Observers can only guess what kind of effect Browns quarterback Derek Anderson's poor performance in Sunday's Pro Bowl will have on ongoing contract negotiations.

In the AFC's 42-30 loss, Anderson completed 10 of 26 passes for 103 yards with no touchdowns and an interception for a quarterback rating of 34.6.

Those who had some interest in the soon-to-be restricted free agent surely will notice he had the lowest rating of the six quarterbacks who saw action. Anderson's 34.6 rating also suffered in comparison to those of Peyton Manning (118.5), Ben Roethlisberger (104.8), Matt Hasselbeck (139.8), Jeff Garcia (109.2) and Tony Romo (85.2), who didn't appear to be there just for the sun and fun.

Anderson proved valuable to AFC and San Diego coach Norv Turner in the first half, signalling plays to Manning and Roethlisberger because Turner's Chargers and the Browns run the same offense. But lip-readers could have had a field day in the second half watching Turner's expressions and remarks while Anderson threw behind receivers, even teammates Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow.

Ironically, even Garcia (who lasted just one season in Cleveland when then-coach Butch Davis asked him to run an offense he wasn't suited for) appeared to be on a different level than Anderson. Anderson played the entire second half and with the game on the line in the fourth quarter and facing virtually no defense, he couldn't move his team.

Will the Browns believe one bad Sunday in Hawaii was meaningless, or will it help convince them that Brady Quinn is their quarterback of the future? Will they pull back in their efforts to sign him to a multi-year contract? And perhaps more importantly to Anderson's future, what will the rest of the league think? Will anyone want to give the Browns first- and third-round draft choices if Cleveland offers him the highest tender of $2.562 million later this month? It only takes one team, of course, but that possibility might be a little less likely.

There may be a drought of top-flight quarterbacks in the league. But when Anderson got his chance to step on the field with most of them, he didn't measure up.

To no one's surprise, Browns tight end Kellen Winslow said during a Friday radio interview from the Super Bowl that he will undergo another surgery on his right knee.

Winslow could have had the operation shortly after the Dec. 30 season finale, but elected to wait, hoping to be named to the AFC's Pro Bowl team. The first alternate, Winslow received word Monday he would be going to Hawaii, replacing San Diego's Antonio Gates, who was bothered by a toe injury in the playoffs. The game is Feb. 10 in Honolulu.

Browns coach Romeo Crennel said last week he had no problem with Winslow's decision to delay any surgeries.

Winslow's knee was initially injured in a motorcycle accident in the spring of 2005 and underwent extensive repair. In the previous off-season, Winslow needed microfracture surgery on the same knee. He made an amazingly quick recovery from that procedure, playing in 16 games in 2007 and catching 82 passes for a career-high 1,106 yards and five touchdowns. He also separated his left shoulder in a Sept. 23 game at Oakland.

"I'm definitely going to have a surgery done on my knee," Winslow told WKNR radio. “My shoulder might be strong enough … I'm just really worried about my knee. Your legs are your life. I need my knee."

In his season-in-review press conference, general manager Phil Savage said he expected Winslow to need knee and shoulder procedures.

"He's still hoping he gets a chance to go," Savage said of the Feb. 10 Pro Bowl. "If he doesn't go, he might have some additional work done, potentially on the shoulder, too. It's unfortunate every off-season he's been in rehab. Kellen really loves to play. He's such an extremely competitive player that he'll find a way to get to the field."

Winslow has never been shy about touting his abilities, saying in December that when he's on the field, he's feels he's the best at what he does. On Friday, the former University of Miami All-American wondered how much better he would be if he didn't have to deal with the chronic knee injury.

Even playing in pain, Winslow has caught 171 passes for 1,981 yards and eight touchdowns the past two seasons. His yardage total in 2007 ranks third on the team's all-time single-season receiving list behind Braylon Edwards (1,289 in 2007) and Webster Slaughter (1,236 in 1989).

"You know, I'm not healthy,” Winslow told WKNR. “I do what I can to play as well as I can, but just imagine if I was healthy, like was I was back in college …. it would be unfair.”

Browns general manager Phil Savage said Thursday on his weekly radio segment on WTAM-AM that contract negotiations have begun with the agents for quarterback Derek Anderson and running back Jamal Lewis.

"We've had some things going on underground for the last week or so," Savage told the Browns' flagship station. "It's really just in the beginning stages. Those are the top two priorities, so we're off the first tee."

