Brady Quinn’s life in the NFL has been tough and unpredictable
Nothing has really panned out the way Brady Quinn expected it to in the NFL. It all started during the 2007 NFL draft, where the former Notre Dame quarterback was expected to be picked up rather early in the draft. A few names went by and Quinn found himself getting lonely as all the projected first-rounders had all been called by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. After what must have felt like an eternity for Quinn, he was finally selected with the 22nd overall pick by the Cleveland Browns.
Quinn was expected to be the golden boy and eventually the franchise quarterback. That didn’t work out. After a few disappointing seasons with the struggling franchise, his days in Cleveland were officially over. Now he has been given a second chance by the Denver Broncos, but so far that strategy is not exactly working out.
Quinn was certain that he would be second on the depth chart and in a position to challenge starting quarterback Kyle Orton for the job. Just when things were starting to go as planned for Quinn, the Broncos stirred the pot and drafted rookie Tim Tebow.
All three quarterbacks saw action last in the Denver’s preseason opener against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday night. Orton started under centre and cruised to an easy night and finished with two touchdowns. Quinn came in relief and once again things did not go as planned or as smoothly for him.
He completed 6 of 16 passes for 68 yards against the Bengals and threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown. “Obviously, I could've done some things better here and there," Quinn said Tuesday. "But that's why we come out here to practice, that's why we're working on it. ... Things are never always as bad as they look and never as good as they look on film."
Orton’s 2010 debut was phenomenal and he ended the game confident that his starting role is not in jeopardy. "Feeling great with it right now," Orton said.
That sentiment was reiterated by Quinn. "I think the biggest thing is you have to kind of control the things that you do out there," he said.
Denver’s offensive schemes are known across the league for their complexity. This is why Orton feels that Quinn is having trouble making the right reads and adjusting to opposing defences. "It's a tough offence to learn, no question about it," Orton said. "The more you're into it, the better it gets. He's [Quinn] just at a starting point right now."
The rookie and former Gator, Tebow, went 8 of 13 for 105 yards in the second half of Sunday’s game and in typical fashion, scored on the last play of the game by scrambling a few yards and running it in for the touchdown.
In his NFL debut, Tebow was more successful than Quinn, who has three years more experience than the rookie. But Quinn is not preoccupied with how the other quarterbacks are performing on the field. He is just concentrating on how he can get better and improve to become the best player possible.
"We're all working toward the same goal. You've got to try to move on and try to get better each day.” While Quinn is still second on the depth chart, a young Tebow is keeping the competition very close and making this position battle interesting to say the least. Both are scheduled to play in Denver’s next preseason exhibition against the Detroit Lions at Invesco Field at Mile High on August 21.
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