Quinn in, Anderson out as Browns change QBs
The Browns will make an official announcement about their quarterback situation today. According to ESPN.com, coach Eric Mangini likely will name Brady Quinn to start the game Monday against the Baltimore Ravens in Cleveland.
Quinn started the first three games of the season before being replaced by Derek Anderson. His last start was against the Ravens in Week 3, and he was benched after falling behind 20-0 in the first half.
The Browns (1-7) are coming off a bye week. Anderson was 6-for-17 with two interceptions in a 30-6 loss to the Bears on Nov. 1.
• Linebacker Eric Barton, the Browns' leading tackler, will miss the rest of the season with an unspecified injury. He was injured in the first half of the Bears game.
VICK KEEPS $16M: A federal appeals court backed the judge who ruled against the NFL and let quarterback Michael Vick keep more than $16 million in roster bonuses from the Atlanta Falcons.
The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed Judge David Doty's order saying Vick already had earned the bonuses before his dogfighting conviction, so the money wasn't subject to forfeiture.
Vick served 18 months in prison and is now with the Eagles.
ORTON PROMISES RECOVERY: Josh McDaniels had the Midas touch at the start of the season, his every move paying off as the Denver Broncos shocked the NFL with a 6-0 start.
The Broncos (6-2) have hit the skids since coming off a break, dropping their second consecutive game with a 28-10 loss Monday to the Steelers. Their rushing attack was nonexistent against the Steelers, Kyle Orton threw three interceptions and a dependable defense wore down in the final quarter.
The Broncos have been outscored 45-14 in the second halves of their last two games, blowout losses to the Ravens and Steelers.
''They are two good defenses,'' Orton said. ''When you play those guys, the margin for error is very small. As a quarterback, I put it on myself. It is my offense, and I will get it back on track.''
NINERS QB FORGES AHEAD: Alex Smith briefly watched film of the 49ers' game Sunday against the Tennessee Titans before moving on to the next task: the Bears on Thursday at Candlestick Park.
The San Francisco quarterback had little time to nitpick his turnover-plagued performance in a 34-27 loss to the Titans -- and he figures that's a good thing.
The 49ers (3-5), mired in a four-game losing streak and two games out of first place in the NFC West after leading the division last month, are desperate to save their season starting now.
Coach Mike Singletary still believes he has a playoff team, and he's counting on Smith to get things back on track. Aside from four turnovers, including three interceptions by Smith, Singletary saw a lot of positives from the offense against the Titans.
''When I rehashed the game in my mind, it looked very similar to what I looked at when I turned on the tape, which is a good thing,'' said Smith, who fumbled twice and was sacked four times. ''I felt like I saw everything well."
MUM'S THE WORD: Steelers coach Mike Tomlin isn't saying if the team has any interest in Larry Johnson, the former Penn State running back released Monday by the Kansas City Chiefs.
''I don't discuss free agents,'' Tomlin said. ''That opens Pandora's box. I tend to focus on the guys that are in our locker room.''
Sun-Times wires