OT: Quinn shines again, but are RAC and Charlie feuding??

[MoLewisrocks]

I caught some of this game last night. Didn't see Frye or Anderson for comparison but Quinn looked really sharp against Denver's first string. Would have had two TD's if they didn't have to settle for a missed FG after his WR failed to get the toes tapped in the back corner of the EZ.

Interesting take from PFT on rumblings that RAC and Charlie are possibly fueding a bit over RAC's handling of Quinn.

QUINN FORCING CRENNEL'S HAND

It was one thing for Brady Quinn to complete 13 of 16 passes that he actually tried to complete against a prevent defense during the fourth quarter of the Browns' second preseason game against the Lions' scrubs.

It was quite another for Quinn to complete seven of 11 passes for 81 yards in two drives against the Broncos' first-team defense. The first drive ended with a missed field goal; the second drive resulted in a Quinn touchdown pass.

The Quinn highlights, available for now on the front page of NFL.com, are impressive, even if Quinn's military-style buzz cut isn't.

Quinn's performance could make it harder for coach Romeo Crennel not to make the kid the starter sooner rather than later. Charlie Frye was 7-for-9 for 74 yards as the first guy up on Saturday night, and Derek Anderson was 5-for-7 for 68 yards in relief. One of those two guys will have to play extremely well in the regular season to keep Quinn on the bench.

If Frye and Anderson struggle at all, Crennel likely won't have any other choice but to roll out the team's second first-round draft choice.

It'll be interesting to see whether Crennel resists. We've heard some rumblings that Crennel, the former defensive coordinator in New England, and Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis, the former offensive coordinator with the Patriots, are currently feuding a bit because Weis was under the impression that Crennel's new team would take Quinn with the No. 3 overall pick in the draft. The thinking is that Quinn could be caught in the middle, and the Crennel might be influenced to sit Quinn this season due to the friction with Weis.

In the end, however, Crennel needs some excitement and optimism in order to save his skin. The best way to generate it is for the Vince Young effect to take root in Cleveland. A 6-10 record might not be enough to rescue Romeo if the quarterbacks are Frye and/or Anderson. But six wins from Quinn could create just enough buzz from the Browns' fans to get Crennel another year to continue the progress.




http://www.profootballtalk.com/rumormill.htm

 

[PatsRI]

I like Weis but if he wants to be a NFL coach then take a job, otherwise stay out of another team's business. I don't remember hearing any comments from him about Quinn holding out.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

"Crennel might be influenced to sit Quinn this season due to the friction with Weis."

I don't believe this for a minute. That would be as if Romeo learned NOTHING from associating with BB. I think he did learn. Good luck Romeo, except the 1st week of October.

 

[RayClay]

"Crennel might be influenced to sit Quinn this season due to the friction with Weis."

I don't believe this for a minute. That would be as if Romeo learned NOTHING from associating with BB. I think he did learn. Good luck Romeo, except the 1st week of October.

We've heard some rumblings

It's OK, when the rumormill says this it's sometimes just means they ate at Taco Bell.

Check for later updates and don't forget the courtesy flush guys.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

I like Weis but if he wants to be a NFL coach then take a job, otherwise stay out of another team's business. I don't remember hearing any comments from him about Quinn holding out.

After the details of Quinn's deal came out, I couldn't help but think that the problem may have in fact been a manufactured one, that Cleveland's GM preferred to engineer a situation pre camp where Quinn was the clear cut bench warmer to Frye and possibly even Anderson. That while RAC had his back when he almost got canned last season, he's now positioning RAC for easy disposal short of a miraculous reversal of fortunes. Charlie and RAC may well have had an understanding, just Savage wasn't part of that. Did work out that they got him and more, but lets face it - QB has been poor RAC's achilles heel since arriving in Cleveland. You simple can't win without a consistent one no matter what other weaponry you compile (see Lions, Detroit). Frye shows occasional flashes of brilliance, but overall he is just too erratic to be a legit starter. In lobbying for Quinn to Cleveland, Weis may have been trying to cover RAC's back. With a better QB at the helm, RAC gets to focus on improving overall performance in other areas. Much as BB got to once TB took over the helm here.

