Just who is Jim Sorgi?

12.27.2007

Like it or not, the Browns' 2007 season rests heavily in the hands of a quarterback who has played only 13 NFL games.

Indianapolis Colts head coach Tony Dungy said earlier in the week that backup quarterback Jim Sorgi will play at least a half during the team's season finale vs. Tennessee.

A Titans win means the Browns' season is over. If the Colts prevail, the Browns are in the playoffs.

So, besides the backup to a future Hall of Fame quarterback, just who is Jim Sorgi?

Sorgi, born Dec. 3, 1980, was an all-state, all-county and all-league quarterback in 1998 out of Fraser High School in Michigan.

From there, he went to Wisconsin, where he was the team's starter only as a senior but still managed to see action in 32 games with 17 starts. He played under long-time Badgers coach Barry Alvarez and backed up former Wisconsin QB Brooks Bollinger.

In his last and possibly his best college game, he completed 23-of-34 passes for 305 yards and 4 touchdowns against Auburn in the 2003 Music City Bowl.

Come the draft, the Colts waited plenty of time to land Sorgi. He was taken in the sixth round, 193rd overall, in '04.

He was almost immediately installed as Peyton Manning's backup, a job that gets about as much playing time as a parka in San Diego, but he still managed to find his way into four games as a rookie.

His most significant work came, like this game will be, in the '04 season finale when the Colts, at 12-3, had already locked up a postseason bye.

Sorgi completed 16-of-25 passes for 168 yards with 2 touchdowns and no interceptions for a 110.1 passer rating, but the Colts lost to the Broncos, 33-14.

Sorgi reprised his role as a late-season post-clinching quarterback in '05 when he played heavily in the Colts' final two games of '05. In games at Seattle and vs. Arizona, he combined to complete 42-of-61 passes for 444 yards with 3 touchdowns and 1 interception for a 99.4 passer rating.

The Colts lost to the Seahawks, 28-13, but finished their season with a 17-13 win over the Cardinals the following week.

But the Colts failed to win the Super Bowl in either of those two seasons and it was thought maybe resting the starters too much hurt the cause.

In 2006, the team kept Manning in at the end of the season and Sorgi never attempted a pass. His only game action was holding on a PAT early in the season.

This year, Sorgi has appeared in three games, completing 7-of-12 passes for 64 yards.

After nearly two years since he last played significantly in an NFL game, don't be surprised if Sorgi is a tad rusty Sunday against the Titans. But then again, he's no less prepared than he was as a rookie or in his second year when he played well in Manning's place.

So what do the Browns know about Jim Sorgi?

Not very much.

Browns left tackle Joe Thomas undoubtedly knows him the best, having played with him for a season at Wisconsin. Thomas was a true freshman starting left tackle while Sorgi was the team's QB as a fifth-year senior.

"He's definitely worthy," Thomas said of Sorgi. "He's got a good arm. He's a smart guy. He can definitely get it done."

But in terms of the Browns locker room, that's about as far as the familiarity goes.

Shaun Smith said he's a follower of the NFL and knew Sorgi was a sixth-round pick but couldn't name where the QB went to college.

Simon Fraser played against Sorgi during a Wisconsin win over Ohio State in 2003. Sorgi led the team to a 10-3 lead through three quarters but was most remembered in the game for leaving after being choked by Buckeyes linebacker Rob Reynolds.

Even head coach Romeo Crennel's knowledge of the QB was largely limited.

"I know that he's been there for a while and he has good knowledge of their offense," Crennel said. "I think he'll do a good job."

As little as they might know about the quarterback, unfortunately due to a loss last week against Cincinnati, their season largely rests in his hands.

Which has suddenly transformed the Browns locker room into the unofficial Jim Sorgi fan club.

"I'm going to buy him a box of cookies," quarterback Derek Anderson said.