Quinn, Browns reach a deal

Quarterback Brady Quinn agreed to a five-year contract with the Cleveland Browns, ending an 11-day holdout that essentially eliminated his chances to begin the season as the starter.

Quinn was flying to the Browns’ headquarters Tuesday to sign the deal, Browns General Manager Phil Savage said. The contract’s language was still being completed.

The deal, worth $20.2 million, with $7.75 million guaranteed, could reach $30 million over five years with incentives.

Quinn’s absence has all but ensured he will not win the Browns’ starting job, which 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.

The major sticking points in negotiations between the Browns and agent Tom Condon were escalator clauses based on playing time for Quinn, who has been working out in Arizona.

Browns Coach Romeo Crennel coldly referred to Quinn as “the quarterback” and not by name during the holdout. Crennel 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 tomorrow.”

Quinn was seeking $8 million in guaranteed money, roughly the same amount that the No. 20 pick, cornerback Aaron Ross, got from the New York Giants.

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

What looked like a serious knee injury to New Orleans Saints starting left tackle Jammal Brown was later diagnosed as a bone bruise.

“Everything came back structurally intact,” team spokesman Doug Miller said of an MRI exam. Trainers carted Brown from the practice field when he crumpled to the ground because of a right knee injury.

No timetable was given for Brown’s return.

Receiver Terrell Owens returned to practice with the Dallas Cowboys after missing two days because of back spasms and is expected to play in the exhibition opener Thursday against Indianapolis.

“At this point, there’s no reason for me not to,” Owens said.

Coach Wade Phillips said the first-team offense with quarterback Tony Romo and Owens is expected to play about a quarter.

Jacksonville Jaguars receiver Ernest Wilford sprained his left knee during practice and had to be helped off the field.

The team called the injury “minor” and expected him back later this week.

Wilford had an MRI exam later in the day, and Coach Jack Del Rio said the results were positive.

The New England Patriots acquired cornerback Dante Wesley from the Chicago Bears for an undisclosed pick in next year’s draft.

Safety Mike Minter, the Carolina Panthers’ career leader in games started and tackles, blamed achy knees in announcing his retirement after 10 seasons with the team.

Minter, 33, was the Panthers’ second-round pick in 1997 and finished with 467 more tackles than any player in franchise history.