Written by Dave Kolonich

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I’m starting to get the feeling that Browns Nation is in denial regarding the arrival of Jake Delhomme.  In an almost exact fashion, this time last year legions of Browns faithful pretended that the Eric Mangini hire didn’t actually happen.  Of course, to the chagrin of many, Mangini was not only Randy Lerner’s final coaching hire, but still is – and Delhomme is your unquestioned 2010 starting QB.

Regardless of the recent drafting of Colt McCoy, the presence of Mike Holmgren as the highest paid QB consultant in league history, or any claims of a new offensive system being installed, Browns fans should pretty much just get used to idea of Delhomme being the man in 2010.

Of course, after 2010 – or perhaps even at a point during – all bets are off.

So, if you can bring yourself around to the idea that Delhomme is indeed the team’s new starting QB, perhaps the following will not be as shocking as it may appear.

Jake Delhomme is the best QB of the expansion era.  In fact, Delhomme is the best Browns QB since Bernie Kosar.

Of course, I’m making quite the leap here, considering that Delhomme has not even thrown a preseason pass for the Browns, let alone done anything remarkable during real action. 

But then again, just that mere term “remarkable” says it all.

Or, in other words – who has been the most remarkable QB of the expansion era?

Just for fun – or to be intentionally cruel – let’s examine the proverbial bar that Delhomme faces.

1.  Derek Anderson

For at least roughly two-thirds of a season, DA was one of the top QB’s in the conference.  And before melting down in Cincinnati…well, let’s just leave it at that.

2.  Tim Couch

Like DA, Couch had the team at the doorstep of the playoffs, before injuries gave way to the Kelly Holcomb era.  Bonus sympathy points for Couch considering the woeful offensive line given to him by Dwight Clark and a shoulder that was falling apart as early as 2001.

3.  Kelly Holcomb

Solely because Holcomb played in the only playoff game of the expansion era, and was one Dennis Northcutt drop away from playing in a second, number three is exclusively his.

4.  Brady Quinn

Quinn is basically a microcosm of Couch and Charlie Frye, only with less accuracy and more panicky legs.  Get your comments ready, Notre Dame fan.

5.  Charlie Frye

At least we can say this about Frye:  he tried.  Tried to scramble on every single play.  Tried to drive our blood pressure up.  Tried to “go down this road” with Phil Savage.

6.  Jeff Garcia

Garcia gets the nod here thanks to contributing to one of the greatest rarities of the expansion era….an opening day win, which came against a divisional opponent.

7.  Trent Dilfer

Dilfer played like Dilfer for a handful of games, before being replaced by Frye.  Luckily for Dilfer, his sterling reputation as the most inexiplicable Super Bowl Champion QB wasn’t tarnished.

8.  Kevin Johnson

Although football historians refuse to acknowledge this fact, the Browns pioneered the Wildcat offense way back in late 2000.  Of course, this same team also coined the phrase “epic fail.”  Look it up, if you don’t believe me.

9.  Doug Pederson

Pederson cemented his reputation as the best backup QB in the league….but only if you define a backup QB as one who “never plays.”

10. Luke McCown

At least the Star Wars scoreboard intro was cool.  We’ll always have that, Luke.

Not exactly an inspiring list.

Yet, people are upset with the Delhomme signing?  Really?

I admit that what we’re getting in Delhomme is not exactly some sort of Hall of Fame talent.  Admittedly, it’s even hard to suggest that Delhomme can even be remotely compentent as a starter.  After all, this is the same QB who is mired in one of the worst slumps a professional football player has ever experienced.

Beginning in the 2008 playoffs, Delhomme has basically fallen off a cliff.  His five interception postseason performance sunk an otherwise talented Carolina team.  This performance carried over into 2009, where Delhomme was benched for essentially a journeyman QB.

And now he’s ours.  All ours.

However, anyone truly concerned about Delhomme taking over as a one-year starter probably didn’t pay close enough attention to the Browns’ offense in 2009.  Featuring some of the most erratic QB play in the history of the league, both Anderson and Quinn gathered all of Browns Nation into a time machine, set the dial for 1922, and then crashed into Lake Erie.

So, much like the above list – the point is clear:  without doing much of anything, Delhomme is instantly the most credible Browns QB of the expansion era.

Is he the most talented?  Probably not. 

The healthiest?  It’s doubtful. 

The smartest?  Please.

Should I avoid using such an annoyingly cliched question asking device to make my point?  Absolutely.

However, what Delhomme brings to the lakefront is a ton of experience, both in the regular season and throughout the playoffs.  Although it was pretty much an eternity ago, Delhomme is the QB who was a field goal away from winning a Super Bowl. 

When is the last time a Browns QB could have said that?

Put your hand down, Dilfer.  You barely command more respect than Matt Hasselbeck’s brother.

Although this isn’t the most inspiring statement to make, Delhomme should easily become the offense’s version of David Bowens in 2010.  Such a comparison isn’t exactly insulting, considering that Bowens was easily the team’s defensive MVP last season.

Simply put, Delhomme should prove to be the veteran influence that the team’s offense desperately needs in 2010.  No one can aruge that the offensive talent surrounding Delhomme isn’t raw, to say the least.  Adding a veteran QB into the mix is not the worst thing that could have happened to a team stuck in eternal transition.

Of course, the optimist in me can also view Delhomme as merely the latest veteran QB to greatly benefit from a change in scenery.  It’s worth noting that Delhomme has played in the same offensive system, with basically the same talent, for close to a decade.  After this long of a period, a QB’s play tends to grow stale….unless you’re Peyton Manning. 

Adding to this is the idea that Delhomme has finally experienced the kind of failure that can motivate a QB into realizing a sort of figurative and literal second career act.  There is something to be said for a player who truly has something to prove – to both himself and the rest of the league.

And if Delhomme can even realize half of this opportunity, he will instantly vault to the top of the list. 

As for what that actually means…well, I would rather not think about it.