IndyStar.com Sports State Colleges
March 5, 2007
Quinn finally works out for NFL scouts
By Tom Coyne
Associated Press
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Brady Quinn finally gave NFL scouts, coaches, general managers and owners an up-close look at what he can do on the field.
Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn gets ready to throw a pass during Notre Dame pro day Sunday, March 4, 2007 in South Bend, Ind. Quinn was one of several Notre Dame players that displayed his skills for NFL scouts. - JOE RAYMOND / Associated Press
Quinn, whose only workout at the NFL combine was benchpressing 225 pounds 24 times, took part in a half-hour workout Sunday at Notre Dame's pro day. He threw a variety of passes, with representatives from every NFL team watching.
"We threw everything people wanted to see," Irish coach Charlie Weis said. "We put him through every throw that any NFL organization would want to see -- from moving in the pocket, to moving from the pocket, to three-step, to five-step to seven-step. I think now they have enough information to make a critical evaluation, if they didn't have enough on tape already."
Quinn, who had fluid drained from his right knee at halftime of a game against Southern California and aggravated the injury in the Sugar Bowl against LSU, didn't take part in any of the agility drills: the 40-yard dash or the 60-yard shuttle run. He said he'd do that at Notre Dame's next pro day on March 22.
"I want to be 100 percent," he said. "I'm not quite there yet, but I will be soon."
Quinn has been the center of much draft speculation, particularly over whether the Oakland Raiders will use the No. 1 overall pick to take him or LSU's JaMarcus Russell.
Some draft analysts have said Quinn's draft status has been weakened since the end of the season as NFL teams reviewed the way he played, particularly in the Sugar Bowl. Quinn said he can't understand how people are saying his stock is going down.
"We haven't done anything since then and people are sitting there saying, 'You're stock's going up, you're stock's going down,"' Quinn said. "It's kind of comical in that sense. You're just working out, doing the best you can every day."
Minnesota Vikings coach Brad Childress and Cleveland Browns coach Romeo Crennel were both impressed by Quinn's performance.
"Really, he made more throws here than you'd think about making at the combine," Childress said. "I think he threw about 60 balls here today and it takes a little bit of endurance to be able to do that and he did it pretty rapid-fire succession."
Crennel said Quinn clearly had zip on his passes.
"The fact he could make all his throws, both right and left, he's a polished quarterback," Crennel said. "He's smart. When you watch him on tape you can see he knows where to go with the ball. He will, at times, throw it away when he has to, so we think he's a good, young prospect."
Quinn threw 63 passes, connecting on 58 of them. On two occasions, former Irish receiver Matt Shelton got his hands on passes but couldn't pull them in. Rhema McKnight couldn't catch a 35-yard pass or a 20-yard pass he dived for. Quinn also overthrew tailback Darius Walker on a 25-yard pass.
"I thought there were four catchable balls and one crummy throw to the right-hand side," Weis said.
Quinn said he was pleased with his performance, although he thought he could have done better.
"I think there's definitely still room for improvement," he said.
Quinn plans to return to Arizona to continue to prepare for the draft. Crennel said he didn't mind that Quinn didn't show off his speed.
"He's a quarterback, he doesn't have to run a 40. He showed he has good feet on the movement drills that he did because he did some rollouts, he did some play-actions. You can see his feet move," Crennel said. "And hopefully he doesn't have to run a 40, and if he's running a 40, they'll be chasing him."
About 100 people were at Notre Dame's indoor practice facility to watch the workout, including some of Quinn's former teammates -- and his possible replacement -- Jimmy Clausen. Several other former Irish players also worked out, including offensive guard Dan Santucci and offensive tackle Ryan Harris.
"Hopefully everyone's stock went up today," Quinn said.
Quinn said he doesn't have any preference for who drafts him, he just wants to be drafted as high as possible on April 28.
"I just want to go No. 1," Quinn said. "That's really what I'm looking forward to, and I hope that will be the case in the end."
That wouldn't suprise me at all!
... but he is not as fast, agile, or strong as the QBs that are really catching team's eyes. Like Montana or Brees when they were drafted.
