Rey Maualuga puts draft snub behind him- [Download]

Brady Quinn talks about his demotion- [Download]

Bengals coach Marvin Lewis supports Mangini, discusses rebuilding in Cincinnati- [Download]

Derek Anderson discusses starting Sunday against Cincinnati- [Download]

Here are the quotes from Brady Quinn's press conference on Wednesday.

(On how he is doing)– “I feel good. I’m ready to go.”

(On if he is still optimistic)– “Yes. I’m always optimistic. I think we can always take good things away from a game, even in defeat. Looking back on it, I feel like we’ve progressed in some areas and obviously we didn’t progress in other areas. That’s what we are trying to work on today.”

(On what he feels he is doing wrong)– “The overall operation of the huddle. Getting guys in and out, getting guys in the right positions. The checks have been pretty solid for us so far, and sometimes making a play we have to. Making a smart decision or making a more conservative play at times as well.”

(On what he doesn’t like about his performance)– “Turnovers are one key aspect. At the end of the game, just trying to make a play, trying to push the ball downfield and get some sort of touchdown at the end. We still had a timeout at the end of the game. I probably could have dumped it down again, taken the timeout and try to take another shot. Aside from that, I’m still looking forward to continuing to progress with this offense and the rest of our team.”

(On if he expected the first two games to go smoother)– “I’m always hopeful and always optimistic. Going into every game, you always feel extremely confident about the game plan you have and how things have gone, especially after you have a good week of practice, like we did last week. Again, we just have to get better as a whole, and continue to mesh as an offensive unit.”

(On if there were a couple plays on Sunday that he can point out that would have made a difference)– “It’s tough to point out specific plays. I know one in particular, I threw the ball a little high to (Mike) Furrey on third down. At that time of the game, had it been a completion, move the chains there, you never know what can happen. I don’t want to put it on one specific play. You can probably do that with a lot of things. It might have changed the momentum of the game at the time, but you never really know how it would have played out. You can’t always say what if.”

(On if he was referring to the pass attempt to Furrey early in the game)– “I don’t think it was early, actually I think it was in the third quarter if I’m not mistaken.”

(On if the ball was sailing on him because he was pressing during the game)– “Maybe at times, but I don’t feel it sailed. It sailed on me a couple times, but I think I just didn’t get my feet in order to make a more accurate throw at times. I think I might have been pressing during those particular throws. Outside of that though, I don’t feel like I’m pressing so much, I’m just trying to take what the defense gives us and not force bad decisions.”

(On if the wind played a major factor in Denver)– “I don’t think so. It was noticeably different from pregame but going into the game, I don’t think it affected a whole lot of the throws or anything like that. I’m never going to allow the wind to be an excuse for a missed throw.”

(On if Joe Flacco, Matt Ryan and Mark Sanchez have set the bar for young quarterbacks)– “Yes, I think so. They’ve done a great job. You have to give them a lot of credit but I think you have to give their team a lot of credit as well. Whether it’s Matt Ryan in Atlanta or Joe Flacco or Sanchez in New York, I think you’ve noticed that their whole team is really producing well. They have a solid running game, their special teams is putting them in good positions to make plays. It kind of opens things up more downfield for them.”

(On the challenges from Baltimore)– “Obviously from a personnel standpoint we know they bring a lot to the table. That’s something you have to deal with in this division. Playing in Baltimore is tough as well. They have a loud stadium there. We have our hands full this week, but we have a lot to work on this week on ourselves. We are going to focus on that and we’re going to focus on putting in a game plan that we feel confident in.”

(On if he feels he held the ball too long)– “Maybe at times. One of the problems with that is, we are putting ourselves in third and long. In those situations, if you want to convert, you have to wait for routes to get to the sticks in order to convert and that takes a little bit longer. It’s tough at times, sometimes you have to wait on it and sometimes you can’t.”

(On if he feels his first two years were wasted)– “No, I don’t think you can look at things like that. That’s not my mindset or attitude towards my first two years. I think I was able to adapt and I’ve learned a lot. That the situation I was presented with and I think when you look at the situation each quarterback walked in to they had a solid unit around them and they have been able to progress well as a team.”

