Ted Arichteff has been a loyal reader and e-mailer for years. It might lead one to wonder why Ted doesn't have more in his life — Soduku perhaps? — but it's nice to know somebody out there cares. Ted wrote a bunch of us local hacks yesterday to vent on the speculation that Brady Quinn might be traded, either in a three-way deal or directly to acquire Jay Cutler. I believe Ted's feelings are emblematic of the backlash the Browns would face if they dealt Quinn. Here is Ted's letter, as he wrote, CAPITAL LETTERS and all.
"I have been a die-hard devoted fan of the Cleveland Browns since #32 carried the mail…to our last NFL Championship.
"I can honestly say that if the Browns trade Brady Quinn in a deal for 'Cry-Baby' Cutler…I will burn every piece of Browns memorabilia that I own and they will instantly become my most hated team in the NFL.
"It will be the proverbial straw that broke the camels back for this fan. I have put up with enough over the decades but I will not put up with this.
"I AM SICK AND TIRED WITH THE COMPLETE MISMANAGEMENT … THE SAD OWNERSHIP AND NEVER ENDING BUMBLING OF THIS TEAM SINCE 1999!
"I can never recall such incompetent mismanagement of a first round QB pick as the 'Clowns' have managed to do with Brady Quinn. And yet through all the trials and tribulations the kid has handled himself like a true professional. He has never said anything bad or alienated any of his team-mates. All he wants to do is start for his boyhood team and lead us to Super Bowl glory! If any QB should be demanding a trade it should be Quinn the way the Browns have treated him.
"I whole heartedly 100% agree with my most favourite Browns Head Coach of all-times…Sam Rutigliano and his statement last week. 'IT IS TIME THE BROWNS START BRADY QUINN!'
"Let's end this nonsense once and for all and make him the starter for the next decade to come.
"I hope (Eric Mangini and George Kokinis) have the brains to realize this."
let's be accurate ted. i think shaun smith might have had something to say about brady quinn alienating teammates.
Boy! That puts it out there loud and clear. I'm seventy four and a Browns fan all my life and I TOTTALLY agree. If Quinn goes, so do I!!!
Pat I AGREE, but i will not burn all my Browns stuff but I will be very upset and if they also include Rogers this WILL BE the biggest blunder,even worse than the last 2 coaches, since ART made Jimmy Brown retire, i'll still root for the Browns but not like I've done since 1954.
I've been trying to give the new coach and gm the benefit of the doubt but if they get Cutler for Brady then we have 2 rocket arm QB's that can only throw the ball downfield which is easily defended,see Derecks 2008 season,its not like Quinn has a Dorsey type arm and HE CAN throw the short passes and doubt he would waste so much time in the 2 minute drive, then its wait for the next new coach and gm,more years of frustration AGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG
I would also have to agree. The Browns gave up a Number 1 and a high Number 2 to draft the guy. He has done his learning on the bench. They owe it to us, the fans, to let him start and give him a fair chance. I just can't see mortgaging the future for Cutler when we haven't really given a chance to the last guy we mortgaged the future for.
No threats about not rooting for the Browns. That train pretty much left the station during the Belicheck years. I watch; I root, but with nowhere near the passion that I had through the "Bernie years."
Just heard Cutler was traded to Chicago. Thank goodness! Now, let the Brady Quinn era begin. IF the competition is fair (and it never was under Romeo) then Quinn will win the starting job. He has the leadership skills Anderson does not and has more overall skill.
Would you take two #1 picks, a third rounder, an fifth rounder, and Kyle Orton for Quinn?
chicago got fleeced.
So I guess the Broncos are ready to build around Kyle Orton.
I guess my rant worked! Chicago got "Cry-Baby"…good on them. Man…that is alot to give up for a QB who has never played a down of playoff football! But now I and the rest of us Browns fans who didn't want any part of this fiasco can concentrate on the upcoming draft. We will never really know if Kokinis was on the phone to Denver…but if he was kudos for not selling the farm for a QB who has a proven attitude problem. Which brings me to terje and his comment…It is Shawn Smith who has the big trash talking mouth! We may never know what went down in that incident…but my guess would be that Quinn was showing leadership and Smith wanted to part of it…and as far as I'm concerned we don't need goons like Smith on our football team…QUINN TO WIN IN 2009!
My guess is that the Browns would love to trade Derek but the rest of the league now knows why Baltimore released him. He doesn't have it upstairs to lead a team to the playoffs. I totally agree with Sam Rutigliano in our handling of Brady. He knows cause he had Brian Sipe, who was of the same mold. I have to ask why Derek was put back into a meaniless game(49'ers) after being injured and Brady was doing fine? Because Romeo and company never wanted Brady to prove them wrong about hitching their wagons to Derek.I hope this new regime does not have the inflated egoes of the last one!
Sorry, but what is all this hero worship of Quinn? I like him just fine but he's hardly untouchable. And the QB situation we currently have is partly his fault.
He held out his rookie year. Does no one remember this? That's what caused the situation we have now. After he chose to hold out for more money DA came in a led us to 10 wins and threw 29 TDs. Not suprisingly, DA was named the starter the following year. When DA faltered they put in Quinn but he got hurt after just 2 games.
So, the position Quinn finds himself in as potential trade bait is the result of his holding out for more money his rookie season and his inability to stay healthy last season. Not sure how this is the fault of the Browns.
Dresden, you're wrong to say he simply held out for more money. He held out for a contract that would pay him like a top 1st round pick if he became the Browns starter. It's all tied to playing time. This year it's 11 million if he gets 70% of the snaps. It's why they waited so long last year to name him the starter. Even if he would have stayed healthy he lost a ton of money.It's why Rutigliano is correct in saying he'll ask to be traded if they jack him around this year. By the way,did you ever watch him at N.D.?