The Cleveland Browns could be facing some difficult decisions during the next offseason, but no one in the organization is complaining.
The biggest decision is what to do at quarterback if Derek Anderson continues to play well throughout the rest of this season. With rookie Brady Quinn anxiously waiting in reserve, it would seem to be a waste of his talents to have hit sit on the bench for another season.
Considering the poor play the Browns have had at quarterback for several years, the Anderson-Quinn situation is a good problem to have. There are plenty of teams that would gladly trade places with the Browns.
The good news for the Browns is that they have time on their hands. Anderson, who's in his third season, will be a restricted free agent after this season. If another team signs him to a contract, the Browns could retain his services by matching the offer.
Before it gets to that stage, however, the organization needs to decide what level of a contract should be offered to Anderson. If they give him the highest tender, they would receive first- and third-round draft picks as compensation if Anderson signed with another team.
Another possibility is finding a trading partner. The question then would be which quarterback should be traded. Anderson could command a considerable return if he performs well the rest of the season, but Quinn also has value because of the potential he exhibited at Notre Dame.
If the situation reaches the stage of entertaining serious trade offers, it would seem likely that Anderson would be the player on the block. Having proven his value for more than one full season, Anderson would look enticing to some quarterback-needy team (the Vikings or Bears, maybe).
Quinn looked outstanding in his three preseason games. He showed confidence and leadership qualities while also displaying a stronger right arm than was advertised.
The feeling among front-office personnel was that Quinn was the most NFL-ready quarterback available in the draft. All that was needed for him to be in serious competition to win the starting job was to settle his contract situation prior to the start of training camp.
Quinn's agent, Tom Condon, prevented that from happening by forcing his client to miss 17 practices before reaching terms of a contract. Quinn sat out the first preseason game but played significantly in the final three games.
Still, the holdout cost him a chance to start the season opener. The best he could do was move to second on the depth chart after the Browns traded Charlie Frye to the Seattle Seahawks.
While the organization is ecstatic by the way Anderson has taken to the challenge of starting, there has to be a belief that Quinn could perform even better if given the opportunity. The way things are playing out, that might not happen this season.
The Browns placed a lot of faith in Quinn when general manager Phil Savage pulled the string on a draft-day trade with the Dallas Cowboys that gave up next year's first-round pick to get their hands on the quarterback. It seems improbable that the Browns would part ways with Quinn if they're convinced he's going to be a star.
Another decision that awaits is how to deal with the future of running back Jamal Lewis, who signed a one-year contract last March. Lewis will turn 29 on Aug. 26 of next year, which can be old for a player that's absorbed countless hard hits.
Lewis doesn't have the quick burst that made him so lethal early in his career with the Baltimore Ravens, but when you combine the speed he still has with his power, he can be a force. If the Browns feel Lewis has something to offer beyond this season, they might want to get him in the fold before the end of this season.
Because they don't have a first-round pick in 2008, the chances of the Browns landing a premier running back in the draft aren't promising. Another consideration is the need to use their high picks to bolster the front seven on defense.
Assuming they can get Lewis at a salary cap-friendly price, he might be the best option for next season.
As always in Cleveland, the offseason could be entertaining.
