Another Cleveland Browns QB Switch Looming? Probably During the Bye Week

The Cleveland Browns have no answers right now, especially at the quarterback position where another possible switch is quickly approaching.

We all know the story, first the long and drawn out quarterback competition in the preseason, which led to Brady Quinn running the offense on opening day.

Then, 10 quarters of ineffective quarterback play later, Quinn gets pulled at halftime and Derek Anderson gets plugged into the first team.

Anderson did provide a bit of a spark, but not in that game, because he threw three interceptions.

He was effective versus the Bengals where the Browns had, by far, their best offensive showing.  He took the divisional leaders into overtime, but lost in the final seconds of the extra session.

Since then Anderson has been regarded by many, including some experts, as less ineffective than Quinn was in his first 10 quarters as a starter.

Here is a look at Quinn's number through 10 quarters versus Anderson's numbers through the last three games.

Quinn was 45-74 (60.8 percent) for 400 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions.

Anderson is 23-70 (32.8 percent) for 244 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions.

You can make your own decisions based on these numbers.

Continuing, the team does have many needs and holes to fill in the offseason, but if the quarterback play is horrid (which it has been much of 2009), then many of the fingers need to be pointed the way of the quarterback.

Cleveland has a group of young and not so talented receivers—but they aren't responsible for taking the ball from under center and distributing it effectively.  The Browns need to find a player who can begin to move the offense with at least some semblance of success and begin to get the other skill position players involved regardless of how young and inexperienced they are.  Until that happens, the blame lies squarely on the quarterback in Cleveland.

Anderson's play and numbers show how inept he has really been over the last several games. So he doesn't have Braylon Edwards to either throw to, or dictate coverages so other players can make plays, but these are all still professional athletes playing on the most prestigious stage in America, and they all need to step up their game.

Quinn, on the other hand, might have been benched because of his $11 million dollar escalators, but we will never know the truth even though the situation itself kind of gives the truth away.

Are the Browns bad guys for possibly preventing Quinn from getting a ton of money? Not really, since he really hasn't done enough to earn it.

Still, by halftime of this weeks game against the Bears, Quinn will not be able to reach his bonus, and that means it might be time for another quarterback switch.

Will Mangini make a switch back to Quinn? Maybe.

Will he try "his guy" in Brett Ratliff? Maybe.

Nothing is for certain, but one thing might be, and that is that Anderson got his fair shot, and struggled, so now it may be time to switch again.

Another switch at quarterback might best serve the team during their bye week that is coming up after this week against the Bears. This way the quarterback can have two full weeks to prepare for the next game, which is on Monday Night Football versus the Baltimore Ravens.

(Article also posted on Dawg Scooper )