Derek Anderson with a 2-0 record for Carolina, you would be right. DA was a Pro Bowler for the Browns, but was run out of town after a bad season. Believe it or not, Derek threw for over 700 yards last year and had a rating of 105.2.
Ex Browns Pro Bowler Derek Anderson had a good year for Carolina in 2014.
Jason Campbell got into parts of four games for Cincinnati last year but did not see extensive playing time. My thinking is that if Andy Dalton ever goes down, they will not lose much by turning to the verteran Campbell. He's never had much to work with but is probably a very good quarterback.
Brandon Weeden backed up Tony Romo in Dallas last year and played fairly well. He had one game in which he came in for Romo and had a good game, but he lost a start against Arizona.
Thad Lewis was on the roster for Houston last year after several injuries to quarterbacks. He played well for the Browns against Pittsburgh in 2012, and also played a few games for Buffalo in 2013, where many observers thought he was better than E. J. Manuel.
Josh Johnson is the backup for San Francisco and Colin Kaepernick.
Bruce Gradkowski is the backup for Ben Roethlisberger and saw some playoff action in 2014.
Luke McCown, brother of Browns current first string qb Josh McCown, is a backup qb for the New Orleans Saints.
Luke McCown, brother of Browns current first string qb Josh McCown, is a backup qb for the New Orleans Saints.
That's it for true quarterbacks. But in addition to these eight there are two others who were Wildcat quarterbacks for the Browns in certain situations. Josh Cribbs was a Wildcat quarterback at times for the Browns, but did not play qb for the Colts, who have a guy named Luck at that role. Similarly, Marqueis Gray was the Wildcat qb in 2013, but last year played for Minnesota and Buffalo, finding time to have a big game against the Browns as a tight end.
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