Things have been so underground that representatives at Athletes First in Newport Beach, Calif. have not returned calls on who is representing Anderson. His agent, David Dunn, is under suspension. Lewis' agent Mitch Frankel has not responded to emails.

Considering the impact Anderson and Lewis had on Cleveland's offensive resurgence during a 10-6 season, it would seem more significant if Savage had not begun talks with the Anderson and Lewis camps.

Anderson, a three-year veteran who went 10-5 in his first year as the Browns starter, will be a restricted free agent. His 29 touchdown passes this season just missed Brian Sipe's single-season record of 30 and Anderson's 3,787 passing yards was the team's fifth-highest total.

Playing on a one-year contract, ex-Raven Lewis rushed for 1,304 yards and became only the second Browns back to go over 1,300, joining Jim Brown.

Savage is likely proposing a long-term deal for Anderson, but not at break-the-bank money since Brady Quinn is waiting in the wings. If the two sides can't agree, Savage has another option. Cleveland could offer Anderson the highest tender of $2.562 million in 2008, which would bring the Browns first- and third-round draft picks in compensation if Anderson received an offer they elected not to match.

Lewis will want a multi-year deal for more than the $5 million (with incentives) he earned in 2007.

While the Browns could use at least two linebackers and two defensive linemen in the draft and free agency, the focus of the off-season will be the futures of quarterback Derek Anderson and running back Jamal Lewis.

Lewis, the ex-Raven, played on a one-year contract that paid him $5 million with incentives and surely will want more in his next deal. Anderson will become a restricted free agent unless the Browns sign him to a long-term contract before the free agency period begins Feb. 29. Even in that instance, he could still be traded.

Anderson went 10-5 as a starter, threw 29 TD passes (one short of Brian Sipe's team record) and was voted a Pro Bowl alternate. But on Monday, Anderson answered with a joke when he was asked if he'd like to come back for the long term.

"You want me back?" he said.

Fans are infatuated with rookie Brady Quinn, even through he played just one series this season and attempted eight passes.

Anderson said he's not surprised Browns backers have been talking about whether he should stay in 2008 for months.

"Everybody's going to try and twist it one way or another," he said. "Whatever it is, hopefully I'm back here. I enjoy the guys in this locker room."

Anderson believes he and Quinn, two young players with bright futures, can coexist. That scenario doesn't seem likely past next season.

"I don't see why not," he said. "Other teams have done it. I don't know how it happens or the whole process of it, I've never been through it. I hope so."

Whatever happens, Anderson will soon become a millionaire. He admitted he was anxious about where he'll end up.

"Of course. I really enjoy my teammates and I love these guys in this locker room," he said. "We've done a lot this season. We were 4-12 last season, a lot of work has been done and I had a lot of fun. Obviously a little disappointed in the way it ended."

Lewis rushed for 1,304 yards, joining Jim Brown as the only Browns' running backs to break 1,300 in a season. In recent weeks, Lewis sounded like he wanted to stay in Cleveland. Presumably he'll be seeking a multi-year deal.

"There's a lot more I can do," Lewis said. "This year I just wanted to prove to myself and to the coaches that brought me in that I can get it done. Next year I want to go over the top and prove I'm one of the best backs in this league."

Browns receiver Joe Jurevicius, 33, said he's coming back for one more season and hopes he'll be joined by Anderson and Lewis.

"They're two of the big reasons we're sitting here with 10 wins and 7-1 at home," Jurevicius said. "Derek is deserving of everything he's going to get. He played strong, was a leader in the huddle, spread the ball around, made plays, was a general on the field."

Jurevicius felt just as strongly about Lewis, who notched his fifth 100-yard game of the season in the finale against San Francisco.

"When you have Jamal Lewis, who rushed for over 9,000 yards in his career and he has another 100-yard game, it shows you what a potent running attack can do," Jurevicius said. "It opens up the pass and vice versa. What's so special about Jamal is he's a leader. He's kind of a quiet warrior, but he's a leader out there. Guys respond to him."

Jurevicius, a Cleveland native, was optimistic that general manager Phil Savage could find a way to retain both.

"I have every reason to believe we'll see them again next year in an orange helmet," Jurevicius said, "and that's going to be a big reason why this city's going to get used to success."

¶
Browns center Hank Fraley doesn't rush home after games at Cleveland Browns Stadium and he doesn't figure this week against San Francisco will be any different.

"I do a little tailgating afterwards, friends and family and teammates," Fraley said. "I host a tailgate after every game, win or lose. It's a better tailgate when we win. I used to do it in Philly and I brought it here."