 

[DaBruinz]

After the details of Quinn's deal came out, I couldn't help but think that the problem may have in fact been a manufactured one, that Cleveland's GM preferred to engineer a situation pre camp where Quinn was the clear cut bench warmer to Frye and possibly even Anderson. That while RAC had his back when he almost got canned last season, he's now positioning RAC for easy disposal short of a miraculous reversal of fortunes. Charlie and RAC may well have had an understanding, just Savage wasn't part of that. Did work out that they got him and more, but lets face it - QB has been poor RAC's achilles heel since arriving in Cleveland. You simple can't win without a consistent one no matter what other weaponry you compile (see Lions, Detroit). Frye shows occasional flashes of brilliance, but overall he is just too erratic to be a legit starter. In lobbying for Quinn to Cleveland, Weis may have been trying to cover RAC's back. With a better QB at the helm, RAC gets to focus on improving overall performance in other areas. Much as BB got to once TB took over the helm here.

Mo -
In all honesty, the O-line has been a bigger achilles heel in Cleveland than QB has. Until they got Thomas, they had almost no protection off the left side. Savage splurged a ton of money on Shaffer to be the LT and the guy has been a bust. They've had to move him to RT. They made a big splash last year in getting Bentley (and trading Faine) only to have Bentley blow out his knee and Faine work out great for the Saints.

Many of the issues in Cleveland are because Savage has too much control, imho, and doesn't really take Crennel into consideration when making the personnel moves. And I think that is part of the issue.

The Browns could have a very good O-line this year with Steinbach, Thomas and Bentley. If the O-line even plays average, their offense could be very good. They have some good weapons in Edwards, Winslow, and Jurevicius and even Josh Cribbs.

The Browns defense should be good as well. Especially if their D-line plays well. The Browns front 7 could be down-right scary. Robaire Smith, Ted Washingon, Orpheus Roye, Andra Davis, D'Qwell Jackson, Kamerion Wimbley, and either McGinest or Peek. The question on this defense will be the secondary beyond Sean Jones.

Unfortunately, I believe that RAC is gone regardless of what the team does. I just don't think that Savage and he can co-exist. And its too bad that Savage is such an egotistical person because Romeo is a damn good coach if he gets a situation where the GM works with him to get the players that they BOTH want.

 

[desi-patsfan]

Charlie should shut the eff up and let Romeo do his job. One is the head coach of ND...the other is head coach of the Browns. Its pretty clear who should make the decisions considering Quinn.

 

[DaBruinz]

Charlie should shut the eff up and let Romeo do his job. One is the head coach of ND...the other is head coach of the Browns. Its pretty clear who should make the decisions considering Quinn.

Is it normal for you to jump to conclusions with such anger? You have an opinion piece that offers up NO FACTS whatsoever and is just speculating that Weis and Crennel are having issues, yet you deem it necessary to jump in and berate Weis without having all the facts?

If you are going to get upset regarding the situation in Cleveland, you should be getting upset with Savage. He's the one who blew a ton of money on Kevin Shaffer. He's the one who drafted Frye, and then after only 2 years, decided that he wasn't the answer and drafted Quinn by mortgaging their future. Granted, if its a top 10 pick, it will help the Browns on the salary cap.

Savage is much more of an issue than ANY situation that may or may not exist between Weis and Crennel.

 

[Boston Boxer]

It's OK, when the rumormill says this it's sometimes just means they ate at Taco Bell.

Check for later updates and don't forget the courtesy flush guys.

i agree, this is total BS

 

[PonyExpress]

Mo -
In all honesty, the O-line has been a bigger achilles heel in Cleveland than QB has. Until they got Thomas, they had almost no protection off the left side. Savage splurged a ton of money on Shaffer to be the LT and the guy has been a bust. They've had to move him to RT. They made a big splash last year in getting Bentley (and trading Faine) only to have Bentley blow out his knee and Faine work out great for the Saints.

Many of the issues in Cleveland are because Savage has too much control, imho, and doesn't really take Crennel into consideration when making the personnel moves. And I think that is part of the issue.

The Browns could have a very good O-line this year with Steinbach, Thomas and Bentley. If the O-line even plays average, their offense could be very good. They have some good weapons in Edwards, Winslow, and Jurevicius and even Josh Cribbs.

