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Which news item Joe Theismann would have deemed more important is hard to say because Theismann was nowhere to be seen, but Quinn spent a good portion of a six-minute news conference after practice apologizing to Notre Dame alumni in response to comments made by Theismann.
It all started Tuesday morning when Theismann was being interviewed on the "Mike and Mike in the Morning" show on ESPN Radio. Theismann, like Quinn a former Notre Dame quarterback, hammered Quinn for chewing gum while walking on stage after being drafted by the Browns about 4 1/2 hours after the draft began - more than two hours after Quinn expected to be drafted. Theismann said Quinn's hair had a just-showered look, and he said it looked as though Quinn never attempted to tie a tie before last Saturday.
"That is not a professional image," Theismann scolded.
"I tried to look a little more business-like," Quinn said with a little smirk after practice. "I've been hearing some rumors that I haven't been very well-spoken of by some of our strong alumni at Notre Dame."
Quinn was asked what he thought about Theismann's remarks. Clearly, he was stunned someone as well-known as Theismann would attack him for chewing gum.
"It's such a memorable day, you wish those sort of things were never said," Quinn said. "I apologize to any Notre Dame alum or any fans who think I wasn't being business-like. I was there for a while. At that moment in time, when I finally got picked after 4 1/2 hours, my last thought was, 'Spit out your gum, fix your shirt and make sure your hair looks good.' I was trying to get on the stage as soon as possible and get that Browns jersey in my hand and that hat in my hand."
Quinn was all the more shocked because the criticism came from Theismann, whom Quinn has met on several occasions. He said he will heed the advice of the former Redskins quarterback.
"Therein the haircut," Quinn said.
But here's the deal: If Quinn throws the ball from Point A to Point B on a rope, and if he takes the Browns to the playoffs and ultimately the Super Bowl, his coaches and teammates won't care a bit about his wardrobe.
Practice on Friday was without pads, and there was no pass rush. There was no contact, so receivers were not self-conscious about reaching high for passes and exposing their ribs to a safety salivating to break them.
A few of the passes Quinn threw were off-target. Two into a choppy wind were short. They were caught, but in normal circumstances might have been batted away. Another pass into the same wind was overthrown.
Quinn said quarterbacks coach Rip Scherer had Quinn working on his trajectory. The overthrow occurred when Quinn threw on a lower trajectory.
"It surprised me the way it cut through the wind," Quinn said "We'll be able to adjust."
It was the first time Quinn was in a team practice since before the Sugar Bowl in January. The longer the hour-long practice went on, the better he threw. He rifled a mid-range pass down the left side to undrafted rookie Mike Mason. The ball got there in a blink and hit Mason in full stride.
"I'll be scrutinized in all throws, and that's fine," Quinn said. "Believe me, I'll be the one that's going to be upset if it's a little behind or a little too out front."
Scrutinized is the word.
According to the Browns' PR department, 104 media credentials were issued Friday. That's about double from the usual crowd of reporters, photographers and TV cameramen for the start of rookie minicamp.
Quinn said his main objective of this minicamp is to absorb as much of the offense as he can.
So far, so good, says Coach Romeo Crennel.
"I saw him make one nice throw down the seam to a tight end," Crennel said. "That looked pretty good.
"Overall, I thought he handled the information that was given to him pretty well. He was able to make formation calls, get the guys out of the huddle and run the plays. I thought it was pretty decent."
Crennel emphasized the starting quarterback job belongs to Charlie Frye until Quinn or Derek Anderson takes it away.
