The bye week didn’t change Eric Mangini. He’s still keeping secrets.
Cleveland’s coach did not reveal his starting quarterback for next Monday’s game against the Baltimore Ravens. During the Browns’ bye week, Mangini said he would announce “early next week” whether it would be Derek Anderson or Brady Quinn under center on national TV.
On Monday, Mangini said he will wait until Wednesday before making his quarterback choice public.
“I know where I’m headed, but we’ll talk about that on Wednesday,” Mangini said during his news conference. “I haven’t talked to the quarterbacks about it yet, so that’s part of it.”
Anderson’s poor play in recent weeks might prompt another change. He is the league’s lowest-rated quarterback with a 36.2 rating and is coming off a 6-for-17 performance with two interceptions in a 30-6 loss to the Chicago Bears. Since taking over for Quinn in Week 3, Anderson has thrown two touchdown passes and nine interceptions while going 1-4 as a starter.
His rating in the fourth quarter is almost hard to believe: 3.1.
Anderson, who took over when Quinn was benched in the second half of Cleveland’s third game at Baltimore (4-4), turned down an interview request as the Browns (1-7) returned to the practice field after getting a few days off. Quinn spoke to reporters but had little clue about Mangini’s plans.
The Browns have not sold out next Monday night’s game against Baltimore and are facing their first TV blackout since 1995. A team spokesman said “a few thousand” tickets remained.
