Quinn Ends Holdout; Jones And Owens Practice

Brady Quinn and the Cleveland Browns finally got a deal done. <br/><br/>The first-round draft pick ended his 11-day holdout Tuesday, agreeing to a five-year deal with the Browns. <br/><br/>Quinn was to

Tuesday, August 7th 2007, 8:30 pm

By: News On 6

Brady Quinn and the Cleveland Browns finally got a deal done.

The first-round draft pick ended his 11-day holdout Tuesday, agreeing to a five-year deal with the Browns.

Quinn was to fly to Browns' headquarters to sign the contract, Browns general manager Phil Savage said. The language of the deal was still being finalized.

The holdout has essentially ended any chance Quinn had to win the starting job in camp.

``He'll get here early and he'll stay late,'' coach Romeo Crennel said. ``I know if you put those kind of hours in and study, you'll have a chance. Plus, I believe he's a smart kid also _ on reports by some people I know.''

Crennel and Quinn's college coach, Charlie Weis of Notre Dame, worked together with the Patriots and are good friends.

The deal, worth $20.2 million, with $7.75 million guaranteed, could reach $30 million over five years with incentives. Quinn was to be introduced to the media Wednesday.

The competition for the Browns' starting job has become a two-man contest between Charlie Frye and Derek Anderson.

``It's unfortunate that it took this long to get done,'' Savage said. ``I feel like it's a deal that we potentially could have done at the start of camp.''

Quinn, a four-year starter at Notre Dame, was projected as a top 10 pick in April's draft. When he slipped deeper into the first round, the Browns traded a 2008 first-round pick to Dallas and selected the Ohio native and childhood Browns fan at No. 22.

During Quinn's holdout, Crennel coldly referred to him as ``the quarterback'' and not by name. He continued to refer to him that way Tuesday.

``We're going to put him at the bottom of the chart and see where he is,'' Crennel said. ``We'll let him compete, but I'm not putting him on the first team (Wednesday).''

The Browns have only two practices before their first preseason game Saturday at home against the Kansas City Chiefs.

``Maybe in the fourth quarter we might want to give him a snap,'' Crennel said.

Oakland quarterback JaMarcus Russell (No. 1 overall) and New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis (No. 14) are the only first-round picks without contracts.

Also at Browns camp, guard Eric Steinbach, the team's top free-agent acquisition, left practice after he fell on his right knee.

Steinbach was being examined by team doctors following Cleveland's afternoon practice, which took place indoors because of rain. He walked off the field with a trainer and didn't return.

``I would say he bruised it,'' Crennel said. ``That's what I would say because we didn't have pads on inside and we were on the turf and he came down on the knee.''

The Browns signed Steinbach to a seven-year, $49.5 million contract in March.

Seahawks

Left tackle Walter Jones returned to practice for the first time in five days with a still-sore right shoulder. Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren insists he isn't worried about Jones' health.

``He's going to be fine. He's fine,'' Holmgren said after Jones spent the morning in the training room before walking out to watch the last 15 minutes of practice.

``He could have practiced today. But honestly, I just want him ready to play in the first ballgame.''

But by late afternoon, the 33-year-old Jones was back participating in a no-pads practice.

``Glad to be back. It just felt better,'' Jones said after his unexpected return to the field.

Holmgren said Jones, a seven-time Pro Bowl pick, will likely sit out the exhibition opener at San Diego.

``I mean, he could play. He's in good shape. He's honest about how he feels. I really just want him ready to play in the first ballgame,'' Holmgren said.

Cowboys

Terrell Owens returned to practice after missing two days because of back spasms, and is expected to play in the preseason opener.

``At this point, there's no reason for me not to,'' Owens said after the 1-hour, 45-minute practice, the team's last full workout inside the Alamodome.

``I think he'll be ready for the game,'' coach Wade Phillips said.

The Cowboys play at home Thursday night against the Indianapolis Colts. Phillips said the first-team offense with quarterback Tony Romo and Owens is expected to play about a quarter.

Safety Ken Hamlin sat out practice, a day after taking a shot to the head during a drill. Cowboys coach Wade Phillips said it is possible Hamlin, signed as a free agent during the offseason, won't play Thursday.

Saints

Left tackle Jammal Brown bruised his right knee and will most likely sit out the Saints' first preseason game.

``The encouraging thing is there wasn't any ligament damage the doctors were able to find,'' on an MRI or an X-ray, coach Sean Payton said. ``So, we're fortunate and obviously that's a big relief.''

Earlier Tuesday, trainers carted Brown from the practice field when he crumpled to the ground with a right knee injury. He was diagnosed with a bone bruise.

Brown could be ready to get back on the field Friday night when the Saints host the Buffalo Bills in a preseason game, although Payton said it was doubtful he would rush his best blocker back that quickly.

Instead, Payton said second-year player Zach Strief and rookie Jermon Bushrod will get most of the playing time.

Brown has complained of nagging knee pain throughout his first two seasons as a pro, but Payton said the latest injury is unrelated to that.

Giants

Backup linebacker Gerris Wilkinson will miss at least two-to-three weeks after dislocating his right knee in practice.

A second-year player from Georgia Tech, Wilkinson was hurt in a pileup during a 9-on-7 drill Monday night.

``There is no ligament damage, which is the good part,'' coach Tom Coughlin said.

Bears-Patriots Trade

New England acquired cornerback Dante Wesley from Chicago for an undisclosed pick in next year's draft.

Wesley signed a two-year contract with the Bears in March 2006 after spending four seasons with Carolina. He finished with 13 special teams tackles and two defensive tackles in 13 games for Chicago, while missing three games with a knee injury.