(On if the offense needs to be more aggressive inside the red zone)- “Again, going back to it, I think we just need to have better production in general and better execution as a team in the red zone. That’s something, along with third down, that we haven’t done a good job of and we’re continuing to improve on every week.”

(On how much they need the running game to make the offense go)- “Having the running game also makes your job as a quarterback a lot easier. Going against the number one rush defense in the league doesn’t help that. We have a lot of things we’re trying to work on. We feel confident with our game plan going into the game.”

(On how he copes with losing)- “It’s tough. I think anytime you’re unaccustomed to these sorts of things, you can do one of two things. You can question why and start changing the habits in which you’ve built all along, and the habits that have got you to this point, or you continue to persist, push through and persevere. That’s more the person I am. I try to work extremely hard, whether it’s watching film or out there on the field, or wherever else. I’m going to continue to do that and we’re going to work through this and we’re going to go through it as a team.”

(On if it is fair to say that the base offense of this system is two tight ends)- “I wouldn’t say that. I don’t think you should try to put a limit on this offense, from a personnel standpoint.”

(On if this offense has the components to stretch the field and be aggressive)- “Without a doubt. You have to understand the best way to open up things downfield is to have a running game, to get more production there. I think that is something we’re working on, we’re trying to get better at, so when you do all those play action fakes they’re more meaningful and they can pull guys up.”

(On why he thinks the running game is not better than it is)- “I can’t point out particulars for you. I think we need to just get better as a whole, whether it’s my job or whatever else it may be. We just need to do a better job as a whole to help open up things and help put us in better situations.”

(On if he spends extra time working with Josh Cribbs)- “Yes, we try to get together outside of practice, or even in different periods when the defense is doing something and the offense isn’t. We try to find times to work on some of his routes. That’s the case with all our wide receivers are well. It’s not just Josh. We’re always trying to work on a little extra thing here and there to continue to build that relationship.”

(On if Mohamed Massaquoi and Brian Robiskie are ready to contribute)- “I can’t speak for them, but I think, from what I see, they do a great job in practice. They’ve done a great job with the opportunities they’ve had to get in the game. I have complete confidence in them.”

(On if using the no huddle more could help jump start the offense)- “That’s something that I feel has been a strength, running the offense so far, is being able to jump in and out of those sorts of situations. That helps your offense. You’re going to keep the defense on your toes. It stops them, at times, from substituting in personnel. Those are things we’ll have in this offense and I feel extremely confident in everything that we have installed and executing it.”

(On facing a dominant defense)- “It’s exciting. Anytime you go up against a tough opponent like this, you go against future hall of famers like Ray Lewis or Ed Reed, people like that, you get excited about that opportunity. It’s obviously very tough task for us, but something that we’re going to work as hard as we can to prepare for and be as confident as we can going into the game.”

(On who he trusts to tell him how he is playing)- “I don’t know. There’s probably a number of people, aside from our coaches. I still talk to Coach (Charlie) Weis pretty often. He’s busy with things, but every once in a while when he’s able to check out the game, he’ll give me some advice. My mom’s usually a pretty strong indication of that at well. She doesn’t know football that well, but she knows the difference between winning and losing and she’ll always let me know that. My dad and my uncle, my core group of friends, they’re always pretty blunt and pretty honest.”

(On if his family and friends have been tough on him the last two weeks)- “Oh yes. They’ll always be tough about things. That’s just them. You have to understand the people that are closest to you, want the best for you and they’re going to try to push you, just like anyone else has in my life.”

(On if he ever wonders where he fits in with the quarterbacks in the division)- “Not necessarily, that’s not really my main concern. I think your main concern is really winning and trying to do your best you can every week to win. If you take care of that, I think you get placed in whatever order you want at the end of the season.”

(On if he feels more pressure to play well against divisional opponents)- “I think you always have to play well though. I mean, it’s not like you’re going to say that going into six of the 16 games. You always have to play well. You always have to be up to the challenge, no matter who you’re playing.”

