Browns LB Barton Likely Done For Year-- Tue Nov 3 10:00 pm -- May Turn To Two Rookie LBs; Ratliff To Remain 3rd QB
Eric Barton suffered a bulging disc in his neck during Sunday's 30-6 loss to the Bears and his season is in jeopardy.
Barton suffered the injury while tackling Bears' tight end Greg Olsen after a 12-yard catch in the second quarter and did not return. Barton was first replaced by rookie David Veikune and then Blake Costanzo.
The Browns are already without starting inside linebacker D'Qwell Jackson for the season with a surgically-repaired pectoral injury. It's another blow to the defense, because Barton was the team's second-leader tackler - behind Jackson - with 58 combined stops.
Mangini said third-team quarterback Brett Ratliff is not a candidate to start after the bye week and that it's still between Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn. (Cleveland Plain Dealer)
FF Today's Take:At times, the Browns had two rookie linebackers manning the middle in Kaluka Maiava and Veikune. It probably goes without saying that as bad as the Browns' defense was before injuries to Jackson and Barton, it is going to be that much worse now. As for the QB situation, how can Ratliff be worse than Derek Anderson (43% completion; 4.5:1 INT/TD ratio)?