Archive for December, 2009

“It is required of every man,” the Ghost returned, “that the spirit within him should walk abroad among his fellow-players, and travel far and wide; and if that spirit goes not forth in the NFL, it is condemned to do so after retirement. It is doomed to wander through the stadium — oh, woe is me! — and witness what it cannot share, but might have shared in Cleveland, and turned to happiness!”

The time is August 2007. Brady Quinn is at the Athletes’ Performance facility in Tempe, Arizona. He is running in 100° heat, working out and conditioning himself for his rookie year with the Cleveland Browns. His teammates are in Berea, Ohio doing the same thing. In fact, the drills and exercises are studied by everyone, they both go online to watch film and study plays; there is no difference between the two except the 2000+ miles and the fact that the players have a contract. Brady does not.

Brady eventually did sign a five year contract for over 20 million, ending an 11-day holdout and eliminating his chances to begin the 2007 as the Browns’ starting quarterback. He missed the first 10 days of training camp and the team’s four-day rookie orientation. “He’s pretty far behind,” then head coach, Romeo Crennell said. “We’re going to put him at the bottom of the chart and see where he is.”

The Ghost of Cleveland Past turned towards Brady and said, “Why did you do this?”

“The business side of pro football is awful. To sit out that long from playing the game you love is horrible. I left all of that to my agent, Tom Condon.” Brady shook his head not believing what he saw.

“I told you these were shadows of the things that have been,” said the Ghost. “That they are what they are, do not blame me!” And The Ghost of Cleveland Past whisked Brady back for the next spirit’s visitation.

Brady sank into a deep slumber but it was not a restful sleep for the other spirit, The Ghost of Cleveland Present had arrived.

“Look upon me Brady Quinn and see what has currently befallen you,” and with a wave of its translucent hand, The Ghost of Cleveland Present transported them both to Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. Hovering over the chilly stadium they both watched as Brady ran the bootleg late in the game against the Chiefs. Gaining 24 yards, Brady watched himself get tripped up by Demorrio Williams. “Here is where you injured your left foot. See how you limp going back to the field?”

After the game, Brady watched himself go immediately into the stadium for x-rays. He turned to the apparition and said, “Yes. Football is a physical game.  I’ll miss the rest of the season to heal, but better to rest than to damage my foot permanently. That scramble allowed Jerome Harrison to run for a touchdown securing our 41-34 victory.”

“Yes, Brady Quinn,” the Spirit said, “but at what cost? At what cost?” The sound of a bell tolling twelve slowly compelled The Ghost of Cleveland Present to disappear. Before it was gone entirely, it reminded Brady of the arrival of the last Spirit.

Slowly, gravely, and silently approached the Phantom. It was shrouded in a deep black garment, which concealed its head, its face, its form, and left nothing of it visible save one outstretched hand. Brady felt that it was tall and stately when it came beside him, and that its mysterious presence filled him with a solemn dread. He knew no more, for the Spirit neither spoke nor moved.

“I am in the presence of The Ghost of Cleveland Yet To Come?” asked Brady. “And you are about to show me shadows of the things that have not happened, but will happen in the time before us,” he pursued. “Is that so, Spirit?” The only answer Brady received was the continued hand pointing straight out before them; then the Phantom moved away and Brady followed. “Wait. Show me what is to come. Lead on!”

The unmistakable POP of a champagne cork filled the air. Merriment and lively festivities filled Brady’s view. “What’s this? I know what is to happen. I know this story and it ends with doom and unfulfilled promises, but this is happy. Look at my teammates celebrate a great win!” Indeed, the vision was one of revelry and great pleasure. The Browns rejoice in champagne soaked jerseys and the clamor of hoots and hollers of victory as player after player pass around a great silver trophy topped with a lustrous football.

“Where am I Spirit? I do not see myself anywhere in the locker room?” Brady, there and not there, had the sensation he had experienced this before. “This is… this is more like the movie It’s a Wonderful Life than A Christmas Carol.”

Finally, The Ghost of Cleveland Future turned towards Brady Quinn and spoke in a dry, raspy voice. “You are not here because you are not with the Browns. The path that was laid out before you turned away from Cleveland and ended with another team. A LESSER team.”

