Derek Anderson

When this season began most Browns fans figured that at this point of the season the team would be getting rookie Quarterback Brady Quinn ready to play against St. Louis, but instead Derek Anderson has played well and has the Browns at .500 with a 3-3 record. Anderson stepped in during the Opening Game against the Steelers and has played ever since. The Browns acquired Anderson off waivers from the Baltimore Ravens on September 21st 2005.

Anderson was a 3 year starter at Oregon State and was the first QB to lead the team to 3 bowl games during the school's 112-year history. Anderson holds 20 passing records in Oregon State's history. His coach at Oregon State was Mike Riley who is a good friend of Brown's General Manager Phil Savage. When the Baltimore Ravens placed Anderson on waivers Riley called his old friend and told him to pick up Anderson, and that he wouldn't regret it.

Well, Savage and the Browns have not regretted it. New Offensive Coordinator Rob Chudzinski, has liked Anderson's strong-arm since the beginning but the team went with Charlie Frye to start the season. But after not doing anything against the Steelers in the opener Frye got traded away and Anderson has stepped in just fine.

Here are Anderson's stats so far this season:
Att 184
Comp 101
Yds 1496
Comp % 54.9
Yds/Att 8.1
TD 14
INT 8
Long 78
Sack 6
Rating 88.9

Hopefully Derek Anderson will be able to continue his success and help lead the team to a respectful record. With Brady Quinn on the bench learning how to be an NFL QB, the Browns may have a situation like Phillip Rivers had in San Diego or Carson Palmer had in Cincinnati.