A Look At Brady Quinn's Situation in Cleveland

by CW on Apr 30, 2008 3:39 PM EDT in Football

(I want to get to Buzz Bissinger's rancid comments about blogging last night on HBO when I can really fully form my thoughts - short hand: he's a douchebag - but for now, some easier to digest ESPN stuff.)

There's a piece on ESPN today about Phil Savage's handling of his quarterback situation, which now involves a number one draft pick who happens to be a hometown hero and a Pro Bowler who they just signed to an extension.

I think one of the dumber things the Browns did was in the final game of 2007 when they chose not to take their new toy - Brady Quinn - out for a test drive. They were playing in a game that meant absolutely nothing, as their playoff hopes were predicated on the results of the night's Titans/Colts game and nothing else. Instead of splitting time, or giving Quinn at least a few series to see how he did in the face of a NFL defense (as real as the 49ers defense was last season), Romeo Crennel thought it somehow was a good idea to give him a few snaps when Anderson hurt himself and then place him on the bench. Not that you could glean a whole lot about the sitaution from one game or one half, but it would certainly be better than the snaps Quinn had gotten in the preseason months earler.

Anyway, a few interesting parts from the piece, including an excellent, "We just crossed our fingers and hoped it worked out" line from San Diego GM A.J. Smith.

Quinn's Golden Boy image screams franchise quarterback. He was a first-round pick, has a deep pedigree from Notre Dame and is one of their own, born in Columbus, Ohio, about 120 miles south. Quinn's jersey is the top seller in Cleveland, and he has yet to start a game.

It's a popularity contest Anderson will never win, not even with his 3,787 yards, 29 touchdowns and spot in the Pro Bowl this past season. He was even booed at home when returning from injury in the Browns' season finale, because it took Quinn off the field in his only action last season.

"Derek has played over 1,000 snaps, and there's still people that have doubts outside of our building," Savage said. "Brady's played 10 snaps, and people are convinced that he's the guy. It's really kind of illogical."

Pointing out how rough their logic is will not make fans stop buying Number 10 jerseys and chanting "Brady."

"They rest will take care of itself," Smith said. "It could take care of itself through performance. It can take care of itself through injury. It can take of itself through contract situations they might not be comfortable with."

Chargers fans must be thrilled to see Smith's pro-active approach to general managing.

If Quinn doesn't see the field, he will be one of the NFL's lowest-paid quarterbacks this season. Cleveland is paying Quinn the second-year league minimum of $370,000 in 2008. His salary could increase to $1.693 million if he plays 45 percent of the snaps, but that's unlikely, unless Anderson falters or is injured.

Including all incentives, the maximum value of Quinn's deal was $30 million. But if Quinn continues at this pace without playing time, he will end up making just less than $8 million over five years -- a difference of $22 million. Quinn received most of his guaranteed money in March when the Browns paid him a $4.255 million option bonus.

So next time you see Brady on a float in a Subway commercial or running on a treadmill on the barren plains of some hell dimension, give him a break for doing the endorsements: He needs to get that cash.

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