1. #1
    Chance Harper
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    MNF: Giants host Browns in preseason action

    MNF: Giants host Browns in preseason action

    The Cleveland Browns are adding a little dazzle to their Monday night meeting with the defending Super Bowl Champions by unveiling a new uniform look. However, Romeo Crennel is probably more interested in seeing how his three quarterbacks – Derek Anderson, Brady Quinn and Ken Dorsey – perform instead of how they look in the new unis and whether Kellen Winslow's aches and pains will let him see much action.


    Brady Quinn is finally getting his moment in the spotlight. Too bad it’s in a preseason game.

    This isn’t the way things were supposed to go for the top-rated quarterback in the 2007 NFL Draft. Quinn went from national stardom with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish to holding a clipboard for the Cleveland Browns. Missing the first 10 days of training camp in a contract dispute was more than enough to keep Quinn from getting a chance to start as a rookie.

    But it didn’t stop Quinn from making an impact during the preseason. After missing the opening week, he put up some excellent numbers the rest of the way: 29-for-45 passing for 300 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. Cleveland went 2-1 straight up and against the spread in those games as coach Romeo Crennel improved to 8-4 (9-3 ATS) in exhibition play.

    Cleveland wasn’t able to keep that momentum rolling into 2008. With Charlie Frye now a member of the Seattle Seahawks, the Browns are a little thinner at QB – although still well represented by incumbent starter Derek Anderson, Quinn, and Ken Dorsey. That threesome was nonetheless unable to lead Cleveland to the pay window in last week’s 24-20 loss to the visiting New York Jets (+4½).

    The story is different for Cleveland’s opponent on Monday night. The New York Giants followed up on their Super Bowl win by increasing their depth at quarterback. Joining Eli Manning and ex-Baltimore Ravens starter Anthony Wright is former No. 1 overall pick David Carr. Both Carr and Wright were very good in New York’s exhibition opener, a 13-10 road loss to the Detroit Lions (-3).

    That loss drops Tom Coughlin to 9-8 (9-7-1 ATS) in exhibition play since taking over the Giants in 2004. There is no evident pattern in the results to suggest Coughlin is worth fading or following. But we do know that he has some newfound job security after winning the Super Bowl – not that rumbling of his imminent demise prevented the Giants from going 1-3 SU and ATS in the 2007 preseason.

    Coughlin will no doubt be more concerned this month with getting his roster sorted out in time for the regular season. A combination of player turnover and injuries is making his job unusually difficult for a defending league champion. Missing at the wide receiver position are Plaxico Burress (ankle), Steve Smith (hamstring), Amani Toomer (knee), David Tyree (knee) and third-round pick Mario Manningham (quad). None of the five is expected to play Monday.

    That leaves Manning with some work to do. The Super Bowl MVP told the Associated Press after Saturday’s practice that he expects to take the first 25 plays against the Browns, which gives him a chance to work with some of New York’s less experienced wideouts. Domenik Hixon in particular has drawn rave reviews for his work in camp and will start Monday night alongside Sinorice Moss.

    Manning also described Monday’s contest as an opportunity to become more accustomed to Cleveland’s 3-4 defense. The Browns added some heft up front with the offseason acquisitions of tackles Shaun Rogers and Corey Williams; they also got some brains to go with that brawn when former Ohio State assistant Mel Tucker was hired as defensive co-ordinator. Rogers has a sore knee, but Crennel says he will play Monday.

    After opening as 3-point favorites on the NFL betting odds, the Giants have slipped to -2 at most books with a total of 35½. ESPN’s Monday Night Football coverage from Giants Stadium begins at 8:00 p.m. Eastern.

  2. #2
    Sforz
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    nice write up.. thanks

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