No surprise here, of course.
Despite Quinn's strong start, rookie won't be Browns QB in opener
ESPN.com news services
Updated: August 26, 2007, 2:37 PM ET
Even though rookie quarterback Brady Quinn has had a solid preseason,
Browns general manager Phil Savage said Saturday night that the Notre Dame product won't be leading the Cleveland offense in their opener on Sept. 9.
Brady Quinn is a combined 20-of-31 for 236 yards with three TDs and no interceptions in two preseason games.
"It's unrealistic for Brady to be in the mix for the opener," Savage told the News Herald newspaper after the first quarter of Saturday night's preseason win over the Broncos.
With Charlie Frye and Derek Anderson believed to be the front-runners to start the season, Quinn has been doing his best this preseason to make that decision difficult for his bosses.
Quinn was efficient and effective for the second straight preseason game Saturday night. He completed 7-of-11 passes for 81 yards and one touchdown.
After missing 11 days in a contract holdout, Quinn is a combined 20-of-31 for 236 yards with three TDs and no interceptions over two games, albeit mostly against backups.
Browns coach Romeo Crennel has said he might not name a starting quarterback until the week before the opener vs. Pittsburgh.
Against the Broncos, Quinn threw a pass in the left flat that Joshua Cribbs turned into a nifty 20-yard touchdown to break a 10-10 tie in the third quarter, but the rookie was robbed of another apparent TD toss on Cleveland's previous possession.
Although Joe Jurevicius hauled in Quinn's perfectly thrown 39-yard pass over Dre' Bly in the end zone, the nearest official ruled he didn't get both feet down before going out of bounds -- replays showed otherwise, but Crennel didn't challenge the call.
"That's a call that maybe if it's the regular season we challenge it," Jurevicius said. "I'm not too worried about it. I think Brady made a great decision coming outside [the receiver's left shoulder] and doing something that was out of the ordinary."
Although "I thought the ball was pretty much on time where it was supposed to be, the throw could have been a little better for Joe to make it easier on him," Quinn said.
That came against Denver's frontline defense, too -- although that may not be as impressive as it sounds. Slow to adapt to new boss Jim Bates' scheme, the Broncos' starters have allowed six touchdowns and three field goals in 15 possessions this preseason.
