Cleveland Browns: Ranking every starting QB since 1999
Bruce Gradkowski, 2008
As proven with Ken Dorsey previously, the 2008 Browns season was not only one of the worst ever, but one of the strangest of all-time. The unlikely rise to the starting quarterback position was not unique to any one player, as many went through this same process, surprising many.
Bruce Gradkowski was yet another example of this, making just one start in his career in Cleveland. Signed as a third string quarterback after Derek Anderson’s injury in early December, Gradkowski received his shocking opportunity following injuries to both Brady Quinn and Ken Dorsey.
Starting the Week 17 finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Gradkowski became the fourth starter for Cleveland in the 2008 season. He completed just 7 of 21 pass attempts, threw for three interceptions and no touchdowns. Not surprisingly, the Browns lost the game.
The only reason Gradkowski’s near historically poor performance doesn’t secure him the bottom spot on this list is due to the fact that the game was meaningless, and nothing was expected of a starter who just joined the active roster three weeks earlier. Regardless, Gradkowski’s stop with the Browns was not a memorable one, as he was one of the more forgettable quarterbacks on this list.
Next: No. 20: Thaddeus Lewis