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No. 1 quarterback says he didn't know he was on 'such a short leash'
By Stephanie Storm
Beacon Journal sports writer
Published on Monday, Nov 24, 2008
CLEVELAND: When Brady Quinn was crowned the Browns' starting quarterback three games ago, he was never guaranteed to be the starter the rest of the season.
But as long as the team continued to go nowhere — which the Browns did Sunday with a 16-6 loss to the Houston Texans — it was widely assumed that turning the program over to a first-round pick was a smart thing to do.
So what happened two and three-quarters of a game later? Browns head coach Romeo Crennel yanked the former Notre Dame standout with 14 seconds left in the third quarter after Quinn's second interception.
It was a move that caught Quinn, among others, off guard.
''Yeah, I was [surprised],'' Quinn said. ''The last [interception] after that play, I didn't really have any inclination that I was on such a short leash.''
Even veteran running back Jamal Lewis was stunned to see Quinn pulled so quickly.
''Yeah, I am [surprised], being that he took all the snaps in practice this week,'' Lewis said. ''DA [Derek Anderson] didn't take any [snaps] with the first team, so that's kind of confusing.''
Because Quinn had completed just 8-of-18 passes for 94 yards and seemed a bit off on some of his throws, it wasn't a stretch to assume his finger injury was bothering him. In fact, Crennel alluded to it.
''Brady tried,'' Crennel said. ''It was a combination of his decisions that could have been a little bit better and the injury to his finger.''
Quinn suffered a hairline fracture on the tip of his right index finger during last week's game against the Buffalo Bills, but he said that had nothing to do with his rough outing Sunday.
''It wasn't a factor,'' Quinn insisted. ''I practiced with it all week and felt confident what I could do out there . . . I spoke with [Crennel] and he was upset with a couple decisions I made out there.''
While the Browns' offense was never in sync all afternoon, the team trailed by just 13-6 at halftime until Quinn's two interceptions set the tone for the dismal final half.
Facing second-and-13 at the 42 on the Browns' second possession of the half, Quinn tried to get the ball to wide receiver Braylon Edwards. Instead, it ended up in the hands of defensive end Anthony Weaver. Five plays later, the Texans converted the gift into a field goal that gave them a 10-point lead.
''It was a misread,'' Quinn said. ''They brought a certain blitz where the end dropped out and I didn't see him. I tried to release the ball — it was a timing route — and at that point in time, when he rotated down to the weak side, I didn't see him in the picture.''
The second pick came on the Browns' next possession, a lengthy drive in which Quinn led the squad into the red zone. Facing another third down but needing just two yards, Quinn fired the ball to Edwards in the right corner of the end zone with the Texans in man coverage.
Texans cornerback Fred Bennett jumped the route and dashed in front of Edwards for the pick.
''I just got to find a way to get him a better ball, a better opportunity to make a catch,'' Quinn said. ''After that second pick, obviously I was disappointed about it; we wanted to come out of there with some points and change the momentum.
''At that point, I thought that I'd have the opportunity to keep fighting. . . . This is one of those leagues where the scores are so close, one play here or there might make a difference in the end. I just wish I would have had that opportunity.''
Regardless of the motives behind Quinn's benching, a key question remains: Who will start Sunday against the visiting Indianapolis Colts?
''Brady has not lost his job,'' Crennel said. ''He is still the quarterback and we are going to go through next week and prepare him, and he is going to play.''
Asked the same question in another room not far away, Quinn wasn't so sure.
''At this point, I'm not sure exactly what the situation is,'' he said. ''I'd guess not, based on what happened today. . . . I guess I'll go back to a role I've had some practice at before for about a year and a half.''
Would he lobby to start again?
''This isn't politics,'' Quinn said. ''We do whatever our coach tells us. At that point in time, whoever the starter is, that's the starter. If I end up in the backup role, I'll do my best to help out DA and the rest of our team prepare.''
Stephanie Storm can be reached at sstorm@thebeaconjournal.com.
CLEVELAND: When Brady Quinn was crowned the Browns' starting quarterback three games ago, he was never guaranteed to be the starter the rest of the season.
Get the full article here.
Comments
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Akron, OH
Posted 07:56 AM, 11/24/2008
Quinn should have been left in. End of story. Either that, or Dorsey should have went in, not Anderson. The coaching is a joke.
Lyndhurst, OH
Posted 08:09 AM, 11/24/2008
ALL first year NFL QB’s, regardless of draft position or heralding, take their lumps in learning and adjusting to NFL defenses. Take John Elway for example-check out his 1983 rookies statistics. It’s part of the process and progession, and should have been known by the coaching staff.
Once the move was made, let the kid PLAY.
Everyone (fans, media, coaches) need to let the kid play and learn. What happened Sunday was preposterous-damaging the kid’s psyche. It’s NOT an issue of bad play, et al but rather the progression into the NFL game-let the kid play through it, we know he’s got the leadership, presence, and dedication (along with a committment to win) to get this thing done-DA has NONE of that.
Get rid of this coach NOW, send a message to the fans and team. Get rid of Savage…..he’s a childish amateur way out of his league being propped up as a GM.
