Living a Charmed Life Away From Baltimore

Ex-Ravens Pick Has Sparked Browns

OWINGS MILLS, Md., Nov. 14 -- It wasn't exactly headline news when the Baltimore Ravens waived quarterback Derek Anderson on Sept. 20, 2005, and the Cleveland Browns signed him a day later. At the time, Anderson was a rookie from Oregon State, a sixth-round draft pick with a big arm and even bigger feet (size 17 shoes at age 10).

Fast forward two years, however, and it's one of the dominant story lines as the Ravens prepare to host their AFC North rival Sunday.

Anderson's play has been one of the revelations of the season and is a major reason the Browns, who have the worst-ranked defense in the league, are 5-4 and in the mix for a playoff spot. Meantime, quarterback has been a problem for the Ravens, who are a disappointing 4-5 and are starting Kyle Boller in place of Steve McNair, who is out for two to three weeks with a partially dislocated non-throwing shoulder.

The 6-foot-6 Anderson ranks among the league's leading passers, completing 164 of 292 attempts for 2,231 yards and a rating of 90.7. He has thrown 20 touchdown passes, the fourth-highest total in the league -- behind Tom Brady, Tony Romo and Ben Roethlisberger -- and four times as many as Baltimore's quarterbacks (five between Boller and McNair). The Ravens aren't surprised by Anderson's performance.

"He's playing the way we thought he would play," Coach Brian Billick said. "We liked Derek very much. It was just one of those things that you have to make those moves."

Baltimore cut Anderson to clear a roster spot to sign wide receiver Patrick Johnson (2005 totals: two catches for 31 yards). The Ravens already had three quarterbacks on their roster -- Boller, Anthony Wright and Kordell Stewart -- and they hoped that Anderson would clear waivers so they could sign him to the practice squad.

But the Browns moved in; they viewed Anderson as a classic drop-back pocket quarterback. Anderson didn't play during his rookie season, and he appeared in five games last year while playing behind Charlie Frye. But Frye was benched during this season's opener against Pittsburgh, and Anderson hasn't left the field since.

"As a backup last year, he didn't get too many opportunities," Cleveland Coach Romeo Crennel said. "So this year, he's taken the bull by the horns, so to speak, and he's been running with it."

Anderson has big-play ability because of his arm strength, but he has also been prone to mistakes. At Oregon State, he threw 79 touchdown passes but also had 57 interceptions. During training camp with the Ravens two years ago, he had trouble handling snaps and fumbled on his first play in the preseason opener. But he also led Baltimore to a comeback against the Washington Redskins in the preseason finale, throwing a 66-yard touchdown pass in overtime.

He's been able to cut down on his mistakes this season (he has nine interceptions) and take advantage of skilled teammates, namely wide receiver Braylon Edwards (17.5 yards per catch, 10 touchdowns). In the first meeting with the Ravens -- a 27-13 Cleveland win -- Anderson connected with Edwards on a 78-yard scoring pass in the first quarter that set the tone of the game.

"He's a good guy, a great teammate and a great quarterback," said Ravens defensive tackle Dwan Edwards, who played with Anderson at Oregon State. "He would make a lot of mistakes, throw a lot of interceptions throughout his career, but won a lot of big games for us as well. Sometimes you never know what you're going to get with him as well. He can light you up, or he can throw a lot of balls your way. You never know. . . . He's definitely making a lot less mistakes than he has in the past. He's got some great guys to throw to, and that makes it a lot easier."

Anderson said he has fond memories of his brief time with the Ravens, and he keeps in touch with several former teammates. He and Boller are close; Boller describes Anderson as "goofy," and Anderson proclaims himself to be the superior golfer.

Anderson was disappointed, initially, to leave Baltimore. But he hasn't spent much time thinking about what might have been if he stayed.

"Not really," Anderson said. "Possibly, it would've been a little while until I got a chance to play, but who knows what would have happened? I don't really dwell on it or think about it."

Ravens Notes: Billick said Boller could remain the starter, even after McNair comes back, "and it has to do with Steve's strength as well and how we're doing as a team." . . .

In addition to McNair, cornerback Samari Rolle (undisclosed illness) and wide receiver Demetrius Williams (ankle) have been ruled out for Sunday's game. Tight end Todd Heap (hamstring), safety Gerome Sapp (thigh) and tight end Daniel Wilcox (foot) did not practice Wednesday. Cornerback Chris McAlister (knee) was limited but said, "As long as we don't have any setbacks, things are looking good" for Sunday. . . .

The Ravens signed wide receiver Matt Willis to the active roster from the practice squad. They placed rookie linebacker Prescott Burgess, a sixth-round draft pick, on injured reserve with a hip injury.