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The Associated Press

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BEREA, Ohio - Brady Quinn and the Cleveland Browns are right back where they started.

Benched by coach Eric Mangini just 2 1/2 games and 69 pass attempts into the season, Quinn will start Monday night's game against the Baltimore Ravens, the team he was facing on Sept. 27 when the former Notre Dame star was yanked at halftime.

Quinn's got his second chance. Now he must make the most of it.

"I'm excited to play," he said. "I'm excited to be part of Monday night."

Quinn never worried about getting another opportunity. He was confident it would come. Patience is the one thing he has mastered during his short pro career.

"That's kind of how I've learned to live life, at least in the NFL," he said.

Mangini's decision to switch back from Derek Anderson to Quinn wasn't met with overwhelming support in Cleveland's locker room. Several Browns players interviewed on Wednesday said they were unaware of Quinn's return to the top of the depth chart. With his team at 1-7 and showing little progress amid growing speculation about his future, Mangini may as well give Quinn another look to see if he can get things going. Quinn can't do any worse than Anderson, who was a disaster in five starts.

Anderson posted the NFL's lowest passer rating (36.2) and was unable to crank up Cleveland's offence, which to this point has been outscored by the New Orleans defence. Mangini said it wasn't all Anderson's fault, but there was no way the Browns could continue in reverse.

"In fairness to Derek, there were a lot of things that played a part in this," Mangini said. "Were there throws that he missed? There were some of those and reads that could have been better. But I really like Derek. And I really like the way he handled himself.

"I don't think by any means this is some sort of final statement on who he is. I think it is an opportunity to continue to grow and I'm sure he will."

Anderson politely declined an interview request before practice.

Quinn was hoping that his 10 quarters as a starter would not define his 2009 season. Since being drafted by Cleveland in the first round two years ago, Quinn has had to sit and wait for his chance to take over the Browns, the team he has loved since he was a boy. But after beating out Anderson in training camp, Quinn's first season as a starter was abruptly interrupted in Week 3. He was given the hook by Mangini once, so is he worried about it happening again? "No," he said. "I mean, why should I be concerned? I've been through it before and I understand the adversity that comes with that. It's not something I'm scared of."

He's not saying so, but Quinn may be a little nervous about the Ravens (4-4), who are coming off a 17-7 loss to Cincinnati and have dropped four of five after a 3-0 start.

Baltimore can't afford to lose more ground in the AFC North and Ray Lewis, Ed Reed and the rest of the Ravens' attacking defence will be out to make life impossible for Quinn.