Posted 08:10 AM, 11/24/2008
How long, HOW LONG
Posted 08:12 AM, 11/24/2008
How long, HOW LONG do we have to continue to put up with Romeo Crennel and his horrible decisions, both on offense and defense. This needs to end now in order to give us some hope for next year, yet again.
cuyahoga falls, oh
Posted 08:27 AM, 11/24/2008
Hahahahahahahahaha!!! Hey clowns fans I thought Brady Quinn was the answer to all of your problems? Wrong....again!! Hahahahahahahahahaha!!! The Browns need a new motto: "theres always next year"!
Stow, OH
Posted 08:56 AM, 11/24/2008
Randy you are correct, putting Quinn on such a short lease is ridiculous . All Romeo did was damage him mentally. And listen to the answers the players gave at their interviews,they are clueless and wondering what in the world these coaches are doing too . Anderson should be your last resort,not brought in there as some savior or something ,what a joke .
Posted 09:08 AM, 11/24/2008
Hey Matt, go climb back into your burrow. Send your messages to the fans of whomever you follow.
Browns fans have a lot of problems, but BQ isn't going to be one of them.
He will be OK. Given time, which this coach apparently isn't willing to do. Next year's coach might see the light.
akron, OH
Posted 10:11 AM, 11/24/2008
No excuse,just bad coaching decisions all season long.Browns have a lot of problems,but this coach must go.Arm chair QB is something that will be with sports for forever,but so many decisions my Romeo are very confusing and elementary.The blame for game day decisions always should be the responsibility of the head coach.He holds the title he should be held accountable.
Akron, OH
Posted 10:50 AM, 11/24/2008
Matt... you're a d-bag.
Mentor, OH
Posted 12:21 PM, 11/24/2008
It has become obvious that Quinn will be a bust.
That Savage wasted 2 high picks that could be helping this team now.
The organization should have said Quinn was benched because of his finger and then tried to get some stupid team to trade for him in the offseason.
Playing again will only reduce what little value he has left.
It was never the DA's fault, that has to obvious to anyone with a football IQ over 12. Fix the rest of the team and this team will win. Step one fire the coaching staff. Romeo today. See if anyone left is worth saving.
Honoring David Vitter,Larry Craig,John Ensign and Mark Sanford , ..
Posted 12:26 PM, 11/24/2008
Revised 11/20 post:
1. Start Jerome Harrison at RB
2. Start Joshua Cribbs at WR
3. Cut Braylon "Baby" Edwards (Wants out of Clev. (again)/intentional drops)
4. Cut Jamal "One-Way Road-Grader" Lewis (free-up salary )
5. Implement West Coast Offense
6. Hire Jake's Crane to remove Large Sh*t Bag from Browns Stadium; Frog march Phil Savage from Browns Staduim during Half-Time festivities
7. RANDY LERNER: Fly to wherever Cowher is, hand him a blank check giving him full reign, then fly back to London and stay there until (see #9)
8. Rent Barge on Lake Erie to float out Cowher's "weed-outs" to an undisclosed destination for burial at sea.
9. Make Super-Bowl preparations by 2011.
P.S. There's another Large Sh*t Bag operating at Notre Dame posing as a Head Coach with identical ties as the Browns' Large Sh*t Bag. Rule #1: All Belichick disciples are not automatically qualified to be Head Coaches on any level.
Posted 02:43 PM, 11/24/2008
Hey when Notre Dame had South High's Ara Parsieghan he wasn't Katholik and unlike Gerry Faust his players were led by his emulation in spirit!!!!
Come to think of it Akron U's riots were because of Gerry Fausts' personalities as well as Ray Kappers !!!!
Posted 03:57 PM, 11/24/2008
BQ looked pretty bad, against a pretty bad defense. I'm not sure I ageee with the benching, but the author and some posters are annointing BQ as the next great NFL QB. I think that is a little premature.
Sad, this team is so sad. The coaches can't coach, many players can't (or don't) play hard. I was hoping a win against the Texans, and a respectable 6-8 win season. Now, I'm not sure we can win another game (maybe Cincy at home).
We can beat the Giants on a big Monday night stage, beat a pretty good Bills team on the road, but crumble against the Texans. Now watch, next week they'll come out and have a close game against the Colts instead of getting blown out like people would expect.
cuyahoga falls, oh
Posted 04:28 PM, 11/24/2008
Hey Allison, do you need a tissue to wipe away your tears of defeat? Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh!!! LOL.
Posted 07:17 AM, 11/25/2008
Hey Rick. Please explain to me how Quinn is OBVIOUSLY a bust after 2 3/4 games. Especially since he was playing with an injured finger. The excuse that Crennel gave about him not making good decisions was a crock, and i only say that because DA made horrible decisions for 7 games before he finally got yanked. Crennel was trying to save his job by searching for a win, the move actually made him look even more incompetent that already has.
Akron, OH
Posted 11:57 AM, 11/25/2008
No, Matt, I don't need a tissue. But thanks for offering. Chode.
Kent, OH
Posted 12:07 PM, 11/25/2008
As long as they keep switching QB's neither will perform well. When you are afraid of making a mistake and getting pulled, you can't focus on your job.
