Cleveland Browns: Ranking every starting QB since 1999
Ken Dorsey, 2008
The story of Browns quarterback Ken Dorsey is one of the more unlikely. In a way, his journey is motivational, as the long-term backup who bounced around the league likely never anticipated getting the opportunity to start an NFL game. But sure enough, due to a revolving door at quarterback in 2008 fueled by injury after injury, Dorsey got his opportunity.
Dorsey first arrived in Cleveland after he was traded from the San Francisco 49ers for Trent Dilfer. Spending the 2006 season as the third string quarterback, he had one pass attempt the entire season. Dorsey was then released at the beginning of the 2007 season.
But he wouldn’t be out of work for long, as the feisty young career backup got another opportunity just weeks later after Cleveland traded Charlie Frye to the Seattle Seahawks. However, Derek Anderson’s breakthrough 2007 season made it appear unlikely that Dorsey would ever get an opportunity to start.
That chance eventually came though, as Anderson was injured on November 30, 2008. Dorsey was named the starter for the remainder of the season, in which he threw seven interceptions and no touchdowns, as the Browns lost all three games. An injury prevented a Week 17 start, opening the door for Bruce Gradkowski.
Overall, not much was expected of Ken Dorsey, and not much was delivered. He went on to become a backup quarterback in the Canadian Football League, before retiring in 2011. Dorsey’s professional attitude and inspiring road to the starting position keeps him out of last place on this list, but his rather pathetic play still makes him one of the worst Cleveland quarterbacks of since 1999.
Next: No. 21. Bruce Gradkowski