What the Heck is Cleveland Browns’ Coach Mangini Waiting For?

Brady Quinn made his debut for the Cleveland Browns back in November 2007. His role on this year's squad has yet to be determined as Derek Anderson is also up for starting QB. (AP Images)"]

New Cleveland Browns coach Eric Mangini said this week that he isn't planning to name a winner of the starting quarterback competition between Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson until late in the preseason.

I have one response to that: Why?

If you believe the media, Mangini isn't thrilled with either Anderson, who has 27 career NFL starts, or Quinn, who has started three games. In fact, the Browns reportedly were in the Jay Cutler sweepstakes before the Bears won that. And Quinn was in rumored trades with the Jets.

Everything would seem to point to Quinn to win the job, however. He was great in his NFL debut against the Broncos in Week 10 last season but then got progressively worse before getting injured. Still, this team did give up a first-round pick for the former Notre Dame star, and most Browns fans certainly want him as the starter.

Anderson, meanwhile, got a huge contract after an excellent 2007 season that ended with a Pro Bowl spot. I should say excellent 80 percent of the '07 season, as Anderson struggled in that season's final three games as Cleveland missed the playoffs. Those struggles continued in 2008, with Anderson looking good for only two games, in Week 6 against the Giants and Week 8 against the Jags – not coincidentally, two of the Browns' four wins last season – before being benched and later injured himself.

Quinn has a reputation as a good leader and intelligent signal-caller, while Anderson has the bigger arm. Mangini says he will pick the guy "who can most effectively run the offense."

At least Mangini said that once he names a starter that he planned on sticking with him. He seems true to his word on that, as in Mangini's three seasons with the Jets, his No. 1 quarterback started every game except for in 2007 when Kellen Clemens replaced Chad Pennington when the Jets were 1-7. Of course, Brett Favre was Mangini's QB for one of those years, and it's not like he comes out of the game.

Look for Quinn to win the job, as the Browns have to find out what they have in him and it's not like they are Super Bowl contenders this season (70/1 on Bodog at time of publishing). But in giving Anderson equal reps through the preseason, they also increase his potential trade value.

Get all your NFL futures betting at the Bodog Sportsbook.