Holmgren: Browns QB derby unlikely

MCCLATCHY NEWSPAPERS

INDIANAPOLIS — Cleveland Browns president Mike Holmgren has already declared there will be no competition this season between Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson.

On Friday, Holmgren went a step further. He said it was unlikely both quarterbacks would be back, although he did leave himself a little wiggle room.

“I think it’s a long shot, but never say never,” Holmgren said after a press conference at the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium.

The calendar leaves Holmgren little time to make what he called “a huge decision.”

The NFL trading period opens Friday, along with free agency. Anderson is due a reported $2 million roster bonus on March 19 and also carries $7.45 million salary for next season.

Anderson, 16-18 as a starter with a career 69.7 passer rating, presumably has little trade value despite his big arm.

The Browns might be forced to renegotiate his contract or release him. Holmgren said he has yet to meet Anderson but hopes to get to know him before the clock strikes midnight.

“That will be a midnight [decision],” Holmgren said of the roster bonus due Anderson.

“That’s negotiated into contracts to help the club make those decisions in a timely matter,” Holmgren said. “In our case, I wish it wasn’t there, but it is. So we’ll have to make that decision soon.”

The market for Quinn might not be much better, even though the 2007 first-round pick from Notre Dame has made only 12 starts. He’s compiled a 3-9 record and a 66.8 career rating.

During his years as a coach of the Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks, Holmgren built his reputation as a quarterback guru. He realizes the importance of his call on this issue.