Quinn agrees to terms with Winnipeg
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have stepped up in the CFL arms race with today's announcement that quarterback Mike Quinn has agreed to terms. As per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Quinn spent the past eight seasons in the NFL including stints with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Dallas Cowboys, Miami Dolphins, Houston Texans and Denver Broncos. He also spent time on the Montreal Alouettes' practice roster in 2005.
The NFL veteran joins a Bombers' quarterbacking crew that also includes incumbents Kevin Glenn, Tee Martin and Russ Michna.
“It has been proven time and time again that you can never have too many good quarterbacks in this league,&rdquo said Blue Bombers general manager Brendan Taman.
“Mike Quinn has a good, strong arm and has enough football savvy to pick up the Canadian game very quickly. Adding him to the mix of quarterbacks we already have will make us that much stronger at that position.&rdquo
Quinn said he views his move north as a chance to rejuvenate his pro football career.
“I'm in a situation where the NFL had run its course and I was not getting the opportunity I wanted to have,&rdquo Quinn said. “The CFL is going to give me a chance to play football some more.&rdquo
Quinn is already familiar with Bombers head coach Doug Berry. The pair worked together last season while Quinn was on the Montreal Alouettes' practice roster and Berry was the team's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
“Coming to Winnipeg had a lot to do with coach Berry being familiar with me,&rdquo Quinn said. “He said I'd have a great opportunity and he got me excited to play again.&rdquo
Quinn began his pro career in 1997 when he joined the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent. He dressed for one game that season, completing one of two passes versus the Baltimore Ravens on Nov. 9. He spent the rest of the season as the Steelers' third quarterback.
In 1998 he joined the Dallas Cowboys, after attending training camp with the Steelers. He appeared in three games for the Cowboys, completing one pass for 10 yards in a Monday night game versus the Philadelphia Eagles. Earlier that year he was the starting quarterback for the Rhein Fire of NFL Europe. He earned league all-star honours after completing 133-of-264 pass attempts for 1,997 yards, 13 touchdowns and just three interceptions. He also dressed for 14 games as a back-up with Dallas in 1999.
Quinn joined the Miami Dolphins in 2000 and dressed for 14 regular season games and two playoff contests that season. He returned to the Fighting Fish the following season but was waived prior to the start of the 2001 regular season.
The Texas native was then corralled by the Houston Texans and spent most of the 2002 and '03 seasons on the NFL team's practice roster. He attended training camp with the Denver Broncos in 2004 and saw limited action, including a six-minute, 13-play drive that culminated in a two-yard pass to draw the Broncos to within two points in the closing minutes of the 2004 Hall of Fame exhibition game versus the Washington Redskins.
