Rookie quarterback Brady Quinn has spent the past 15 years dreaming about returning the Browns to their glory days, and he's not about to let an 11-day holdout deter him from that.

Asked Wednesday morning if he still plans to start this season despite missing 16 training camp practices, Quinn said, "Without a doubt."

But he did back off his minicamp goal of starting on opening day Sept. 9 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

"I think it's up to the coaching staff," he said.

"There are some things you can't control. All I can do is come in, try to catch back up and do the best I can."

Quinn, 22, met with the media Wednesday morning after ending his holdout Tuesday afternoon. He signed a seven-year deal worth $20.2 million, including a $7.75 million signing bonus. The deal can escalate to $30 million based on playing time.

Ironically, his long-awaited first practice Wednesday afternoon was closed to the public and media.

The Browns had planned to practice privately at Cleveland Browns Stadium, but moved it to Berea because of heavy rain. When they did, they left it closed. Quinn will make his public debut at 2:30 p.m. today.

"It's just nice to be an official member of the Browns," Quinn said. "Draft day was a very long enduring process and getting here was a long enduring process - something I never imagined going through or wanted to. It was tough not being in camp."

He said he knows he'll have to win back some of the fans who were upset with his holdout.

"You never want to come off as [spoiled]," Quinn said. "If anyone knew me, they wouldn't say those words. I'm an Ohio kid, so I understand what this town's about. I've obviously been graced by God to have this opportunity. Of course I wanted to be there Day One, especially competing for a starting job."

"I think it's up to the coaching staff," he said. "There are some things you can't control. All I can do is come in, try to catch back up and do the best I can."

Quinn, 22, met with the media Wednesday morning after ending his holdout Tuesday afternoon. He signed a seven-year deal worth $20.2 million, including a $7.75 million signing bonus. The deal can escalate to $30 million based on playing time.

Ironically, his long-awaited first practice Wednesday afternoon was closed to the public and media.

The Browns had planned to practice privately at Cleveland Browns Stadium, but moved it to Berea because of heavy rain. When they did, they left it closed. Quinn will make his public debut at 2:30 p.m. today.

"It's just nice to be an official member of the Browns," Quinn said. "Draft day was a very long enduring process and getting here was a long enduring process - something I never imagined going through or wanted to. It was tough not being in camp."

He said he knows he'll have to win back some of the fans who were upset with his holdout.

"You never want to come off as [spoiled]," Quinn said. "If anyone knew me, they wouldn't say those words. I'm an Ohio kid, so I understand what this town's about. I've obviously been graced by God to have this opportunity. Of course I wanted to be there Day One, especially competing for a starting job."

"You understand that coming in," Quinn said. "I don't deserve anything. I've got to earn everything I get."

Crennel wouldn't address whether Quinn is out of the running to start opening day, but agreed he'd have to climb a mountain to do so. "I'm not going to make any determination without him having been here and in pads."

A double major at Notre Dame in finance and political science, Quinn is known for his intelligence and work ethic. He bought a house in Avon Lake partly to be closer to his quarterbacks coach, Rip Scherer. In organized team activities and minicamps, he threw five interceptions in the first few days of practice and then only one in the final 17 sessions.

Credit: Cleveland.com