And then, it was gone a three-and-out more painful than any before.

Quinn's season ended on Wednesday after just three starts, done in by a broken right index finger that he tried to play with last week and may now require surgery.

Given the options of resting or an operation last week, Quinn could have sat out Sunday's game against Houston. But the second-year QB chose to play and did more damage to his finger.

"I knew (further damage) that was a consequence if I went in and played," Quinn said Wednesday. "That was something that I was willing to risk. If I had a chance to do it over, I would do it again."

Quinn, who threw an interception on his last pass of the season, must now decide whether to have surgery or have his finger immobilized in a splint. Browns coach Romeo Crennel said doctors want Quinn to make up his mind within a week. Either way, it's at least a six-week process and Quinn won't play again this season. The Browns placed him on injured reserve Thursday night.

"It's frustrating," said the former Notre Dame star, who broke the tip of his finger and sustained tendon damage in his second start on Nov. 17 at Buffalo. "I can't begin to tell you. I'm hurting right now because I love to play the game. I wish I could be with my teammates. I feel bad for the fans because I really wanted to be out there and continue to play and continue to grow in this league.

"Hopefully, this will allow me to grow stronger and something good will come from this."

With Quinn out, Derek Anderson is back as Cleveland's starting QB.

But even if he leads the Browns to a 5-0 mark, Anderson's days in an orange helmet appear numbered.

In a stunning comment, Crennel, who may not be back next season, said Quinn will be his starter going into training camp in 2009.

"I had planned to go with Brady to be the quarterback," Crennel said. "When he comes back, he's going to be the quarterback. Quinn is the starter."

Brady doing well

Tom Brady says he's doing well in his recovery from knee surgery.

The New England Patriots quarterback made an unpublicized appearance Wednesday with his girlfriend, model Gisele Bundchen, at the annual Goodwill Thanksgiving dinner in Boston where they served food.

He told Channel 5 that he's "doing well" more than two months after a season-ending injury to his left knee in the opener.

The television station's Web site, TheBostonChannel.com said Brady appeared to be walking without a limp. He had an operation for torn ligaments on Oct. 6 and subsequent surgeries after a postoperative infection developed.