Quinn still in the hunt

Eleven days and 16 practices.

Those 11 days he missed due to a contract dispute not only cost Brady Quinn valuable time playing with the Cleveland Browns' first-team offense during training camp and the preseason, it might be what ultimately keeps the first-round pick out of Notre Dame from being named the starting quarterback when the Browns open the regular season against Pittsburgh.

Or maybe not.

Despite joining the team after its first preseason game and playing against second- and third third-team defenses, Quinn, who was basically told he wouldn't have a chance to win the starting job for the season opener, suddenly appears to be right in the mix.

That's, in part, thanks to going 29-for-45 for 300 yards and 3 touchdowns in three games this preseason.

Suddenly he's where few thought he would be at this point -- square in the mix of a four-way battle with incumbent Charlie Frye, Derek Anderson and Ken Dorsey for the starting job.

"I know everyone wants to know now, but I'm going to wait until I look at the tapes before I decide about the quarterbacks and I'll let you know that sometime next week," said Cleveland head coach Romeo Crennel, adding to the intrigue.

Frye's not having any of that, he thinks it's an open-and-shut case.

Asked if he felt the starting job was his, he answered simply, "Yeah, I still feel that way."

But it also might be Quinn's.

Playing against the Bears second-team defense, Quinn put up the best numbers Thursday night, going 9-for-14 for 64 yards and an interception. For the preseason, he had the most touchdown passes of any Cleveland QB.

"That's our job, right?" Quinn said. "That's the goal every time you go out there."

Yet asked if he thinks he deserves the No. 1 spot, he adroitly avoided the rush, preferring to talk about his fellow quarterbacks instead.

"I'll tell you what, I've developed a bond, a kinship with every one of these guys," he said. "We've developed somewhat of a brotherhood through camp."

"They've all done a good job," Crennel said.

After three games, Quinn's numbers say he was the best, despite the competition.

"I think I've progressed, sure," he said. "But it's not only me, it's the whole team."

But you have to be looking forward to Crennel ultimately deciding on a starter this week?

"Yeah, I think so," Quinn said. "But I think we're all looking forward more to our matchup next week with Pittsburgh."