(On if there is a sense of pressing)- “No, I think if there’s a sense of pressing it’d be more, we want to put points on the board. We want to do better on third down, do better on red zone. Those are all things that are going to come as we continue to mesh and develop as an offense.”

(On if he has learned anything about the Ravens from watching them from the sidelines the past two years)- “Yes, like you said, there is an emotional element that comes into when those guys play at home. They’re tough to beat at home. It’s not only loud, but those leaders like Ray (Lewis) and Ed (Reed), they’re extremely vocal and they get those guys fired up. If you can, you want to try to be ahead. You don’t want to try to put yourself in a hole, because that’s a tough place to come back from. Aside from that, they do a great job of game planning specific offenses and just making plays when there’s an opportunity to make a play. Ray’s play last week in San Diego is a pure example of that.”

(On if he lost any sharpness in the two years when he wasn’t playing)- “I don’t think so. Sometimes it’s hard to get completely meshed in with things when you first get into it. When you don’t have years of playing with the same wide receiver, like a Peyton Manning, etcetera, they’re able to kind of have that nonverbal communication down a little bit easier then when you’re kind of in there playing and you’re coming into your third game with a wide receiver.”

(On if the first words out of his mom’s mouth after the Denver game were about the sacks)- “No. She always knows I’m going to be okay. She’s just more upset about the overall outcome.”

This is from the Associated Press:

BEREA: Eric Mangini says his Cleveland Browns quarterbacks are competing, not cheating.

The radio transmitter inside Anderson's helmet wasn't working in a Sunday scrimmage, so he used hand signals to relay plays. Anderson joked after the scrimmage that Quinn told the defense what all the signals meant.

Reporters at the scrimmage saw the two players laughing about it.

But that didn't head off several online reports suggesting Quinn was using underhanded tactics to win the starting job.

Mangini could only shake his head.

"Those guys are competitive and they're friends," Mangini said Wednesday. "The group is friendly and the game was competitive by nature. … All I see them doing is supporting each other."

Anderson's team won, 17-14.

BEREA – Rookie running back James Davis has been following Jamal Lewis for much of his playing career.

The two played for the same school, Frederick Douglass High School in Atlanta, years apart and now find themselves on the same professional team.

According to Davis, Lewis set all the school rushing records and he broke them. ‘’I started three-and-half-years and Jamal started three, ‘’ Davis said. ‘’I got a little bit more playing than he did. He's always talking about that other (half) year.’’

Davis has opened his teammate's eyes with his performance thus far in training camp.  Lewis said that he believes he's going to be a ''special" player.

"I see a burst out of him and an aggressiveness out of him,’’ he said. ‘’We're from the same neighborhood back home, so he's got some fight to him. I just try to help him out as much as I can because I see the ability there.’"

The coaches see it as well as Davis' special team play has drawn raves from Coach Eric Mangini thus far, but the first-year Browns coach also likes one aspect of Davis' offensive game.

‘"James has done a really nice job. What I like about him is that he’s done it since the day that he got here.  He understands the importance of special teams,’’ Mangini said. ‘’There have been multiple drills where he is the first one down on special teams.  That’s what gets you noticed.’"

Dueling quarterbacks:  It's the battle of the summer and there's little escaping it.  To some it may even feel like a replay of last summer sans the coin flip.  But Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson are duking it out for the job of starting quarterback.  No one can obviously judge by a single day, but Anderson definitely had an advantage on the field Tuesday, hitting his receivers consistently and showing good judgment on more than a few occasions.  Brady Quinn not so much.

On more than one occasion Quinn put a reciever in a difficult position to make a catch.  While occasionally one of his playmakers, such as running back Jerome Harrison, would make him look good by leaping over a defender's back to make a play.  On one occasion defensive back Abe Elam, who the Browns acquired in a trade from the New York Jets, picked Quinn off, after he under threw his receiver.  Quinn has thrown three picks in two days.

