Barton blow for Browns

Barton: Injury blow

Looking back in the series that I had, I felt pretty comfortable with my decision-making with a couple of exceptions. I would just try to go out there and get better and make something happen.

Brady Quinn
Quotes of the week

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Just when they thought things could not get any worse for the Cleveland Browns, they suffered the loss of their top linebacker for the season time this season with Eric Barton ruled out for the remainder of the year.

The Browns lost their top tackler D'Qwell Jackson to a shoulder injury last month, and now Barton has joined him on the season-ending injured reserve list with an unspecified problem.

Barton had started all eight games for the Browns this season and has registered 58 tackles to lead the team.

Eric Mangini's Browns have just one win to their name so far in a struggling campaign, and having both their starting inside linebackers missing will not help their cause for the remaining eight contests.

Barton is one of ten former New York Jets brought to Cleveland by former coach Mangini, but he is not out after first injuring himself against Chicago on November 1.

Passion

"I feel bad for Eric because I know how much passion he has for the game and what it means to him," Mangini said in a statement.

"His ability to run the defense and allow those around him to play better will be greatly missed."

More problems for the Browns come at quarterback, with reports suggesting Brady Quinn will be given another chance to replace Derek Anderson after his recent woes.

Popular back-up Quinn has not really been given much playing time this season despite Anderson's dreadful form - with many believing this is because Quinn would be due a huge pay increase if he played 70 percent of the snaps this season under a clause in his contract.

Quinn started the season but was benched in the third game against Baltimore, but could now return for the Monday night game, ironically against the Ravens.

Mangini is keeping up his secrecy though, and has not yet even announced to the players who will line up under centre on Monday night.

"I don't know," said Quinn. "Looking back in the series that I had, I felt pretty comfortable with my decision-making with a couple of exceptions. I would just try to go out there and get better and make something happen."