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Posted at 1:43 a.m., Thursday, December 27, 2007

NFL: Browns unlikely to give Quinn shot now

By Marla Ridenour
Akron Beacon Journal

BEREA, Ohio — Brady Quinn might have the best-selling Browns jersey in town, a national Subway commercial and his face on the cover of Cleveland Magazine's "Most Interesting People" issue with fellow rookie Joe Thomas.

Imagine the hoopla if Quinn had taken a snap.

But coach Romeo Crennel does not seem inclined to change that Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers even though the game means almost nothing to the Browns' playoff fortunes. To make the postseason for the first time since 2002, the Browns (9-6) need the Indianapolis Colts to beat or tie the Tennessee Titans.

Quinn, a quarterback who was the 22nd overall pick from Notre Dame, hasn't played since preseason. That seems all the more stunning since the Browns traded their first-round pick in 2008 and a second-rounder in 2007 to the Dallas Cowboys for the right to select him.

After the Browns traded Charlie Frye to the Seattle Seahawks on Sept. 11, Quinn might have taken over had he not missed 11 days and 16 full-squad practices due to a training camp holdout.

Instead, Crennel handed the job to Derek Anderson, a sixth-round pick of the Baltimore Ravens in 2005 who made three starts for the Browns in 2006. With his strong arm and gunslinger mentality, Anderson went 9-5 and helped build the league's eighth-ranked offense. But in the biggest game of his career, needing only a victory Sunday against the Bengals in Cincinnati to clinch, Anderson threw four interceptions in a 19-14 loss.

Yesterday, Anderson didn't seem thrilled with the suggestion of Quinn playing against the 49ers.

Asked how he would feel if that happened, Anderson said, "I want to finish this game and finish these 16 games of this season. We've stuck together through everything thick and thin through the whole season, and I don't see why things would change."

Crennel said yesterday that he'll play "whoever gives us the best chance to win." Pressed about Quinn, he was cagey, saying, "I don't know what the situation is going to be. I'm going to have to see."

Apparently Crennel doesn't care about having an inexperienced backup.

"If he has to play, he'll go in and represent himself and the Browns well," Crennel said.

Browns players believe that Crennel would use Quinn only in a blowout victory.

"Derek's been our quarterback all year; I don't see why you would switch," center Hank Fraley said. "If we had it wrapped up and we were going to the playoffs, we might do something like that. D.A. has played well."

Receiver Braylon Edwards doesn't believe that Crennel would make such a bold move.

"I can't see him doing that this late in the season and causing any controversy," Edwards said. "It's how we've played all year. There have been some chances for Quinn to get in if that were going to be the case. He didn't take them then; I don't see him taking them now."

The closest Quinn came to playing was against the Patriots at New England on Oct. 7, when Anderson landed on his throwing shoulder. Quinn warmed up, but Anderson didn't come out.

Some might be curious to see Quinn, especially with the pending decision on what to do with restricted free agent Anderson in the offseason.

"This is true," Edwards said. "But we're going to do everything we can to win this game. I can't see us going with something we haven't done all year. I don't think there's any curiosity from us."

Perhaps they've seen enough in practice. Quinn said he gets his most reps on Wednesdays, then sees them dwindle as the week goes on.

Asked if there were moments this season where he wished he were playing, Quinn said, "That's every time. You're a quarterback. Ask Ken (Dorsey) that. He'll tell you every second of the game you're always wishing you're playing."

As for this week, Quinn said, "I see it as an opportunity for our team to win a game. That decision is up to the coach. This game is no different from any other."

Crennel said Quinn's attitude has been "excellent," even though he has languished on the bench.

"I didn't expect things to turn out the way they did, but I wasn't really worried the way things turned out," Quinn said. "I'm more interested in developing as a player and getting better.

"I think I'm getting more familiar with the offense, getting more familiar with what a lot of teams do in the NFL. It's helped me grow mentally. Getting involved with the rest of my teammates and getting a feel for some of those guys has been fun, too."

This could be the Browns' last game of the season, but Quinn said, "I don't think it's going to be the last of my career.

"So I know if I don't get in this game, we'll hopefully make the playoffs and there's an opportunity there. If I don't get in that game, it goes on and on and on. I'll try to stay optimistic about everything."