Eleven Million Reasons Derek Anderson Will Start for the Browns

The Cleveland Browns will not be in contention this year. Period.

Unless you're a trust fund beneficiary, you also know the economy is not in good shape, and that won't change by September.

Crain's Cleveland Business has reported that as many as 25 percent of the corporate luxury seats at Cleveland Browns Stadium may not be renewed for the 2009 season, and that's no surprise.

National City Bank, one of the 10 largest banks in the United States and the buyer of naming rights to one of the four gates at the stadium, has been swallowed by PNC Financial, formerly Pittsburgh National Corporation.

Call it "Banking With The Enemy," but it could add up to 28,000 more jobs lost in Greater Cleveland. The region is also very dependent on the auto industry, both with Big Three plants and suppliers, and many of those corporate clients are apt to opt out of renewals. 

It's the economy, stupid, and even Corporate America will withhold support from a stupidly run team.

What does this have to do with Derek Anderson? Among the manifold sins of former Browns GM Phil "F--- you, go root for Buffalo!" Savage was agreeing to an escalator clause in Brady Quinn's contract for 2009 that guarantees him an extra $11 million for the season if he takes 70 percent of the snaps.

Browns owner Randy Lerner has been called many things, but never cheap. Nonetheless, with Savage having gotten the Browns in cap trouble, $11 million in cap room would look sweet right now to the bean counters. Remember, this is not a team that will be in playoff contention in 2009.

It's tough to read the tea leaves from the Browns' Berea, Ohio headquarters right now, as new head coach Eric Mangini is about as forthcoming with information as the Pentagon. Mangini has, however, promised an "open competition" for the starting QB spot.

Assuming that both Anderson and Quinn are on the roster when training camp begins, Quinn will have to completely light it up in training camp and the preseason to begin the regular season as the starter. In his previous two seasons, he has done neither.

Despite the impatience of an understandably impatient fan base, Mangini and General Manager George Kokinis know they have a "grace period" of one season before they have to show major improvement, and 6-10 could be enough to keep the pitchforks and torches away from Cleveland Browns Stadium.

Mangini, a coaching disciple of Bill Belichick, is also not afraid to alienate vocal fans, who will buy $80 tickets and $8 beers anyhow.

With both QBs on the roster and $11 million of cap space looking good to a team that has stretched itself thin on expensive free agents (Stallworth, Rogers, et. al.), do not be surprised to see Anderson under center for the first six weeks of the 2009 season.

If the Browns go 3-3 or better in those six games, Anderson keeps his job. Even a 2-4 could keep Anderson under center depending on the circumstances. Winless or 1-5 would be enough to bring in Quinn, who still would not rate the $11 million bonus. Remember, the Browns have too many holes to fill to be contenders.

If Quinn replaces Anderson and takes a 1-5 Browns squad to 8-8, Mangini regains his "Mangenius" moniker from New York, and 2010 looks bright on the lakefront. If Quinn proves ineffective, the Browns will be in position to get Colt McCoy from Texas in the 2010 draft.

Either way, the Browns will know what they have going forward, and they'll be $11 million the better for it.