Brady Quinn Finger Injury Questions: Surgery or No Surgery? Why Did Quinn Start?

November 26, 2008 By 14 Comments

Browns Head Coach Romeo Crennel told Cleveland media today, “Brady will need time or surgery before he is ready to play. Yes, he is out for the season.”

Whom in the Cleveland Browns organization determined that multi-million dollar franchise quarterback Brady Quinn would play against Houston last Sunday with a fractured finger tip on his throwing hand? And why?

(Editor’s Note: And, who will replace Brady Quinn as the Browns QB? Might It be someone other than Derek Anderson…?)

When questioned by Cleveland reporters today, Quinn said it was his decision to play and that he “tried to do the best I could.”

Hmmm…. a 24-year-old rookie quarterback who waited more than a year to be named the Browns starter, was allowed to make the final decision?

I would put this one squarely on Romeo Crennel and the Browns organization.

Brady Quinn May Have Surgery on Index FingerSure, the 4-6 Browns wanted a win, but at what cost? The decision may have not only led to the Browns 16-6 loss (dropping them to 4-7), but compromised its prized player to the point that now Quinn has one week to decide whether to undergo surgery.

The news that Quinn actually injured his finger worse came from renowned orthopedic specialist Dr. James Andrews of Birmingham, Ala., whom Quinn sought out Tuesday for a “second opinion.”

Dr. Andrews has been referred as Dr. Doom by the media because few football players have ever left his office without getting bad news.

Surgery on a Cleveland Browns player sends up a red flag to this writer who has seen too many routine surgeries turn into staph-infected, career-busting tragedies.

Just ask Joe Jurevicius, Browns tight end with the best hands this side of Dante Lavelli — and a team leader to boot. Or just ask former high-profile free agent acquisition center LeCharles Bentley, who suffered a leg injury after the first snap in the first practice.

Bentley had surgeries at Cleveland Clinic, then spurned the Browns’ health care plan and was operated on in an out-of-state hospital. At one point, Bentley nearly had to have his leg amputated. Although he said he would try, it is doubtful the man will ever set foot in an NFL stadium to snap the ball again.

Allowing Brady Quinn to play against the Houston Texans Sunday has now come to haunt the Browns as another huge setback in this season of drama.

Crennel justified the decision to play Brady by stating: although Quinn’s finger had become more sore in mid-week, “Browns specialists” had inspected the finger. Furthermore, Quinn’s X-ray showed a little fracture of the tip of the index finger so Quinn would wear a splint when he wasn’t playing — and that he would be good to go.

After being pulled in the third quarter, a very dejected Quinn walked the sidelines, perhaps blaming himself for his poor performance of completing eight for 18 for 94 yards and two interceptions.

The question no one is answering: Why was Quinn cleared to play against Houston and who made the final decision?

(Stay tuned to Cleveland Browns News Page for the latest updates on the Browns and Brady Quinn’s injury)

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Filed Under: Featured Column, NFL Tagged With: brady quinn, Cleveland Browns, injury, Romeo Crennel
  • http://www.midwestsportsfans.com JRod

    I will say this — I hope that Brady Quinn goes somewhere other than Cleveland to have his surgery. I know that the Browns have done everything they can to fix the staph problem, but what assurances are there that it has been fixed?

    Honestly, I would think that they would want their purported franchise QB going somewhere else too — just to be safe.

  • Midnight Writer

    JRod,
    That is the insane thing! Despite the staph infections, the Browns players, like lemmings, follow each other down the corridor of Cleveland Clinic which everyone wants to protect. (The Lerner family has donated millions to the hospital complex.)

    But staph shows up in the best hospitals and is not a reflection on the surgeon.

    If I were Quinn, I’d be calling up players who have had surgery and ask about their experiences.

    Doctors love to operate. They all paint a picture of how serious any injury is, and much the patient needs them.

    Head Coach Romeo Crennel assured the media Quinn will be healthy and his starter by mini-camp, 2009. That statement by Romeo is like the kiss of death.

    And besides, Crennel probably won’t still be here.

  • knows more than u

    Hey all you medical professors… look up the facts before you venomize the Cleveland Clinic….

    FACT: the Cleveland Clinic’s staph infection rate is LOWER than the national average

    FACT: staph infections are effecting EVERY team in the NFL. Payton Manning had one this past off season.

    When was the last staph infection reported by the Indians or Cavaliers, both teams receive their medical care at the Clinic? The Indians just renewed their contract with them.

    Think about it all you tail-gating doctors.

  • Midnight Writer

    Mr. dr. know all,

    Actually you do have a valid point.

    Several weeks ago The Plain Dealer published an article about all of the staph infections that they know of in the NFL.

    Perhaps the Browns have been the worst at trying to cover it up. As usualy, the least information came from the New England Patriots organization.

