Eric Mangini and Cleveland Browns Ruining Brady Quinn's NFL Career

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Eric Mangini and Cleveland Browns Ruining Brady Quinn's NFL Career
(Photo by Larry French/Getty Images)

In all likelihood, this will be my last article about the Browns. What's going on in Cleveland just isn't right and I can't root for this team as long as Eric Mangini is the coach.

Yes, I am a Brady Quinn fan, and always will be no matter what he does in the NFL.

I am a college fan first and Quinn was a great quarterback at Notre Dame. Whatever he does in the NFL is a bonus. I'm okay with him failing as long as he gets a fair chance and the failure is without excuse.

What has happened this year is anything but fair in my opinion. For one, you have to give a guy more than two-and-a-half games to develop. When I see a coach pull the plug that quickly, it makes me thankful for the patience of Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis.

Quarterback Jimmy Clausen was awful his freshman year. Two years later, he is a legitimate Heisman candidate.

Quinn, right now, reminds me of Clausen in his freshman year.

He had poor line-play and a lack of playmakers. To me, no quarterback can produce consistently on a team like that. That is why JaMarcus Russell has looked awful in Oakland and Matthew Stafford has had his struggles in Detroit.

Therefore, I don't think a couple of games is a fair chance.

I've heard a few things about what went on behind the scenes. The more I hear, the more I think that Mangini deliberately set Quinn up to fail.

I know some will shake their heads when they hear this. But to me, there are some things that just aren't adding up.

I also know not to believe everything I hear. However, it's a fact that about five players have filed grievances against Mangini. The way he does things does appear to be very questionable.

Where do I begin?

Some have claimed they had inside information that said the coaches knew before the first preseason game that Quinn would start the season. This was evidence that Mangini wanted Quinn to succeed.

All it tells me is that he knew he would have to give in to public pressure.

Since he didn't really want Quinn out there, Mangini would never give him the vote of confidence as "the guy." The team never gravitated toward him because they didn't know who "the guy" was. Quinn had to split reps in training camp and was never able to develop chemistry with his receivers.

Then Week 1 comes and Quinn starts, but Mangini tried to keep it a secret. He never publicly said that Quinn is the guy the team will rally around. It created more doubt about whether Quinn really was going to be the guy all year.

In case you're not buying this, take a look at the games last year.

When it was announced that Quinn would start, former coach Romeo Crennel did give him the vote of confidence and the team did rally around him. The team looked like a well-oiled machine.

Of course, Quinn had his security blanket in Kellen Winslow who Mangini conveniently traded away.

If he wanted Quinn to succeed, why would he do that?

This year, Quinn looked a lot less sure of himself. In all my years watching him, I have never seen him like this.

That tells me that there is probably something going on behind the scenes with him and Mangini that just isn't right.

People are wondering why Quinn looks afraid to go downfield with the ball. There are a lot of factors.

For one, Cleveland's pass protection hasn't been great and the quarterback often has to check down due to lack of time.

Also, Jon Gruden said Friday on Sirius Radio that when watching film, all he sees is covered receivers. Quinn was making the best read he could. Marty Schottenheimer later agreed and said that he would take Quinn, Joe Thomas and Joshua Cribbs.

Proven coaches are going to bat for Quinn while an unproven coach in Mangini has lost confidence in him.

Scratching your head?

Looking at Sunday's game versus Cincinnati, Derek Anderson had a decent game.

That is all I will call it.

Sure, the offense did produce points with him at quarterback. However, he also displayed his weaknesses: inconsistency, turnovers and not producing with the game on the line.

He started the game 3-of-11. Then he heated up late in the second quarter and played well in the third despite throwing an interception in the end zone.

In the fourth quarter and overtime, the offense did nothing.

It was Cleveland's most positive game offensively. Was Anderson the difference?

I don't think so.

The way the entire team played was.

On Wednesday, Mangini named Anderson the starter and the team rallied around him because the coach gave him the vote of confidence that he never gave to Quinn.

After the game, Cribbs said that Mangini gave his most inspirational speech before the game.

Is it coincidental that he waited until Quinn was out of the lineup before he gave that speech?

Another thing that stood out was the extended opportunity and great performance of rookie wideout Mohamed Massaquoi.

Why wasn't he playing when Quinn was in?

Finally, Brian Daboll finally started to call some real plays, unlike the conservative crap he was calling when Quinn was in.

Yes, Quinn struggled. But he was set up to fail by his coach.

Whether it was with malicious intent or simple incompetence, it doesn't matter. There have been reports of questionable actions from Mangini before in New York and Cleveland.

Roger Goodell should get involved and investigate if foul play was involved.

I am not advocating for Quinn to go back in. These incompetent coaches will never develop him.

I am advocating for Quinn to get out of the town that ESPN's Colin Cowherd calls "Loserville." After seeing fans get excited over an overtime loss to the Bengals, the nickname seems appropriate.

Wherever Quinn goes I will root for him. With the right coaches and team, he can be very good. I know some are already calling him a bust. And while I respect their opinions as they are entitled to them, I put more value on those of Gruden and Schottenheimer.

So this is my goodbye to the Browns section on Bleacher Report.

Daniel and Sam, I love you guys. Eric, I will still see you in the Notre Dame section. Paul and Michael, congratulations on getting your guy in.

Now, enjoy the mediocrity and inconsistency.

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