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AFC North Q&A: How have other teams done what the Browns can't: find a QB?

Today's question: The Cleveland Browns have struggled to find a dependable quarterback for more than a decade. How does the team you cover view the quarterback position, and how did your team find its guy?

Jeremy Fowler, Pittsburgh Steelers: AFC North teams will never feel sorry for each other, but there's a hint of sympathy for the Browns because teams recognize the roster, at times, has been solid. There hasn't been a quarterback to bridge the gap. Johnny Manziel or Josh McCown won't strike fear in the Steelers' defense. That leaves the Browns resigned to their fate, willing to consider calculated risks but not willing to give up too many draft picks in exchange for a quarterback. Pittsburgh hasn't had to worry about that chase since 2004, when the team scouted at the purest form -- take the best player available at No. 11, Ben Roethlisberger. Meanwhile, opposing teams see the Browns scrambling for answers, putting out feelers for Sam Bradford and Marcus Mariota but neither option ever becoming close to a reality from what I've gathered. Pittsburgh's quarterback security makes every other decision that much easier.

Coley Harvey, Cincinnati Bengals: Compared to the Browns, the Bengals had a bit of an easier time finding their quarterback. After a rift with Carson Palmer began widening entering the 2011 draft, Cincinnati felt it needed to draft a signal-caller for the future. The Bengals were lucky because the quarterback class that year was arguably one of the more complete groups in at least a decade. No class since has been able to boast the overall talent that group had. While it's debatable whether the Bengals drafted the right quarterback, they certainly are in better shape with Andy Dalton than the situation the Browns are facing. At this point, the Bengals have surrounded their now veteran quarterback with a solid stable of playmakers who have mostly been together the last three seasons. Even the offensive line features the same set of starters it has had for the last three seasons. Cincinnati's quarterback philosophy? Build around the position, and maintain offensive stability as best as possible.

Jamison Hensley, Baltimore Ravens: The Ravens can feel the Browns' pain. This franchise went through 15 starting quarterbacks in its first 12 seasons since relocating from Cleveland. That's Vinny Testaverde to Troy Smith, with the likes of Elvis Grbac and Kyle Boller in between. That's why owner Steve Bisciotti was so adamant about finding a franchise quarterback in 2008 after he hired John Harbaugh as his head coach. Bisciotti even suggested about giving up the "whole damn draft" for Matt Ryan that year if he was the team's top-rated quarterback. Team officials convinced Bisciotti the smarter play was to trade back, acquire more picks and take Joe Flacco. The rest is postseason history. Flacco has started every game since 2008, providing stability that the Ravens never had previously at that position. It's not a coincidence that the Ravens have gone to the playoffs in six of the seven seasons since drafting Flacco. The days of winning Super Bowls with Brad Johnson and Trent Dilfer are long gone.