Derek Anderson Barks Back At Browns Fans

NFL News - March 10th, 2010 - Written by John Ritter

By the time word spread that Seneca Wallace was being brought in by Mike Holmgren, the writing was on the wall that one, if not both, of the Cleveland Browns' controversial quarterbacks were on the outs.

And now that Derek Anderson is officially gone, he has some conflicting thoughts about his five years with the team.

First, he had nothing but brimstone for Browns fans, who he said were "ruthless" when attending games, so much so that they applauded his season-ending injury.

“The fans are ruthless and don’t deserve a winner,” Anderson first said in an email to the Willoughby News-Herald. “I will never forget getting cheered when I was injured.

“I know at times I wasn’t great. I hope and pray I’m playing when my team comes to town and [we] roll them.”

Anderson was referring to November of 2008 when he shredded his knee and fell to the turf while fans cheered for his substitution.

But just a day later, Anderson is scaling back is criticism, writing a statement that is part damage control, part apology.

“I said some things to (News-Herald reporter) Jeff Schudel earlier that I regret,” Anderson said. “Those of you who got to know me personally from covering the Browns over the past five years, know this was out of character for me. I wasn’t taken out of context, but I was speaking out of frustration after my career with the Browns came to a close.

“I had some great times playing in Cleveland, especially during the 2007 season, and I met some great people and made many lifelong friends along the way. I’m looking forward to starting a new chapter in my life.”

Anderson said he was also irked by a lack of communication from Cleveland's front office this off-season, and didn't even hear from anyone until being informed he was cut. He spent all of his five NFL season with the Browns, signing a contract extension after a Pro Bowl season in 2007. But he only threw 12 more touchdowns over the next two seasons, and rotated in-and-out of the lineup with Brady Quinn.

He was due a $2 million bonus along with a $7.5 million salary after March 19 if he wasn't cut.

With Wallace now in, ESPN is reporting that Quinn being aggressively shopped for a trade, and may be cut loose soon, too.

Anderson is planning to visit the Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals at the end of the week.

The Browns area 100/1 underdog to win the Super Bowl, according to NFL Betting Lines listed on Bodog.