Fitting right in:  Mohamed Massaquoi flashed his skills on the field Tuesday, literally catching everything thrown in his direction.  The rookie from the University of Georgia displayed sure hands and blazing speed, which he flashed after catching the ball as he ran away from defensive backs.  The rookie, who played with the Detroit Lions' Matt Stafford, could very well offer the most impact of any rookie. With Braylon Edwards the only sure-fire starter right now, Massaquoi and fellow rookie wideout Brian Robiskie have a chance to claim the other. 

Staying on the offensive side of the ball, even the casual observer has to like what they hear from rookie center Alex Mack, the team's first-round draft choice.  Mack has made his share of mistakes since camp opened.  A bad snap today cost him again as he had to run a lap around the team's expansive fields.  Mack, however, recognizes that it's a learning situation and part of the deal of transitioning from college ball to the NFL.

Defensively, Shaun Rogers returned to practice after sitting out the past couple of days with an undisclosed injury.  The svelte looking Rogers (he's reportedly dropped to 320 lbs. ) provided some impact during drills and in practice as he disrupted offensively flow on more than one occasion.  Of course, there was still some rust as Rogers committed an offsides penalty and found himself doing a lap – if you want to call it that.  He virtually tip-toed around the outskirts of the field drawing both applause and laughs from individuals in attendance at Tuesday's practice.

Something completely different:   Josh Cribbs not being back on any kick return teams.  He played on the kickoff teams.

When the Browns finally decide on a starting quarterback, it won't be until late in the preseason.

That was the big news from head coach Eric Mangini at today's minicamp. Mangini told reporters he wants to see how Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn perform before deciding.

So when Quinn was receiving playing time with the first team last month, it didn't mean much. Mangini will look at presence in the huddle when making his choice.

"The big (criteria) for me is huddle presence and the ability to run the offense, so who can most effectively run the offense, who can look at the defense, understand what the coverage is and throw to the right place, who can see a blitz look and put us in the right play, who can do the check-with-me's where you have two plays called and understand this is the better of the two selections," Mangini told reporters.

Any deception in naming a starting quarterback could be purposeful on Mangini's part. It could be in an effort to confuse opponents heading into the regular season.

"One of the things that's tough defensively is not knowing who the starting quarterback's going to be," Mangini said. "I hated when I didn't know who the starting quarterback of the other team was. A huge, huge headache."

Notes…
Steve Doerschuk of the Canton Repository reports that Anderson had to run a lap today after a false start penalty. A quarterback getting that penalty is crazy.

The Plain Dealer has a nice gallery of shots from today's minicamp.

Browns special teams player Josh Cribbs plans on attending this week's minicamp, Mary Kay Cabot of the Plain Dealer is reporting.

Cribbs is in the first half a of a six-year, $6.77 million contract and wants it to be restructured. If its not, he said he would like to be traded.

Update from PFT:

Per a league source, the Browns indicated that, in order to address Cribbs’ contract, they need to examine first-hand his potential value to the team. And so, as a good-faith gesture, Cribbs has decided to participate in the voluntary sessions in order to give the new regime a fair opportunity to determine whether he’s worth significantly more than the long-term deal he signed in 2006. (Apparently, game film from 2007 and 2008 can’t be relied upon.)

That said, we’re sensing some skepticism in Cribbs’ camp regarding whether the Browns will show similar good faith in assessing his skills and deciding whether to increase his pay. And so there’s a chance that Cribbs’ stay will be a short one.

Notes…
There has been no indication either way on whether or not kicker Phil Dawson will attend this week. He also skipped the "voluntary" minicamp last week.

Terry Pluto of the PD had some excellent thoughts on Brady Quinn over the weekend.

A couple people emailed me Michael Silver's rant about the Browns from Yahoo Sports. I'll have some thoughts on that in a separate post later today or sometime tomorrow.

I wanted to spotlight a comment made by Mike Rasor, an Ohio.com blogging cohort. It's on the Cribbs situation. It's after the jump. Just something to think about. And make sure to always check out his Zips blog.

Paying laborers and paying professional athletes under a salary cap are two different things. Randy Lerner is not trying to be stingy; he wants money to put together a team. You can deal fairly with people without compromising your cap.

