After last week’s impressive preseason debut for Brady Quinn, critics brushed off the strong performance because it came in mop up time against the Lions’ 3rd string defense. This week Quinn was equally impressive against the first and second team defenses of the Denver Broncos. Quinn was 7 of 11 for 81 yards and a touchdown – his third of the preseason. Against the first team defense Quinn threw a beautiful 39 yard pass to Joe Jurevicius that was ruled out of bounds while his touchdown came against the second team defense.
Quinn’s impressive performance has people talking for a second week in a row. Here are some reactions to his performance.
From the Denver Post
It was one thing for Cleveland Browns coach Romeo Crennel to claim there was no quarterback controversy before Saturday’s preseason game with the Broncos. It is going to be quite another for him to still make that claim, after another strong showing by highly touted rookie Brady Quinn.
Cleveland’s other two quarterbacks ahead of Quinn on the depth chart also played well, however, but Quinn was arguably the best of the three and has Notre Dame and first-round NFL draftee pedigree behind him.
Quinn, the former Notre Dame star selected 22nd overall in the draft, played his second game as a pro and marched the Browns down the field on his first two series, one of which resulted in a 20-yard scoring pass in Cleveland’s 17-16 victory at Invesco Field at Mile High.
From Ohio.com
In his second pro game, Quinn was impressive again. This meant more because he faced many of the Denver Broncos’ first-team defenders when he took the field early in the third quarter as opposed to the Detroit Lions’ third-stringers a week earlier.
Quinn led the Browns to a touchdown. By far, Frye and Quinn had better command of the team than Anderson.
From USA Today
Quinn was efficient and effective for the second straight game, leading the Cleveland Browns past the Denver Broncos 17-16, although it probably wasn’t enough to win him the starting job over Charlie Frye.
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 from Notre Dame was robbed of another apparent TD toss on Cleveland’s previous possession.
Although Joe Jurevicius hauled in Quinn’s perfectly thrown 39-yard pass in the end zone, the nearest official ruled he didn’t get both feet down before going out of bounds – replays showed otherwise, but Cleveland coach Romeo Crennel didn’t challenge the call.
From the Canton Repository
The rookie was a stunner a second straight Saturday.
After Charlie Frye and Derek Anderson got two full series, the rookie hit the field with 11 minutes left in the third quarter.
A dink pass and Jason Wright’s run yielded a quick first down. Fancy footwork on a reverse pivot allowed Quinn to find running back Jerome Harrison open for a 17-yard catch and run.
On second and 11, Kellen Winslow made a spectacular 24-yard catch over the middle. It wouldn’t have happened without a QB who has enough arm and a lot of guts.
