Sorry, I’ll take whatever news I can get and will continue to be excited about it.

The Cleveland Plain Dealer is reporting that this year’s 12 sessions will begin next week. These are voluntary team practices, but I’m sure the media will be all over these outings and report accordingly. Talk about being under a microscope!

I believe the mandatory minicamp will be June 10-12; it was scrolled on ESPN during today’s NFL Live.

Speaking of NFL Live, Braylon Edwards co-hosted Monday and Tuesday’s shows. He said that this Derek Anderson guy was reaping the benefits of working out with Brady as evidenced by the fact that he now has defined abs. Apparently he was quite fluffy before. I guess we can add this to the list of intagibles that Brady brings to the table. I hope the front office is taking notes!

Coach Crennel has already gone on record with how impressed he is with Brady’s on-the-field leadership skills set. There are some things you just can’t teach and how to be a leader is one of those things.

Brady’s former Fighting Irish teammate — and newly signed Browns undrafted free agent — Travis Thomas is the latest to give props. Thomas all but gushes over Brady and his contributions to his teammates in a new story by the Canton Repository.

“He’s like a coach on the field. He takes control. He helps out guys when they don’t know where to be.”

Or how about this:

“Brady is a great quarterback and a great leader. He’s a team player. I know it’s a transition going from college to pros, but if he can play like he did in college, and build on that, the Browns have a great one.”

You have to be doing something right when people continue to compliment you. I’m seriously liking this trend and I know this won’t be the last time Brady will be praised for his leadership.

After having no picks in the first 3 rounds of the 2008 NFL draft, the Browns got to work today, and selected 5 fine athletes to join the Orange and Brown ranks. The front office was looking to fill needs with the following positions: tight end, outside linebacker, inside linebacker and cornerback. This is not surprising as the Browns’ defensive left much to be desired last season.

The 2008 Rookie class is:

ILB Beau Bell (UNLV)
TE Martin Rucker (Missouri)
DT Ahtyba Rubin (Iowa St.)
WR Paul Hubbard (Wisconsin)
DE Alex Hall (St. Augustine’s College)

Read a wrap-up, complete with quotes, on the Browns’ team website. I know I’m not alone when I say that I hope this season’s defense is better. And not just by a small margin; we expect a significant improvement!

Welcome to Cleveland, guys!

BTW, check out a video of Brady on ESPN’s “First Take” here. More draft talk and nothing we haven’t already heard. Still good stuff, though. Always good to see Brady!

ETA: Found another Brady video where he talks about his draft experience. This one’s from NBC Sports.

Yesterday, the Cleveland Plain Dealer asked Brady to look back on last year’s draft day experience. He doesn’t have the negative view of it as the media expect him to. Proof?

“People are always coming up to me and consoling me about that day as though it was the most negative thing in the world. But when you get right down to it, it was one of the most amazing experiences I’ve ever had.

I got to be with my family, we were in New York City and I was being drafted to play in the NFL. What can be so bad about that?”

Word.

Brady also backed up what I ranted about in the previous post re: his endorsement contracts. Bottom line is that haters are going to hate.

Brady is concentrating on football 100% now. And like we’ve been trying to do — albeit unsuccessfully — Brady is paying no mind to Savage’s guarantees that DA is the starting QB. He’s just going to work as hard as he can to help his team.

Brady is in NYC tonight at the ESPN Zone in Times Square to help honor Chris Long as ‘HUMMER’s Top Rookie 2008′. You know what that means, right? Yup. Pictures!

I’m excited to see the Browns’ selections on the second day of the draft. The team’s first pick will be in Round 4. You can watch the 2008 NFL Draft on ESPN or the NFL Network.

Speaking at the Prestwick Country Club, Cleveland Browns head coach Romeo Crennel keyed in on Brady’s leadership skills.

