Cleveland Browns News Roundup: QBs, Practice Squad, Cuts, and Josh Cribbs

Over the past several days, the Cleveland Browns have been very active in the media, on the roster, and in the art of doing secretive business.

Roster Cuts, Waivers, and Practice Squad Players

This past Saturday, every NFL team needed to cut down its roster to the league-allowed 53 players. Once each team accomplishes this very hard feat, it is like Christmas on the waiver wire.

To those who really do not understand how the waiver wire works, here is a quick description of it.

If a players gets waived by his team, then any other NFL team can put a claim on that player within 24 hours of him getting waived. Then, how the team that put the claim on the player finished in 2008 determines who gets that player.

Example: The Browns and Lions put a claim on a player, but the Lions would get said player because they had a worse record in 2008.

The Browns made some surprising cuts last Saturday, the most notable being WR David Patten and CB Corey Ivy.

After making their cuts, the Browns went shopping on the wavier wire and picked up RB Cedric Peerman, RT Phil Trautwein, and DB DeAngelo Smith.

When it was time to place players on the practice squad (which is when a player who is waived clears the 24-hour period and then can get placed on his original team's squad), the Browns selected six players, including: RB Chris Jennings, WR Lance Leggett, LB Titus Brown, OL Pat Murray, DB Brandon Anderson, and DL Brian Schaefering.

When only six out of the possible eight practice squad spots were filled, it appeared that the Browns were going to place LB Marcus Bernard and S Bret Lockett in the two remaining spots (since both were released the day after all the cuts were made, the Browns had to wait), but then the Patriots scooped up S Bret Lockett. As a result, the Browns placed Bernard and LT Corey Hilliard in the last two spots.

Depth Chart Released

On Monday, Eric Mangini released his depth chart for the team, with the most notable thing being that the quarterback position was left completely blank.

There were a few surprises on the depth chart including: RB Jerome Harrison was listed as the second string back in front of James Davis, WR Josh Cribbs was listed as the No. 2 starting receiver, C Hank Fraley was the starter in front of Alex Mack, DE Robaire Smith was listed in front of Corey Williams, and OLB David Bowens was ahead of Alex Hall.

Pay Cribbs Now

Whether this depth chart stands once the season actually begins remains to be seen, but the most interesting news is that Cribbs is a starter.

It may just be coincidence, but with Cribbs now being the starter, he has said that he will play in the home opener against the Vikings and it looks like he is now holding all the cards with his demands to re-negotiate his contract.

The Browns have to take notice and pay Cribbs now, because he has made such an impact in his transition to receiver that he is now a starter.

QB Decision Made

Finally, Mangini has announced that he has told both Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson who the starter will be for the home opener. The coach said that both players took the news very professionally.

The rest of the team was not told, but they would all know during the Wednesday afternoon practice that is closed to the media, when the "chosen one" lines up with the first team offense for 11-on-11 drills.

Will the Browns be able to keep this information secret until Sunday's game?

Don't be surprised if ESPN's Adam Schefter finds out who the starter is before Sunday's game, because it seems like he can find out any insider information that may exist out there.

Whoever the starting quarterback is, let's just all hope that the Cleveland Browns can play more competitive, disciplined, and entertaining football for the entire season and beyond.

(Article originally posted on Dawg Scooper: An Unofficial Cleveland Browns News Source. Check out the new look of the site!)