BEREA — ESPN’s Michael Smith reported Monday night that quarterback Brady Quinn will visit renowned surgeon Dr. James Andrews in Alabama today to get a second opinion on the injured index finger on his throwing hand.
Coach Romeo Crennel confirmed Monday afternoon that Quinn has a damaged tendon near the small fracture at the tip of the index finger. The break was diagnosed Wednesday by a hand specialist at the Cleveland Clinic.
Crennel said the injury affected Quinn’s throwing Sunday in a 16-6 loss to Houston, but said he would start Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts. Crennel talked before news of the visit to Andrews broke.
“That small fracture is where the tendon is attached,” Crennel said. “And so it’s right at the tip right there, and it makes it tough for him to spin (the ball) the way he wants to spin it.”
Quinn injured the finger against the Bills on Nov. 17 when he hit the hand of a Buffalo player on his follow-through. The fracture was discovered Wednesday night, but he didn’t miss any practice time leading up to the Texans game. He went 8-for-18 for 94 yards, two interceptions and a 21.3 rating, before being yanked late in the third quarter.
Quinn didn’t talk to reporters Monday, but was upset after the game that he didn’t get a chance to finish and was on a “short leash.” He declined to go into detail about the injury.
“It wasn’t a factor,” he said. “I’m not one to make excuses.”
Then Sunday night, he told si.com’s Peter King about the damaged tendon and his problem “spinning the ball.”
Crennel said the finger factored into his decision to bench Quinn for Derek Anderson, but the biggest reason was he wanted a spark.
“There were some misreads during the course of the game, a couple of turnovers, and so as the game was going, I decided to try to give this team a spark,” Crennel said. “Now, Brady is still the starting quarterback.
“Brady is a good quarterback and he’s going to be a good quarterback.”
The switch Sunday from Quinn to Anderson caught many of the players off guard, but Crennel was pulling out all the stops to avoid a seventh loss, keep playoff hopes alive and possibly save his job. It didn’t work as Anderson, who started the first eight games, went 5-for-14 for 51 yards, an interception and a 17.3 rating.
“If he had provided that spark I would be happy that we won, but Brady would still have been the quarterback,” Crennel said.
Quinn is 1-2 as a starter, completing 45-of-89 passes (50.6 percent) for 518 yards, two touchdowns, two interceptions and a 66.6 rating.
“We like the things he has shown us since he’s taken over the starting job,” Crennel said. “His composure, his leadership, he doesn’t get rattled, and so we like all of that. So that’s why he’s going to continue to be the starter and see if we can help him more.”
Crennel disagreed with Quinn’s assessment that he was on a short leash.
“He is not on a short leash,” Crennel said. “If he were on a short leash, I would’ve told him before the game that if you throw two interceptions I’m going to take you out. But I didn’t do that because it was not my intention.
“Every game in the NFL is a different game. You’ve got to play the circumstances as they come up.”

Talkin’ Chud

Crennel responded to running back Jamal Lewis’ criticism of offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski. Lewis carried 10 times for 58 yards Sunday and said he didn’t understand why Chudzinski abandoned the game plan that emphasized the run.
“When Chud first got here, one of the things he said he wanted to do was be a balanced offense,” Crennel said. “I think through three quarters, the offense was balanced. I think it was 18 runs and 18 passes. To that point, his objective was being reached.
“Getting Jamal as many touches as he would like is complicated by the fact that Jerome Harrison also is a force and trying to give him some touches.”
Harrison had seven carries for 31 yards, and Joshua Cribbs two for 6. The Browns finished with 32 passes and 20 rushes after they tried to catch up in the fourth quarter.

Injury report

Fullback Charles Ali (ribs) and tight end Darnell Dinkins (ankle) were scheduled for MRIs, and results weren’t disclosed. Dinkins was in a walking boot Monday.
• Center Hank Fraley had X-rays on his hand, but there isn’t a break. He said he’s fine.
• Nose tackle Shaun Rogers (shoulder), fullback Lawrence Vickers (ankle) and tight end Kellen Winslow (shoulder) started and played the entire game. Crennel said they’re sore and their practice status had yet to be determined.
Contact Scott Petrak at 329-7253 or spetrak@chroniclet.com. 

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