Derek Anderson's Confidence Is Shot, and He's Looking over His Shoulder

The two things Derek Anderson has unwillingly welcomed into his professional life are incompletions and being introduced to the ground. He has arguably taken the most punishment of any quarterback, and not just by opposing defenses. The worst of it? He never had a chance.

His best receiver, Braylon Edwards, was second in the league in drops last season (only behind T.O) and has gotten off to a fabulous start in muffing catches so far this season. Edwards has dropped the routine pass several times, as well as at least two touchdowns.

Meanwhile, Anderson is getting the bulk of the blame. Experts and writers are citing his lack of confidence in his receivers, line, and his own ability as the reasons for his slide. But really, that has nothing to do with it. The guy isn't the only good player at his position for Cleveland. At the moment, Edwards is.

Even last season, when Anderson was putting up MVP numbers, people were still quietly talking about the future with Brady Quinn. They said this was exactly like the dilemma the Chargers had a few years ago with Philip Rivers and Drew Brees. Except, you know, Quinn is good and, well, Anderson is not.

But, much to the dismay of Cincinnati fans and AFC teams abound, Derek Anderson is actually someone to fear. With a short leash, a sketchy line, and poor play from his trusted receivers, Anderson, backed into a corner, has one more trick up his sleeve: the Cincinnati Bengals.

While no one can predict if this week's game will live up to the high-scoring affair from last year, it is still a battle of poor defenses and supposedly gifted offenses.

This truly is Anderson's last chance. And it should be Edwards', as well. But that's what you get when one star is expendable, and the other is pretty much all you've got.

With this said, I'd like to vouch for Derek Anderson, if only for this one game. It's not that he should play well, or still has the ability to torch defenses, it's that he will do well.

Because, for the sake of his career, he pretty much has to.