The Cleveland Browns went big in the 2007 NFL draft, selecting both Brady Quinn and Joe Thomas in the first round. Since then Thomas has gone on to Pro Bowl status and proved to be worth every penny.
Quinn, on the other hand, has not yet been given a true chance to shine despite the fans and Jim Brown himself asking for Quinn to start. Plain and simple, the Browns' 10-6 season in 2007 proved to have little to do with the play of Derek Anderson, as the 2008 season showed.
Fans all throughout the state of Ohio have been waiting patiently for their homegrown superstar to put the clipboard down and run onto the field to stop the bleeding in a hurting organization.
Will he be able to accomplish this? Can the Golden Boy Brady Quinn turn the franchise around? Nobody knows because he has not yet been given a chance. The Browns fired Romeo Crennel at the end of last season, but much more importantly, they fired Phil Savage—the cause of many problems with the Browns.
Savage signed Derek Anderson to a three-year, $24 million contract and did not actively look for a backup running back for the old and fading Jamal Lewis. The defense was a whole other story that he was unable to repair, finding it more important to pay top dollar for two quarterbacks.
Hopefully the new administration can figure out what fans have known for over two years now: If you want to win, put Quinn in.
I am not going to come across as a Browns fan, because I have only been one since Quinn was drafted in 2007. I have watched Quinn since he was a senior in high school and watched Notre Dame rise from the ashes under his leadership and then fall back as soon as he left.
Although people are quick to mention Jeff Samardzija while Quinn was at Notre Dame as being a key reason for his success, it is important to realize that before Charlie Weis came to town, Samardzija was not even on the depth chart. Quinn was able to put up Heisman-caliber numbers in his last two seasons with the Irish and lead them to a 19-6 record in those two seasons.
He battled a weak offensive line where he was constantly under pressure and a weak running back (Darius Walker), as well as an average receiver corps.
From experience, watching what Quinn did with the Irish, how he led the boys of Blue to victories and did so with class and respect, I could only hope for those true Browns fans that you could be as blessed as I was as an Irish fan.
Since Quinn left, the Irish have experienced a great deal of problems in terms of leadership, command in the huddle, skill, and intelligence to run Weis' systems. Jimmy Clausen, who was the top recruited quarterback, has struggled greatly in his two seasons trying to fill some of the wake Quinn left behind; however, his departure has shown just how much he meant to the school, the fans, and the entire football team.
Quinn is a leader both in words and in action. He is a rare talent in size, strength, arm, accuracy, and a head for the game. He also manages a football team in the huddle and can make big plays, short yardage plays, check down passes to the running back, 40-yard bombs on the play action pass; in short, there is little this man cannot do.
As I read articles and listen to commentators talk about Quinn, I quickly understand that they do not understand.
Maybe you have to be a Notre Dame fan to understand the true value of Brady Quinn, but I can tell you from watching this kid for over seven years now, this is not the prima donna "Golden Boy" they refer to him as in the media. This is a blue-collar Ohio native with the leadership and ability to get the Browns to where they want to go.
As I am happy overall with how they handled the draft, the Browns MUST name Quinn the starter. Fans, as well as the Browns' team themselves, are sick and tired of the QB controversy, so Eric Mangini, if you want to win, PUT QUINN IN. Give him some time to learn and grow into the franchise quarterback we all know he can be.
If there is one thing I know, it's that there is nobody on the team whose jersey I would be prouder to wear than No. 10 Brady Quinn. From all of us Notre Dame fans: We miss you.
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