(Photo: Talk the Land)
One of the most exciting things about being a Cleveland Browns fan is never knowing who your starting quarterback is going to be week by week, year by year.
…
…
(audible screaming)
It’s been well-documented that since the Cleveland Browns returned as an expansion team, we’ve had a lot of starting quarterbacks. For those of you keeping track at home, we’re now on lucky number 27 with rookie DeShone Kizer. (For reference, that’s 18 years, 27 starting quarterbacks. In comparison, the prior 18 seasons before the Browns left, we had 12.)
So I thought it would be a fun exercise to see just where all 26 previous Browns QBs are right now…or at least to the best of my internet search capability. We’ll look at how they got here, what their record was as a starter, how they left us, and what they’re up to now.
Since there are so many, we’ll break this down into about three articles, which will be posted each Sunday for the next three weeks. If you missed last week’s, you can catch up here.
So, where did we leave off? Oh yeah.
1. Derek Anderson
Anderson is still holding a clipboard for Cam Newton, the last we checked. (Photo: Talk the Land)
How He Got Here:
Drafted by the Old Browns in the 6th round of the 2005 NFL Draft, he was waived after never playing a game. The Browns claimed him the next day.
Browns Record as a Starter:16-18
How He Left:The team terminated his contract in 2010 after the Holmgren regime traded for Seneca Wallace.
What He’s Doing Now:After a spell with the Arizona Cardinals, in which he verbally blasted his former team, Anderson signed with the Carolina Panthers, where he backs up former MVP Cam Newton.
2. Brady Quinn
He rode in on his white horse and left to a chorus of boos…straight to Fox Sports. (Photo: Talk the Land)
How He Got Here:
With a lot of fanfare, to say the least. On draft night in 2007, fans tuned in to watch the former Notre Dame quarterback free-fall through the first round until the Browns traded away their pick in 2008 to swoop back in and grab him.
Browns Record as a Starter:3-9
How He Left:Just as spectacularly as he was brought in, Quinn was shipped out in 2010, traded to Denver, for Peyton Hillis and what turned into Jason Pinkston and Ryan Miller. None of whom are still on an NFL roster.
What He’s Doing Now:Besides arguing with Matt Leinart over whether or not USC cheated in a game that happened 12 years ago, Brady now works for FOX Sports, where he covers both college and the NFL as an analyst.
Fun Fact:His sister apparently still has that stupid jersey.
Ken Dorsey is now, of all things, Derek Anderson’s quarterback coach. (Photo: Talk the Land)
How He Got Here:
The Browns traded Trent Dilfer to the 49ers for Dorsey in 2006.
Browns Record as a Starter:0-3
How He Left:The Browns released him in 2009.
What He’s Doing Now:If I’ve said it once, I’ll say it a million times. If you played quarterback in college or even had a cup of coffee in the NFL, you’re bound to become a quarterback coach. Which is what Dorsey has been since 2013 in Carolina.
4. Bruce Gradkowski
Gradkowski played for the Steelers last year. Screw that guy. (Photo: Talk the Land)
How He Got Here:
With Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson both lost for the 2008 season, Gradkowski was brought in to back up Dorsey, signing a 2-year contract.
Browns Record as a Starter:0-1
How He Left:He was waived before the 2009 season.
What He’s Doing Now:After going 2-6 as a starter for Oakland over two seasons, Gradkowski also played for Cincinnati and Pittsburgh, but never started again. He currently owns two restaurants, one of which is in Toledo.
5. Colt McCoy
McCoy happily holds Kirk Cousins’ clipboard on a weekly basis. (Photo: Talk the Land)
How He Got Here:
With the 85th pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, the Cleveland Holmgrens select…
Browns Record as a Starter:6-15
How He Left:The Browns traded him to San Francisco for a couple of draft picks…that were invariably used to trade for Davonne Bess. Sigh.
What He’s Doing Now:McCoy is currently serving as Kirk Cousins’ backup in Washington.
6. Jake Delhomme
Apparently, Delhomme sits on the board of some bank. I guess it’s how he keeps track of all that money teams paid him to be mediocre. (Photo: Talk the Land)
How He Got Here:
Mike Holmgren (in his infinite wisdom) signed Delhomme to a 2-year contract to compete with Seneca Wallace and mentor Colt McCoy. This after Delhomme had his worst season in the NFL.
Browns Record as a Starter:2-3
How He Left:Thankfully, the Browns cut Delhomme after just one season.
What He’s Doing Now:According to a USA Today article from last year, Delhomme is coaching his daughters’ youth sports teams, buys and races horses, and sits on the board of a bank.
7. Seneca Wallace
Wallace now coaches high school football and blogs about God’s word. (Photo: Talk the Land)
How He Got Here:
Drafted by Seattle in 2003, Wallace came over in a trade when Mike Holmgren became team president of the Browns in 2010. The team gave up a 7th-round draft choice for him.
Browns Record as a Starter:1-6
How He Left:Wallace was released following the 2012 preseason, then played for the Saints, 49ers, and Packers, starting one more career game.
Fun Fact:He lost all but one of his seven starts by less than a touchdown.
What He’s Doing Now:He’s a high school football coach for the Episcopal School of Dallas.
8. Brandon Weeden
He hasn’t run under any flags during the National Anthem lately. So there’s that. (Photo: Talk the Land)
How He Got Here:
Inexplicably.
Weeden first tried his hand at baseball before enrolling as a red-shirt freshman at age 24 at Oklahoma State. By the time he got the starting job in 2011, he broke all kinds of school records, got his team into a BCS Bowl (which they won) and got drafted by the Browns in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft, becoming a 28-year old rookie.
Browns Record as a Starter:5-15
How He Left:So it goes. Weeden was released before the 2014 season.
What He’s Doing Now:Weeden moved on to play for the Dallas Cowboys (where he set a team record!) before moving on to the Texans. Weeden was released by Houston before the start of this season. The Titans recently announced that they planned to sign the former Browns icon.
9. Thad Lewis
Teams are still letting him try out. (Photo: Talk the Land)
How He Got Here:
Claimed off waivers in 2011, he was waived then re-signed to the practice squad. Elevated to start in the final week of the 2012 season after injuries to Weeden and McCoy, Lewis played well against the Steelers, but ultimately lost 24-10.
Browns Record as a Starter:0-1
How He Left:Waived before the 2013 season.
What He’s Doing Now:Lewis actually was brought back to the Browns in 2015 but didn’t make the team that year. He played for the Old Browns during the 2017 preseason and was given a tryout by the Patriots, too.
Another trip down sad memory lane finished. Come back next Sunday for the final group. We’re always up for a chat, so leave your comments below or hit us up on the Twitter.
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