BY J.P. STROMAN
Since the NFL playoffs got under way last weekend, many people have been analyzing and breaking down the playoff teams' stats and rankings. But the most inspiring team of the year is one that did not make the playoffs: the Cleveland Browns.
The Browns had struggled mightily for the past eight seasons since rejoining the NFL in 1999. Even in the current age of unprecedented parity in the NFL, the Browns managed only one winning season between 1999 and 2006. The team was plagued by poor drafts (Anyone remember Courtney Brown?) and free-agent signings that failed to pan out (I'm talking to you, Ted Washington).
This past season, most publications picked the Browns to finish last in their division. Starting quarterback Charlie Frye was largely regarded as one of the worst starters in the game. And it only got worse when team president John Collins resigned amid reports that he was firing general manager Phil Savage.
But this season, the team exceeded everyone's expectations. The Browns finished second in the AFC North division with 10 wins, which matched their total from the previous two seasons combined. Savage made a gutsy move in the first game, trading Frye to the Seattle Seahawks after a terrible opener and handing the starting job to little-known Derek Anderson. Anderson proved to be the answer, posting the highest quarterback rating the Browns have had since their resurrection.
Several of the Browns' more recent draft picks also had career years. Wide receiver Braylon Edwards nearly doubled his career total in receiving yards and established himself at the professional level after a decorated college career.
Before this year, tight end Kellen Winslow--a first-round draft pick--was best known for having missed his first two seasons due to injury. This season, Winslow was one of only three tight ends in the NFL to amass 1,000 receiving yards on the year.
The Browns also had a few surprise standouts on defense. Cornerback Leigh Bodden developed a nose for the ball in his fifth year, with a career-high six interceptions. Line-backer Leon Williams also made significant progress in his second year, getting more than double as many tackles as last year. However, the team still has much work to do on this side of the ball. The Browns ranked 30th among
The Browns now face an interesting dilemma heading into the off-season. In the most recent NFL draft, the Browns thought they had the steal of the afternoon when they managed to snag Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn after trading for the 22nd pick in the draft. Many around the organization thought that Quinn would be the team's quarterback of the future after he sat on the bench and learned for a few seasons. But Derek Anderson is only 24, and if he maintains his current level of play, he could serve as the team's permanent quarterback for many years to come.
So do the Browns stick with Anderson or hand the reins to Quinn? Personally, I believe that the Browns should keep going with Anderson. The team has had a different starting quarterback every year since 1999, and is starving for stability at the game's most important position. While they have a lot of money invested in Quinn, he could serve as a backup if Anderson falters or gets just enough playing time to draw attention from teams looking to trade for a starter, as Matt Schaub did in Atlanta before becoming the starter in Houston.
J. P. Stroman is a student at the University of Virginia.