Peyton Manning's Release Just Adds Another Wrinkle to Cleveland Browns' QB Plans

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"[T]here are known knowns; there are things we know we know.
We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns—there are things we do not know we don't know." — Former United States Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, 2002

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Regardless of your feelings about Rumsfeld, you must admit that this quote perfectly sums up the Cleveland Browns and their quarterback situation.

Let's start with the "known knowns." One is that Robert Griffin III is the No. 2 quarterback in this year's draft and the St. Louis Rams, who have the No. 2 overall pick, are willing to trade that pick to a team that desperately wants to land Griffin.

We also know that the Browns are one team in contention to make that trade, and we also know that it's going to be expensive.

Another "known known" is that Cleveland isn't the only team that is thinking about making a change at starting quarterback this year. The Washington Redskins, Miami Dolphins, Seattle Seahawks all most certainly are—others are more up in the air, such as the Arizona Cardinals, Jacksonville Jaguars or even the New York Jets (these latter three certainly fall in the "known unknowns" category).

We also know that the following quarterbacks are in play in terms of being starters somewhere this year: Matt Flynn, Chad Henne, Kyle Orton and, of course, Peyton Manning. Ryan Tannehill, the third-best quarterback prospect in the draft, also has a chance to land a starting gig his rookie year.

But the one main thing we know that we don't know right now is where any of these men will end up playing in 2012. We just know that they will be doing so, somewhere. And where these quarterbacks end up will fully determine just what the Browns do at the position in the coming weeks and months.

Of course, there's always the possibility the Browns don't do anything at all and give their current quarterback, Colt McCoy, a full season before determining if he's their future at the position—again, another "known unknown."

As far as the Griffin trade is concerned, a number of things are set to happen that are going to both change the value of the pick as well as the teams angling for it.

Should the Dolphins land Flynn and the Redskins pick up Manning, for example, then the Browns are the clear front-runners to take the pick from the Rams, probably at a much lower price than the rumored three first-rounders it's going to take presently.

Clearly, there are more questions than answers surrounding the statuses of a number of quarterbacks and teams right now. Things will take shape once free agency kicks off next week.

And what of those "unknown unknowns?" Well, we won't find out what those are until the dust settles and each of the quarterbacks and teams involved have made their final moves.

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