Ex-Browns QBs Still in the NFL

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.  

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.

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.    

Browns Beat Up Lions, 24-6, But Get Beaten Up Too

  Yeah, I'm an old guy, but I love it when the Browns and Lions play even if it is an exhibition game.  In the 1950s and 1960s the Browns and Lions were great rivals, so it was good to play some old friends.

   The good news is that the Browns completely dominated the Lions when the first strings were both there.   Much criticism has been thrown at Browns qb Brandon Weeden, but the fact of the matter is that he played well last year and looks a little better this year.  His receivers are significantly better.   I think they are going to get some yards through the air this year. On this day, he had an unbelievable throw to Josh Gordon, and was on the money to tight end Jordan Cameron twice for touchdowns.   Frankly the Browns looked great through the air and although they don't have All-Pros in the passing game, they don't have a real weakness there either.  For that matter, backup Jason Campbell has done nothing wrong this year either.

    On the ground, Trent Richardson was just fine, but the Browns looked a little lost in short yardage.  They got one decent block from Chris Ogbonnaya at fullback, but otherwise fullback was silent today (one thing I hate about tv coverage of football is they don't give you the opportunity to see what formation the offense is in.  I don't know how many plays used a fullback.  But I do know they didn't do well in short yardage.

Trent Richardson looked unstoppable, but Coach Chud wisely took him out early.  

Halfback Dion Lewis did well catching balls out of the backfield, and made a few yards on the ground, but was injured in the second half, breaking his leg.  He'll be out indefinitely, which is too bad because it looked like he was headed to number two on the depth chart behind Richardson.

Dion Lewis was also explosive, but injured his ankle.  

On defense, the front seven generally bullied the Lions.  Matthew Stafford & Co. were under pressure and had balls batted down and a few were nearly intercepted by the Browns big line and linebackers. The secondary was good but great, and note that the Lions were not playing their big threat in Calvin Johnson.    

The Browns gang tackled and dominated the line of scrimmage.  

The main issue is that a lot of guys got banged up today.  In addition to Lewis' injury, they had injuries to TE Gary Barnidge, LB Barkevious Mingo (bruised lung), and G Shawn Lauvao.  Hopefully they will be back soon as all of these player were doing well.