BEREA, Ohio — Browns quarterback Brady Quinn doesn’t regret playing with a broken right finger that will sideline him for the rest of this season and may require surgery.
Quinn did more damage to his finger when he started Sunday against the Houston Texans.
“I knew that was a consequence if I went in and played,” Quinn said Wednesday. “That was something that I was willing to risk. If I had a chance to do it over, I would do it again.”
Quinn is now trying to decide whether to have an operation on the finger or just have it immobilized in a splint. Whatever he decides, the second-year QB, who waited 25 games to make his first NFL start, will miss the Browns’ final five games in what has been a disastrous season for a team that entered the season with playoff expectations.
“It’s frustrating,” said the former Notre Dame star, who broke the tip of his finger and sustained tendon damage in his second start on Nov. 17 at Buffalo. “I can’t begin to tell you. I’m hurting right now because I love to play the game. I wish I could be with my teammates. I feel bad for the fans because I really wanted to be out there and continue to play and continue to grow in this league.
“Hopefully, this will allow me to grow stronger and something good will come from this.”
Before last week’s game, Quinn consulted with team doctors as well as noted orthopedist Dr. James Andrews. Quinn was presented with three options: keep playing, immobilize his finger or have surgery. However, when it came down to whether he would suit up or not, Quinn said he made the call.
“It was my decision in the end,” he said. “It wasn’t anyone else’s, so it didn’t matter what anyone else thought but me.”
Quinn started but was ineffective in a 16-6 loss to the Texans. He was benched late in the third quarter by coach Romeo Crennel and replaced by Derek Anderson.
Anderson, who lost his job three weeks ago to Quinn, will start Sunday when the Browns host Indianapolis.
Although he only saw Quinn play in three regular-season games, Crennel, whose job could depend on how the Browns finish the season, sees potential in the former first-round draft pick.
“I’m impressed with what he (Quinn) has done on the field, off the field, the way he’s handled situations, the way he’s handled the team. I like the kid a lot,” he said.
Assuming he’s back in 2009, Crennel said Quinn would be his starter.
“I had planned to go with Brady as the quarterback,” Crennel said. “When he comes back, he’s going to be healthy and he’s going to be the quarterback. Quinn is the starter next training camp.”
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