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Coming into the draft Quinn was considered to be one of the top players in the country, and was invited to the draft. Before the draft started, Quinn was labeled as a "franchise quarterback in the mold of Carson Palmer."[21] He was projected to be picked in the top ten and even could have been the number one overall pick.[22][23][24] While some suspected the Cleveland Browns would select Quinn with the third pick, he fell to the 22nd pick in the draft before being picked up by Browns.[25]
Following the draft, Quinn was criticized by fellow Notre Dame quarterback Joe Theismann in a radio interview, claiming that Quinn looked "unprofessional" when he was on stage following his name being called. Theismann was bothered by the appearance of Quinn's hair and the fact that he was chewing gum. Quinn responded, saying, "I apologize to anyone, obviously, who is a Notre Dame alum, or for those fans who thought I wasn't being very business like. I was there for awhile, and at that moment in time, when you finally get picked after waiting for 4 1/2 hours, the last thought in my head was spit out your gum, fix your hair or make sure your shirt and everything looked good. I was just trying to get on stage as fast as possible and get that Browns jersey in my hand."[26]
Cleveland Browns
Quinn's NFL debut as a Brown
2007
Quinn signed a five-year deal with the Browns worth a reported $20.2 million, with $7.5 million guaranteed and up to $30 million in incentives.[27] Quinn was originally placed third on the Browns' depth chart behind Charlie Frye and Derek Anderson. However, after a 34–7 defeat to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 1, Frye was traded to the Seattle Seahawks for a sixth round draft pick, moving Quinn to second on the Browns' depth chart.[28] On December 30, 2007, when Anderson hurt his pinky and wrist, Quinn made his official NFL debut in the Browns' final game of the season against the San Francisco 49ers. Although going 3 for 8 passing Quinn led the Browns to the redzone, but failed to score. Despite speculation that the Browns would trade Anderson to get back into the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft,[29] Browns' general manager Phil Savage later stated that he hoped to sign Anderson, and keep both quarterbacks for the 2008 season.[30]
2008
After leading the Browns to a 10-6 record, Derek Anderson was named the starting quarterback for the 2008 season, leaving Quinn on the sidelines once again. However, after a mediocre 3–5 start by the team, head coach Romeo Crennel named Quinn the starting quarterback for the Browns' upcoming game against the Denver Broncos.[31] Though he played well, and helped the Browns build a two-touchdown lead into the third quarter, the Broncos rallied back to win, causing Quinn's first official start to end in a loss. However, he went on to win the next game against the Buffalo Bills, but he broke his finger during this victory, and though he tried to play through it during the next game against the Houston Texans, he announced on November 25 that he would have surgery, sidelining him for the rest of the 2008 season.[32]
2009
Soon after the season was over, Romeo Crennel was fired as head coach and was replaced by former New York Jets coach Eric Mangini, who was unsure of who would be the Browns's starting quarterback. Thus, a competition for the starting job between Quinn and Anderson occurred throughout the offseason. Four days before the Browns's 2009 opener, it was announced that Quinn would be the starter. Quinn continued to be the Browns' starter until Game 3 against the Baltimore Ravens, when he was benched at halftime in favor of Anderson. The following week, Mangini named Anderson the starter. Quinn did not play again until Week 8, when he was brought in with three minutes to go in a 30–6 loss against the Chicago Bears. As the Browns headed into their bye week, it was not indicated who would be the starting quarterback for the rest of the season. However, it was announced five days before their Week 10 Monday Night Football game against the Baltimore Ravens, that Quinn was once again being awarded the starting quarterback position. Though he struggled in his first game back, as the Browns were shut out 16–0, Quinn followed it up in Week 11 with his best professional outing yet, throwing for 304 yards with 4 touchdowns against the Detroit Lions. Quinn set a record for the Cleveland Browns that day being the only QB in franchise history to throw 3 touchdowns in one quarter. The Browns later defeated the rival Pittsburgh Steelers, Quinn's first win of 2009 as the starting quarterback. The next week the Browns defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 41–34, despite Quinn injuring his foot during the game. On December 22, the Browns placed Quinn on Injured Reserve for the last 2 games of the season with a "Lisfranc" foot injury.[33] (Wikipedia) |
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