It’s time.

While I highly doubt Browns coach Eric Mangini will end the suspense and announce his starting quarterback today, he should.

The regular season is less than two weeks away, the Browns have only two practices this week and the goal of the preseason finale is to not get anyone hurt. So the quarterback derby has run its course and there’s no indispensable information that will be learned between now and the Sept. 13 opener against the Vikings.

It’s time.

And the choice should be Brady Quinn.

This doesn’t mean I feel Quinn’s a better quarterback than Derek Anderson, or that he outplayed him in the competition. In fact, I believe Anderson was clearly the better player throughout training camp practices while Quinn had a slight edge in the three preseason games.

And until I see Quinn turn into Tom Brady, I will remain convinced Anderson has the higher upside because he has a stronger arm and throws a better ball.

But the time is right for Quinn to get his chance. He’s in his third year, has started just three games, fits Mangini’s game-manager job description and did nothing to lose the job in the August games.

With the scrutiny at its most intense Saturday night against Tennessee, Quinn was at his best in a 23-17 win. He went 11-for-15 for 128 yards and a 121.0 rating and led three scoring drives for 13 points in four possessions.

He threw the only touchdown pass of the preseason on a well-executed skinny post to Braylon Edwards and showed good recognition, poise and toughness on a completion to Joshua Cribbs on an unblocked blitz. He has completed 68 percent of his passes with an 86.1 rating.

Anderson was also effective Saturday, but fell victim to the Titans’ time of possession advantage and managed a field goal in just two drives. I wonder if he would’ve taken the edge in the derby if he had been given the short field that led to Quinn’s touchdown after a fumble recovery.

Both quarterbacks had played two series, and Mangini stuck to his pre-game plan and went back to Quinn.

So it’s Quinn’s turn. He should be named the starter and given two weeks to get in a rhythm with his receivers and linemen. He should get the vast majority of the repetitions, something the league’s best quarterbacks have been given since camp opened.

This doesn’t mean Anderson is expendable. He’s shown improvement in clock management, situational awareness and the short passing game and will be one of the top 5-10 backup quarterbacks in the NFL when the season starts.

It just means it’s time for Mangini to stop the mystery, commit to Quinn and turn his attention to the rest of the issues facing the Browns.

But don’t be surprised if Mangini extends the suspense, drags out the drama and keeps the Vikings guessing a little longer.

“Derek and I are two mentally tough guys,” Quinn said. “That’s why we’re here on this team as quarterbacks. If the coaches want us to go forever, I’m sure we can go forever with it.”

Wrong place, wrong time

You might never see a stranger penalty than the 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct called against Anderson on Saturday night.

Minding his business on the sideline, the back judge backpedaled into Anderson and fell. The official looked embarrassed and immediately threw a flag.

Replays showed Anderson was a step outside of the “the box” in which the players are supposed to remain. He was watching the west scoreboard, so he had his back to the action and didn’t see the deep incompletion coming his way.

Quick hits

Edwards has bounced back nicely after the dropped touchdown in the preseason opener. He caught three passes for 51 yards against the Titans, including the touchdown. He also made an incredibly acrobatic one-handed catch but couldn’t get the second foot inbounds in the end zone.

* Depth in the secondary has become a real concern.

With safety Brodney Pool out with what’s believed to be a concussion, the Browns have just two starting-quality safeties: Abram Elam and Mike Adams. The backups are journeymen Nick Sorensen and Hank Poteat and raw Hamza Abdullah.

Veteran Rod Hood was supposed to add quality experience as a third cornerback, but has been up and down throughout the preseason and had a rough night Saturday. Nickelback Corey Ivy has been just as streaky.

* Rookie receiver Brian Robiskie is fifth on the depth chart. He didn’t see time at receiver until the fourth quarter against the Titans, following Edwards, Cribbs, Mike Furrey and rookie Mohamed Massaquoi.

Contact Scott Petrak at 329-7253 or spetrak@chroniclet.com.

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