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The Honolulu Advertiser

Updated at 9:40 a.m., Tuesday, August 7, 2007

NFL: QB Quinn, Browns agree to five-year deal

By Joe Milicia
Associated Press

BEREA, Ohio — Quarterback Brady Quinn has agreed to terms on a five-year contract with the Cleveland Browns, ending an 11-day holdout that essentially ended his chances to begin the season as the team's starter.

Quinn was flying to the Browns' headquarters today to sign the deal, a person within the league said on condition of anonymity because the contract's language was still being finalized.

The person said the deal, worth $20.2 million, with $7.75 million guaranteed, could reach $30 million over five years with incentives.

The deal was first reported by Foxsports.com.

Quinn's absence has all but ensured he will not win the Browns' starting job, which has become a two-man contest between Charlie Frye and Derek Anderson.

A four-year starter at Notre Dame, Quinn was projected as a top 10 pick in April's draft. When he slipped deeper into the first round, the Browns traded a 2008 first-round pick to Dallas and selected the Ohio native at No. 22.

The major sticking point in negotiations between the Browns and agent Tom Condon were escalator clauses based on playing time for Quinn, who worked out in Arizona during the holdout. Condon and the Browns were also hung up over increases in the fourth and fifth years of a potential deal.

Coach Romeo Crennel has coldly referred to Quinn as "the quarterback" and not by name during the holdout.

"He's pretty far behind," Crennel said last week. "We have a lot of offense, and we're putting it in every day. It takes a while to get this down and get caught up on it."

Quinn also missed the team's four-day rookie orientation before camp.

Oakland quarterback JaMarcus Russell (No. 1 overall) and New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis (No. 14) are the only first-round picks without contracts.