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Posted at 1:44 a.m., Friday, August 31, 2007

NFL: Browns QB Quinn makes case for playing time

By Andrew Seligman
Associated Press

CHICAGO (AP) — Anyone hoping for an answer to the Cleveland Browns' quarterback question will have to wait a little longer.

Rookie Brady Quinn made his case. Incumbent Charlie Frye felt he did nothing to lose the starting job. And coach Romeo Crennel wasn't ready to announce a decision last night, after the Browns wrapped up the preseason with a 19-9 victory over the Chicago Bears.

"I know everybody wants to know," Crennel said. "I'm going to wait until after I look at the tape to decide about the quarterbacks and I will let you know that sometime next week."

Next week can't come soon enough for Quinn, Frye or Derek Anderson, for that matter.

Quinn eventually will get his turn with the Browns (3-1), but against the Bears, he had to wait a quarter.

Frye played the first two possessions, completing two of five passes, and Anderson led a field-goal drive late in the first quarter before Quinn entered the game. The 22nd pick in the draft, he started the second and was 9-of-14 with 64 yards. He threw an interception but led a touchdown drive.

Overall, not a bad performance. And not a bad preseason for the rookie from Notre Dame.

Quinn was 29-of-45 with 300 yards, three touchdowns and one interception in three preseason games, after reporting late to training camp because of a holdout.

"I think I progressed," Quinn said. "I think things went well not only for myself, but for our team, our offense. We did a lot good things this preseason."

It was not a good night for the Bears, who were shaky on special teams and lost rookie tight end Greg Olsen to a knee injury late in the first half. He was hurt while getting tackled after catching a short pass and will undergo an MRI.

Chicago's Danieal Manning fumbled a kickoff near the goal line in the closing seconds of the first quarter after Anderson led the Browns to a field goal, resulting in a safety that gave Cleveland a 5-0 lead. Joshua Cribbs returned a punt 70 yards for the game's first touchdown early in the second quarter. And Quinn led a 50-yard drive on the Browns' next possession that ended with Jerome Harrison carrying it in from the 1.

Bears starting quarterback Rex Grossman left after the first possession — a three-and-out affair in which he completed a pass to Olsen for no gain. Cedric Benson had one carry for 2 yards.

Brian Griese came in and completed one of three passes — a 12-yarder — before giving way to Kyle Orton to start the second quarter.

Pro Bowl defensive tackle Tommie Harris started for the Bears after missing the first three preseason games while recovering from a season-ending hamstring injury.

"What did I accomplish in two series?" Harris said, repeating a question. "Just getting a feel of preparing for a game, staying at the hotel, getting my mind right for the game. I wanted to do that and not go to San Diego (for the season-opener) ... and have to do that for the first time."

Otherwise, it was an uneventful conclusion to a difficult week for the Bears (3-1), one that began with linebacker Lance Briggs leaving his Lamborghini alongside a highway after he crashed it early Monday morning.

The Bears now can turn their attention toward their NFC title defense and the season-opener against the Chargers.

"I'm excited about using the experience I have from last year, starting 19 games, and hopefully that shows," Grossman said.