Brady Quinn, Derek Anderson Await Mike Holmgren's Decision

Happy New Year to you and yours! One game left, and a whole pile of questions greet Cleveland Browns fans in the New Year.

Derek Anderson has one game left to impress Mike Holmgren enough to be kept around for one more year, but even a 300-plus yard performance probably won’t be enough for Anderson to wear brown and orange another year.

It’s not a bad or a good thing. It’s a disappointing end to what was once considered a very promising career.

Anderson grabbed the reigns in the 2007 season and took his game to new heights. Unfortunately, cracks began appearing in his game fairly early on, and supporters of that year’s first round draft pick, Brady Quinn, were quick to jump on those cracks.

Then the meltdown against Cincinnati forever sealed his fate with a good majority of the fanbase. When a quarterback intercepts a team out of the playoffs, that doesn’t bode well for his future, Pro Bowl selection or not.

Going into the 2008 season, Anderson was the starter, but Quinn was lurking should Anderson falter. Anderson did nothing but give Quinn supporters fodder for their argument, but Quinn injured his throwing finger almost immediately after being named starter.

In 2009, the scars from the debacle that was the quarterback competition still linger. Once again, Quinn is injured, but now having had time to show more “stuff.” The problem is that Quinn hasn’t been very impressive.

Quinn throws fewer interceptions, but he seems to have the same accuracy problems Anderson has. Throw into this mix offensive coordinator Brian Daboll’s soul-killing, mind-numbing awfulness, and the jury still really should be out on Quinn.

However, Holmgren is the one in charge now, and if he knows one thing, it’s quarterbacks. Holmgren most likely already has a good idea of what he wants to do. Whatever his decision is, the fans should throw their full support behind it.

Unlike Eric Mangini, Holmgren has earned the benefit of the doubt. That’s not meant to be an easy bash on Mangini; it’s stating the reality of the situation.

Mangini defenders' line of argument has been that Mangini wasn’t given a fair chance and was maligned and doomed in the eyes of the local media, and a good portion of the fanbase, from day one.

While not completely false, as I’ve said before, Mangini does a lot of his own grave digging. No one should feel sorry for him because of it. Dealing with the media is part of the job. If you don’t like it, don’t take the job.

Add to this the fact Mangini never won anything as a head coach, and his arrogance over the position and tendency to be heavy-handed never sat well with anybody.

Now Holmgren is in charge, and Mangini is on the hot seat.

Holmgren had a teleconference with the media earlier this week, and I talk about it here .

The only things to really add are questions. Does bringing in the “right guys” as quickly as possible spell the end for Mangini, whose early mistakes doomed the season before it really began?

If Holmgren decides to scrap both quarterbacks and start over, who will he go for in the draft? Or will he go the free agency route?

Has Mangini done enough over the last month to save his job? Does Holmgren believe Mangini can accept no longer being the guy in charge in Cleveland?

The next 10 days will start answering many questions and set the tone for the 2010 season. Hopefully, that tone will be a winning one.