DaytonDailyNews.com

BEREA — Romeo Crennel and Derek Anderson are about to cash in on Cleveland's comeback season. Their rewards: job security and fatter paychecks.

For his efforts in helping drag the Browns out of the NFL's basement, Crennel is on the verge of being rewarded with a contract extension by the club. Cleveland went 10-6 and barely missed making the AFC playoffs in his third season as head coach.

"We have every intention of doing something for Romeo," Browns General Manager Phil Savage said Wednesday.

In his first public comments since Cleveland's turnaround ended one win shy of the postseason, Savage also said he's hoping to re-sign Anderson, who went from an inexperienced backup quarterback to a Pro Bowl alternate in just months. Savage feels the 24-year-old restricted free agent did enough in his first season as a starter to deserve a long-term contract.

"I think the deserving thing is to say he's the starter going into next year," Savage said. "He's done nothing to lose the job."

Savage also believes Anderson and Brady Quinn can co-exist on Cleveland's roster and that having two quality QBs gives the Browns a distinct advantage over other teams.

"We want to go into next season with both our quarterbacks intact," Savage said. "You would hate for an injury at that position, if one of them is not here, to derail everything else we've put in place.

"We want to make sure we stay strong at that position — for at least one more year."

Crennel signed a five-year deal with the Browns in 2005.

Earlier this week, the Browns gave offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski a two-year extension to prevent him from possibly leaving to become Baltimore's coach.

Savage said there was a rush to get things done with Chudzinski, who had an interview scheduled with the Ravens, but that the club intended to address Crennel's future at the appropriate time.

The Browns have several options with Anderson, who threw 29 touchdown passes this season, but whose production tailed off in the final weeks. If the club is unable to sign him to a long-term deal, the Browns will tender him a one-year contract for $2.562 million that will give them a first- and third-round draft pick if another team tries to sign Anderson in free agency.

Savage's other upcoming priority is to re-sign running back Jamal Lewis, who rushed for 1,304 yards in his first season with Cleveland.

"Jamal has indicated that he really liked it here," Savage said. "I think he was pleasantly surprised with what we had here. If there's a willingness on both parties to get this done, then I think it will happen."

Savage sound bites

In addition to saying he plans to extend head coach Romeo Crennel's contract and hopes to retain quarterbacks Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn, Cleveland Browns GM Phil Savage on Wednesday also:

• Praised owner Randy Lerner's commitment: "Randy was really the driving force to get us to take a hard look at what we're doing."

• Talked about free agency: "We have the (salary-cap) room and flexibility that if we want to get into that game, we can do it. It depends on who is out there."

• Left open the possibility of dealing their 2009 first-round draft pick to recoup the 2008 first-rounder it cost to get Quinn: "I wouldn't be opposed to it."

• Saw a bright future: "I think we can safely say that we have turned the page and have put a winning environment, a winning culture in place. I feel like our window is just opening now."