Fraley said the festivities usually last about two hours, time enough for the traffic to clear. Then if he doesn't go out to dinner, he'll head home to play with his sons before bed, then catch some of the 8 p.m. NFL game.

He'll be watching closely this week. To reach the playoffs for the first time since 2002, the Browns need the Indianapolis Colts to beat the Tennessee Titans in the final game of the regular season.

"I'm sure guys will get together," Fraley said. "I guess we'll go watch that game at 8 o'clock somewhere. It will probably be the first time I've rooted for the Colts."

Fraley has been one of the Browns' unsung heroes since coming to Cleveland in a trade from Philadelphia on Sept. 2, 2006. After free agent center LeCharles Bentley went down in training camp with a torn patellar tendon that year, the Browns tried what seemed like a cast of thousands at the position. Since Fraley took over, the spot has been stabilized.

If Cleveland wins Sunday at Cincinnati, it clinches a playoff berth for the first time since 2002. Here's what some of the Browns starters had to say this week.

QUARTERBACK DEREK ANDERSON

(on the weather) "Hopefully we'll have a little bit of a normal surface underneath us."

(another shootout?) "Who knows what will exactly happen. I think our defense is playing a little bit better than we were in that second week. And their defense has changed since the beginning of the season as well."

"We talked about trying to pretend like that didn't happen and we hadn't seen them before and go in like it was a team we hadn't played."

(have you progressed since first meeting) "It's been all right. I've had some ups and downs. But overall I'm happy with where we are right now. We're in a good position to finish the season strong."

(you more confident than in second game) "We've been through a lot more experiences. The more you're in there, the more confident you become. We've grown a lot since that first or second week."

(pro bowl selections) "I'm happy for the guys who are going. It's a good deal. It says a lot about what we've done as a whole."

(are the Bengals a dangerous spoiler) "We're going to prepare like it's every single week. Nobody's taking it any lighter. Every game is important right now and that's how we've been attacking for I don't know how many weeks."

(did your performance in week 2 settle you down) "No. Then you've got to keep repeating it and keep moving the ball and winning games. I've done that for the most part."

(how big was that first win) "It was huge. We knew what we could do. We went out there and were successful on offense and did some good things. Really picked up when we needed to and scored, kind of got guys' confidence in things we had been doing and got us rolling a little bit."

(will you buy gifts for your offensive linemen) "I have a few ideas."

(any you can share) "Nope. But I've decided."

RUNNING BACK JAMAL LEWIS¶

(disappointed not a Pro Bowl alternate) "It doesn't matter, really. It's individual efforts and I kinda knew I wasn't going to be in there, anyway. The guys who went earned it, they had the numbers to put up for it. Congratulations to them."

(what's at stake Sunday) "They're in our division and it's going to be a fight pretty much every time we play them. We have to control the things we can control and execute the plays we put in this week in practice and roll on. Every game is important and this is the next one and we want to come out with a win.

"It's just another team that we have to face that's on the road the way we're trying to go that's in our way. That's how we have to take this game, this team is in our way and we have to go out there and play one of our better games."

(are you still putting in plays now) "We still have things we adjust."

(can the Bengals make it hard for you to run) "This past week it was hard for us to pass and we still made the plays we needed to make. We put in plays if it's raining, if it's wet, we can throw the short passes. There are things you can do, eight- or nine-man fronts that we know we're going to have to face."

TIGHT END KELLEN WINSLOW

(on Bengals) "They have a potent offense, hopefully it's not a shootout and hopefully we
just come out with a win."

(nice to know one win and you're in) "We don't know about all that. All we know is we have to win out and we're in so we don't count on other people losing. We just take care of our business and we'll be in there."

Perhaps the most amazing part of Cleveland's 8-5 season is that the Browns have a legitimate shot at a wild-card playoff berth despite fielding the league's worst defense.

Coach Romeo Crennel didn't sugarcoat that fact when asked by an out-of-town media member last week what concerned him about the defense.

"The thing that concerns me is that we're not good," Crennel said. "We're not good enough. We're going to work and try to get better — to get guys to play technique longer and get them in position better, to fit better. If we can do some of those things, we'll be better."

Pressed on why the defense is not good, Crennel added, "All you have to do is look at the stats. When you look at the stats, we can't stop the run and we don't rush the passer efficiently enough. Those are some of the things."

He didn't seem to care how that message goes over in the locker room.

