No one said getting drafted would be easy. I’m sure Brady Quinn never expected the hardest part of Saturday would be to “sit and look pretty.”
Grace under pressure is easily harder than being tackled by a lineman. When the quarterback releases the ball and takes it to the gut with a crushing blow, any player would gladly take the physical hit versus the emotional smack of public embarrassment. While I’ve never been a Brady Quinn fan, I had to feel sorry for the poor kid as he sat there in uncomfortable silence as other names were called before his.
No one likes to be the last one picked in gym class when they were 10 and no one likes to feel overlooked when they are 20. Quinn’s poise during Saturday’s draft makes him a prime player for the NFL: one who is humble, well-composed, and a perfect role-model. (See Tiki Barber, for example.) Perhaps he’s too clean for the NFL, someone who would make a better suit than a uniform. Regardless, he has enough fire in his spirit to start with the Browns and prove his standing. The Browns won a goldmine in their 22nd pick: they got the QB they wanted who is inspired to prove his critics wrong.
Even if Brady hadn’t gotten picked until a later round, or not picked at all, the kid has more potential in his thumb to make something of himself than most college graduates have in their degrees. He’ll succeed regardless of vocation…but will he be the next Tom Brady? Remember, Brady was No. 199 when he was drafted. The truth is in the rings, not in the numbers.
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In other news: I accepted my offer to attend Columbia University’s School of Journalism as a New Media graduate student.
Excellent analogy with the "last kid picked in gym class"
What he had to endure Saturday doesn't compare to the task now laid out before him, play QB for the Browns. Two chin straps and maybe a couch cushion tied around your waist on game day.
Hey Miracle! I agree, what Quinn has before him is a massive undertaking. He is fortunate to have the local fan support, but then again...the Browns were stoked when Eric Couch was selected as their next golden boy. If Quinn can be the Lebron for the Browns, then perhaps Ohio pro-teams should spend more time investing in local talent than looking outside the state lines. It may take a few years to build a championship team, but anything is possible.
Frankly I was somewhat surprised he was picked at 22... I thought he was a top five in the second round. We will see what happens but I hope the Browns faithful are patient and allow him to develop for at least a year before throwing him to the wolves.
And another thing tiw118 where have you been all my life?
Bayoudog- Haha! I've been around the Fox Bloggers site for over a year, but circumstances have forced my postings to be less frequent in the last several months.
It actually worked out better for Quinn in the end.
at least hes got a solid LT to protect now. he wouldnt have had that if they took him at #3.
The Browns offense is young and talented at all the skill spots except RB. maybe they should trade the Rest of next years draft to the Cowboys for JJ and MB3.
Last edited by Texascudaguy on May 1st at 11:45 AM.
Congrats on accepting the invitation to attend your dream school, that is huge. Any luck on getting a transfer to the Broadway cast of Mama Mia yet?
Quinn fell so far after Miami made their bonehead move mainly because the next several teams did not need a QB, and I'm sure he knew that. Still had to be hard to sit there and see himself fall out of the top 15, then the top 20, before Cleveland finally came to his rescue. He would have probably gone to the Chiefs had they not.
So tell me, even as a diehard Buckeye fan, is there any way to justify Ginn at #9 to the Fins?
GBrent- I'm happy that both Ginn and Gonzalez went in the first round because now it means that OSU has the most first round draft picks of any school, beating out USC by one! (OSU has 66, USC has 65!)
GBrent- As for transfers and stuff, no idea just yet. I am planning on going back to the city in January. I was pretty stoked when I looked at the list of the employeers who interviewed Columbia students and ESPN and SI were on there!
Oy Vey! Working your way back east eh? Damn bi-monthly conjugal visits not keeping the boiler stoked I bet! Cute lil tiny pic of you at the grand canyon. Now get the rust off those fingers and get to work on a solid 500-600 word post there missy.
I'm happy that you are going to Columbia! Being back in your #### means a lot. The comfort level it affords is priceless.
I just don't know if I could ever do it because going back to me would mean that I was starting over! I don't know why but everything is symbolic to me. And I guess you are starting something new, going with journalism! So good luck with that, I expect to see you in the entertainment page reviewing Broadway!
As for Quinn, I'm not all that surprised. He lacked big type plays in the big games. I guess time will tell. I don't see him being a Tom Brady...but did anyone see Tom Brady being a, well, Tom Brady?
Last edited by LetsGoBuffalo on May 17th at 4:18 PM.
Too many rain delays today...your post was in archives. Nicely written post.
Columbia U, student loans, the memories...ahhhhh!
The best NFL players don't come from the first round, do they. Ah, I love the smell of the NFL draft. I watched part of it at the PGA Byron Nelson with volunteers hiding in a tent wired for cable. Visualize that.
Hey Guys!!! I am working on a new sports project that is taking up all my time. I'm still in Vegas doing my show, but I'm nursing a pulled neck, so no dancing for me tonight. I'll let you know where to catch me next, but it's looking like I might be on the airwaves soon!
New Media. Very 21st century. I think you have a good shot at meeting Greg "God of the Northwest and all other Points of the Compass" Oden someday. And then you will have to go to Indy, Ohio girl!
Nothing made me happier than when Brady Quinn dropped to number 22.
Not because I liked watching the kid try to snuggle his problems away with his girlfriend (though she was pretty attractive), but because it meant the Cowboys were getting the Browns 1st-round pick next year (Top five hopefully!).
Congrats on Columbia. That's a school I'm looking at as well so let me know how you like it!
Hope your dancing and singing is going well despite the pain in the neck (the physical one, not the personal one!) and the wedding plans are still on track. I've found that absence doesn't make the heart grow fonder, it makes it forget!! Hang tough and let us know when we'll see you on the little screen.
That is so cool TJW. Are you talking TV or Radio. It would have to be TV cause you only put ugly people on the Radio. Orare you doing Franks Allstar bloogers Sports Show. Thats fun.
Come on blog us and tell us what is coming up for you or what show you will be on. From your Chillicothe, Ohio neighbor, Marty
Who says a theater girl can't love sports? I may be a Northwestern graduate, but I'm an Ohio State Buckeye at heart. Born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, I relocated to New York City to find a life on the stage. After four years of trying, (and finding some success), I am preparing to return to graduate school to pursue journalism. As an NGS II finalist, I got my feet wet as a FoxSports blogger and think it may be my new calling. Like theater, I doubt a job in online journalism will pay very well...but what can you do? I sing, I dance, and I can drink beer and eat chicken wings at a sports bar like the best of them...what more could you ask for?
