[Sports Network.com]- The Brady Quinn era will begin under the bright primetime lights on Thursday night, when the signal-caller leads the Cleveland Browns into battle against the visiting Denver Broncos.
Quinn, the No. 22 overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft, will finally get a chance to lead the Cleveland offense after 24 games spent as a backup behind Derek Anderson and, briefly, Charlie Frye.
The highly-decorated former collegian at Notre Dame will be charged with breathing some life into an offense that has been a sputtering disappointment with Anderson at the controls this season, averaging just 17.8 points per game.
Quinn hurt his chances for early playing time by becoming embroiled in an extended contract holdout into 2007 training camp, and began his rookie campaign as the third-string quarterback behind Frye and Anderson.
Then, when Frye faltered, it was seen by most as only being a matter of time before Quinn took the reins of the struggling Browns' attack.
But the previously unknown Anderson altered that script by leading the Browns to a 10-5 record in 15 starts, earning an unlikely Pro Bowl nod and nearly guiding Cleveland to its first playoff appearance since 2002.
Anderson received a three-year contract extension this past offseason, and his status as the team's starting signal-caller was not in question prior to the start of 2008.
But with Cleveland dropping to 3-5 with a 37-27 home loss to the Baltimore Ravens this past Sunday, embattled head coach Romeo Crennel opted to shake things up by inserting Quinn into the lineup.
The native Ohioan has made just one meaningful NFL appearance, completing 3- of-8 passes for 45 yards without a touchdown or turnover in a 20-7 win over the 49ers in Week 17 of last season.
Like the Browns, the Broncos come into Thursday's contest in desperate need of a victory.
Denver enters Week 10 at 4-4, good enough for first place in an AFC West regarded by most as the worst division in football. The Broncos are 1-4 since starting the year 3-0, including consecutive losses to the Jaguars (24-17), Patriots (41-7) and Dolphins (26-17).
Mike Shanahan's club owns a one-game lead over San Diego (3-5) in the West.
Here's the AdultFYI picks for tonight's game:
[Those who have not submitted picks by game time 5:15 PM PT, take an automatic loss.]
Denver: Gene Ross, Billy The Crystal, Sandy Bunz, Sean from pornlegends; Ryan from Jerry's Deli, Joe Brandi, Tony Batman, Dan Davis, Steve Seidman, Kortni Kiss, Robert Interlandi, Brian Wallace, Mike Dickinson
Cleveland: Jeff Mullen, Karl the Birdman, Tim Case, Jack Spade, Mastrick, Steve Volponi, Dave F., John from Adult Source Media; Steve from Magnus; Danny Season, Willie D., Mike Fattorosi, Mike Moz, John Gray
