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Derek Anderson to start at QB in place of Allen for Bills
The Associated Press JOHN WAWROW (AP Sports Writer),The Associated Press 58 minutes ago

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) -- Derek Anderson went from having the Buffalo Bills lure him out of semiretirement one week, to taking over the starting job for injured rookie Josh Allen the next.

So much for the 35-year-old having any chance of easing his way back into football some 10 months since attempting what Anderson once thought might well have been the last pass - an incompletion - of his 12-year career.

''Things that happen in this game never amaze me,'' Anderson said after practice Wednesday, a day after being informed he'll start in Buffalo's game at Indianapolis on Sunday.

''I was fully aware of what I was getting myself into coming here,'' he added. Obviously, not ideal. But we're going to do the best we can.''

It's not an ideal situation because Anderson was signed to serve as Allen's mentor. Allen, however, is now listed week to week after the first-round draft pick sprained the right elbow on his throwing arm in a 20-13 loss at Houston last weekend.

What's also troubling is how the Bills (2-4) had little choice but to go with Anderson ahead of turnover-prone backup Nathan Peterman, who has already thrown four interceptions in less than four quarters of playing time this season.

Coach Sean McDermott acknowledged Peterman's struggles as playing a factor in his decision, before adding: ''I feel like this is the right decision for our football team right now.''

That leaves the Bills putting their trust in a newcomer unfamiliar with their playbook and personnel. There's also the rust factor, given Anderson attempted just eight passes in three games with Carolina last season, and is 2-2 in four starts over the past seven years.

''Yeah, I think that's obvious,'' McDermott said of Anderson's limited playing time.

On the plus side, McDermott said: ''He brings experience, leadership, presence to the table and he's worked hard the last week and a half here to get himself up to speed.''

Anderson laughed when asked how long it might take to become accustomed to starting again.

''Hopefully, very quickly,'' he said. ''It'll take a minute to get used to it. But I think we'll have a good plan.''

That plan remains a work in progress, with Anderson preparing to inform offensive coordinator Brian Daboll by kickoff which plays he's comfortable visualizing and which ones he can't so they can be removed from consideration.

''I'm not a rocket scientist, but I'm pretty smart,'' he said. ''Yeah, we're getting there.''

Anderson, who has a 20-27 record as a starter, is at least familiar with several coaches.

McDermott was the Panthers defensive coordinator during most of Anderson's seven seasons in Carolina. Daboll held the same job in Cleveland in 2009 when Anderson went 3-4 in replacing Brady Quinn as the Browns starter.

Anderson is also reunited with receiver Kelvin Benjamin, who spent his first 3+ seasons in Carolina before being traded to Buffalo a year ago.

Anderson will become the third quarterback to start this season and ninth to start a game since the Bills selected EJ Manuel in the first round of the 2013 draft. The list includes Matt Cassel, who took the first snap on a trick play in the 2015 season opener before giving way to Tyrod Taylor.

The Bills' intention to gradually develop Allen as a backup was scrapped after Peterman faltered in a 47-3 season-opening loss at Baltimore. Allen started the next game and is 2-3 since.

The 23-year-old's development will now be limited to watching from the sideline and studying game film.

''I'm looking at it as a blessing in disguise right now to see how he operates,'' Allen said, referring to Anderson.

Allen spoke while wearing a brace covering most of his right arm.

He was hurt while being struck from both sides by Whitney Mercilus and Jadeveon Clowney. Mercilus hit Allen's throwing arm just after the quarterback released the ball for a 39-yard completion to Benjamin. He stayed in the game for one more play - an incompletion to Zay Jones - before going down to one knee.

''I knew at that point that me staying on the field was going to hurt the team,'' he said. ''It (stinks) but it is what it is.''

Allen said it was the combination of being hit twice that caused the injury.

McDermott said a second medical opinion confirmed the initial diagnosis of Allen's injury being a sprain and not requiring surgery.


https://www.yahoo.com/sports/bills-name-veteran-qb-anderson-start-place-allen-155118427--nfl.html

Best of luck, DA!

He was my fav Browns QB since Bernie.

He was lotsa fun.

Good luck dude, hope it works outs.

Better than Peterman. IMO he'll be decent enough.

Damn, with Markkanen out until Nov 30th, I didn't think the Bulls were that desperate for help. Plus, Anderson is only 6'6". I doubt he can play the 3, let alone the 4.

Just kidding.

Good for him. Can't say I want him to do well, but whatever. I wonder how bad Petterman wants released now. I can't say he has a future in the organization if they're calling DA over him.

Any bets who will have a better rating or stats this Sunday? Baker or DA? I ask because these spot starters tend to light it up the first game. Just wondering.

DA is not nearly as bad as most Brown's fans claim.

Really? There a reason he hasn't been a starter in years. Zero touch, dumb throws, two
left feet.

His bonehead INTs at Cincinnati cost us a playoff spot in 2007. He's had one very good year. Every other year has been less than stellar.

Sorry vers, you won't convince me lol

No problem. Not trying to convince anyone of anything. I know football and DA was much better than Brown's fans thought. They wanted BQ in there and trashed perhaps the single greatest statistical season in Brown's history.

Meanwhile, DA outlasted BQ by a long shot. Another good call by Brown's fans.

