Over the weekend the Clevland Browns continued to purge remnants of the old regime with Mike Holmgren's decision to trade QB Brady Quinn to the Denver Broncos. In exchange for the maligned Quarterback, Denver gave up fullback/running back Peyton Hillis, 6th round draft pick, and a conditional draft pick based on Brady Quinn's role and performance.
The deal marks a smart move for the Denver Broncos because of the uncertainty surrounding RFA(restricted free agent) quarterback, Kyle Orton. Orton had a productive season under the guidance of Josh McDaniels but he has yet to prove he can be a franchise QB in a league where the passing game increasingly determines the outcome for many teams. Brady Quinn has the potential and familiarity with Denver's offensive scheme to be successful. Quinn played in a pro-style offense for former New England Offensive Coordinator, Charlie Weis.
The offense that made Brady Quinn a successful quarterback in Notre Dame is strikingly similar to the offense used by Josh McDaniels. As long as Denver straightens out the situation with receiver Brandon Marshall by either retaining him long term or move him in a trade and draft another top flight receiver. McDaniels runs a creative scheme that focuses on high percentage passes that spread a defense out before unleashing the big play. Quinn has the intangibles and ability to thrive in their scheme as long as the talent and committment is made to develop his skills.
Denver came out victorious after the trade but Clevland did receive some fair compensation in return. Clevland acquired fullback/running back Peyton Hillis, who is only two years removed from making waves for his big plays in Mike Shanahan's offense. Hillis gives Clevland a power pack who is capable of pairing up with the smaller,gifted Jerome Harrison. He also provides a weapon out of the backfield who is capable of being used at H-back, Tight end, and some receiver. He provides versatility and size to the position that supplants the loss of the aging, Jamal Lewis. Clevland has also gets an extra draft pick in 2010 and a conditional pick in 2011 which could be huge depending on how successful Quinn's move to Denver pans out.
Many football experts and Browns fans feel that Brady Quinn is a bust and someone who cost the organization the opporunity to fill other needs. In Quinn's defense, Denver gets a QB who has more potential than many quarterbacks coming out in the approaching draft and was never given the opportunity to thrive or properly develop because of the Browns inability to decide on a starting QB and maintain the committment. This move may not seem like anything to write home about but when the 2010 season begins Denver could find itself guilty of grand theft if Brady Quinn thrives.
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