Anderson may certainly have preferred a longer deal with the Browns than the one he got, but considering the alternatives out there, Anderson had to figure that his long-term financial prospects were likely better with a shorter term deal now on a team with a great offensive line. With word that Anderson’s guaranteed money isn’t all up front but spread over all three years, including a sizable roster bonus due next season, both Anderson and the Browns have created a contract situation that would allow him to thrive here for at least one more season and cash in elsewhere the next season if Savage decides he prefers Quinn. In other words, Savage’s lack of commitment is also to Anderson’s advantage.

The wild card in all of this is Quinn. It’s highly unlikely that his presence on the roster made much of a difference in Anderson’s overall evaluation, but it would be foolish for him to ignore Quinn all together.

Not only does Quinn have the aforementioned advantage of being popular without having actually accomplished anything, but the coaching staff too knows that the Browns commitment to Anderson doesn’t necessarily run all that deep, particularly given the kind of contract Anderson signed. Quinn sees the same thing. Anderson showed last year in pre-season that he doesn’t respond well to internal competition, but this time his adversary is a quarterback with a much better pedigree.

Anderson didn’t necessarily make a wrong decision in re-signing with the Browns. In fact, it benefits him in more ways than not. But the tendency he has on the field to make quick decisions seems to have carried over to one of the more important off-the-field decisions he’ll have to make. But where he gets a second chance on the next play to hit that receiver he just overthrew, the second chance he might need to really cash in could be years away, if at all.