Are these the shadows of what will be or what may be? My apologies to Charles Dickens.

Heal quickly Brady.

Say it ain’t so Brady!! I’m supposed to see you play in 11 days!!

UPDATE 2: No word on Brady Quinn and his foot. Mangini said at today’s press conference:  (On if he knows if Brady Quinn will need surgery)- “I don’t think that decision’s going to be made quickly.  We’ll just go through and see where it is and take time on it.”

Seems that Brady is taking it easy… very little mentioned at the press conference and I’d assume that Brady wasn’t at the Wed. practice.  BEst of luck and well wishes your way Brady.

UPDATE: After the Kansas City game, Brady immediately went to get X-rays on his LEFT foot. He was one crutches and wearing a boot on Tuesday. There were no direct press questions to him, but maybe Wednesday with media locker room conferences. Sure DEREK will have something to say. Brady’s season stopping performance occurred near the end of the run, after Quinn was tripped up by linebacker Demorrio Williams. You can see the FOOT-age here (har har).

Quinn placed on IR; Anderson to start

The Browns have placed Brady Quinn on the season-ending injured reserve list.

Browns head coach Eric Mangini said Quinn suffered a foot injury on his final carry of Sunday’s win in Kansas City, an 11-yard run that converted a key first down.

“He won’t be able to play the next two weeks,” Mangini said. “It’s hard to tell exactly what happened. Even Brady isn’t sure exactly what happened.”

Mangini said Derek Anderson will start Sunday’s game with the Raiders. Brett Ratliff will be his backup, and Joshua Cribbs will serve as the emergency quarterback.

Quinn started nine games for the Browns this season, setting career bests with 4 TD passes and 304 yards passing in Detroit in late November.

Anderson has started five games and thrown 2 touchdown passes on the season.

From today’s press conference with head coach, Eric Mangini

(On what Quinn’s injury is)- “A foot.”

(On what happened on the play Quinn got injured)- “He just got injured on that run that he had, the quarterback keep late in the game on the sideline. Looking at it, he wouldn’t be able to play this week, wouldn’t be able to play next week. Really, it’s going to take a little while.”

(On if Quinn will need surgery)- “Don’t know that yet.”

(On if someone stepped on Quinn or if he turned wrong)-“It’s hard to tell on the film. The angle that you have, it’s hard to see exactly what it is. He and I were talking about it last night and even he wasn’t sure exactly how it happened.”

(On Quinn being able to finish the game at Kansas City)- “It was only one more play I think. One or two more plays.”

(On if he was injured on the quarterback sneak for 13 yards)- “No, the bootleg, late [in the game].”

(On which foot Quinn injured)- “I think it’s the right.” left

(On how he would assess Quinn’s season)- “That’s something really I go back and look at after the season. I think he had done a really nice job.  To understand where you can then attack them is important. I thought that he improved with that throughout the course of the season. Even the ball handling on the one that he kept, (Mike) Brown was right there on the edge. I remember looking and thinking, ‘Oh man, this isn’t going to be very good,’ but the way that he sold the run it sucked Brown like a hard edge down the line and there was nobody there. It doesn’t seem like that’s a big deal, but that was the difference between the play working or it getting blown up.”

(On if Quinn has shown enough to be considered as the quarterback of the future)- “I think he’s done a lot of good things, I really do. I think that a lot of things that I was hoping for at the beginning of the season we really started to see in the later part of the season. I think the no huddle helped him quite a bit. His ability to do that as well as he did helped us. We’ve improved in quite a few categories. I’m not saying that’s the only reason. I think that over the course of time we’ve gotten better as a group, but I think that’s been positive for us. We’ll just see where we are.”

(On how much of a concern Quinn’s passing numbers are)-“I think that’s something that we definitely have to improve on. We’re not going to have the running game production that we had last week very often. I mean, I think that’s a pretty unique performance by any stretch. The other thing that I know he’d like to have back from last game, and so would I, were the turnovers. We’ve done a good job of protecting the football and that’s critical. It’s critical.”

