@shepwrite said:

despite frustrations in south bend, i don't think weis is going anywhere quite yet. he gets one more year to prove his offense wasn't just a product of stealing the opposing teams' defensive signals before people realize that it was and he's let go.

i love watching notre dame flounder and want no part of weis once he's out.

@ghoolie said:

dude i am just hoping that we can savalge something out of DA!

And all of Chicago Sucks! so send Suck Ass DA there!

It would be great to get something out of DA in a trade or keep him as a back-up he is better than Dorsey.

@earle said:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/footb...,5975600.column

The Bears Blow. Who cares about the Bears?

Although I agree that there are not allot of top QBs in the league and that they do not come along everyday or anything like that. My point is more that it takes longer than on average less than a year to find a QB. I actually agree that DA is not the answer in Cleveland. My hope, and I actually do think they will, is that the Cleveland organization gives BQ at least 2 maybe 3 years to grow and progress.

At the very least the organization will have the fan base behind them if they do give BQ a real chance to improve. And While I do agree that it is no longer vogue in the league to covet DA I think that he can be gotten basically pretty cheap. And I do think that he has shown enough glimpses of being a very good QB that somebody will take a chance on a 25 year old QB.

I think it makes the most sense for the Vikings unless they can get McNabb. For DA why would he want to go to Detroit? I am pretty sure that nobody will pay him what he is on the books for. If you were DA would you restructure to be in Detroit? Well I might if I believed in the direction that they are going. After all didn't Miami only win 1 game last year?

I guess with the right coach and front office that things can turn around pretty fast (nice schedule helps).

That is the hope in Cleveland. That with the right coach and QB that this team will have a turn around season. They have skill players and the foundation for a possibly good defense. Add a few monsters in the draft and have another good FA period and it could happen.

I agree with Shep that DA is done in Cleveland. His value is lower than it should be but high enough where fans will like the pick that they get for him (I think 3rd rounder). Draft some LBs in the first few rounds and get some FA OL help. Keep the receivers and get a RB in like the 4th round. Get harrison more touches and find a way to get the ball in Cribbs hands on Offense.

I have seen people mention Randle-el well that would not be a bad way to use Cribbs. Run him on reverses, use him to pass and have him catch. I think that is a very good comparision of what he could be to the offense.

Other than as trade value DA has no value to the Browns anymore. I don't think Chicago will trade for him but I do think that the Vikings will, but not aggressively. I don't think anybody will be aggressive because they will think they can get him on the cheap.

And I do think that Savage should be given another year, but RAC shouldn't and neither should Chud. Bring in a new coach with a new staff. Make sure that the coaching philsophy matches the QB. Maybe bring in Charlie to do something that he can actually do, be a Offensive Cordinator.

@cmac12 said:

Always say, watch what you wish for, you might get it.

Then it's in his best interest to leave anyhow. I mean, if we can't do it right, then he won't be any good here anyway. Correct?

I can point to a whole bunch of teams who went through QBs a LOT - MIA comes to mind immediately.

Do you know why? It's *hard* to find a QB that will carry your team for a long time. There are only ever a few guys in the league at the same time that can do it; everyone else is always looking.

Somehow, while the Brown's FO is somewhat to blame, it seems a lot of other teams have as much difficulty. Usually, before a team finds the guy that will be there forever, they have to really suck so they can draft that guy (Indy), otherwise they just get lucky (NE).

I think it very likely that DAs contract is restructured this offseason and he is still with the team come training camp. Just a feeling I have. I don't know why.

They already had their run with an up and down, unpredictable cannon-armed but shit-for-brained QB. And they benched him.

He played well half the year last year and no so good the rest of the year. He also played great against the Giants this year and not too bad against a very good Ravens defense and pretty good a few other games. He Also played bad against several teams this year including one that the Browns won (the Bungles).

Cassell is a product of the system. If he is put in the same system he will be a decent QB. The only QB that I would take in the current market for the price you would have to pay is McNabb. And I think his price might be too high.

DA's value has dropped since last year dramatically and he will be a bargin deal for a team like the Vikings. He can restructure his deal to make it a longer term deal so that his signing bonus is over more years making it not such a great cap hit. That is how DA can control his destination by who is willing to restructure his contract with.

The Browns can't lose because if they can get a 3rd rounder for DA then the fan base will be happy. A 3rd rounder is not too much for a team like the Vikings to pay for a 25 year old QB with a strong arm and 27 or so starts under his belt. It would be a good fit for them and much cheaper than Cassell would be.

As far as beating good teams. Yea you can say DA has not beat many playoff teams as a starter. But, let me ask you what QB on this team has?

The best way for DA to help this team now is through a trade. But, don't be surprised if he goes to a team like the Vikings that he ends up having a pretty good career. I mean the Browns are not excatly a place for QBs to flourish, think 12 QBs in 11 years have started. That is good coaching and front office work there.

Always say, watch what you wish for, you might get it.

The Browns also have the ability to restructure his contract and avoid the $5M bonus on March 1...and that would give them MORE leverage to get a decent trade out of it.

