After a 28-10 loss to the Ravens, which sent a Cleveland team that was supposed to contend for the division title to an 0-3 start, quarterback Derek Anderson could land on the bench.

“I told the guys we’re going to look at everybody in every position, and then we’re going to do what we think is the best and try to improve this team,” coach Romeo Crennel said after the game.

Asked whether that sentiment applies to the quarterback, Crennel responded:  “I said all positions.” 

Anderson generated a 22.9 passer rating for the game, thanks to three interceptions in the second half.

But Crennel didn’t consider benching Anderson and giving Brady Quinn a chance to rally the troops.

“No, because the game was still within reach,” Crennel said.  “If we could’ve scored, we could’ve made it a 10-point game.  Derek had most of the work during the course of the week and we still had a chance.”

As we see it, Quinn didn’t get the nod not because Anderson “had most of the work” in practice, but because Crennel knows that he can only play that card once, and that when he does he needs to be ready to play it for good.

Regardless of when it happens, it’s now becoming clear that Quinn will eventually get a chance to show what he can do.  The Browns tried to insulate Anderson against the pressure that goes with being the clear-cut starter, and it didn’t work.  So now, with the team winless and Crennel likely fearing that G.M. Phil Savage will blame another failed season on the coaching staff, Crennel might think that he needs to pull a Brad Childress in order to possibly save his job.

And so the true aftermath of that 10-6 season that didn’t include a playoff berth is that the Browns had no choice but to invest a bunch of money into a quarterback who’ll end up not playing — and likewise potentially spending a bunch of money for play-time incentives on the quarterback who seemed to be relegated to the bench.