(On if Quinn can be fairly judged based on the parts around him)- “I think that you have to look at what the situation is and put it in a context, like you would do any other position. I think the positive is we have a guy that really understands quarterbacks coming in to help out, so I think he’ll be able to shed some like on this as well.”

(On if 13 starts in three years is a fair number to judge a quarterback by)- “Everybody has a different opinion on that. I’ve heard, what is it, 1,000 snaps. I don’t know. I don’t know what the exact number is for that. You see some guys that bounce around, don’t get an opportunity, suddenly get an opportunity and play really well. A guy like Kurt Warner, he was in the arena league for a while and suddenly gets a chance and lights it up.”

Ok, this is just sinking in. You mean the front row tickets I have for January 3rd to see Brady Quinn play means I will not see Brady Quinn play? Well, I certainly hope he is alright, but from the sound of things, no one knows yet. (We’ll keep you up to date. NOT another surgery!!)

I do distinctly remember Brady limping back to the huddle after that conversion. I thought he would just shake it off. But you know,… if there was NO outward sign last year when he broke his finger and played the rest of that game AND another, then this limping must be something. There was so much to celebrate with that win against the Chiefs, maybe this minor injury was overlooked. It wasn’t mentioned at the postgame press conference.

Brady is strong, and sensible. THAT doesn’t worry me. The man knows how to stay fit and take care of himself. What worries me is the other half of that headline ANDERSON TO START. When so many things are undecided, now throw this into the mix.  What do you get?

The Cleveland Browns.

ESPN article

Latest from Plain Dealer.

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Join the one and only Brady’s Bunch, the Brady Quinn Fan Message Board

Click the BOARD link above or ‘Brady’s Bunch‘, and follow the prompts. Soon there after (usually within 24 hours) you will receive a confirmation email to reply to and then you are all set. The message board members are a friendly bunch, and if you want to share about all things Brady Quinn, Notre Dame, and the Browns, then that is the place for you. This is not your typical board. Your voice is as loud or as quiet as you want, but you have the opportunity to be heard in a safe and supportive environment. Negative, hateful, and unpleasant posts are not tolerated and are never posted, but differing opinions are.

Now that the huge snowstorm in the northeast has moved out of my area dumping over 2 feet of snow around me, I find myself sweating up a storm shoveling it off my sidewalks. That is my sweat story. Here’s Brady Quinn’s Sweat Story from ESPN …

The Brady Bunch is wishing you and the Browns well at the Kansas City game. And seriously, TWO FEET of snow. Any help?

Join the one and only Brady’s Bunch, the Brady Quinn Fan Message Board

Click the BOARD link above or ‘Brady’s Bunch‘, and follow the prompts. Soon there after (usually within 24 hours) you will receive a confirmation email to reply to and then you are all set. The message board members are a friendly bunch, and if you want to share about all things Brady Quinn, Notre Dame, and the Browns, then that is the place for you. This is not your typical board. Your voice is as loud or as quiet as you want, but you have the opportunity to be heard in a safe and supportive environment. Negative, hateful, and unpleasant posts are not tolerated and are never posted, but differing opinions are.

Feel free to browse the posts in the background, but we really encourage you to share your stories and opinions. Currently, we have postings of Brady Quinn trivia, BQ football cards, several thousand photos available (many high quality), editorials revolving around Notre Dame and their new coach, Brian Kelly, the Cleveland Browns football politics, personal anecdotes, and many other topics.

Be there with us as we celebrate Brady’s career as one of the best future quarterbacks in the NFL.

Strange activity indeed!

Anyone who really knows Brady Quinn, or at the very least, is a reader of this blog or belongs to the message board, KNOWS that Twitter account brady_10_quinn was a BIG fake. Now I don’t know why over a thousand people who followed that tripe didn’t know that. I want to quote P.T. Barnum about a fool being born every minute, or, in Twitter’s case, several fools born every hour.

NEVER TRUST ANY TWITTER ACCOUNT UNLESS IT IS VERIFIED TO BE FROM THAT PERSON! PERIOD.

