This is one of several stories that will appear periodically under the theme of "I played quarterback for the Cleveland Browns." Tim Couch was the leadoff man, followed by Brady Quinn. Now, it's Spergon Wynn, who played for the Browns in 2000.



CLEVELAND, Ohio -- When Spergon Wynn answered the phone, you could hear his sons in the background.

"Hold on a second," said the former Browns quarterback.

Then he asked 7-year-old Truitt if he had "put away all your toys?"

Truitt said he was looking for his football. Three-year-old Slaton also was saying something.

"Good job," said Wynn.

Spergon Wynn was a sixth-round pick by the Browns in 2000.

He is now 39 years old, a husband to Joslyn and father of two boys. He lives in Houston where he is a broker for natural gas and energy products for Amerex Energy Services.

"I knew I'd need a career after football," he said. "I'm from Houston. Oil and gas are big in Houston, along with the medical field. I picked oil and gas."

Wynn should be brought into NFL camps to discuss life after football, especially to low draft choices and undrafted free agents.

"It goes by so fast," he said. "Especially for me."

A REAL ROLE MODEL

Wynn doesn't even remember his Cleveland Browns signing bonus, other than "it wasn't much. And I signed a minimum contract."

That was for $193,000.

He was with the Browns for the 2000 season. He was traded to Minnesota right before the 2001 season.

"I can't remember who I was traded for," he said.

The answer is no one.

Running back Travis Prentice, Wynn and a seventh-round pick were traded to Minnesota for a fifth-round pick.

He spent a season with the Vikings.

Wynn's NFL career covered two years, three starts and 152 passes -- one for a touchdown, seven for interceptions.

Then came three more years playing in Canada.

"I knew I had to prepare for something after football," he said.

While he was playing football, he finished his undergraduate degree from what is now Texas State.

Then he secured a job in the energy business, earning his MBA degree in the process.

He didn't think playing some pro football gave him a free pass for life.

THE BRADY 6

In the 2000 NFL Draft, the Browns had nine chances to draft Tom Brady, who has become the greatest quarterback of his era.

"The Brady 6," said Wynn, referring to the ESPN special about Brady and the six quarterbacks drafted ahead of the New England Patriots star.

Wynn was the 183rd pick in that draft. The Patriots took Brady at No. 199.

Wynn said he didn't watch a lot of the ESPN special, "Just the part that I was in. I was the last quarterback picked before Tom. But everybody passed on Tom, including his own team."

Brady was the seventh player selected by the Patriots that season. In fact, he was their SECOND selection in the sixth round.

"It just shows you how everyone is sort of guessing when it comes to the draft," said Wynn.

BECOMING A BROWN

Wynn began his career at Minnesota in the Big Ten. He played only two games in 1996, throwing eight passes. The team wanted to convert him to a tight end.

Instead, he transferred closer to his Houston home -- Southwest Texas State (Now Texas State) in San Marcos. He played for the NCAA Division 1-AA school for two seasons.

In 1999, he had modest stats of 14 TDs vs. 13 interceptions, completing 50 percent of his passes for a team that was 3-8.

So how did Wynn appear on the NFL draft radar?

He was 6-foot-3, 230 pounds. He had an extremely strong arm.

"I worked out for a some teams," he said. "Truth is, I worked out better than I played."

Some Browns scouts were impressed.

The Browns already had Tim Couch as their starter and veteran Ty Detmer as the backup in 2000. They were looking for a physically talented quarterback to develop.

During the draft, Wynn stayed at his apartment near the college campus. He didn't watch it on television.

"That was too hard," he said. "I even stayed alone, just in case I didn't get picked."

In the sixth round, his phone rang. He was listening to some music, wondering if anyone would call his name.

"I saw it was a 216 area code," he said. "My agent said if anyone called, pick up the phone. I did. It was Coach (Chris) Palmer asking me if I wanted to be a Cleveland Brown ... I said ... SURE!"

Palmer told him to turn on the TV because he'd soon hear his name called by the Browns.

QUARTERBACK NO. 4

Wynn didn't report to the Browns expecting to play much as a rookie.

"It was a big jump from Southwest Texas to the NFL," he said. "I had so much to learn in terms of preparation."

But in the preseason, Ty Detmer suffered a torn Achilles tendon. He was out for the 2000 season before it began.

Couch started the first seven games, then suffered a broken thumb in practice and was out for the rest of the season.

The Browns didn't want to start Wynn, knowing he wasn't close to ready.

They signed veteran Doug Pederson to replace Detmer. He took over for Couch as the starter and the plan was for him to finish the season.

But in Game 13, Pederson suffered a rib injury. He was replaced by Wynn.

"I was excited, but I really wasn't prepared to play," he said.

Wynn started the next week in Jacksonville, a 48-0 loss. Wynn completed only 5-of-16 passes for 17 total yards. He was sacked five times and knocked out of the game with a knee injury.

He became the fourth different quarterback to start for the Browns since 1999 ... and that Jacksonville game was his last appearance with the Browns.

WYNN AT PEACE

Most people don't know I played pro football," said Wynn.

Wynn understands why.

"It was so brief," he said. "But there has been this weird notoriety because of The Brady 6 and my name is different. Some people recognize it."

Wynn is glad to talk football, but doesn't watch a lot of it.

His current career is demanding and intense.

"And it always seems I'm driving the kids somewhere or picking them up," he said.

Wynn has his No. 13 Cleveland Browns jersey framed.

"Where is it?" I asked.

"In my garage," he said.

"Your garage?" I asked.

"It's really like a workout room," he said. "I have it on the wall. I have a Browns helmet from that year signed by the all guys (from the 2000 team)."

Wynn talks about those days as if they were a lifetime ago. He still keeps in touch with Tim Couch.

"I wish I could have played longer and picked the brains of the guys some more," he said. "But I'm glad I got the chance to play pro football. I enjoyed it."