@lumbergh said:

bulger's contract is a monster, and he only signed it last summer. he's still got four seasons after this one on it. no way they can move him or really even justify benching him, so i don't really see a chance that the rams take DA off our hands.

that was some short-lived hope.

@lumbergh said:

Contrary to common belief, Anderson's roster bonus probably won't be much of a factor in whether he is traded or not. It depends a lot more on if the new coach likes him or not.

...cue shep claiming that DA will get cut and betting his left teste on it. This spring shep's nickname will become "ONE-NUT"

Looks like you're willing to bet Anderson is on our 2009 roster.

The fact is we're not paying his base $1.45 million salary plus the $5 million (correct?) roster bonus for 2009 for a backup QB. DA's (READ: your) saving grace here is that even though Romeo has named Quinn his 2009 starter, he isn't going to get the opportunity to do so unless he plays fantasy football. One never knows...perhaps the new coach will like DA better. But, if said new coach has a brain, he will not.

Bottom line: DA won't be here, and the reason is mostly financial. He'd be a serviceable backup.

@lumbergh said:

Contrary to common belief, Anderson's roster bonus probably won't be much of a factor in whether he is traded or not. It depends a lot more on if the new coach likes him or not.

I would agree with you somewhat, but the NEW guy is going to have until March 1st to make that decision...which means all he has to go on is film...and over the past 18 games that is not very flattering for DA.

Another factor is that in 2010 his contract balloons up to $7.45M with a $2M bonus...compared to the $700k per year for BQ.

With us needing SEVERAL players...his contact money (and bonus) will go a long way to landing some top FA's and signing our 1st round draftee.

@wpb-dawg-fan said:

Leinart signed a huge 6 year deal in '06...meaning his FA is 2012.

Quinn on the other hand signed a 5 yr deal in '07...so he goes FA in 2012 as well. Think about Quinns contract...is he never makes more than $700k as his base. The rest was all bonus driven.

Butchie used to push for 6 year deals on rooks and it really pissed people off.

88fingerslewy said:

Anderson's 5 mil roster bonus is peanuts compared to the 27 mil guaranteed in Bulger's 65 mil contract.

Contrary to common belief, Anderson's roster bonus probably won't be much of a factor in whether he is traded or not. It depends a lot more on if the new coach likes him or not.

...cue shep claiming that DA will get cut and betting his left teste on it. This spring shep's nickname will become "ONE-NUT"

@jewdago said:

@shepwrite said:

But if that's the whole story, you're right: He's trapped for two more seasons. And that would be another WEIRD situation. You rarely see a first round pick get so little on-field time to develop. Leinart looked really strong as his rookie year progressed, then he was on a very short leash with Wisenhunt. You get the sense they like each other as much as Crennel and Quinn.

Top of round 1 guys get 5-6 year contracts. Everyone else gets 3-4 yr contracts.

Leinart signed a huge 6 year deal in '06...meaning his FA is 2012.

Quinn on the other hand signed a 5 yr deal in '07...so he goes FA in 2012 as well. Think about Quinns contract...is he never makes more than $700k as his base. The rest was all bonus driven.

@brownindian said:

@shepwrite said:

http://28sherman.blogspot.com/2008/11/wher...art-end-up.html

Shep...please...

Here is Leinarts contract:

8/14/2006: Signed a six-year, $50.8 million contract. The deal contains $14 million in guarantees, including a $7.575 million option bonus in the second year. 2008: $735,000, 2009: $1.11 million, 2010: $2.485 million, 2011: $7.36 million, 2012: Free Agent

so he costs AZ just under $3.6M for the NEXT 2 YEARS!!! That is dirt cheap for a backup with his potential. The decision is AZ isn't coming until the end of 2010.

@shepwrite said:

Cassel has a better passer rating than Anderson, but the most important stat is his completion percentage of about 64. Anderson's completion percentage has been stuck in the 50s and it tells you something about his accuracy, which is really troubling.

Cassel is hot property right now and Anderson is not.

Shhhhhhh...... no one wants to hear that...

Cassel has also beat 2 teams that might make the playoffs. Something DA didn't do.

Oh, and John, you noted Cassel hasn't beat a team with a D in the top 20, but that isn't true. MIA's D is ranked 8th, but he lit them up for 415 yards and 3 TDs in the second meeting. A sign of learning. Something DA never did.

@lumbergh said:

His 18 TD passes are about a third of what Tom Brady had last year with the same team.

And I didn't see Cassell on the Pro Bowl list either.

Where he's at next year depends on Tom Brady's recovery.

DA has proven to be who he is after 20+ starts. Cassel hasn't.

I didn't see Cassel look like a bad QB in the pro bowl last year either.

@wpb-dawg-fan said:

Besides which, I also showed that Cassel has not done well against anyone ranked above 20th in pass defense...so big deal.

Do you not remember Rob Johnson and Matt Shuab? There stock jumped pretty darn high doing a lot less than Cassel has done.

No way will they Franchise tag Cassel. That would cost NE way to much money if they couldn't move him. Might give him the restricted tag, but even that might be a bit pricy. Cassel's value could change even more if NE makes the playoffs and they win in the first round.