The Browns defense should be good as well. Especially if their D-line plays well. The Browns front 7 could be down-right scary. Robaire Smith, Ted Washingon, Orpheus Roye, Andra Davis, D'Qwell Jackson, Kamerion Wimbley, and either McGinest or Peek. The question on this defense will be the secondary beyond Sean Jones.

Unfortunately, I believe that RAC is gone regardless of what the team does. I just don't think that Savage and he can co-exist. And its too bad that Savage is such an egotistical person because Romeo is a damn good coach if he gets a situation where the GM works with him to get the players that they BOTH want.

This is exactly how I feel. Savage is the problem. If he really believed Quinn would be a franchise QB, he would have taken him at #3. If he didn't believe it, then why did he trade next years high pick for him at #22? It makes no sense, and just shows what a nimrod Savage is. He's going to luck out with Quinn, stick the blame for past failures on Romeo, hire a hot shot coach and salvage his career. I'll be rooting for the Browns and Romeo this season, but it's probably a lost cause.

 

[patchick]

This is exactly how I feel. Savage is the problem. If he really believed Quinn would be a franchise QB, he would have taken him at #3. If he didn't believe it, then why did he trade next years high pick for him at #22? It makes no sense, and just shows what a nimrod Savage is.

I'm no Savage fan, but I think the moves made plenty of sense. It was totally reasonable to look at that team and decide that the biggest improvement would come from shoring up the left tackle position. That's not necessarily any knock on Quinn. And it's just as reasonable to say "holy crap, you mean I could get my franchise LT and my franchise QB in one draft? sign me up!"

The main problem, IMO (and the reason the Romeo/Charlie "feud" report doesn't make sense to me) is that the GM and the HC have to be in sync. How could RAC have "promised" anything in the draft when he's famously powerless on personnel decisions?

 

[PonyExpress]

I'm no Savage fan, but I think the moves made plenty of sense. It was totally reasonable to look at that team and decide that the biggest improvement would come from shoring up the left tackle position. That's not necessarily any knock on Quinn. And it's just as reasonable to say "holy crap, you mean I could get my franchise LT and my franchise QB in one draft? sign me up!"

The main problem, IMO (and the reason the Romeo/Charlie "feud" report doesn't make sense to me) is that the GM and the HC have to be in sync. How could RAC have "promised" anything in the draft when he's famously powerless on personnel decisions?

PC,
A franchise Qb is the most valuable commodity in the NFL, can turn around the fortunes of a team, change the sports landscape of a city, earn an owner hundreds of millions of dollars (see: Kraft). There are maybe five to ten human beings on earth at any given time who fit that bill. If Savage believed Quinn was a franchise QB and still passed on him for a franchise LT, he was being very foolish. If he didn't believe it, why did he trade the farm for him later? Don't you think that logic is inconsistent? Savage has a history of making bizarre draft room decisions (see: trading Haloti Ngata to the Ravens). This was another one, but the football gods took pity on the great fans of Cleveland and gave them Quinn.

 

[Captain Cliche]

Trading out a future #1 to play in what is reported to be a weak draft year smacks of panic and desperation by someone that is taking a short term fix to save his job (Savage).

Contrast that with other teams that traded out of that draft into a future and, hopefully, stronger draft.

Cleveland may have gotten lucky, but any time you are relying on a rookie to fill an important need you are screwed from the get go. Even if they work out early on, there is always the rookie wall that can derail your late season hopes.

Notice how BB makes acquisitions prior to the draft. He goes into the draft with a complete team and few if any glaring weaknesses that he needs to address in the draft. As he terms it, the drafts are "freebies". Any contributions from rookies are bonuses not necessities. That way rookies can progress at their own rate without undue pressure and media attention...hence the "media gag order" for new players.

Unfortunately, Romeo was doomed from the start when he jumped into that snake pit without personnel control.

 

[Water Boy]

Crennel, the former defensive coordinator in New England, and Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis, the former offensive coordinator with the Patriots, are currently feuding a bit because Weis was under the impression that Crennel's new team would take Quinn with the No. 3 overall pick in the draft. The thinking is that Quinn could be caught in the middle, and the Crennel might be influenced to sit Quinn this season due to the friction with Weis.