    But the fact is, if LeCharles Bentley, Joe Jurevicius and Kellen Winslow were all operated on in the Cleveland Clinic, it would stand to reason not to repeat the same behavior.

    In fact, it might be something related to the Browns training facility in Berea.

    But if One Browns player + surgery at the Cleveland Clinic = a staph infection, why chance it?

  • knows more than u

    Not sure what you mean by the same behavior, but you really have no idea what is going on with these staph infections. The only theory you provide that makes any sense is the comment about the training facility. You have no idea how or where the 3 players staph infections you refer to came from. It is against federal law for anyone to comment on someone other than your own medical record. Not even the Browns can comment, only what a player speaks publicly about. That is THE reason they dont comment on the stories.

    Do you even know how many different ways a staph infection can occur? Again dont just assume because they were operated at the Cleveland Clinic thats where their staph must have come from…far from it. The facts prove it.

    Fact: staph can occur by simply not washing your hands after going to the rest room then contacting an open wound, abrasion, etc. and not even your own.

    Fact: staph can be carried fron one person to another to another to another until it infects someone.

    Fact: while staph can occur in a surgical wound, most staph infections in a surgical wound are not born in the operating room.

    Fact: a large percentage of staph infections in surgical wounds occur when someone touches/handles (usually the patient)the wound.

    Fact: surgical staph is quite common, NFL players or not

    Respondsible media reporting would make these facts known, but then again they dont sell papers or increase ratings.

  • Facts

    knows more than u,

    I wish you actually did know more because as is stands you’re misinforming everyone. I guess you were hoping that nobody would check your work. Guess what? There are other people out there who are far more thorough before posting information as fact than you. You must be an employee of the Cleveland Clinic.

    The fact is Ohio state law only requires hospitals to report “clusters of MRSA infections” not individual cases.
    This means that NONE of the infections contracted by any of the Cleveland Browns players qualifies for any “REPORTED STATISTIC”.

    Do more research before you embarrass yourself any further.

  • Midnight Writer

    Mr. Know It All,

    Methinks thou doest protest too much.

    You seem very defensive about The Cleveland Clinic which has a worldwide reputation for treating many medical conditions.

    However, even at the Clinic, after a successful surgery, a patient can acquire a staph infection while recovering in the same hospital in one of the many ways you have listed.

    Is it a coincidence that the Browns players who were treated at Cleveland Clinic, contracted staph infections?

    And as for the media: Believe me, The Plain Dealer would sell more papers if the Browns won every Sunday and had no major injuries. Writing about staph, let’s face it, is not a very sexy story — and you lose the reader after the first couple of grafs.

  • Pingback: Brady Quinn Will Have Surgery in Alabama for Injured Index Finger | Browns Banter

  • knows more than u

    The fact is Ohio state law only requires hospitals to report “clusters of MRSA infections” not individual cases.
    This means that NONE of the infections contracted by any of the Cleveland Browns players qualifies for any “REPORTED STATISTIC”.

    You must be a rocket scientist, the above is such a spinned remark, its hilarious. To state I am embarassing myself is even funnier…again FACT:

    Cleveland Clinic staph infection rate is lower than the NATIONAL average. Do the research genius. I am not sure what the state of Ohio has anything to do with my comment? Go check the data that has been gathered on this infection.

    No, I am not an employee of the Cleveland Clinic, I am a former research fellow from the Clinic who happens to know what I am talking about. Stop embarrasing yourself.

    My advice to you to confirm my FACT, check something called the internet.

  • knows more than u

    You are correct when you state “even at the Clinic, after a successful surgery, a patient can acquire a staph infection while recovering in the same hospital in one of the many ways you have listed”…no argument there. I never said you cant get staph at the Clinic, I said it is a FACT that there staph infection rate is below teh national average. I pointed out the mechanisms of transmitting/contracting the infection.

    Is it a coincidence that the Browns players who were treated at Cleveland Clinic, contracted staph infections? simply put, yes it is. Do you realize how many of these players are treated at the Clinic during a season? Hundreds… more than the active roster. That is a FACT. Could they have contracted the infection there? of course. My point is this, before the media and others assume it WAS contracted there, they should know the facts of the infection, the facts of the patient medical record (which no one can, because of the law), and realize that they are the recieving the publicty because it is the Browns. Using your theory, Is it a coincidence that the Indians or Cavs players who were treated at Cleveland Clinic, did not contract staph infections?

    I am not employed by the Clinic, I just have knowledge & a background to verify what I state. Please read & research staph… it is a national concern not limited to the Clinic. They just get the most publicity (around the Cleveland area) Again the medical data has verified that the Clinic’s staph infection rate is lower than the national average. When making implied statements, one should know all the variables and not just assume.