Lol, I get ya, but using BQ to prop up DA might not be the best approach haha.

He has lasted, I'll give you that. I actually like him as a guy, but as a QB in a big game? No.

Edit: I'd love it if he lit it up on Sunday though.

DA was the last QB to lead this team to a winning record. (for the season) He helped bring excitement back to Browns football.

I sure hope that the Bills can protect him. I do think that Shady will really like having him at QB, if they can.

i remember it well....i gave up on the browns for the first time ever...they traded charlie frye ....then i heard they had a winning record 3 weeks earlier.

i really gave up. i didnt watch for 3 weeks. then went back. fun season after all

DA does fine so long as there is no mental pressure to succeed. When he is loose and letting it fly he does much better. When he feels the mental pressure to win and is expected to win then he starts to break down.

There is no way that the Bills expect DA to come in and win it for them. He just provides an excuse to say they tried. So expect them to throw 4 TDs as he let's it rip and just tries to have fun one last time.

Good luck Derek.

I liked DA. He had his faults but we had that one year where we at least won games at home. He made it fun.

I'll be pulling for him. We have a bank of 6 TV's reserved for the Browns game. We have a BIlls fan who sits with us and we put the Bills game on one TV for him. I'll glance over to the Bills game from time to time to check it out.

I did too. I thought he gave us what he had ... and it was our best year in a LONG time

I kept wondering if CFL had a Bulls team...

Browns fans and DA supporters/detractors aren't the only people to whiff on QB evaluations.

My Bengal fan buddy wanted McCarron over Dalton the last several years...

I thought BQ should have been given more opportunities...

Hue thought he could coax greatness out of Kizer by throwing the ball like Kizer was Tom Brady...

Someone actually drafted JaMarcus Russell at #1 overall...

Aaron Rogers lasted until what...Rd 3

Ryan Leaf was a 1st Rd Pick...

Some fans were adamant that Baker Mayfield was a 3rd Rd quality QB.

It happens...but Browns fans and Browns FOs don't hold a monopoly on missed QB evaluations.

j/c


The Bills locker room would have imploded if Peterman gained another start.

I feel like this is akin to our 2016 season when we had Clipboard Jesus finish a game for us...

If DA gets hurt I can't imagine the Bills winning another game.


And to further comment, all you need to know about McCarron is that the Bills traded him away and started the season with Peterman as their QB.

I haven't watched the Bills closely enough to say, but how did Allen look when he was playing?

Rodger was drafted with the 24th overall pick in the 2005 draft.

Still in the league.


Quinn has been spectating for multiple years. smh

Allen has more rushing touchdowns than passing. He also has more yds per rush attempt than pass attempt. So....

and I still like Holcomb over Couch!

As for DA, he might have given us a "Pro Bowl" season and almost took us to the playoffs, but he did say this...

"The fans are ruthless and don't deserve a winner. 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."

Yes, he apologized for that statement, but I think he still feels this way. Also, I was always under the impression the fans were cheering that it meant Brady was coming into the game, as in, cheering the change of QB, not the injury per se. Sure, it's a fine line and I could understand how it must have sounded laying there in pain, but most Cleveland fans don't want any player injured (except Lead).

I agree. I remember that game, I don't think many were cheering his injury - but there are fans all over who are like that. I believe many were cheering on the next QB in line - another thing not limited to just Browns fans.

eh...

I have been to several Browns games. Sadly, our fans are jerks and we are probably some of the worst in the NFL.

I've not been to Buffalo, and I've heard they are even worse. I know when Bills fans come here, they aren't pleasant.

I've been to a handful of stadiums, not a lot, and i'll say we are the worst I've seen at home.

My first thought was he moved to Chicago and took up Basketball...

I was there when it happened and I don't blame him for feeling that way.

I was at that game, too.

the reaction of the fans really upset me. I remember thinking that I wasn't very proud of being a Brown's fan.

Moving on..........DA is probably going to have a rough go of it on Sunday. He has only been there a couple of weeks. He'll probably throw some picks.

Yeah, I think it's going to be ugly. But I certainly hold no ill will for DA.

DA:

21-31 265yds 2td 1int

...and a win. Book it.

you're right.... he's worse LOL

ooops

Thanks for that correction. Some fun facts about that draft:

#1 Alex Smith
#24 Aaron Rogers
#25 Jason Campbell
#67 Charlie Fry
#213 Derrick Anderson
#250 Ryan Fitzpatrick

Three of those guys played for us.

could you imagine how good we would have been if we got Alex Smith, DA and Fitzpatrick?

and all three were out of the league until last week lol while the others have had great, good, and ok careers. lol

I also remember when Chud was hired as Head Coach, Anderson said he felt like he had unfinished business in Cleveland and wanted to come back and play here again.

Finally, another chance. Get after it and good luck, DA.

For whatever reason, DA had a great year in 2007. Then, the following year, we saw Joe Jurevicious retire and it seemed like that was the end of DA. Without a crafty veteran who knew how to find openings in the D and move the chains, the guy was sunk.

There was probably more to it then that.....but, he was never the same....

I think it was more so Braylon and KWII making insane crazy stretched out diving catches, HUGE RAC etc.

DA gave us an exciting year, that's for sure, but I think it was more on his surrounding cast playing out their minds then him. It was just one of those freak seasons that EVERYONE over produced.