Quick thoughts on the story so far of the draft, which is the fall of Notre Dame QB Brady Quinn. Originally projected as a top-3 pick (most likely destination: home team Cleveland Browns at #3), Brady is still available after 16 picks and counting. I won't be around to watch the rest of the draft, but as bad as this might seem for Quinn, this is actually a good scenerio. Better, I believe, than going third to the Browns.
First off, in terms of situation, he goes from being hailed as the savior of the home town Browns organization (I say hometown because Brady is from Ohio, though not Cleveland, and he grew up a Browns fan), and the pressure associated with that, to being picked by one of the better teams in the NFL (unless he keeps dropping to the second round or something, which seems unlikely even now). He will be perceived as a gift, not a savior. It's not unlike Jay Cutler dropping to the Broncos last year, except with a far more talented player.
The knock against Quinn is that he can't win the big one. That's a big consideration. Had he gone to the Browns or a bottom-5 team, he would have had that on his shoulders. It will still follow him to the whatever team drafts him today, but it will be accompanied by the reality that he will be on a team that should be talented enough to win games without it resting on Quinn's shoulders.
As for money, well... yeah, he's taking a hit. For now. He wasn't going to get #1 money, though, or #2... at best we are talking #3 money. Which is significantly more than, say, #17 money or #23 money. But, at the same time, the difference can easily be made up if he becomes a winning quarterback in the NFL. The reality is that most quarterbacks drafted high don't get a huge second contract unless they can prove they can win - Quinn is going to be afforded an opportunity to be on a team that can win, regardless of how long it takes him to adapt to the NFL. And, yes, there is a good chance that he will not be starting on his new team; still, Quinn will start in the NFL someday, and sooner rather than later (see: Jay Cutler). The fact that he won't be rushed in is actually advantageous, too. He'll be well prepared when the time comes for him to enter the huddle for real.
In summary: Brady Quinn, grab that chip on your shoulder, and do what you will to prove the Browns, and all those other teams, wrong. And remember that this should be a good turn of events.
PS: Personally we don't like Quinn, or see him being a great quarterback in the NFL (decent - yes, great - no), but we see this as being a good turn of events for him.
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