After giving his speech, the coach went into a Q&A with the crowd. One of the tasks was to identify Derek Anderson and Brady’s strengths. While Crennel didn’t give much insight to his thoughts of Anderson (this could just mean news writers didn’t think they were as news-worthy), he definitely gave the impression that he likes what Brady brings to the table as a leader.

“I think his leadership and his ability to handle defenses and handle our offense are strong points.”

That is quite the vote of confidence considering all he had to say about Derek was that he was “a big, tall, strong-armed pocket passer.”

But coach wasn’t done with the compliments.

“Brady Quinn … the thing about Brady you notice is his leadership ability. Even when he was running our scout team … he takes charge of those guys, and he leads those guys, and they perform for him.

The QB of a football team needs to have strong leadership skills. That cannot be overlooked. It’s great to hear that Brady already has a good grasp on these intangibles at the NFL level; they will take him far!

From a Brady Quinn fan’s perspective there were still some things we don’t want to hear. Romeo repeated GM Phil Savage’s hated words from earlier this month. Those being that Derek is the starter and Brady is the backup.

Yea, well we’ll just have to see about that, won’t we?

More from the Canton Rep.

Big day for the Brownies!

The team received a big vote of confidence from the NFL with 5 primetime TV appearances. 3 of those match-ups fall in the coveted Monday Night Football slot on ESPN versus the NY Giants, Buffalo Bills, and Philadelphia Eagles. They’ll also play a Thursday night game against Denver (to be aired on the NFL Network), plus a Sunday night meeting with the rival Steelers.

And all of that occurs after the Browns open the regular season by hosting the NFC East champion Dallas Cowboys.

Check out the 2008 schedule here. Additionally, you can print the new schedule easily here, courtesy of ESPN.

So who’s going to organize the Brady’s Bunch meet-up for that Dallas game?

Ahhhh, nothing like getting a taste of things to come!

Today –since I tend to post late at night– the NFL will reveal the complete 2008 NFL schedule. We’ll get the lowdown on who’s playing whom, where, and when, as well as the TV schedule.

ESPN is airing a 2-hour SportsCenter special, beginning at 2PM (ET), to coincide with the announcement.

1. One of the 2008 pre-season games is set in stone. The Browns will pay a visit to the defending Super Bowl Champs, the NY Giants on August 18. The game will be shown on ESPN at 8PM (ET).

2. If you’ve been dreaming of watching the 2008 NFL Draft w/ Brady, you may have your chance! Donatos Pizza wants to give you the “Ultimate Draft Day Party”. You can register to win a private draft viewing with the Browns 2007 first round pick Brady Quinn, plus four (4) seats to the Browns VIP Draft Day Brunch, Suite tickets to a Browns Pre-Season Game, Browns Merchandise and a $100 Donatos Pizza gift card. Click here to enter!

3. Brady’s Bunch has been on this for a while, but I don’t recall ever posting about this on the main site. Brady will be appearing at the Triumph Sports Football Spectacular on Saturday at the New Jersey Covention and Expo Center in Edison, NJ. Click here for more info!

Yea, I said it. GM Phil Savage just doesn’t want to play nice. After publicly crowning Derek Anderson the 2008 starter, he’s continuing to push his agenda.

Read his latest comments as published in the Cleveland Plain Dealer:

Coach Romeo Crennel reiterated there is competition at every position, including quarterback, at this year’s training camp. But Savage clarified those remarks. “The reality is you don’t give a guy $8 million and expect him to be in an open competition,” Savage said of incumbent starter Derek Anderson. “He would have to play really poorly and Brady (Quinn) would have to play lights out (to beat him out).”

Ok, Phil. So what happened to all that “quarterback of the future” talk from last year? How quickly we forget.

I guess Brady should just take it easy. Just sit back and be complacent. Derek would have to get hurt or stink up the field?

Here’s a tip for dear ol’ Phil. Define “play really poorly” for us next time you speak to the media. Thanks!

Just love the drive of this guy!

