If the Browns are are a smart football team then why not start Brady Quinn?

Question

They would be a better team with him starting then Charlie Frye.

Answer 1

He's showing promise, but he's not ready. NFL is different from college and he needs to get a few games under his belt before the even think about starting him. They start him too soon and he will get injured.

Answer 2

First off, I don't believe the whole theory that you'll ruin a young QB if you start him early. The QB position is simply a difficult position, and most college QBs are not cut out for the pros. Plus most rookies who are thrown in early are no terrible teams with nobody to back them up. This Browns team has a VERY strong o-line, a great RB, and 1 solid veteran (JJ) and 2 potential pro bowl receivers (Edwards and Winslow) to throw to. As far as Couch goes, he was from a small school and played in a run and shoot offense (which inflates a QBs stats) which virtually NEVER produces an NFL caliber QB. Quinn thrived in a pro style offense at a big school, so there's no comparison.

Secondly, yes he missed some of training camp, but it was only 2 weeks. If that's your argument, he should be ready by the Raiders game, which actually would not be a bad time to put him in since they suck.

You also cannot say he was only successful against third stringers. He played one series against Denver's first string offense, and was 5-6 (If Crennel had thrown in the red flag, he would've been 6-6 with a TD). He's shown he's confident, comfortable, and successful with every chance he's gotten. If the Browns really want to get a good look at him, they should start him this Thursday so he gets in against Chicago's first string, but I don't see that happening.

There is no question that Quinn is the best QB on the team. And I mean right now, not 'when he gets comfortable with the playbook.' With all his flaws right now, he's still going to outplay Frye. All of his lack of comfort with the playbook should be ironed out within a few weeks. He may not be 100% ready week 1, but he would still give the team it's best chance to win. If they sit him week one (which they likely will), they should still give him a serious look in the first few games of the season.

Answer 3

This is actually one of the few smart things that the Browns have done in recent memory. I think a lot of teams will regret not drafting Quinn (Miami picking Ginn over Quinn will end up on the All Bonehead list), but there are a couple of reasons it makes sense to sit Quinn. First, he just got into camp after his contract holdout and being a rookie there is no way that he has a grasp on the offense like the veterans do at this point. Secondly, Brady is a rookie QB in the NFL and throwing him into the fire too soon could hurt his development in the future. I believe some QB's are able to play right away, even for bad teams, but most are not. I believe Cleveland has made a wise choice being cautious here.

Answer 4

I've been a lifelong Browns Fan (1960's) and in as much as I would love to have Brady Quinn start, I agree with everyone else, he's not quite ready. I firmly believe he will be our starting QB this season, just not week 1 against Pittsburgh.

I believe starting him now would be reminiscent of Tim Couch & Drew Bledsoe (New England & Buffalo). Usually starting a rookie QB results in disaster, although there have been good upsides to this theory, I do not subscribe to it.

Let the vets start, let Brady continue to take his snaps with the first team during the week. He'll have his opportunity, he's already been in the spotlight with the Browns, he'll be our starter soon enough.

Answer 5

browns smart football team start brady quinn

Answer 6

First of all, he missed most of training camp. The second point is to bring Quinn in slowly to and build his confidence. You don't want to throw Quinn as your starter unless the season starts off 0 and 5 start or if Frye goes down to an injury.

Answer 7

As a Browns fan, I personally don't want another Tim Couch like situation on our hands.


Give Brady time to learn the system in practice and on the sidelines, and gradually weed him into the starting job. There is a very good possibility he will be the starter by season's end, but right now he is simply not ready.

If they bring him in too soon, you run the risk of having him develop bad habits, as well losing confidence when things don't go that easily right away. Theres also the injury factor, even though (for once) the Browns might actually have a half-decent O-line this year.

Answer 8

Because Rommeo Crennel is a smart coach, and Quinn is simply not ready. Few QBs who have been thrown into the game directly from the beginning have done well. lets not forget, he has been facing the back-up units in pre-season games. give Quinn till the 6th week, and he should be starting.

Answer 9

The NFL is not like a video game. You're forgetting the human element. If you throw in Quinn the first week of the season, he could end up losing any confidence he has, and if that happens, he will play terribly, and it could take several years to gain that confidence back, if he were to gain it back at all.

Answer 10

Yup...the Browns organization ahs said that Quinn is their best QB.
The thing is he's not ready. He has to learn more about the play, the defenses, he has to be able to recognize things that he can't yet...he'll be starting by the 8th game.