There has been a long, linear connection between Broncos coach Josh McDaniels and his new quarterback, Brady Quinn. Between these connected dots was Charlie Weis, a big guy who nevertheless didn’t get in the way.
In 2004, McDaniels was moved from New England Patriots defensive assistant to quarterbacks coach, where he worked directly under Weis, the team’s offensive coordinator. Today, McDaniels refers to Weis as one of his mentors. After 2004, Weis went to Notre Dame, where he became the head coach, with Quinn already waiting. McDaniels, meanwhile, took control of the Patriots’ offense.
Weis prospered in his two seasons with Quinn, as did his quarterback, while McDaniels guided the Patriots’ offense to record levels. Cleveland then drafted Quinn, who attracted interest from McDaniels soon after he took charge of the Broncos a year ago in a deal involving disgruntled Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler, who was eventually traded to Chicago.
“Everyone, no matter who you are, no matter what position you’re at, when a team like Denver is talking about possibly picking you up in a trade, you have to be excited about the opportunity,” Quinn said Monday in a conference call with the Denver media. “It’s a great organization. It’s something I’m sure a lot of guys in the NFL would love to come play for, especially to live in a city like this.”
McDaniels flirted with Quinn last year. They became engaged Sunday. The Browns, who empowered coach Eric Mangini to make all football decisions last year, were unwilling to deal Quinn at the time. Mike Holm- gren now heads the Browns’ regime, and he quickly made Quinn expendable after acquiring veteran Jake Delhomme to play quarterback and Seneca Wallace to be his backup.
McDaniels didn’t hesitate to make a deal, acquiring Quinn in exchange for running back Peyton Hillis, a sixth-round pick in the 2011 draft and a conditional draft pick in 2012.
Quinn arrives not as the replacement for Cutler but as the backup to Kyle Orton, whom McDaniels wound up acquiring in the Cutler deal.
Orton has a full-season head start on Quinn in terms of operating McDaniels’ system. But because McDaniels’ system is based in what he learned from Weis, Quinn might be able to catch up quicker than most.
“I imagine there is some carryover,” Quinn said. “I’m sure I will find myself pretty familiar with some of the concepts.”
Even if Quinn did not play well for the Browns last year, at the very least the Broncos considered him an upgrade over backup Chris Simms, an eight-year NFL veteran whom the team released Monday.
There remains hope among the Broncos, however, that Quinn has an upside that has not yet been touched. A first- round draft pick in 2007, he didn’t get a shot as a rookie because of the surprise emergence of journeyman Derek Anderson. Quinn got his chance in 2008 and 2009, only to have both opportunities cut short by season-ending injuries.
Maybe in Denver, Quinn can become what he never became in Cleveland. He arrived at the Broncos’ headquarters Monday, took his physical, signed the paperwork that made the trade official and was scheduled to hold his first workout Monday afternoon. McDaniels did not make himself available to the media to talk about his new acquisition.
Quinn’s next order of business may be to pick out a new number. He has worn No. 10 since his Notre Dame days, but that number belongs to Broncos receiver Jabar Gaffney.
“It might be a hard sell to get that number,” Quinn said. “So I’ve got to talk to him and see. I’ve thought about a few different numbers, so I’m going to be patient about it and see what happens.”
Until Orton returns later this week from the NFL players’ association meetings in Hawaii, Quinn is the Broncos’ most experienced quarterback.
“We know he has the tools,” said Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey, who played against Quinn and the Browns in Game 2 of the 2009 season. “I honestly think the guy just needs to be in a good situation. I remember watching him in college — and he was great in college. I’m assuming our system will be similar to what he saw in college, so hopefully that will help the transition.”
Mike Klis: 303-954-1055 or mklis@denverpost.com
