"Brady Quinn, who was traded by the Browns Sunday to Denver, admitted in an exclusive phone interview with The Plain Dealer that he has no idea why the new regime turned the team over to 35-year-old Jake Delhomme instead of him.

"It's really hard to try to figure out what it is," said Quinn. "[Mike] Holmgren has had a lot of success, and I'm sure the decisions he's making he's got a lot of reasons for them and he's doing what he wants to with the team. It's not really for me to question. I'm a Bronco and I couldn't be happier heading over to Denver."

Quinn, the Browns' first-round pick in 2007, was traded to the Broncos for backup running back Peyton Hillis, a sixth-round pick in 2011 and a conditional pick in 2012, based on Quinn's playing time.

Quinn said he never asked to be dealt or released, even when team president Holmgren made it clear he was actively looking for quarterbacks.

"No, there was no request for a trade," said Quinn. "The first I learned about it was when [General Manager] Tom Heckert informed me of it [Sunday afternoon]. But when they signed Jake to the deal that they did [$7 million in 2010 according to a league source], the writing was on the wall."

Quinn, who went 3-9 as a Browns starter amid constant turmoil, was asked if he received a fair shot. He was pulled after 2 1/2 games this season and missed four starts before reclaiming the job in Week 8.

"It's not really for me to decide that," said Quinn. "I just wish things would've gone differently in Cleveland. I hope they have success in the future. I hope coach Holmgren can get things turned around for them." "