Browns want both Anderson and Quinn going into next season

In this corner, Derek Anderson. In that corner, Brady Quinn. In the middle of the burning quarterback question sits the referee, Phil Savage.

During a long interview Wednesday, Savage openly said Anderson could return as the Browns' starting quarterback in 2008.

More subtly, the general manager left the door open for Quinn.

In reviewing the draft-day decision that brought Quinn to Cleveland at the price of a 2008 first-round draft pick, Savage said: "I am 100 percent convinced we would do the same thing again."

In another breath, Savage said, "I think we turned that position from a weakness to a strength. That's exciting."

Of course, that's a nod to the development of Anderson, who went 10-5 as a starter. It also was a compliment to Quinn.

Meanwhile, Browns scouts were ordered to watch the 2007 college season as if the Browns have a first-round pick.

"We want the versatility to move up if we want to, to move down, or to stay where we are," he said.

Anderson is the readiest tool for moving into Round 1.

If Anderson stays, does he start? Not automatically, based on what Savage is saying: "There's a wide variety of things that could happen, but I think Derek gets the first bite at the apple. But at the same time, we're very excited about

Brady."

When Anderson went apple bobbing last August, he got out-chomped by Charlie Frye. What does the apple analogy mean to Anderson vs. Quinn?

"It's interesting," Savage said. "With Derek, you've got 1,011 plays on tape. With Brady, you've got 10. There's a lot more information on Derek."

Savage did not reveal what he sees inside the numbers regarding Anderson and Quinn. He did, however, throw out plenty of clues on what the brass is thinking on a variety of Browns issues heading into the offseason, coming off a 10-6 year.

An analysis of key parts of the interview follows.

Issue: Derek Anderson can be a restricted free agent. The Browns can bid for his services for 2008 with a "high tender" that would pay him about $2 million. Anderson would be free to field offer sheets from every other team. If the Browns elected not to match a signed offer sheet, they would receive a first- and a third-round draft pick. The Browns have until the end of February to sign Anderson to a contract that could take him out of free agency.

Savage: We're more apt to try and do something with Derek that would take him beyond the 2008 season. At what length, we don't know yet. We want to go into next season with both of our quarterbacks (Anderson and Brady Quinn), plus Ken Dorsey intact. We feel like we're going to be a good team. You would hate for an injury at that position to derail everything else we have put in place. We want to make sure that we stay strong at that position for at least one more year.

Issue: If Anderson stays, the Browns must manage the public relations end of whether Brady Quinn will get a chance to win the job in the preseason. Completely straight answers might be in short supply.

Savage: Everyone in the building feels compelled that, based off what Derek did this year and based off the fact that we have some things in place, he deserves to go into the batter's box and swing for the fences next year. That's what our expectation is going to be, that he's a home run hitter and we're going to hope that he hits some home runs. That's a coach's decision, and I think the deserving thing is to say he's the starter going into next year. He's done nothing to lose the job.

Issue: What if the juiciest trade offer is not for Anderson, but for Quinn?

Savage: Again, sitting here today, we want to go into next season with both quarterbacks. I don't want to do anything that will derail us from having a potentially good 2008. The quickest way to derail is to have injuries at the quarterback position and not have anybody to go to. Am I saying that both quarterbacks are off the market for 2008? Yeah, I'm

saying it, but obviously some things have to be done before you can say that's a certainty.

Item: Quinn played in only one series in the regular season. How much have the Browns learned about him through other means?

Savage: Based on practices, preseason and the series in the 49ers game, we have expectations of him to be a good player. One thing that we know about Brady is that he has some inherent leadership qualities. He has a great work

ethic. He's a gym rat ... he's around here a lot. He's already been here working out, trying to catch up. He's got a lot of qualities you're looking for in a quarterback. We're excited about it.

Issue: What about offering a 2009 first-round pick as part of a deal to get a 2008 first-rounder?

Savage: I wouldn't be opposed to it. Once we start lining the players up, we'll draw a line with the players that we would move up to try and get. One thought I have is, we would sacrifice a (2009 first-rounder) to get one of

15 players in this draft. If one of our 15, for example, falls down to 28 or 29, is it worth going to get the player if they can make a difference for us? I would say it is.

Issue: The Browns have roughly $30 million in salary cap room to apply to new contracts and player acquisition. Savage has signed expensive free agent starters each year since coming aboard, including Gary Baxter in 2005,

LeCharles Bentley in 2006 and Eric Steinbach in 2007.

Savage: We started meeting on free agents the week after Thanksgiving. We discussed over 100 players. Obviously all of them won't hit the market, but we'll continue to do our work on them. We have the room and flexibility that

if we want to get into that game, we can do it. It depends on who is out there, who's available and how they might fit with us.