"I don't ask them. They know how I feel about them," he said. "They know we need to be more consistent. The stats are what they are. It doesn't do you any good to sugarcoat them. We need to be more consistent on defense. At times, our defense has played well and we've made some stops when we had to that helped the team win some games. But consistently, we haven't been able to do it enough.

"The kids on defense, they've worked very hard and are very conscientious. They want to be good. We just aren't consistent enough."

In a 24-18 victory over the New York Jets Sunday, Cleveland surrendered 387 yards, 175 in the fourth quarter. The Browns have allowed a 100-yard rusher in 10 of their 13 games, most recently the Jets' Thomas Jones, who totalled 106 yards on 24 carries. Crennel attributed some of those 175 yards to the Jets running against the sub defense.

But looking at the bigger picture, he can't pinpoint one problem.

"It’s always a number of things - injuries are one," Crennel said. "Sometimes it's gap control, sometimes it's run fits, sometimes it's pursuit angles, you just keep harping on those things. When you have different defenses, guys end up playing multiple positions. You now have a defensive back playing a linebacker position and he has to learn all the linebacker run fits. All of that goes together and it's some of the reason for the inconsistencies."

Whatever the reasons, Cleveland will certainly spend most of its time and money in free agency and the draft upgrading the defense, even if it fails to acquire the No. 1 pick it gave up for quarterback Brady Quinn.

Browns cornerback Brandon McDonald continued to shine Sunday as fellow rookie Eric Wright was sidelined for the third consecutive week with a sprained right knee. McDonald came up with his second interception in the past three games in a 24-18 victory over the New York Jets.

Cleveland led 17-6, but the Jets had driven to their own 48 and faced second down when McDonald nabbed quarterback Kellen Clemens' pass intended for receiver Wallace Wright. McDonald ran out of bounds at the Cleveland 31 with 10:07 to go.

"I was in man coverage against a pretty good receiver," McDonald said. I had pretty good leverage on the guy and I heard the ball call from a couple of my teammates on the sideline. I looked up and there it was."

McDonald finished with four tackles (three solos), two passes defensed and a special teams tackle.

Browns coach Romeo Crennel said even if Wright had returned this week, McDonald had earned playing time in nickel situations. That's good news for McDonald, a fifth-round pick from Memphis who played only on special teams until game 8 against Seattle.

"I'm always looking forward to getting better responsibilities," McDonald said. "If they call my name to do something, I'm going to try to do my best."

McDonald may have been the 140th man drafted, but his teammates are noticing his contributions.

"Brandon McDonald continued to make big plays," receiver Braylon Edwards said.

Browns coach Romeo Crennel never tries to downplay his responsibilities in how his team fares. But more than once after Sunday's 27-21 loss at Arizona, Crennel called himself out.

"We didn't play very well at all," he said. "We turned the ball over, we muffed punts, we had penalties. We did not do a good enough job coaching and we did not do a good enough job playing."

Cleveland lost four turnovers that Arizona turned into 21 points and was penalized 10 times for 77 yards. Cornerback Leigh Bodden was whistled for delay of game for kicking the ball after a third-down incompletion that kept Arizona's second touchdown drive alive. Defensive lineman Simon Fraser was cited for a head butt on Joshua Cribbs' kickoff return on Cleveland's final possession that left the Browns starting from their 18.

Asked if his team lost its composure, Crennel said, "We didn't do a good enough job coaching or playing and that's the only explanation I can give you."

Crennel may have another point to emphasize because penalties have been a relatively overlooked thorn in the Browns' side all season. They committed seven for 71 yards in the previous victory over Houston and 12 for 104 yards the week before at Baltimore. They've also had more than six against Oakland (9-64), New England (7-40), St. Louis (14-102) and Pittsburgh (7-40 on Nov. 11).

Cleveland ranked third in the league in penalties last week with 85, trailing only Arizona (97) and Green Bay (86).

"People try so hard to make the play, you want to play good ball. There's a fine line between a call and no call," Browns linebacker Chaun Thompson said.

"I didn't see all the penalties, so I'm not going to try to rate that guys lost their composure or whatever happened," Browns linebacker Willie McGinest said. "Any time you get penalties it's not good."

Leftovers from the Browns' 27-17 victory over Houston:

TE KELLEN WINSLOW

(on getting beat up) That's what you get paid to do, that's my job, to make plays when it comes my way.

(Browns defense) They played huge. They got pressure all game. McDonald stepped up big-time for Eric Wright. It was a total team effort. It feels good when it's a total team effort.