This is the most ridiculous thing I've ever read. What is Weis, Quinn's agent?

 

[DaBruinz]

Savage undercuts Crennel

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/trainingcamp07/news/story?id=2991944

Even though rookie quarterback Brady Quinn has had a solid preseason, Browns general manager Phil Savage said Saturday night that the Notre Dame product won't be leading the Cleveland offense in their opener on Sept. 9.



"It's unrealistic for Brady to be in the mix for the opener," Savage told the News Herald newspaper after the first quarter of Saturday night's preseason win over the Broncos.

This is what I am talking about. Its not Savage's call as to whether Quinn earns the starting spot on Sept. 9th. Its Crennel's. And if Crennel feels that Quinn is ready for it after the next game, then it should be Crennel's decision.

This is why I am SO GLAD we have SP and BB. Pioli would NEVER come out and say something like this because he knows that roster decisions are made by BB.

 

[QuiGon]

"Crennel might be influenced to sit Quinn this season due to the friction with Weis."

I don't believe this for a minute. That would be as if Romeo learned NOTHING from associating with BB. I think he did learn. Good luck Romeo, except the 1st week of October.

I agree with PWP... this notion that Weis is going to influence Crennel's coaching moves is as ridiculous as the guy in this forum who thinks Asante's contract situation will influence other rookies and approaching-free-agency players on the Pats and give them a "disincentive to excel"...

 

[QuiGon]

Charlie should shut the eff up and let Romeo do his job. One is the head coach of ND...the other is head coach of the Browns. Its pretty clear who should make the decisions considering Quinn.

What exactly has Charlie said that makes you think he should STFU..? There seems to be a very poorly supported rumor out there about RAC and Weis that really doesn't seem to have any evidence suggesting it is true.

The only comments I've heard from Weis over the past month involve Georgia Tech and the health status of Jimmy Clausen.

 

[5 Rings for Brady!!]

I don't believe there is any feud beyond perhaps Weis being disappointed at draft day.

And if there is a feud it is having ZERO effect on RAC or Quinn. Browns camp is business as usual.

The real story is whether Savage is letting RAC coach, or trying to keep RAC under his thumb.

That is a story for us to follow as it develops. The Browns, like any team, can make a turn around with the right mental attitude. Often, having a QB they believe in can make a difference.

Is Savage going to stifle the growth of this team?

 

[MoLewisrocks]

I don't believe there is any feud beyond perhaps Weis being disappointed at draft day.

And if there is a feud it is having ZERO effect on RAC or Quinn. Browns camp is business as usual.

The real story is whether Savage is letting RAC coach, or trying to keep RAC under his thumb.

That is a story for us to follow as it develops. The Browns, like any team, can make a turn around with the right mental attitude. Often, having a QB they believe in can make a difference.

Is Savage going to stifle the growth of this team?

People want to confuse what I said with what Florio said. This is what I was intimating. Charlie many believe that Quinn is the key to RAC saving his job. Savage may believe he is too, and may prefer he doesn't. In the end he may want RAC gone before Quinn gets a shot at success so that it won't bolster RAC's stock instead of his (because of the whole Weis/Pats connection). And the really sad part of all this is Savage is a Belioli protoge too, which is likely why RAC interceded with ownership and saved his GM job for him a year ago.

 

[JoeSixPat]

Interesting rumor - but you gotta wonder who the source is regardless of whether its true or not.

My money's on Weis. It's obviously not RAC - there's nothing to gain there... Quinn and his agent really don't need to be fanning the flames like this now that he's signed - though obviously they benefit from his starts.

The way I see it this is part of Weis' need to show recruits that he's going to fight hard for them. Charlie has no right to expect any one to draft any player anywhere - nor to chide them for a well played strategy that saw them get the guy they wanted MUCH later in the first round.

Beyond that someone should give RAC credit. If he were only concerned about the short term and holding onto his job, starting Quinn would be a no brainer - as it stands he knows that nearly every young QB benefits from being eased into the pressure of a starting role... i.e. Romeo's doing the right thing for the long term of the franchise by being cautious with the kid.