Will the Real Derek Anderson Please Stand Up?

Remember that no-name guy who was picked up off of the Ravens' practice squad?  We're talking about a QB who had hardly a thrilling career at Oregon State (pre-USC upset days of course), and wasn't even on the Ravens roster. 

This guy was not even good enough to be on the roster for Baltimore, a team that hasn't had a decent quarterback in the franchise's brief history (yet had a Super Bowl championship?). Yet, Phil Savage picks him up to be the third QB behind Trent Dilfer and Charlie Frye, which should say something right away. Through free agency, awful play, a hold-out by first round pick Brady Quinn, more awful play, and a trade later, this guy find himself starting for the Cleveland Browns. 

This 2007 season is different than most because he has a real, honest-to-goodness offensive line in front of him, a potentially world-class runner behind him, two high draft picks to throw to, who are both finally healthy in the same year, and brand new Offensive Coordinator who actually knows how to call to a play or two. 

This quarterback has a mediocre year and ends up making the Pro Bowl*! 

In typical Cleveland fashion, management assumes he must have been the ONLY reason the team played well, and re-sign him to a deal. 

A few weeks into the following campaign, after a horrible preseason, (which everyone writes-off as nothing) people begin to see that perhaps he wasn't the reason everything went so well in the prior year. 

But in fact just about any bi-ped with a usable throwing arm could have made the Pro Bowl on that team, on that year, in those circumstances.  We don't remember that when he had to make plays to win games, to get us into the post-season, he choked, horribly.  It should have been a sign.

So, I want to know if the REAL Derek Anderson please stand up?  If you are really the reason we went 10-6 last year, then please, by all means, show yourself!  If you are just another decent college quarterback who got credit for the strength of the team around him, please sit down, and let someone else have a go?

As always, keep the faith!

Phil

*the 2007 Pro Bowl selection was injury-aided (thanks Tom)