Playing on the optimistic side, I guess the technology is just too new. Twidiots just search for a celebrity’s name and subscribe to the account assuming it to be gospel. Well, from the mouths of babes…

Search for Brady Quinn and you may find http://twitter.com/bradyquinn. This is our UNOFFICIAL Twitter account that goes along with this site. [And it CLEARLY says so.] We would happily turn it over to Mr. Quinn and his associates (per Twitter policy) if asked. We would love Brady to have a real Twitter account. Imagine what some dimTwit would do with that account name if it was not already taken?

I personally contacted all 1,000+ followers (like sheep) and told them the truth, and I was quite surprised that 20 or so actually wrote back thanking me. That was an unexpected pleasure. A few wanted to know the skinny as to what his account was and who was I to say it was fake. Well, I will tell you.

I am a REAL fan. We at Brady Quinn Fan are, and if you need more proof ask yourself this.

Would the real Brady Quinn…

• misspell words?
• plead with people to follow him on Twitter?
• comment on the uniforms of the Bengals?
• have as his web contact some fantasy football site?
• take one of our wallpapers WE made on this site and use it for his own?
• say his his favorite tv show is “Probably Deal Or No Deal. I like to see the greed get to people.” 
• and here is the big one…

Would the real Brady Quinn be able to crack the world of quantum mechanics, wave functions, and the other six or seven proposed dimensions of string theory TO BE IN TWO PLACES AT ONCE! How can he be giving a live post-game conference and Tweet at the same time?

And honestly, that boy tries so damn hard. He doesn’t have time to Tweet or Twick or what ever you call it. He is up early working out. He stays hours after practice watching tape and doing drills. He goes home like many of us, talks to his family and friends, studies more plays, (occasionally likes to watch The Office), offers his prayers to God, and starts it all over the next day. I have NEVER met a more dedicated and devoted individual to his craft or such a well-mannered, modest man.

Brady does NOT have an OFFICIAL FaceBook, MySpace, or Twitter account. The best place to simply keep tabs on Brady is to read approved sites and texts for yourself. If you can stomach the occasional saccharin sweet effusive rantings of superfans, this is a great place to start. If you already are euphemistically diabetic or have an insulin pump, then you can stomach the Brady’s Bunch Message Board.

Honestly, who ever was behind it seemed to only care about having a lot of followers. He (or she?) was like some reincarnated Marshall Applewhite getting people to FOLLOW ME. The OBR (Orange Brown Report) fell victim to the fake account (although they KNOW Browns football and had their eyebrows raised – thanks for the shout out guys) and it was reported the Brady’s college teammate Tom Zbikowski tweeted or retweeted to it. [It CAN be confusing.]

So, whoever you are, DON’T make another fake Brady Quinn account. NO ONE messes with him (‘cept Shaun Smith ONCE [sucker punch] or maybe a vengeful Ray Lewis and Terrell Suggs).

So grow up and get a life.

A lot of hoopla and horrahs went out to #89 Evan Moore, tight end for the Browns during the San Diego Chargers game on December 6th. A game that the Browns ultimately lost, but was there anything else to be found on the field?

When you are living at the bottom of a murky pond like the Cleveland Browns, any shiny penny is worth exploring. Evan Moore is that new penny.

First, Evan is 24 years old. He will meet the quarter century mark in a couple of weeks when he celebrates his 25th birthday on January 3rd when the Browns play their last game of the season against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Coincidentally, this is a game that I will personally be at celebrating (hopefully) not just another Brown victory with Brady Quinn at the helm, but also the birthday of this site’s creator. In fact, this is my way of thanking her for the site’s creation with front row tickets to that game. I am sure we will have a great time. If we are not holding onto each other for warmth, we will be basking in the glow of the players as they huddle in front of us – such is the joy of front row seats. I’m an autograph hound, she’s a self-described paparazzo, and we will be screaming for the signature of Evan Moore.

Now, it is a matter of record (on the message boards) that I saw something in Evan Moore days before his removal from the Browns practice squad to the 53-man roster. It was when he showed up to help host the Kids Club Play 60 event at the stadium. This event helped promote the NFL’s “Play 60″ every day campaign to help fight childhood obesity by getting kids active. I’m all for getting kids off their behinds and away from tv and video games, looks like Evan is too. He helped run the 4-legged race, but I bet he would have been just as good riding a bike.

