I spent a good chunk of Monday in Colorado before my flight home. Partly because I’m a sportswriter and partly because I have no life, I listened to a variety of Denver sports talk radio.

Opinions were split on whether the Broncos’ 2-0 start means they’re a legitimate playoff contender, but hosts and callers alike could agree on one thing: The Browns stink.

I didn’t have to be along the shores of Lake Erie to know that sentiment was shared by many Browns fans. An e-mail from a despondent relative — who had thrown all his Clevelander’s hope behind coach Eric Mangini and quarterback Brady Quinn — conveyed the dismay while bringing up an interesting question.

Who’s been more disappointing, Mangini or Quinn?

Mangini took the New York Jets from 4-12 to the playoffs in his first season, so he had a track record of a quick turnaround. His discipline and preparation was an obvious upgrade over Romeo Crennel’s laidback approach, so an improvement seemed inevitable.

It still might come — the improvement, not the playoffs — but it hasn’t been evident through an 0-2 start.

The Browns have been blown out twice, getting outscored 41-7 in the second half. In addition to the absence of successful halftime adjustments, I haven’t seen one great coaching move. The no-huddle offense has been too infrequent and sporadic, and a variety of personnel packages and pre-snap motions haven’t brought production.

And I still don’t know why the slow and aged Hank Poteat is playing nickelback instead of the quicker and younger Mike Adams.

Randy Lerner hired Mangini because he considers him a football genius. Everyone who knows him well — and he’s kept around — offers the same review. But that must translate to the field.

Denver’s rookie coach, Josh McDaniels, outcoached Mangini in a 27-6 loss. Mangini’s substitution pattern forced Denver to burn two timeouts early in the first half, but McDaniels made the most of the second one by calling a play that got a mismatch and scored a touchdown. He also went to a jumbo offensive set in the second half, and the Browns never adjusted as Denver racked up 17 points and 133 rushing yards.

Mangini prides himself on adapting the game plan to the opponent, but both have been bland and ineffective. The offense has shown no ability to move the ball consistently or get in the end zone, while the defense has fallen apart late in both games.

Now for Quinn.

I expected more. Even though he struggled for much of training camp, I really thought Quinn would rise to the occasion of the regular season. He wasn’t great in his three starts last season, but he looked comfortable and capable.

It’s been a different story this season. Instead of seizing the momentum that should’ve come from winning the competition with Derek Anderson, Quinn has regressed. His accuracy has never been a strength, but he was supposed to compensate with superior pocket presence and sharp decision making.

It hasn’t happened. He’s looked skittish in the pocket and indecisive in his reads. In the opening loss, he didn’t allow the play to develop before quickly checking down to the outlet receiver. In the loss to Denver, he held the ball longer, but was just as inefficient, especially on third down.

He’s 39-for-66 (59.1 percent) for 366 yards, a touchdown, two interceptions, nine sacks and a 66.8 rating.

It’s too early to panic with Mangini or Quinn, but the season could get away in a hurry. The Browns aren’t likely to be favored in the next six games, so 0-8 at the bye week isn’t out of the question.

Mangini was just hired, so he isn’t going anywhere. Quinn’s rope is much shorter. If he continues to struggle, Anderson is waiting on the bench and Mangini might want to see if he can return to his 2007 form.
So, who’s been the bigger disappointment? I say Quinn.

After two years of waiting for his chance, he should’ve been more than ready to shine. And if he proves to be a bust, the Browns are back to Square 1 at the most important position.

Roster moves

Phil Savage’s final draft as general manager looks worse by the week.

The Browns didn’t have a pick in the first three rounds in 2008 after trades, and linebacker Beau Bell and tight end Martin Rucker were the picks in the fourth round. Bell was cut before the season and Rucker followed Tuesday.

The Browns were awarded tight end Greg Estandia off waivers from Jacksonville and signed free-agent defensive back Anthony Madison. The team also waived defensive back Marquis Floyd.

Estandia (6-foot-8, 266 pounds) played in 26 games with Jacksonville with two starts and 19 catches. Madison (5-9, 180) played in 38 games in three seasons with the Steelers, making 46 special teams tackles.

The Browns traded their third-round pick in 2009 to move up to take Rucker. He played in five games as a rookie with two catches and was inactive the first two weeks this season.

Nose tackle Ahtyba Rubin (sixth round) and outside linebacker Alex Hall (seventh round) are the only 2008 selections left on the roster.

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