After lackluster performances by both Charlie Frye and Derek Anderson, Browns fans were treated to an inspired fourth-quarter performance by rookie quarterback Brady Quinn. Quinn threw for 155 yards and 2 touchdowns with no interceptions in just over nine minutes in the Cleveland Browns’ Saturday night matchup against the Detroit Lions. Quinn went 13-20 in putting the other two starters’ numbers to shame.
Browns fans, tired of booing Quinn for his justifiable holdout from training camp, showered their boos on Frye and Anderson instead. Both quarterbacks, allegedly ahead of Quinn on the depth chart, had subpar performances. Both threw an interception. Neither had a touchdown. In fact, the only two passing touchdowns the Browns scored all night were tossed by Quinn.
Anderson finished his night 6-8 for 65 yards. Frye was 5-10 for 42 yards.
While Browns coach Romeo Crennel didn’t indicate that Quinn had played his way into contention for the starting spot, he didn’t NOT say that. (What?) Just read what he said:
I think you’ve got to give the young man credit. Their best guys weren’t in there but our best guys weren’t in there either. I’ll look at the tape and we’ll decide. He’s still a young quarterback and he had a limited offense and I believe in time that he’s going to be a good quarterback.
But the reason he didn’t play more tonight was that he wasn’t ready. I’ve said all along we’ll see what the kid can do and when he gets a better grasp of the offense we’ll ask him to do more.
It appears that Quinn has already grasped the offense better than Frye and Anderson. Quinn entered the game with the Browns down 23-7 with 9:20 left on the clock. The game ended 23-20. Maybe Quinn just likes leading ridiculous comebacks against teams from Michigan.
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Personally, Im hoping Brady sits this season out for a few reasons. 1, I dont want his NFL legacy tarnished because of a joke offensive line not protecting him and causing him bad numbers. That will just start all the “He’s from ND and overrated” garbage again. 2, I dont want him becoming Joey Harrington. And 3, being a Cowboys fan, I wish the worst luck imaginable on the Browns this year. After we take their pick in the draft, though, I hold no contempt for them in any way.
Great story and Quinn is a great kid. If he can survive behind that Browns offensive line, he will be a good one. I look for Quinn to be the first in a long line of recruiting aids for Charlie. Not many rookies look as poised as Quinn looked in his debut.