Before the Browns found this lucky penny, he was with the Green Bay Packers where, not-so-lucky, he spent the entire 2008 season on injured reserve. Before that even, Evan was with the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent. The Packers got rid of him (I believe they call it ‘waived’.) this September and then Cleveland signed him to the practice squad November 9th with no fanfare. Actually, there was fanfare but it was for Marcus Benard who left the practice squad to the active roster. Evan too, would move from the practice squad to the active roster mere hours before the San Diego Charger’s matchup.

Now, I find it just incredible that this guy never played in an NFL game before and was, only 16 hours before, on the practice squad. All of this happened quickly in the first drive of the game. Evan caught Brady’s 10 yard pass three minutes into the first quarter. Two minutes after that, another pass caught, this one for 18 more yards. About a minute after that another pass caught for 9 more yards! I don’t know what was more amazing, Brady throwing the ball downfield or somebody catching it? (Forgive me Brady.) In all, Evan was the team leader catching 6 passes for 80 yards. Fans were amazed, maybe not just for Moore, but for the Browns showing some life.I already like the guy a lot because he reminds me of Brady Quinn. If you haven’t seen his post game interview, you must. He is charsimatic, funny, and humble, yet confident of his ability and role on the team. That role may very well be Brady’s number one receiver. Solomon Wilcots, commentator for the NFL on CBS, said, referring to Evan Moore, “I think Brady Quinn has found someone very special.” In fact Brady gave Evan a nod of approval (despite Moore being from Stanford)…

“He’s done a great job. He’s someone people are going to have to look at on film from now on. He’s a weapon and he has shown that since he’s been here. He did a great job. He was from Green Bay before and my sister and brother-in-law knew him and they had great things to say about him. He’s a guy who is not afraid of hard work. He’s a smart guy, picks things up quick, extremely athletic. He’s a great asset to have.” Geez, and I thought I was too gushing.

Be forewarned Evan, you will see these Brady Bunchers on your birthday. If Mr. Quinn gives you his seal of approval that’s good enough for us. I still have cupboards of EAS Myoplex sports drink just on Brady’s word alone. So,…

Welcome to Cleveland Evan Moore.

“How do you like it? How do you like it?”

ETA: Postgame interview from NFL.com
http://www.brady-quinn.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/bq_steelers_win.mp4

Well this is not what Steve Mariucci, Deion Sanders, Marshall Faulk, or Rich Eisen led me to believe three hours before the game on the NFL Network. All of this talk about Pittsburgh this and Pittsburgh that; you know, you do not kick a dawg when he’s down.

I’m sure the weather may be a problem, but it doesn’t look like it. A lot of street cred is on the line and the Browns are coming through. I’ve seen them play strong first half, only to lose their MoJo second half. Don’t do this!

Ben Roethlisberger sacked FIVE times. It is only the half!

Brady’s not doing too bad. Kudos to Cribbs!  I agree. SIGN THAT MAN A PLAN!!

World Champs? Huh?  Yeah right. OUT PLAYED.

Now, I want to hear Steve, Deion, Marshall, and Rich back-peddle.

Many Brady Bunch members are chatting about the new Notre Dame coach, Brian Kelly, and the upcoming Browns/Steelers game in a frigid Cleveland. But what has happened to Brady’s face? Look at the screen caps and tell me you see a nasty looking scratch on the right side of his face.  Was someone throwing weights around the locker room again? Great. How am I supposed to concentrate on the game now? GO BRADY AND BROWNS! Beat those Steelers!

I, for one, am very excited to watch Thursday Night Football, on the NFL Network. I will be right here watching the game in high-def, getting an eye-ache, and yelling at the screen as I blog everything Brady does play by play, minute by minute with the Brady Bunch. But I can’t help wondering which Brady will be at the game?

