Anderson gets multiyear deal, but Quinn is long-term answer

The Cleveland Browns have agreed to a contract with restricted free-agent quarterback Derek Anderson.

That is not a good thing. It delays Brady Quinn time in Cleveland.

The Browns traded a first-round pick in this year's draft last April to get Quinn, the hotshot passer from Notre Dame. I've been a big Quinn supporter, rating him over JaMarcus Russell last year even though Russell ended up being the top pick in the draft.

Derek Anderson was a surprise Pro Bowl pick last season after taking over in Week 2. (Getty Images)

Quinn needs to play. He can't this coming season, not with Anderson getting a three-year, $24 million deal from the Browns.

Anderson did a nice job last year when he shocked many to become a Pro Bowl quarterback, going as an alternate. But was he a product of the great receiving group around him? Can he do it long term?

When the Browns didn't get Anderson signed to a deal before the free-agent period opened on Thursday, they tendered him as a restricted free agent at $2.5 million. That meant if he signed a deal with another team they would have received first- and third-round picks as compensation.

The Browns protected themselves, but when he agreed to accept their three-year deal when they upped the ante from $20 million to $24 million, it became a moot point.

Getting the picks would have been the best thing for the Browns. General manager Phil Savage, a man I respect greatly for his football scouting ability, made his bones as an area scout. The college draft was his thing.

So now he heads to the April draft without a first-round pick -- given up for Quinn -- or a second-round pick, traded Friday to the Green Bay Packers for defensive tackle Corey Williams.

That has to be killing him. The Browns could still work out a trade for Anderson, much like the Atlanta Falcons did with Matt Schaub last year. The Falcons traded Schaub for two second-round picks and a swap of first-round picks to the Houston Texans. Schaub was a restricted free agent with a high tender, much like Anderson. The Browns could still trade Anderson before the draft in that type of scenario.

Anderson struck gold last season. He came off the bench to become a Pro Bowl quarterback. But there are still many around the league who wonder if he's the long-term answer.

Anderson went to Hawaii as an alternate and word was the AFC players were astounded at how bad he looked during the week -- and during the game. He has a tendency to lock on to receivers and try to use his strong arm rather than read the coverage.

Anderson tailed off some in the latter part of the 2007 season. He threw 19 interceptions on the season, 10 in the final seven games. He threw 29 touchdown passes on the season, but just nine in the final seven games. Three times in the final seven games he was held under 200 yards passing after going under 200 once in his previous eight starts.