Brady needs to be punched

When the Browns traded up in the draft to end the slide of Brady Quinn they were just about unanimously praised by draft analysts. When his throws were knocked down by the wind like wounded ducks at minicamp doubts about the move started to surface. Now that he's whining that he should be paid like a top 10 pick or like a starting NFL quarterback, there's no way the Browns would make the trade if they had to do it over.

"I'd love to be there competing for the starting job," said Quinn, who has missed the first four days of camp. "But it's a long contract, and I have to make sure it's fair in the event I become the starter." When Tom Brady, the 199th pick of the 2000 Draft, signed his deal, I don't think he had such concerns. The difference is that Quinn, a 1st round pick, is expected to earn the starting job at some point; that's why he was a 1st rounder. If the team hoped that he would maybe, eventually he could be in a competition for the starting job, he would have been a fifth rounder like Heisman trophy winner Troy Smith. Rex Grossman, the 22nd pick (same as Quinn) in 2003, signed a market value contract and started every game for a Super Bowl team. And say what you will about Grossman, but he's never bitched about his contract.

Another reason to be down on Quinn: he was at an autograph signing at a Cleveland mall, fees ranged from $75 to $225. In my younger days I paid for a few autographs at card shows, which I now regret. Always baseball players, where football players' autographs were always free. Mike Mussina for $10 at a Virginia card show, Joe Morgan for $12 at a Maryland card show, and $5 I deeply regret for Arthur Rhodes at a Pikesville card show. A free, sponsored Jeff Bostic signing at a Giant, Mark Rypien at a Nordstroms, Darrell Green at a Macy's, and of course everyone besides Art Monk at training camp. But $75 for a guy who doesn't go in the top 20? Get real.