  • Facts

    knows more than u,

    Since you’re NOT a rocket scientist I’ll try to simplify this for you. Whatever statistics your claiming (and I stress WHATEVER because you haven’t posted your source) are INACCURATE!

    The STATE OF OHIO does NOT require Ohio Hospitals to report ALL MRSA infections only clusters of infections. This means that MOST MRSA infections are missing from reported hospital statistics in the state of Ohio.

    In my example none of the Cleveland Browns players who contracted MRSA are included in ANY Ohio hospital statistic. If the Cleveland Clinic was required by the state to report ALL MRSA infections (like they are in the state of Pennsylvania) the Cleveland Clinic would have a much higher rate of infection…the real rate.

    Hospital requirements for reporting MRSA infections are controlled by the state not the federal government. Each state chooses what information their hospitals need to report. Their all different.

    This may be too adult for you but try to “wrap your head around this”…Ohio politicians passed a law that protects Ohio hospitals. They are trying to convince the ignorant that Ohio hospitals are safer than they really are so as not to scare the public from seeking medical treatment. Get it?

  • Midnight Writer

    Mr. Know and Mr. Fact,

    You both raise valid points.

    First, I would like to ask Know More, what is your hypothesis as to why Cleveland Browns players have come down with staph? The Browns training facility in Berea or simply a coincidence?

    Is it your opinion that the whole Browns/staph story unfolded due to the Browns poor P.R. or ability to spin stories — rather than having a facility or sending its players to a hospital where they then contact staph?

    This goes to the argument posed by Fact. You are right, fact, that reporting on hospitals and other institutions are politically motivated. It does not surprise me that Ohio would pass a law protecting hospitals, (if that is the case), since The Cleveland Clinic Complex is so important to Cleveland’s employment and its image in order to attract furture economic development.

    Brady Quinn just had surgery in Birmingham, Ala., but he will return to the Browns training facility and sit along the sidelines for the rest of the season — although I wonder why the team doesn’t just let him go home and heal properly.

    Let me check on how much contact Quinn has to have with the Browns, now.

    Anyway, both you guys have good points. It would take a major undercover investigation to get to the true bottom of the Browns staph problem.

  • knows more than u

    This may be too adult for you but try to “wrap your head around this”… Now that initself is a very adult comment. Are you employed by UH?
    Take a little time in researching. My FACTS do not concern State of Ohio reporting requirements, look at the medical data that has been and continues to be collected by reputable research groups (AMA, etc). Ohio reporting requirements have NOTHING to do w/ the FACTS I mention.
    Your response in child like manner only embarasses yourself and really just proves how thick headed you are. Debating on a blog is that, your immature insults are just that. You should save those for your Cleveland.com blogs.

    Midnight writer…what is your hypothesis as to why Cleveland Browns players have come down with staph? The Browns training facility in Berea or simply a coincidence? My hypothesis is this… they could have come dowm w/ staph for any number of reasons, including their training facility. My point is simply this… just becuase they came down w/ staph and were treated at the Clinic does not mean thats where they contracted the infection. Any medical professional will verify that statement. I have already mentioned the possible mechanisms, and there are many more. The FACT is that staph infections can be contracted from many sources, including areas in a training facility, hospitals, gymnasiums, home, etc. Just because these players are treated at Clinic does not mean thats where they obtained the infection.

    Midnight writer… Is it your opinion that the whole Browns/staph story unfolded due to the Browns poor P.R. or ability to spin stories — rather than having a facility or sending its players to a hospital where they then contact staph? My opinion is this…I believe that when a story comes out like a staph infection, media is quick to jump on it and try to create more to it than it actually is. Look, staph infection is a serious problem, NO QUESTION. but the media in Cleveland is infamous for creating stories when there really isnt one. Staph is an NATIONAL concern. It is also concern in the NFL…Peyton Manning had staph this past off-season, how much did you hear about that, very little over all. Tom Brady contracted it releated to his recent knee injury, some coverage, but again very little.

    Again, to remphasize my point… staph IS a problem. Staph IS serious. But to implicate an entire health delivery system as its source is ridiculous. The Clinic is the easiest target because of its size and reputation and it maske a good story. These type of high profile stories get the most publicity around this area. If the Clinic was allowed to tell its side of the story regarding these claims, it may provide some insight. But they are forbidden to by Federal law.

    Why is that so hard to understand?

  • Facts

    @knows more than u,

    “look at the medical data that has been and continues to be collected by reputable research groups (AMA, etc).”

    Until you provide links to the source of your data none of us can “look at it”.

    “Debating on a blog is that, your immature insults are just that.”

    Provide links to solid data and there WILL BE NO DEBATE. It’s just that simple.

    On the web lots of people post their opinions as fact on just about any topic. Few backup their assertions with solid data. Which are you?