All This Quinn Fan Is Asking For

After the Browns' loss to the Packers on Sunday, Eric Mangini said that he never considered putting in Brady Quinn. He said that he was comfortable with D.A. (Derek Anderson) as his starter. Mangini also noticeably dodged any questions that involved making a change back to Brady Quinn.

Let me make one thing completely clear. I do not want Brady Quinn going back in at this point. He has no chance to succeed with this team. The team is completely outmatched every week. Changing quarterbacks will not fix that.

I haven't been around much lately in the Browns section. The team just wore me out. I have seen fans want Quinn in one day and Anderson in the next. I have also seen guys call Mangini the next Belichick one week and want him fired the next.

This is a very indecisive city. I may disagree with 90 percent of what Paul Mongera says, but at least he has been consistent in his position. I respect him for that.

Yes, I wasn't a true Browns fan. I have never hid that. I became a Browns fan the day they drafted Brady Quinn. Although the Browns were never my team, I was happy to see my all-time-favorite college quarterback go to the team he always wanted to play for.

I know that some are wondering how I felt in 2007 when Anderson was having a great year.

At the time, I thought it was the best thing for Quinn. Nothing kills a quarterback's career more than coaches playing them too early. I thought it was good for him to watch and learn.

So yes, I was rooting for the Browns back when Quinn wasn't starting. More importantly, I was rooting for Anderson. Of course, some of my friends would say, "But if Anderson continues to play this well, isn't it bad for Quinn?"

I replied that it was good for Quinn to watch and learn. It would be good for him to watch a team and be up close and personal with a team making a playoff run. Even if it meant he got traded, it would have been good for him to see how a playoff team operates.

The reality is, I liked Anderson when he was playing great. In fact, I voted for him to make the Pro Bowl. I regretted that vote the next day.

Anderson went into Cincinnati and threw four interceptions and cost the Browns a trip to the playoffs. I immediately began disliking him.

His poor performance planted a seed of doubt in the organization and the fans. His performance in the Pro Bowl created even more doubt.

Since that time, Quinn's career has been held hostage by this organization.

Sure he has had minimal opportunity to play, but the coaches looked for any reason to get him out and Anderson back in.

Yes, Quinn struggled against the Vikings and Broncos. Tom Brady and Tony Romo also struggled against the Broncos. The Vikings have been one of the top defenses in the league. Those two teams' are a combined 12-1.

For whatever reason, Mangini thinks that Anderson gives them a better chance to win, despite lesser stats against lesser defenses. That is fine with me at this point. I don't want Quinn's career taking any more of a hit because he is playing on this team.

I realize that Quinn's best value to the Browns is as trade-bait. However, for the Browns to get a fair trade for him, other teams must see that there is something to trade for. Although I don't want to see Quinn play in this situation, I would like him to play in the last three games.

Why the last three games? Because they're against the Chiefs, Raiders, and Jaguars.

I figure it is the fairest way to see what he can do as a quarterback in this league. Since the Browns stink and those three teams stink, the talent level will be about even. Then we will see what Quinn can do on an even playing field.

In those games, which is really a three game audition for another team, the Browns must allow Brady Quinn to be Brady Quinn. What I mean is, call rollouts and bootlegs. Also, let Quinn call the plays at the line of scrimmage. He is at his best in the no-huddle. If you don't believe me, ask Charlie Weis.

Even if Quinn isn't as great calling plays at the NFL level as he was in college, I am quite sure he can do better than Brian Daboll.