(on his physical condition) I do stuff I have to do before the games. I don't know about 100 percent. But once the off-season comes we'll talk about what I need to do to get as healthy as I can.

(on a 10-catch day) When the ball's in the air, you don't hear anything, all I see is the ball. I don't remember any of my catches, I remember my drops. That's the perfection side of it.

When the ball is in the air, it's my ball. I don't worry about getting hit, I don't worry about anything else except my ball.

(his and Braylon Edwards' chemistry with Derek Anderson) After practice we work with DA a lot, talking things out. We still have a long way to go. All of us are getting better. The line is doing a hellvua job, they're the MVPs of this team. If you give the quarterback time to throw, we can make plays.

LB KAMERION WIMBLEY

(on the defense) Last week Brodney Pool took one back, this week a new guy Brandon McDonald made a big play when it's needed. We're having confidence in each other and we're doing our responsibilities.

LB ANDRA DAVIS

At 7-4, I'm like a kid in a candy store. But we've still got a long ways to go.

(key plays when needed) We're having a lot of success because we make plays when we need them the most.

(This show the defense making strides) I think so. We know we've got a long ways to go.

COACH ROMEO CRENNEL

(On FB Lawrence Vickers) We needed for him to block well. If Jamal gets those kind of yards that says he's doing a pretty good job. It looks like he threw it in there pretty good. It looks like he was trying to be aggressive and go after them.

(Third down stops) They are all important. Defensively our third down percentage was pretty good today. That helps you win the game.

(does the team expect to win) I think every time you have some success your confidence level grows. When we were able to win some games at the beginning of the season, that helped the confidence grow. Right now they feel pretty decent about themselves and what they're able to do.

(running the ball) Running the ball takes its toll physically and mentally on a defense.

(Anderson) He played like our team played, got off to a slow start, then he turned it on and started making some plays. There were one or two throws I'm sure he'd like to have back, particularly that interception, he shouldn't have thrown that one. But he's still playing well enough for us to win.

(scratch your head on his interception) All players are going to have some plays they'd like to have back. The thing you want to know if he realized he shouldn't have made the throw. Right away he knew that was one he wanted back, so I think he learned from it.

QB DEREK ANDERSON

The defense played great today, held 'em to 10 pretty much until the end. They're improving every week and guys are understanding what they have to do.

(Winslow TD) Down in the red zone that was kind of a game plan, we knew the way Ryans got depth down there either him or Joe was going to be open. I threw it low and he made a good catch on it.

(interception) I had Braylon, didn't really step into it. I threw it all arm and it got caught up in the wind.

(running game) I had a good feeling coming into it. As physical as Jamal is at the end of the game, those guys don't want to tackle him. Jamal played his butt off today.

(relief to not win in final seconds) It was kinda nice. I still wish we would have converted a few more of those drives into touchdowns instead of field goals and we would have not had to worry about it a little sooner. It was good to get a win and a lot better than a one-point win.

(control playoff destiny) We're going to focus on one game at a time, the way we've been doing it. We can't really worry about what everybody else is doing. As long as we're taking care of business, everything else is going to be all right.

(Winslow) His agility, his speed, he knows how to use his body. You've got to put a 'backer in the game and try to stop the run or put a safety or a nickel on him, then we may run the ball. It gives different matchups for the defense.

He goes and gets it. He always tells me and I trust him. As long as it's one on one I'm going to give him a chance to make plays for us.

(home field advantage) I think just in general, guys are bonding, we pick up for each other. When the defense isn't playing good, we've got to go get something. When we're not moving it, the defense is getting stops. The special teams have been playing great for us all year.

(7-4 record) I wouldn't say it's completely surprised me. We didn't have a great preseason. But in practice through camp we were moving the ball, you kind of feel it out and see what are going to be our key components. You match it all together and get a nice little chemistry.

(team have a swagger) Not in a bad way. But in a good way. You've got to be confident in what you're doing. I try to bring that to our guys in the huddle. 'This is what we're doing and how we're going to do it.' As long as we stay believing in what we're doing, we're going to be fine.

WR JOE JUREVICIUS

There's no reason to talk about the playoffs where we still have five games to go and there's a lot of teams that are kind of bottled up right now.

LT JOE THOMAS

The defense played probably their best game of the year. Our offense started off slow, but toward the end we kind of put it together. I think we can be a pretty good team when we're both firing.

(matchup with Mario Williams) He's a great player and we played him tough all day.