The Argument for Brady Quinn

Let me first try to rebuff those that say "Brady Quinn cannot win the big game." Quarterback is possibly the most important position to a football team, well at least it's the most glamorous. Which is why the fact that Notre Dame losing in big games has been put squarely on Brady Quinn's shoulders. But football is a team game, and I think it's unfair to blame him solely for those losses. Notre Dame is not a very talented team, and in no way deserved to be in a BCS game. They were totally outmatched against LSU, and it showed. Notre Dame's offensive line hasn't been very good this year, therefore, Quinn has not had a lot of time to throw the ball, especially in the "big games". If you watched the Sugar Bowl, you would have noticed the amazing difference in speed between the teams. LSU was a much better team. In fact, I think LSU was the second best team in the nation.

Before that, they lost to USC. Once again, Notre Dame was completely and utterly overmatched in every area. And while Quinn didn't have the best pass percentage, he didn't throw any interceptions, and tossed 3 touchdowns in that game. In fact all season, including the Sugar Bowl, Quinn only had four games where he tossed an interception. I understand that the Fighting Irish had a very easy shedule, but that is still a very good accomplishment. And once again, Notre Dame as a team is not that good. They are overrated. Brady Quinn, however, is not.

Take a look at what is happening in the NFL playoffs. Tom Brady and Peyton Manning aren't looking like top of the line quarterbacks in these games. Sure, their teams have won so far, but they have won because winning in football takes a team effort. So far in the playoffs, Peyton Manning has thrown only 1 TD, and has thrown 5 INTs, with a 58.3 rating. But he has the "can't win the big game status" as well. So we will move on to someone who "wins the big games". Tom Brady has thrown 4 TDs and 3 INTs for a 75.2 rating. But, against the Chargers, he threw 2 TDs, 3 INTs and completed only 52.9% of his passes for a 57.6% rating. They won that game because of circumstance. They lucked out and won a ticket to play Marty Schottenheimer in the playoffs.

Back to the point. This is a team game, and Notre Dame is not that good of a team. I do believe that Brady Quinn is a good quarterback, and more importabtly he seems like a pretty stand up guy. Sure, we can draft Jamarcus Russell. He had a good Sugar Bowl, but he was playing inferior competition. Isn't that the same argument people use to attack Quinn's credibility? "He has all his good games against service academies (inferior competition)." So why is Jamarcus Russell being held to a different standard.

Another reason Oakland may want to pass on Russell, is possible character issues. It has been reported that his coaches had to "make" him go to classes this semester, and his recent comments regarding his decision to enter the draft raised red flags. Russell was asked what his draft preferance was, and he said, "Whoever picks first and whoever pays the most." Big shocker, right. An NFL player wants big money. But who comes out and says it in public? With guys like Randy Moss and Jerry Porter on this team, do we really want another possible malcontent?

In the end, I hope the Raiders pass on both quarterbacks and trade their pick. But if they decide to go with a QB, they would be smart to draft Quinn.