The Quarterbacks with the Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49ers: Irony

Before I start, the content of this article may rub a few 49er fans the wrong way, especially the ones who like either Alex Smith or Sean Hill. I am not trying to upset anybody, I am just my offering perspective the way I see it. If you disagree, fine I welcome your comments.

With NFL training camps now going on, much of the focus around the league is one the many quarterback competitions. The two I want to look at are the ones in San Francisco and Cleveland. In the Bay Area you have Alex Smith and Sean Hill battling it out ,while in Berea you have Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson fighting for it.

I looked at those two situations the other day and just laughed. On one team you have a former No.1 pick in the draft who has been a bust who can't stay healthy battling with a guy who would be a backup anywhere else. To be fair, Hill does do fine but looks more like a quality back up than a starter.

On the other team you have a prospect who holds 36 passing records at a school that also produced 49er great Joe Montana. He has not played much in the NFL yet, but has shown some promise. Then you have a guy who was in the Pro Bowl two years ago. In other words, both guys in Cleveland are better than both guys in San Francisco.

Am I missing something? Why isn't some sort of deal being worked out?

I realize that I am not in the NFL and there are things that happen behind the scenes that could cause snags. Having said that, if I were Mike Singletary I would be on the phone with Eric Mangini and make him an offer that he can't refuse.

The tricky part would be to determine which quarterback from Cleveland would go to San Francisco. Let's say Brady Quinn first. I think that could be a good situation for both teams.

For the Browns, they would no longer have the controversy and they could acquire possibly a first round pick or a defenisve starter (such as Dre Bly, Nate Clements, Takeo Spikes, Isaac Sopoaga, or Justin Smith).

For San Francisco it would be a huge upgrade at quarterback. Quinn may take a few games to find his rhythm but a great back like Frank Gore will really help him out. The other part is that I think Brady Quinn and Michael Crabtree would be a match made in heaven.

If you go on YouTube and watch highlights on both Brady Quinn and Michael Crabtree, you will see a quarterback who specializes in the quick slants but can go down-field when necessary and a receiver who specializes in catching the ball in space and makes people miss but can also go deep.

Can Quinn-Crabtree be the next Montana-Rice? I am not going there but I do think the potential is there.

What if Anderson were the one to go to San Francisco? That would also be good for both teams.

In Cleveland, Quinn would be the undisputed starter and the controversy would be done. On paper, Quinn's skill set seems to be a better fit for the system Mangini runs. They would also acquire a third round pick and maybe a little more.

Or how about this? Throw Braylon Edwards in with the deal for the rights to Michael Crabtree and a later pick. Certainly that would be a gamble giving up two former Pro Bowlers for a rookie. However, that rookie is really good and is a great fit with Quinn.

For San Francisco you still have an upgrade at quarterback. I have mentioned on many occasions that Anderson is inconsistent and can turn it over and is not as much of a leader.

I think that is less of an issue in San Francisco because of Frank Gore. He is the focal point of any defense and that would free up receivers down the field. That would make interceptions less likely. Anderson wouldn't have to be as much of a leader because of Gore.

Also a great tailback can be fed if a quarterback is having an off day.

To me it makes too much sense for the 49ers to acquire one of Cleveland's quarterbacks. The reality is that they are better than the guys they got now. Hill is valuable to the team as a back up.

I am not saying Smith can't still be a good NFL quarterback. It just seems that with all the injuries and all that has gone against him, it just doesn't seem that his destiny is in the Bay Area. I get the sense that he has lost a lot of the fanbase.

I really think the best thing for Smith would be to go to the UFL and reinvent himself there and come back to the NFL next year.

If I were Mike Singletary I would find a way to get a deal done with Cleveland immediately.