Maybe it’s sacrilege on here thinking this but I don’t know which Brady Quinn will be playing against the Steelers. Am I happy he is the starter? ECSTATIC! Am I excited to see him get comfortable out on the field; inside the pocket? ABSOLUTELY! Is it finally a great release to see Brady use all of this time and opportunity to develop his craft. YOU DAMN WELL BETTER BELIEVE IT! So why am I not content?

It’s Brady’s consistency. Everyone knows about it, but so many sports sites and bloggers are fly by night, only picking Brady apart from the past game – and thankfully, the last game found him on the plus side of the dinner platter. A lot of “internet analysts” are so quick to parrot Brady’s weaknesses, from what the other legitimate sites say. You aren’t going to find that from me. I don’t know football that well. (You’d never hear that from some other sites.) But I do know about Brady Quinn. Thanks to the superfans that have followed him from Dublin Coffman to Notre Dame, the ones who have watched every Irish game, the Dawgs who are willing to talk and not bite, or more who just want to see a well-rounded, God-fearing, real role model live out his childhood dream, I have learned some football and about Brady Quinn. I have talked and argued, mostly on the message board, and listened well.

Brady did poorly against Minnesota and Denver and half of that game against the Ravens in the beginning of this season. NO DUH. He hadn’t taken a snap since November 23, 2008, against the Houston Texans with a broken right index finger. And those first three teams? Hello…  they’re good. When, after that stupid hiatus and football QB tug-of-war, Brady was mediocre at best. That is until Detroit. I know. I know. Detroit. But they beat the Browns and won another even, but Brady did shine. He showed…. promise.

But are they promises he can keep? Again, I have to defer to people who know more than I, probably more than you too. Most everyone liked what they saw of Brady against San Diego.

• “He’s playing with a greater feel and I can tell with the timing and tempo; much more comfortable.”
• “I think it’s just stellar [after Brady's first TD]. It just shows you what Brady Quinn can do when he settles in and just cuts it loose and trusts his ability.”
• “His ability to survey the field, buy a little bit more time, movement in the pocket, he just doesn’t take off and run, still has his vision up the field; that’s when you can tell a young quarterback is growing in confidence and growing in his knowledge of the game.”
• “He’s got all of the tools and plays the game from the neck up. … we are seeing him develop right before our eyes.”
• “The Cleveland Browns are finding themselves a quarterback.”
• “Well we’re seeing good decision making by Brady Quinn. All of the outlet receivers were covered and he quickly processes the information, turns it up and presses the line of scrimmage … to gain yards. He’s making good plays with his arms and legs.”
• “Brady Quinn can become a really good football player when the other elements around him improve.”

I think it is that last quote from Chargers head coach, Norv Turner, that sums up Brady’s potential in Cleveland. But I also like what Terry Pluto, columnist from Cleveland’s Plain Dealer said when asked if Brady Quinn has won him over. “Not yet. I’m interested to see more. I hope he can show that he can play.” I cannot begin to tell you Terry I really hope Brady can show me Thursday night too.

Oh, and if you are not a part of The Brady Bunch, you are missing some high definition pictures of Brady, talks about who the next Notre Dame coach will be, as well as trivia, articles, and the usual adoration and adulation. Click the BOARD link above or here, and follow the prompts. Soon (usually within 24 hours) you will receive a confirmation email to reply to and then you are all set.

Sing in the key of “Beauty School Drop-out” by Frankie Avalon from the movie Grease.

Notre Dame drop-out

No Graduation Day for you.

Notre Dame drop-out

Taking your risks with the draft too.

Well at least you could have taken time to finish your degree.

And then you’d have your education, the draft is no guarantee.

Who do you think you are?

You did not always win.

You’re not an Irish star.

Certainly no Brady Quinn!

If you go for your diploma, you could do the draft next time.

You and Tate are good not great, foregoing education’s a crime.

Always active in the community, Brady and some of his Browns teammates were present to wish the local Shaker Heights Jr. Pee Wee football team, the Fire Raiders, well as they are headed off to the Pop Warner National Championships.

The team boarded a bus to make the long trek to Disney World and stopped by the Browns HQ in Berea where select members of the team and staff met with them; and it was all a surprise to the youngsters!

Watch a video on this great story below.