Brady Quinn, who was angling for more than his 22nd draft-pick status would usually warrant, inked a five-year contract with the Cleveland Browns on Tuesday.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but FOXSports.com reported the deal is worth US$20.2 million, including US$7.75 million in guaranteed money and with the chance that Quinn could earn up to US$30 million in escalator clauses.
The deal ended a protracted saga between the team and quarterback Quinn, who was rated the second-best quarterback in the draft but had to wait more than four hours before the Browns took him 22nd overall.
After paying a heavy price to the Dallas Cowboys for the pick, Cleveland has high hopes for Quinn, the University of Notre Dame's all-time passing leader.
The Cowboys received the 36th overall pick this year along with a first-round pick for next year in exchange for the highly touted quarterback.
Many expected the Browns to pick Quinn, who grew up in Dublin, Ohio, and wanted to play for Cleveland, with the third overall pick in the draft. Instead, Browns general manager Phil Savage used that pick on Wisconsin tackle Joe Thomas.
Quinn played in a pro-style offense for the last two years at Notre Dame, where coach Charlie Weis compared him to Patriots quarterback Tom Brady.
Apparently, many of the NFL's executives and scouts did not agree with Weis.
Although he set records for completions (929), yards (11,762) and touchdowns (95) at Notre Dame, Quinn failed to win the big game. In January he piloted Notre Dame in a 41-14 loss in the Sugar Bowl to Louisiana State.
In Cleveland, Quinn will compete with Charlie Frye and Derek Anderson for the starting quarterback job.
Miami Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee on Tuesday, the National Football League team said.
Porter had the procedure in Birmingham, Alabama. Dolphins first-year coach Cam Cameron did not say how long the veteran linebacker would be sidelined.
Porter had missed practice on Friday and Saturday with pain in the knee.
"The bottom line is they decided to go in and take a look at [the knee]," Cameron said. "They do say it's something minor."
Porter had a similar procedure done on his left knee prior to the 2005 season, and followed it up with career highs of ten-and-a-half sacks and five forced fumbles to help the Pittsburgh Steelers win the Super Bowl.
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