Derek Anderson: From humble beginnings to budding star
December 27, 2007
BEREA, Ohio — Derek Anderson, all 6-foot-6 of him, walked into the Cleveland Browns’ television studio a few weeks ago wearing one of those “Fargo”-esque, fur-lined aviator hats, the kind with the big ear flaps. Browns communication manager Amy Palcic — just this side of mortified — groaned.
Anderson, who also had a bit of a beard going, bears a striking resemblance to — and there is no way around this — the cartoon character Goofy. This is the single word that comes up most often when folks discuss the Browns’ transcendent quarterback.
“If you’re going to name a Disney character after him,” said wide receiver Joe Jurevicius, “it’s definitely Goofy.”
And Anderson not only looks the part, it’s his world view.
“I just try to keep it loose,” Anderson said. “If you get tight then you start second-guessing things. I’ve realized that I play better when I play loose.”
Said Browns general manager Phil Savage: “The tighter the game gets, the looser he is. That’s a great quality to have.”
Before the 2007 season there wasn’t much empirical evidence that Anderson was such a cool customer. He had played in only five games in three NFL seasons and seemed destined to sit behind Charlie Frye and first-round draft choice Brady Quinn. Read more
