Odds and Sods

Brady Quinn’s holdout from Browns’ training camp (which assuredly is about the principle of the thing and has nothing to do with the money) continues into its ninth day as the former Notre Dame QB remains unsigned.  Quinn had been projected as a top ten pick, but cascaded to #22 when the Browns traded up to get him.  This unexpected fall engendered a financial pit-fall, with him earning millions less than he would have had he been picked higher.  The contractual discord reportedly hinges upon performance incentives in the 4th and 5th year of the contract, as well as a bonus for playing time.  Quinn had expected to battle with incumbent Charlie Frye for the starting spot, but will now most likely spend the 2007 season on the bench.
The Browns deserve their fair share of the blame for this situation.  Not so much for taking a hard-line stance in negotiations, but for making their frustrations public.  Browns GM Phil Savage has been in the media making comments like the following.

“If you aren’t going to rank players one through 22, or one through 32, then there’s no reason to have a draft.”

“Fifty years from now, when they look into the history books of the Cleveland Browns, it is going to say, Brady Quinn, 22nd pick of the first round.”

Romeo Crennel has also been referring to him as simply “the quarterback.”  These are good negotiating ploys in private, but going out in public and demeaning your future franchise quarterback as only “the 22nd pick” is not exactly the smartest decision.  Generally one doesn’t get what they want from someone by insulting him or her to millions of people.  Quinn may also remember this when he negotiates future contracts with the Browns.

Also, if he was only “the 22nd pick” in terms of value, the team probably would not have worked him out when they had the #3 pick or traded away next year’s first round pick, which may be in the top ten, to get him.  Whatever Phil Savage thinks he is accomplishing by berating Quinn in public, it sure as hell isn’t getting him into training camp.

Quinn, quite obviously, deserves some of the blame for his holdout as well.   He, and his agent, have to come to the realization that he has left South Bend.  This is the real world where there aren’t legions of wealthy alumni and third-base floozies to comfort you when you lose bowl games or get destroyed by USC.  He is leaving the bubble and going back to Ohio, where he is still considered a traitor for choosing ND over Ohio St.  He is entering the environment of grown men who don’t care what you did (or in Quinn’s case were expected to and failed to) accomplish in College.

The most important thing for Quinn to do at this point is to get on the field.  Coming from Notre Dame, he is already a pretty boy, a great white hope, and a nationally recognized name and face.  The endorsements will come.  If he is a successful quarterback in this league, he will get paid.  Even now, he will still be a multi-millionaire just out of College.  He needs to get off his high horse and realize that he needs to prove himself, because he isn’t exactly ingratiating himself with either the Browns fans or his fellow players, whom he will be expected to lead onto the field of battle.

The status quo is hurting both the Browns and Brady Quinn.  It should not be that difficult to come to a sensible compromise and get Quinn into camp.  By hardening their negotiating stances, both sides are hindering their chances of success in the short term and down the road.  The only people smiling at this situation (besides Michigan and Ohio St. fans) are the Dallas Cowboys’ front office, who can already taste that sweet top 10 pick in 2008.