QB SIDESHOW: Recall that 3rd-stringer Josh Booty was cut four days before starter Kelly Holcomb broke his leg. Booty was deemed an expendable luxury, so the Browns signed OL Craig Osika with that roster spot. With Holcomb hurting, rather than backtrack by resigning Booty, Coach Butch Davis on Saturday promoted raw rookie Nate Hybl from the practice squad. So whose roster spot did Hybl take? The team made no effort to spread this news. The official site’s roster has still not been updated, and apparently no press release was issued.

I looked on the NFL’s gamebook, and the missing name (neither played nor listed as not active) is that of Osika. So the net effect: the Browns voluntarily lose Booty and net nothing in return except for less depth at the critical, injury-prone position of quarterback. No wonder they’re hoping this slips under the radar.