Quarterback Questions For Eric Mangini

Earlier today, Eric Mangini stated that the quarterback competition between Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson is still close. He went on to say that it is more important to make the right decision than the quick decision. That does sound good, but this battle has already gone on way too long.

So I have some questions that I think somebody should ask Mr. Mangini.

Do you really believe what you say, or are you just indecisive when it comes to quarterbacks?

Let's look at his previous history. He was very back and forth with Chad Pennington and Kellen Clemens. He never could decide. Finally, management ended it and brought in Brett Favre. They finally had enough, and basically made the decision for him. Was it because they realized he couldn't decide?

George Kokinis is basically a yes man to Mangini so he will never go over him. In that case, what does Randy Lerner do? I honestly couldn't blame him if he went over him on this. The reason is that I would have done so a long time ago.

It is true that Lerner is not a football guy, but he is a business guy and he knows which quarterback makes the most business sense.

Why is it so hard for you to see who has been more consistent in game situations?

Many of us have come to enjoy Daniel Wolf's daily practice reports. He has done an excellent job of keeping us informed as to what is going on. He has reported how the quarterback competition has really gone back and forth. As great as Wolf's reports are, we know the battle won't be decided in practice, but in game situations.

The Browns have had three game situations so far. I will count the Brown-White scrimmage as much as the two preseason games. The reason is that it was organized in game conditions. In the three game situations, Brady Quinn has clearly been more consistent.

Sure, Anderson was good the other night, but has he really done anything to dispel the reputation he has of being inconsistent? Anybody but the Clown will say no. He was horrible at Lambeau.

Quinn really hasn't played poorly in the game situations, and you can count his bad passes on one hand. The clown claims that he has been consistently mediocre. I won't even dispute that. Do you expect a guy with only limited experience to be at the level of Brady or Manning?

It takes time to perfect your craft. The only way to get to that level is with game experience in the regular season.

Besides, an NFL team can win with a quarterback is consistently average. Brad Johnson and Trent Dilfer both ring a bell.

It has been proven that a team will never go anywhere with a guy who can throw for 400 yards one week and 80 yards the next. Scott Mitchell rings a bell.

Shouldn't a close call be an easy call in this case?

Imagine you were coaching in either high school or college and you have two quarterbacks. One guy was a senior and had been the starter for most of the previous two seasons. The other guy was a sophomore with only very limited game experience. Wouldn't you expect the senior to be miles ahead?

If he were any good at all he would be regardless of how much potential the younger guy had.

Anderson has been the starter for about the equivalent of two seasons. He also has been in a Pro Bowl. Quinn has three starts. Based on that, shouldn't Anderson be winning it easily? If he was truly a legitimate Pro Bowl quarterback, he would be.

In New England, the Patriots have a very good prospect in Kevin O'Connell. What if Bill Belichik said next year that he would allow O'Connell to compete with Tom Brady for the starting job? Do you really think Brady would have any trouble beating him out.

Look at Arizona, where Matt Leinart was the golden boy out of USC. He still has limited experience in the NFL. He does have more starts than Quinn. Yet, as soon as Kurt Warner was given the opportunity to compete for that job, he took it easily.

Let's even look at Detroit the other night. Daunte Culpepper is a player that is clearly past his prime. Yet he looks to be miles ahead of Matthew Stafford. Stafford was bordering on horrible the other night. Does that mean he is a bust? No, he is just inexperienced.

Another guy to look at is Matt Cassel. Look at where he was a year ago in training camp. He wasn't very good at all. Yet look at what he developed into when the season ended.

So can somebody explain to me why a guy who is supposedly a legitimate Pro Bowl quarterback is neck and neck with a guy who has started three games? Is it because Anderson isn't really that good, or is it because Quinn really is that good? Either way, that should make the decision easy.