Brady Quinn Traded to Denver

According to Jay Glazer of Fox Sports, Brady Quinn is no longer a Cleveland Brown. Glazer reports that the details of the trade include Cleveland sending Quinn to Denver in exchange for fullback Peyton Hillis and two conditional draft picks. It became clear that the Browns were looking to deal Quinn after they signed former Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake Dellhomme to a two-year contract on Saturday.

Since arriving in Cleveland, Quinn has been the subject of much controversy. The Browns traded the rights to their 2007 second round pick and 2008 first round pick in order to obtain Quinn with the 22nd overall pick from the Dallas Cowboys. Expected to be drafted in the top 10 picks overall, Quinn fell as teams without a need at quarterback passed him over for other talent. After a preseason holdout prevented Quinn from competing for the starting job in 2007, he sat and watched as Derek Anderson led the Browns to a 10-6 regular season and a near playoff berth.

Despite Anderson and the Browns' success in 2007, many fans clamored for Quinn to start. As Anderson and the Browns flailed to start the 2008 campaign, rumblings from fans few louder until Quinn final got the chance to start in Week 10 against the Denver Broncos. Although Quinn's debut was impressive, the Browns lost in a shootout to the Broncos. The following week the Browns beat the Buffalo Bills, but Brady Quinn sustained a finger injury that would end his season. Quinn attempted to play the following week against the Texans before being benched for the season.

In 2009, the Browns brought in a new coach in Eric Mangini, but he refused to name a starter until just before Week 1 of the regular season. When Quinn finally did win the starting job, he was quickly replaced at halftime of Week 3 as the Browns' offense struggled. Quinn earned the starting job back from Anderson again in Week 10, but another season-ending injury sidelined him for the final two games of the regular season.

Quinn, an Ohio native, dreamed of playing for the Cleveland Browns from the time he was a young child. Unfortunately for Quinn, this dream came true. Ever since his rookie season, which could be blamed at least partially on Quinn's holdout, the Browns have not been a good fit for the former standout quarterback from Notre Dame. Surrounded by little wide receiver talent and a porous offensive line, even when Quinn did play, he had little time to look down field and few open targets.

In Denver, Quinn will likely find himself in a battle for the backup quarterback job with Chris Simms and Tom Brandstater. Quinn should be a good fit in Denver. Current head coach Josh McDaniels, brought with him the New England Patriots offense, which is the same offense Charlie Weis taught Quinn at Notre Dame. While Quinn needs to improve his mechanics and accuracy, he should be in a much better system in Denver than he was in Cleveland.

Sources - Jay Glazer Brady Quinn Traded, Twitter
Tony Grossi, Cleveland Browns Make Jake Delhomme Signing Official, Cleveland Plain Dealer
Associated Press Browns Get Quinn Much Later Than Expected, ESPN
Jim Corbett Browns Keeping an Eye on Brady Quinn, USA Today
Associated Press Quinn Ends Holdout, NBC Sports
NFL.com Cleveland Browns 2007, Cleveland Browns Results and Schedule
NFL.com Cleveland Browns 2008, Cleveland Browns Results and Schedule
Chris Mortenson/Associated Press Broken Finger to End Season for Browns' Quinn, ESPN
Mary Kay Cabot Injury to left foot sidelines Cleveland Browns QB Brady Quinn, gives another chance to Derek Anderson, Cleveland Plain Dealer
Mary Kay Cabot Mangini: QB Starter Likely Won't Be Picked Until Close To Week 1, Cleveland Plain Dealer