Except now the rookie is “one play away” from being on center stage in a postseason drive.
“Everything’s just turned up an extra notch,” Brady Quinn said before Thursday’s practice for a showdown against the Bills. “Obviously, things are gonna be more intense.”
In April, Brady Quinn seemed headed for some on-field intensity. Mel Kiper said the top three quarterbacks in the draft were Jamarcus Russell, Brady Quinn and Trent Edwards, in that order.
December has written an ironic postscript.
In college, Brady Quinn and Notre Dame dominated Edwards and Stanford.
On Thursday, Brady Quinn pretended to be Edwards in practice. He quarterbacked the “show team” against the Browns’ No. 1 defense.
Edwards practiced as himself Thursday. He is 5-1 as Buffalo’s starter.
For this to happen, former waiver-wire pick-up Derek Anderson had to be more than the Browns bargained for. Former Round 1 pick J.P. Losman had to be less than the Bills envisioned.
“We played against each other throughout college. He didn’t finish too many games ... through injury. ... I don’t know if he got benched one year or a couple years.
“They mixed in a couple kids. I know their system helped him prepare for the NFL. He’s gonna be a smart guy, going to Stanford.”
In Edwards’ first college encounter with Brady Quinn, in 2003, Stanford got drilled, 57-7. In the most recent one, in October 2006, Brady Quinn went 27-of-37 for 232 yards and three TDs in a 31-10 Notre Dame win. Edwards got sacked five times and went 7-of-13 for 68 yards as Stanford fell to 0-6.
Who dreamed they’d be where they are 14 months later?
Brady Quinn has played it smart, keeping his mouth shut about not playing a single down.
Buffalo’s situation is a reminder of what could happen for him. Both Edwards and Losman have been hurt this year, having to replace each other.
Brady Quinn seems to take the “one play away” theme seriously.
If he does play, his inactivity even could help.
“That’s the nice thing,” he said. “It’s not like they would necessarily try to prepare for anything I would do.”
