Browns Extending Anderson?
Posted by disappointmentzone on 9 January 2008
According to ESPN the Browns have entered into talks with Derek Anderson about signing him to a long-term contract. Is this a wise move?
Consider:
* The Browns could sign Anderson to a 1-year deal for $2.4M that would require any other team interested in signing him to compensate the Browns with their first and third round draft picks. The Browns would also have the option of matching the offer.
* With Brady Quinn’s contract being heavily incentive-based — and with those incentives being impossible to reach without actually playing — extending Anderson to a long-term deal does not preclude the Browns from also keeping Quinn.
* The biggest incentive clause in Quinn’s contract is based on the percentage of snaps he takes in his first three seasons. If he rides the pine for two years he’ll lose out on making a ton of money, which would suck for him, but it would be great for the Browns. Since he’s signed to a five-year contract the Browns could get and additional two inexpensive years out of him.
* Since contracts in the NFL are not guaranteed any extension for Anderson should be judged primarily on the amount of guaranteed money. If Anderson agrees to a long term deal that only affects the team’s cap over the next couple of seasons it is possible that the Browns could trade or cut him a couple of years into the deal to give Quinn the starting job.
* Would Quinn be willing to ride the pine for more than another season? What if he turns into a malcontent?
* Is it in the Browns’ best interest to keep an asset like Quinn on the bench? If they extend Anderson should they try to flip Quinn for either draft picks or another player, say a defensive lineman like Jason Taylor?
The Disappointment Zone 
irreverend fox said
“If they extend Anderson should they try to flip Quinn for either draft picks or another player, say a defensive lineman like Jason Taylor?”
I’d make that trade without blinking an eye. DONE. next question.
matt said
Why would we give up a potential star QB prospect for an aging pass rushing defensive lineman that doesnt fit in a 3-4 scheme? Im not saying that we should definitely keep Quinn, but at least get someone in their prime, or about to enter their prime…..
kiddicus said
Jason Taylor wouldn’t be my first choice, nor in the top 10. He just looked slow and disinterested this year. That may be a product of the 1-15 team he was playing on, but who knows… however, D-linemen are at a premium this year and I hear there’s a decent kid coming from LSU. I also hear Miami doesn’t have a QB to save their life, and I’m pretty sure they have that first of the first round draft pick. If we could work something out where EITHER Bradybaby or DA go to Miami for the #1 pick, we should jump on it. After all, we’re roundoneless this year and need some serious help at DE, DT and LB. maybe even some DBs.
ShaneRollins said
I’d give the Dolphins Ken Dorsey for Jason Taylor, but there’s no way in hell would I give Brady Quinn for Jason Taylor. You’d have to give me one of those Minnesota defensive tackles to get me to give up Brady Quinn.
irreverend fox said
I’m sorry…I thought the option was Jason Taylor and a draft pick(s)…if they tossed in a pick or even two I’d jump on that one without thinking twice.
irreverend fox said
lol…I quoted him and still got it wrong!
Ben said
If they were to trade a QB for 2008, I’d prefer to part with Anderson rather than Quinn.
If they trade DA now, they’d be ‘selling high’ IMO. I think trading him now would net them more goods than if they traded him in a year (or if they part with Quinn now). But keeping both isn’t a bad idea either.
I wasn’t all that thrilled with Anderson this year (I thought he forced passes and that he was behind on a lot of his throws) and I guess I’m more willing to believe that the real DA is closer to the one we saw at the end of the season.
I dunno… there’s a reason why they drafted Quinn in the first place… and there’s a reason Anderson lost his job to Frye in the offseason/preseason… I’m not ready to give up on Anderson yet, but if someone offers a ridiculous deal for him, I’d consider it long and hard. Part of me thinks that if Brady wouldn’t have held out, he would’ve been named the starter after the preseason (he DID look the best, did he not?).
josh said
I am a long suffering Dolphin fan who has watched a majority of their games over the past few years.
The Dolphins ran a 4-3/3-4 hybrid. Taylor played OLB most of the time. He is at his most effective when he is at Linebacker as a stand-up pass rusher. The guy hasn’t slowed down a bit. I think game film would prove this. He is one of the top 5 most disruptive defenders in the league. His stats were down in 07 from 06 because the team was worse and Capers didn’t blitz him as much.
Quinn for JT would be a killer trade for the Browns. This guy has enough in his tank to give you 3 pro bowl seasons at least.
If you can’t get a dominate player like JT, I’d keep Quinn. As the DZ has discussed before, this doesn’t become a problematic situation till next year and we’ll know a lot more then about Anderson then.
Pat B in Copley said
Believe or not I agree with Josh, but if we could get that stud DL from LSU, I would give either DA or Brady Baby. Defense wins championships.
BTW + I still love shoveling snow, great exercise..
Go – Cavs, Indians & Browna