Quinn a Cleveland Brown for a reason

Cleveland Browns quarterback Brady Quinn walked down the tunnel at Ralph Wilson Stadium and onto the field shortly after 6 o'clock Monday night.

For a young quarterback who has had his patience tested for a year and a half, patience seemed to be the one thing he was lacking before his second NFL start. With no one to throw to, he found the nearest ball boy and began a game of catch until a fellow teammate came onto the field.

During the 2007 NFL draft, Quinn, a projected top 10 pick, dropped down to 22nd overall. As NFL fans watched him anxiously await his name to be called, commissioner Roger Goodell finally threw him a bone and invited Brady into his suite where he could be away from the national spotlight. Little did he know, it was just the beginning of what would be a long wait until his first professional start.

After Browns coach Romeo Crennel pulled the plug on Charlie Frye in week one last year, unknown quarterback Derek Anderson got his number called. Anderson did not disappoint, finishing the season with 29 touchdowns and 3,787 yards passing.

"It was a test of patience and showing me there are other ways to learn this game other than being thrown in the fire," Quinn said of his seemingly endless wait for his NFL debut which came last Thursday against the Denver Broncos in a 34-30 loss.

During his time at Notre Dame, Quinn shattered 36 Fighting Irish records during his four seasons with the team. There were 10 career records, 12 single-season records, four single-game records and 10 miscellaneous records broken including the record for career pass attempts with 1,602, completions with 929 yards-per-game with 239.6, touchdown passes with 95, and the Irish's lowest interception percentage with 2.43. Quinn also won 29 games as a starter at Notre Dame, which is tied for the most in school history.

Now Quinn is starting for the team he grew up cheering for. He even has a photo of himself as a youngster wearing a Bernie Kosar jersey something he wishes would disappear sooner rather than later.

Also selected in that draft class include quarterbacks John Beck (Miami), Jamarcus Russell (Oakland) and Buffalo's Trent Edwards - all of whom have started games for their respective teams.

So forgive Quinn if he is a little anxious to put his stamp on a Cleveland Browns team who is under achieving thus far.

Quinn's first start against Denver was on the national spotlight on a Thursday night game while his second start came on Monday Night Football something every player grows up watching. Despite his first two starts coming on a grand stage, Quinn compared the starts to his time with the Fighting Irish.

"I am just thankful for the opportunity," he said. "You live to play in these type of situations. I think due to my history in Notre Dame, all our games felt like Prime Time games because we were nationally televised. These are opportunities you look forward to."

Despite a loss, Quinn was impressive in his first start completing 23 of his 35 attempts for 239 yards and two touchdowns.

"I felt extremely comfortable out there and confident," Quinn said. "It was helpful to have the team behind me. That was the biggest thing. They didn't make the situation as awkward as it could have been. Derek has been very supportive and a huge help. I am working hard and trying to get better. It's still a little surreal."

Quinn looked like he was ready to take over the play-calling duties showing a lot of promise in the second quarter Monday night engineering a 12 play, 94-yard drive capped off by a Josh Cribbs 2-yard touchdown.

"I am here for a reason," Quinn said. "I don't know what that reason is. All I can do is hope and think in an optimistic manner that I am going to be the guy and change the time for the Cleveland Browns."