As reported a couple of days ago, Brady Quinn and his best friend since 7th grade, Chinedum Ndukwe, visited children at the Memorial Children’s Hospital in South Bend, IN. They also made their appearance at the College Football Hall of Fame Gridiron Legends Luncheon.

This article from WSBT, really showcases just how good of friends they really are.

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Former Notre Dame football players Brady Quinn & Chinedum Ndukwe share a laugh during Monday's College Football Hall of Fame Gridiron Legends Luncheon. (WSBT Photo)

About eight in every 10,000 high school football players make it to the NFL. Not only have Brady Quinn and Chinedum Ndukwe accomplished that, but they did it from the same high school, and forged a friendship in the process that is still going strong today.

During their time at Notre Dame, Quinn and Ndukwe were not just teammates, and not just roommates, but great friends.

Or, at least, friends.

“You know what kind of a friend he is? He’ll leave all his hair products in the bathroom when we were roommates,” Ndukwe said. “Just leave them all over, like the counter. Everywhere.”

“He’s got a lack of hair,” Quinn said. “So I don’t know what he’s going to do with any of that.”

Quinn and Ndukwe have been going back and forth like this since they were first teammates, in seventh grade. Last fall – 13 years later – they finally got to play against each other. Their recollections of that week 12 game are quite different.

Quinn had a rushing touchdown, but Ndukwe’s Bengals won the game. Either way, it was a great reunion.

From DenverBroncos.com:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

From Denver Post:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Read a transcript from media sessions, courtesy of fine Broncos blog, Mile High Report.

Oh, don’t worry there’s more after the jump…

It’s only a few. But that’s ok, because there will eventually be more. Beggars can’t be choosy!

Watch a video, courtesy of the Denver Post, where Coach McDaniels addresses the competition. Also seen are some words from Orton and Tebow, as well as footage of all the QBs during today’s session.

Brady was 2nd to take snaps, behind Kyle Orton. Here’s what he had to say about today’s practice:

“I think it went pretty well. Obviously, we can always do better.”

Official Site (March 18)

Click here to view the embedded video.

Having spent 3 seasons looking at the Cleveland Browns’ official website and video offerings, I can tell you that I’m already liking the Denver Broncos’ website much more. The production quality of the video is clearly superior.

And one more time, I’d like to take some time to reiterate that this is a FAN BLOG, as is our Twitter account. We have added a lot of new followers since the trade, and just want to make sure everyone knows we are fans. The real Brady Quinn has not yet jumped into the Twitterverse. And, if he does, we’ll let everyone know!

I AM UPSET.

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

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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.

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.

So, the Cliff’s Notes version of the opening day of camp goes as follows:

1. Brady took the first QB snaps, but the same number of reps were had for both Brady and DA
2. Brady looked good in the short to middle distance throws and DA excelled at the longer passes. Same ol’, same ol’.
3. DA had the only TD throws of the day, and also the only INT

Who will the starter eventually be? Probably the one who can do a decent job with shorter and longer throws while minimizing mistakes and taking on a great leadership role.

Quinn opens Browns training camp first under center (Canton Rep)
Cleveland Browns have one practice in the books (Plain Dealer)
Quinn, Anderson stay cool in competition (Akron Beacon Journal)
Quarterback Battle: Game On (TheOBR)
Coach Mangini’s Post-practice Presser Transcript (The Cleveland Leader)
ClevelandBrowns.com Gallery

And you can watch Brady’s presser below:

View the Video

It is not a stretch to say Brady Quinn waited most of his life to be the starting quarterback of the Cleveland Browns.

Raised in Columbus, Ohio, Quinn was a die-hard Browns fan growing up and dreamed of someday leading the team. His travels took him to a successful football career at Notre Dame before eventually becoming a first-round pick of the Browns in 2007.

But since joining the Browns, Quinn’s career has yet to get off the ground. He stood on the sideline for a majority of his rookie year and started just three games in 2008 before breaking a finger on his throwing hand.

While competing with teammate Derek Anderson, this year will be the first legitimate chance for Quinn to win the job he’s coveted since a youth. Recently Quinn sat down with ESPN.com’s AFC North blog to discuss his approach heading into the 2009 season.

Read the full Q&A here. Very nice interview that will make Brady Quinn fans everywhere smile. Drink it up, because it’s probably going to be pretty quiet from now until Training Camp starts August 1!

Browns Family Day 2009 Set!
Where? Cleveland Browns Stadium on August 9. Family Day includes a “Brown and White Scrimmage”, which will allow Browns fans of all ages see the team take the field at the stadium for the first time in 2009.

I already tweeted about Mangini saying that Brady has a slight edge thus far in “QB Competition 2009″. And yes, it is early, but we Brady fans should be all about any positive news we can get our hands on. And this, make no mistake, is good news! If you aren’t following me on Twitter (shame on you!), you can do so here.

Here’s the CliffsNotes version of the Mangini news:

“Brady will get the first reps today. He started with the first reps on Wednesday, and that’s because he’s done a really outstanding job in the offseason program. Not that Derek hasn’t done well, but [Quinn] gets the first reps.”

And if that wasn’t enough, then came new video of Brady talking to the media.

Also, pictures from minicamp is available from the official site.

Note: Yes, I am choosing to ignore the rest of the team for right now. I know there is Josh Cribbs drama, but there are quite a few fine Browns blogs you can visit for those updates.