Around the NFL

Brady is the man

Not that Brady. Brady Quinn will open the 2009 season as the Cleveland Browns' starting quarterback, according to a Cleveland newspaper. New Browns coach Eric Mangini never officially announced his choice, but Quinn took reps with the first-team offense on Friday. It's been a long time coming for Quinn, whom the Browns selected in the first round of the 2007 NFL draft. Quinn started three games last year, and it's time to find out if the former Notre Dame standout is the answer at quarterback for Cleveland. He has thrown just 89 career passes.

DTs to play

Minnesota defensive tackles Pat Williams and Kevin Williams continue to avoid the suspensions the NFL has attempted to levy on them since the start of the 2008 season. The NFL wants to suspend the two tackles for testing positive for a banned substance during training camp prior to the 2008 season. The banned substance was found in a product called StarCaps. A federal appeals court upheld earlier decisions from a federal district court on Friday, clearing the way for the two players to suit up for the foreseeable future.

Cassel to play?

Kansas City may or may not be able to unveil its new quarterback in its opener against the Baltimore Ravens today. Matt Cassel, traded to the Chiefs by the Patriots during the offseason, injured his left knee during the preseason. Cassel, who signed a six-year, $63 million contract after the trade, practiced all week while wearing a knee brace. Rookie head coach Todd Haley said on Friday that Cassel will be a game-time decision. Cassel was injured when he was sacked by Seattle defensive tackle Brandon Mebane in the third game of the preseason.

Ratings bonanza

It's not that anyone needed confirmation that the NFL is king of all sports. But that's what happened when the ratings for the Pittsburgh-Tennessee season opener on Thursday night were released on Friday. The game was watched by 13.8 percent of homes in major markets, the highest such rating for an NFL opener since 2003. It was the best sports TV rating since the Super Bowl and the top overall rating for any prime-time show since the "American Idol" finale. The message was sent loud and clear: We're ready for some football.