Cribbs signed a bad contract. He should have realized that from Day One. He underperforms and he's cut. He overperforms and he's trapped for six years. Dumb. Dumb. Dumb. Now he wants a do-over. If he can maintain his level of play, someone will compensate him for it once he's a free agent.

Cribbs is saying, "You went back on your promise." Well, Josh. You said you would play football for the Cleveland Browns for six years. The Cleveland Browns, in turn, promised to pay you $620K per year. Who is breaking that promise — you know, the one that gave you a chance in the NFL?

James Walker of ESPN.com is reporting that Brady Quinn holds the early lead in the Browns' quarterback competition.

Quinn has been receiving snaps with the first team ahead of former Pro Bowler Derek Anderson at voluntary minicamps that end today.

While head coach Eric Mangini has said the two quarterbacks will receive balanced repetitions, Quinn's performance has earned him the top spot.

"Brady will get the first reps today," Mangini told reporters today. "He started with the first reps on Wednesday, and that's because he's done a really outstanding job in the offseason program. Not that Derek hasn't done well, but [Quinn] gets the first reps."

Last season, Quinn started three games before a finger injury knocked him out for the final five games of the season. Quinn's best performance was his first start, a 34-30 loss to Denver. In the game, Quinn finished with 239 yards passing and two touchdowns.

After making the Pro Bowl in 2007, Anderson struggled last season. In 10 games, he had 1,615 yards passing, nine touchdowns and eight interceptions.

The Browns acquired quarterback Brett Ratliff from the Jets during a trade on the first day of the NFL Draft. Ronald Bartel is also on the roster.

Notes…
Tip of the hat to commentator Scott for pointing out this story. Matt Bowen of National Football Post says special teams star Josh Cribbs isn't worth a new contract.

Talks between Cribbs and Mangini have taken place, according to Beacon Journal beat writer Marla Ridenour.

In his weekly Monday Morning Quarterback column for SI.com, NFL writer Peter King ranks all 32 NFL teams. He says the Browns are the worst team in the league:

32. Cleveland
Hey, thank me, all you Brownaholics. Two years ago in a column like this one, I wrote that Cleveland was the worst team in the league. The Browns went 10-6. This year I'm saying they're the worst team again — and I can guarantee you they're not going 10-6, unless Brady Quinn morphs into Tom Brady. Too many holes, too tough a division; write them down for 0-4 against the Steelers and Ravens.

Brownaholics?

Cincinnati is 28th, Baltimore is eighth and Pittsburgh is second. Pete Prisco of CBS Sports ranks the Browns 30th. Wonderful.

Notes…
A league source tells the Plain Dealer's Tony Grossi that not will Brady Quinn be the team's starting quarterback, but two teams inquired about a trade for the signal caller.

Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram profiles sixth-round pick Coye Francies.

Not done with the NFL Draft? Terry Pluto of the PD breaks it down even more.

As you may or may not know, former Browns head of personnel Mike Lombardi now helps run National Football Post. It's slowly gained a reputation of having credible, accurate news and rumors.

One of the latest from Lombardi's Sunday notes column is that the Browns have been offered a first-round draft pick for quarterback Brady Quinn but the team is holding out for more.

So now we turn this to you, the fans. Would a first-round pick be adequate compensation for Quinn, the No. 22 pick in the 2007 draft?

Vote in the poll and/or tell us in the comments.

[poll id="11"]

The Browns have also, according to Lombardi, been offered a first rounder for Braylon Edwards. The team will also bring in Texas Tech wide receiver Michael Crabtree in for a visit today, according to Gil Brandt of NFL.com.

According to Jay Glazer of Fox Sports, quarterback Brady Quinn will miss the rest of the season due to a broken right index finger he suffered Nov. 17 at Buffalo.

Quinn elected to play Sunday against Houston, which reportedly caused the injury to worsen.

Team sources said that Quinn and the team made the decision together earlier today. Sources say that not only has the break in his right index finger worsened, but it is also starting to injure the tendons as well.

For the season, Quinn was 45 for 89 passing for 518 yards, 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. The Browns were 1-2 in the three games Quinn started.

Derek Anderson will start Sunday against the 7-4 Indianapolis Colts.