Each year I update a little spreadsheet of Browns stats since their 1999 return. Don’t ask me why. Maybe it’s so I can, in excruciatingly exacting detail, understand just how it is that I am still waiting for a return to championship football, and just how soon that glorious, as-yet-mythical campaign might manifest itself on the grid.

While we’re here, we might as well pass along some of least uninteresting notes unearthed in this annual update on the “New Browns” (a phrase still offered, though with increasing currents of sarcasm):

Brady Quinn’s career passer rating actually rose slightly in 2009. The glaring statistical negative: he was sacked on 6.9% of his dropbacks last season, compared to 1% in his limited action in ’07-’08.

Derek Anderson ranks 7th and and Quinn 8th in Browns career passer rating among the 12 QBs with 50+ attempts since 1999. Top gun? Kelly Holcomb.

Brodney Pool’s four picks ties him with Daylon McCutcheon and Leigh Bodden at 12 for fourth on the New Browns interceptions list, led by Earl Little with 18.

Eric Wright doubled his career interception total, tying both Pool for the season leadership and Brandon McDonald, his fellow 2007 draftee, on the career list with eight.

By scoring just once in 2009, Jamal Lewis would have broken a four-way tie for third most total touchdowns (15). Instead, he’ll forever share that stat line with Quincy Morgan, Dennis Northcutt, and Andre’ Davis.

Josh Cribbs, with 14 TDs, is now the Browns’ active career leader.

Braylon Edwards was traded 139 yards shy of Kevin Johnson’s New Browns career record of 3,836 receiving yards.

That list, by the way, includes Steve Heiden in 6th place. Assuming the veteran tight end doesn’t return, Mohamed Massaquoi, fresh off his 624-yard rookie year (13th), would be the Browns’ active career leader in receiving yardage.

Before getting reinjured, Heiden did score once in 2009, forever taking the lead from Kellen Winslow in touchdowns by tight ends (12).

In 11 years, 11 rookie WRs have gained at least 100 receiving yards. Brian Robiskie barely made that list.

Lewis leads all New Browns in rushing yards with 2,806. Jerome Harrison’s late-season surge vaulted him to 5th, just 14 yards behind 4th-place Jamel White. Josh Cribbs’ ranking went from 16th to 8th after he more than doubled his career rushing total in 2009.

Last season was only the second time in 11 years (first since 2003) in which four Browns rushed for at least 200 yards.

The Browns’ fifth-leading rusher last year, Brady Quinn, would have ranked second on the 2005 team.

2,087 rushing yards in 2009 was the most of any New Browns team. Still, they surrendered 14 yards more per game to their opponents on the ground.

Kamerion Wimbley took the lead on the sacks list, topping Kenard Lang and Jamir Miller. The top five names on that list were all first-round draft picks.

Even if he never again can answer the bell, Brodney Pool should be glad to know that he is the only defensive back in all of Browns (official) history to sack a quarterback in four different seasons.

The 2009 team’s ten interceptions were its lowest total since the expansion squad of 1999 managed only eight.

Sure, the Browns’ 2009 passing attack wasn’t much. But was the first time in these 11 years that as many as nine players gained 100 or more yards receiving.

On the other hand, 220 receiving yards by Harrison was enough to rank second on the 2009 team. That’s way beneath the previous low for the team’s second leading receiver (428, Kellen Winslow, 2008).