Cleveland Browns Week 7 Update | Video of Brady Quinn at John McCain Rally

As we approach the weekend, I am sure that many Cleveland Browns fans feel about like I do right now: still euphoric. The 35-14 victory over the New York Giants on Monday was clearly the high point of this still young 2008 season and has given the Cleveland Browns faithful, as well as the Cleveland Browns themselves, hope and confidence that a playoff berth and an AFC North title are not such outlandish possibilities.

In scrolling the Cleveland Browns news feed on our Browns page, I noticed a few stories that caught my eye in the aftermath of one of the most significant wins for the Browns this decade. (Think for a second before you scoff at that notion and try to name five more significant wins than Monday night. I dare you. That’s what the comments section is for!)

Anyway, here are a few interesting notes, plus video of Brady Quinn introducing John McCain at the Republican rally last week:

1 — Congratulations to Browns cornerback Eric Wright. On the strength of his stellar all around game Monday night, and his sublime 4th quarter interception and subsequent touchdown, Eric Wright was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week. As a Browns observer who has watched nearly every minute of football during Eric Wright’s young career, I cannot think of another player (with the possible exception of Brandon McDonald) who has improved more over the past 23 regular season games that Eric Wright. Both are quickly earning reputations as underrated cover corners with above average and timely play-making skills. Most importantly, both Eric Wright and Brandon McDonald are quickly assuaging the major concern about the Cleveland Browns coming into the season: their defensive secondary.

2 — I did not realize this until today, but the Cleveland Browns accomplished a feat that is, statistically at least, the team equivalent of pitching a perfect game. In Monday night’s game, against one of the top statistical defenses in the NFL coming into the game, the Browns did not commit a turnover, did not punt once, and did not allow a quarterback sack.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Cleveland Browns became one of only four teams since 1963 to accomplish this feat. In contrast, there have been 11 perfect games pitched in the Majors since 1963. Now, any Browns fans who watched the game and suffered through false start after false start knows that the Browns offense was far from perfect. But, because of their efficiency and ball protection, the false starts never really had any material negative effect.

The next step is to maintain the efficiency of the running and passing game, while eliminating the self-inflicted errors. It is safe to say that Dave Zastudil will be needed at some point, that Derek Anderson will throw an interception, and that he will get sacked at some point. The false starts may be more of a problem then. Romeo, Browns fans implore you to do something to increase the pre-snap discipline of your team while not adversely affecting the confidence and attacking attitude they displayed Monday night.

But certainly, a huge congratulations to the Cleveland Browns for a 95% stellar offensive performance on Monday night, made all the more impressive when you consider that one of the team’s key playmakers (Kellen Winslow) was out.

3 — By the way, there is plenty of new information out there regarding Kellen Winslow. We are covering that in another post specifically about Kellen Winslow and his mystery injury, as well as the trade rumors that surfaced this afternoon.

4 — And finally, I stumbled upon video of a story we covered here last week: Brady Quinn speaking at a rally for Senator John McCain. Here is the video, devoid of any of my usual Brady Quinn commentary:

Actually, you will get a little bit of my Brady Quinn commentary, and it is decidedly positive. Brady Quinn can be an easy target for shallow and cliched ribbing because of his good looks, Notre Dame pedigree, and his inordinate amount of endorsement deals while being a backup. And, of course, the pictures. But I have to say that Brady Quinn has never seemed to be anything other than a great teammate, a leader by example, and worthy of more respect from flippant and irreverent blog writers like me.

Despite being within a few more bad Derek Anderson decisions from finally getting his chance to start, there have been no reports of Brady Quinn causing waves, making selfish comments through the media, or doing anything other than supporting Derek Anderson and putting the Cleveland Browns’ interests over Brady Quinn’s interests.

Seriously, I’ve made plenty of jokes about Brady on this site, but I joke because I care. I like Brady Quinn, and I believe that he will be an outstanding NFL quarterback whether it is in Cleveland or elsewhere. I am sure I will make jokes about him again in the future, it’s inevitable; but, Brady Quinn has also earned my respect and proven to be a valuable member of Cleveland Browns, mainly because of his great attitude, even as a backup.

[tags]cleveland browns, football, nfl, brady quinn[/tags]

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