Browns QB battle close heading into Titans game

CLEVELAND (AP) — Goofy or Prince Charming? Browns coach Eric Mangini still hasn’t decided who will begin the season as Cleveland’s starting quarterback.

Derek Anderson, described as “goofy” by some teammates, and Brady Quinn, whose chiseled features and sculpted body have made him popular with the Browns’ female fan base, head into tonight’s exhibition game against Tennessee deadlocked in their QB race.

Months of intense inspection have failed to reveal a clear-cut winner to Mangini, who earlier this week said the Anderson-Quinn competition remains “very close.”

Both players have started one preseason game, and although it’s Quinn’s turn to open the game, Mangini was not expected to announce who will get the first snaps against the Titans until an hour before kickoff. Mangini, who has given no indication of when he will name his starter for the Sept. 13 season opener against Minnesota, said both quarterbacks could play into the second half.

And then?

“We’ll see where we are after this game,” he said. “I don’t project ahead. I like to deal with what we’re facing right now.”

Statistically, Anderson (8 of 15, 130 yards, two interceptions) and Quinn (10 of 16, 97 yards) are essentially equal. Neither has thrown a touchdown pass, but Mangini is looking beyond visits to the end zone and looking for the QB who can best move the offense and gives the Browns the best chance to win.

“It’s a credit to both of them,” Mangini said. “’They’ve both been competitive. They’ve both worked hard at the information. They’re both worked hard at the things that we’ve asked them to do. They’re both been really good teammates in the process and I respect that.

“It’s not always easy to be fiercely competitive and fiercely loyal to the team, and I think both of them have been that.”

The Titans, who helped open Dallas’ new $1.2 billion stadium last week, are returning to Ohio for the second time this month after playing Buffalo in the Hall of Fame Game in Canton.

“I hope they made our beds, we’re staying in the same room at the same hotel,” quipped coach Jeff Fisher.

Fisher plans to play quarterback Kerry Collins and his offensive starters into the third quarter.