Super Bowl XLIV Should Show the Browns How Important Quarterback Decision Is

Super Bowl XLIV had two of the top quarterbacks the NFL has to offer in Peyton Manning and Drew Brees, and both of them lit it up in the air throwing for over 280 yards each.

The NFL is a passing league where a quarterback is needed for a team to succeed. Everyone should know this by now.

Cleveland Browns President Mike Holmgren knows it.

General Manger Tom Heckert probably knows it.

Owner Randy Lerner has to know it by now.

Good quarterbacks win Super Bowls in today's NFL.

The days of the defensive powerhouse teams that have a Trent Dilfer or Brad Johnson at quarterback are practically over because offense wins championships and those offenses over the past few years have had their quarterback and leader.

Here are some of the past Super Bowl quarterbacks: Saints Brees, Colts Manning, New York Giants Eli Manning, New England Patriots Tom Brady, Philadelphia Eagles Donovan McNabb, Pittsburgh Steelers Ben Roethlisberger, and Arizona Cardinals Kurt Warner, to name a few of the most recent.

The Browns still do not have their quaterback since their rebirth in 1999.

Currently, Brady Quinn was supposed to be that guy, but whether it was bad coaching decisions, bad play, or injuries Quinn's rise to become the Browns' franchise quarterback has been derailed several times.

Now that Super Bowl XLIV is over and Holmgren is in place, the decision that will make or break his tenure with the Browns will be his choice of who the franchise quarterback will be.

No information has gotten out of the Browns' headquarters regarding which direction they will be taking at quarterback, but this Super Bowl should make the front office realize that they need to literally over analyze this decision.

Many rumors and speculation have been thrown around including trading for McNabb or Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck or former Buckeye and Heisman quarterback Troy Smith saying he wants to come play for the Browns; the drafting Florida's Tim Tebow, Texas' Colt McCoy, or even one of the first round quarterbacks in the draft.

The McCoy option may look best since he will probably be on the board when the Browns pick in the second round and he will be cheaper than a first round pick, but many knock the fact he was in a spread offense in college.

But guess what, so was Brees when he was at Purdue and look what he just did.

Finally, if the Browns brass decide to stick with Quinn, he is only 25 years old and starting his fourth year in the league. Brees didn't hit full stride in his game until he began his fourth season in the NFL and he went to the Pro Bowl that year too.

This is not saying that Quinn will do the same, but sometimes if you give a player one more chance, and this may happen with Quinn, that player may surprise everyone and become the quarterback that everyone hoped he would be.

Just like what happened to Brees and now he is a Super Bowl champ!

(Article also posted on Dawg Scooper)