Quinn-Tessential Desperation: Browns Hope Irish Magic Saves Staggering Season

After missing the playoffs last year on an NFL tiebreaker, the Cleveland Browns entered this season with high expectations—those expectations diminished virtually with the opening kickoff of their first game. The explosive offense of a year ago was replaced by a sluggish and inefficient version that lacked spirit and, more importantly, the ability to score more points than the opposition.

As this is a rather critical aspect of the NFL game, something had to be changed.

So the Browns' coaching staff called a Hail Mary desperation play and named the home-town, Heisman-robbed, hero of South Bend as their starting quarterback. Their prayer, quite simply, is that the Irish Mastermind can spark a magical miracle and send the Browns to the playoffs.

It is important that Browns fans do not assume that Bradys' Irishness is a sure sign of eminent success. I myself was born in Ireland and assure you that, if placed on a football field, no amount of Irish luck, Lucky Charms, or pots of gold-tipped rainbows could help me win an NFL game

Thankfully, Quinn is more equipped for the task than just his collegial heritage.

His career at Notre Dame was filled with record-breaking performances and thrilling pieces of individual brilliance. He holds virtually every Notre Dame passing record there is, and now, after a year and a half in the Browns' system, Quinn is more than capable of stepping up and taking the spluttering Browns offense to the next level.

At ND, Quinn was, on a weekly basis, backed up by a less than average defense, a semi-decent receiving corps, and an offensive line that had normally collapsed before he even had the ball in his hands. And yet his cool and collected composure, ability to make quick and accurate decisions and throws, and willingness to move within and without the pocket made him a successful quarterback.

He carried a barely average team on his shoulders and led them to heights that, without him, they would not have achieved.

As fellow BR writer Mark Eckhart Jr. recently argued, Quinn was only not awarded the Heisman as the voters forgot it was an individual award—and not automatically given to the main player on the best team.

It is this background that will allow Quinn to be successful in the NFL. He will have an improved offensive line and a solid run game to work with—which should give him more than enough time to find any one of the Browns' talented receivers.

So, Browns fans, do not lose faith—for Charlie's Irish Angel has arrived to weave his wizardry on a bigger, brighter stage.