Written by Dave Kolonich

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In news of the sublime, and not exactly surprising, the most closely guarded secret in recent Browns memory lives to see another day. Or in other words, this Rasputin of strategic devices that we've all become to embrace like a jilted bride should have legs well into next weekend. In Dave K's latest, he touches on the decision by Eric Mangini to wait until next weekend to name a starting QB, and also looks at the four players the team acquired via waivers to fill out their 53 man roster.

In news of the sublime, and not exactly surprising, the most closely guarded secret in recent Browns memory lives to see another day. Or in other words, this Rasputin of strategic devices that we've all become to embrace like a jilted bride should have legs well into next weekend.

QB Battle: We Have a Winner, But...

Browns head coach Eric Mangini said Monday that he has selected a winner in the open competition between quarterbacks Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson.

But as previously believed, because he's convinced it causes an opponent problems in its preparation, he won't announce it publicly until sometime over the weekend, maybe even as late as just before Sunday's regular season-opening game against the Minnesota Vikings at Cleveland Browns Stadium.

"Being on the other side of things as a defensive coordinator, I know it's tougher to plan for two quarterbacks than it is for one," Mangini said.

As for when, specifically, he will announce it publicly, he said, "I haven't looked that far into the weekend, but it will not be throughout the course of the week. We're going to keep it internally."

The strategy behind keeping the QB decision "internal" is simply to make the Vikings prepare for the unlikelihood of Derek Anderson actually playing this coming Sunday, which on the surface, appears to be a remote and almost useless proposition, considering that Brady Quinn has seemingly won the starting job.

However...maybe that's just what Mangini wants the Vikings to think. Or, possibly, Mangini wants the Vikings to think what he already knows, which is actually what he knows they will think. Or, even he knows what they know he knows, which in the end means that Mangini has just blown all of our minds.




























And speaking of transitions...

Cleveland Browns Claim Four Players, Waive Three Others to Set Roster

After getting a chance to review players released by other teams, the Browns claimed four off waivers Sunday.

They are defensive back Marquis Floyd from Seattle, running back Cedric Peerman from Baltimore, defensive back DeAngelo Smith from Dallas and offensive lineman Phil Trautwein from St. Louis.

To make room on the roster, the Browns waived linebacker Marcus Benard, offensive lineman Corey Hilliard and defensive back Bret Lockett.

The Browns now have the full complement of 53 players on their roster; they had 52 after their roster moves Saturday.

So, now the question is...is the Browns opening day roster finally set? How likely is it that the team makes a few more moves before the start of the season?

Among the Browns final, final roster cuts, the release of Marcus Benard was disappointing, as the young linebacker showed some flashes during preseason. However, if Benard clears waivers, there still remains a chance that the team could bring him back during the season, especially considering David Bowens' tenuous injury status.

As for the players the Browns picked up, the addition of two defensive backs is a wholly agreeable idea, and the pickup of Cedric Peerman is intriguing, at least considering Jerome Harrison's current injury status. And speaking of the running backs, while the quarterback drama gets all the press, the season opener should reveal volumes regarding Jamal Lewis' role on the team in 2009...and possibly even the extent of Mangini's reclamation project going forward.























And speaking of going forward, I had a 4,000 word analysis prepared devoted solely to the release of Kurt Quarterman, but then I remembered that it's Labor Day.

Screw it. I'm taking a nap.