Teammates happy for Brady Quinn

BEREA (AP) — Brady Quinn always seems to be playing the waiting game.

That was certainly the case at the 2007 NFL draft in New York, where Quinn’s tumble through the first round as he nervously waited for a team to select him was captured by TV cameras. Only when commissioner Roger Goodell asked the former Notre Dame star quarterback to watch from a side room did Quinn escape the embarrassment of being snubbed.

As a rookie, Quinn waited as Charlie Frye and Derek Anderson played in front of him.

He sat around again last season before taking over for Anderson in Week 9, only to be sidelined after three games by a broken finger.

This summer, Quinn was forced to endure a lengthy competition with Anderson for the starter’s job.

It appears Quinn’s waiting days finally are done.

Saying he wanted to keep a competitive advantage, Browns coach Eric Mangini this week refused to publicly announce his starting quarterback for Sunday’s opener. However, all indications are that Quinn will be under center when Cleveland plays host to the Minnesota Vikings.

Quinn took snaps with the starting offense during the 30 minutes of practice open to the media on Friday, the clearest sign yet that No. 10 is No. 1.

If that is indeed the case, his teammates are happy for Quinn.

“It would mean everything for him,” said Pro Bowl offensive tackle Joe Thomas. “He’s a guy who works harder than anybody in this locker room and he’s a guy who as soon as he got drafted here just couldn’t wait for the opportunity to be a starter.”

Assuming he starts, Quinn will be the eighth different QB to open a season for the Browns since 1999, a span during which they’ve lost posted seven seasons of at least 10 losses.

Cleveland’s hopes of ending a decade of dysfunction and becoming a successful franchise could hinge on Quinn’s right arm. While he has attempted only 97 passes in three seasons, Quinn has shown the necessary intangibles — poise, huddle presence, demeanor — to show he can be successful.

“Brady’s done a good job with improving in terms of understanding, not only what we’re doing, but also understanding what the opponent’s doing, understanding the different tools as well,” Mangini said.