Browns and QB Derek Anderson at Unsurprising Contract Impasse

According to a Columbus Dispatch story from Thursday, the Cleveland Browns negotiations with soon to be restricted free agent quarterback Derek Anderson have "reached a standstill." The Browns reportedly have offered Anderson $16 million over three years, which is pretty good for an average joe, but not for a Pro Bowl bound franchise quarterback. This obviously begs the question, how much do the Browns really want Anderson?

The reality is that the Browns have all the leverage, as Anderson only has 3 accrued years in the league and will therefore be a restricted free agent. The Browns will only have to commit $2.562 million to him next year by offering Anderson the 2008 Level 5 Right of First Refusal (ROFR) tender level, which would reward them with a 1st and 3rd round picks in return if another team attempts to sign Anderson away this offseason (and the Browns refuse to match within 7 days). They also have 2007 1st round pick Brady Quinn waiting in the wings, who at the time of the draft was considered nearly unanimously to be the most 'NFL-ready' quarterback in the draft.

The Browns are playing this one correctly, and are wise to keep their cards close to the vest. If they simply tender Anderson at the highest ROFR level ($2.562 million) by the deadline of February 28 2008, they'll get Anderson's services for 2008 without having to dole out a huge chunk of money for someone who has proven himself for one year (such as Rams QB Marc Bulger, who threw for 4301 yards in 2006, then was rewarded with a questionable 6 year $65 million deal with $27 million guaranteed, then promptly sucked in 2007). The only hitch in this plan is that if some team makes Anderson an offer the Browns choose not to match, they will instead be handsomely rewards them with a 1st and a 3rd rounder, but this is unlikely to happen, as most teams aren't going to be eager to dole out a large contract and lose their own 1st rounder in the process. Waiting until next offseason to make the ultimate decision will probably save the Browns money, allow them to be flexible in regards to the Derek Anderson-Brady Quinn situation, and allow them to get another year of cheap labor to find out if Derek Anderson is the next Steve Young or the next Scott Mitchell. They'll then be able to either sign him to a long term deal if he proves legit, or they can slap the Franchise tag on Anderson in 2009 and possibly trade him from under it, or they can simply allow him to walk, and be expected to be compensated a 3rd or 4th rounder by the League when the compensatory draft picks are announced.