So, the Browns re-signed Derek Anderson. That doesn’t change the way Brady Quinn is going to prepare and compete for the starting job.

Media outlets, analysts, and bloggers alike have all proclaimed DA the starter for next season. At the first mention of this, from GM Phil Savage, we Brady fans took offense. How can any player be dubbed the started without a full off-season of training, practice, and competition? DA may be the favorite to start, but it’s not set in stone and Brady knows that, as evidenced by the following quote he gave the AP on Saturday:

“My whole goal is preparing myself and getting ready to try to take over the starting job and lead this team”

To back this up, Coach Crennel gave the media following nugget:

“Both of those guys are going to compete. And then we’ll see who gives us the best chance.”

If we thought there was a heated QB competition last year (with Charlie Frye, DA, and Brady), then look out this year. And this time Brady won’t be missing any training camp sessions!

So maybe the midnight free agency deadline was really just a starting point for the serious negotiations for Derek Anderson and the Browns.

James Walker of The Columbus Dispatch, citing numerous “sources”, reported that a few hours past midnight the Browns an DA reached a $24 million with $12 million guaranteed. That’s an improvment over the initial $20 million w/ $10 million guaranteed offer, the Browns had previously offered. They length of the deal is still 3 years.

So the Cleveland Browns keeps its stable of QBs intact for 2008, just like they wanted.

Brady Quinn may finally get his chance to show the NFL what he can do!

When the midnight Free agency deadline came and went, Derek Anderson had not signed on the dotted line. The Browns had offered him a 3-year $20 million ($10 mil guaranteed) deal. Derek must’ve wanted more.

Probably sensing that the talks would stall GM Phil Savage tendered DA a one-year contract offer for $2.5 million in 2008, so if another team signs him, the Browns will be compensated with a 1st and 3rd round picks in the upcoming NFL draft.

For now, the Browns are still in good shape and the club has a lot of faith in Brady. Savage said the following about Brady:

“There’s a comfort level that Brady can walk in, administrate the offense and do even more than that. He does have some mobility, is physically strong and has a good arm. The mental part is going to end up being his greatest strength.”

One would have to assume that Derek’s reluctance to sign was due to interest in other teams. There is still a chance, albeit slim, that he will still be a Brownie next season. I guess we’ll see!

Moving along to more pleasant goings-on…

Brady is amongst the celebrities scheduled to make an appearance at the upcoming Cleveland Auto Show which will run from Saturday, Feb. 23 to Sunday, March 2 at the IX Center.

Saturday, March 1, is the designated “Cavs’ & Browns’ Day” at the Auto Show. According to the event website, “Brady will appear in the Hummer display from 1-3 p.m. for “free” autographs, courtesy of your Northeast Ohio Hummer Dealers.”

Not sure why free is in quotations. Tickets can be purchased online here.

You may have read about some unflattering allegations against Brady from a New Year’s Eve night out in Columbus, OH. If not, click here.

As a result of the onslaught of press, both Brady and the Cleveland Browns have released statements.

Brady Quinn:

“On New Year’s Eve I had dinner at a local restaurant with my girlfriend and several other couples. At no time that night was I involved in a verbal or physical altercation, nor did I have any interaction with the police. I want to be clear that I did not engage in any of the alleged conduct, nor did I make inappropriate comments to anyone. Any allegations to the contrary are either untrue or the result of misidentification.”

Cleveland Browns:

“We are aware of the alleged comments made by Brady Quinn, which the Browns take seriously. After speaking with Brady and his representatives we find these reported accusations without merit.”

Photo: Sean Leahy, USA TODAY

Is there anything he doesn’t do?

While in Arizona for the Super Bowl festivities, Brady took some time out to give back to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, who brought in 12 children for Super Bowl Week. Like many other athletes, Brady spent time with the visiting families, took pictures, and signed autographs.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation connection hits close to home for Brady, whose cousin was granted a wish, and later made a full recovery from cancer.