Seahawks sign Brady Quinn to back up Wilson

Brady Quinn, a big-time star at Notre Dame and first-round draft choice who has become an NFL vagabond, signed with his fourth NFL team, the Seattle Seahawks, Tuesday to compete for the back-up quarterback job behind Russell Wilson. Despite being a six-year veteran, Quinn, 28, has played in only six more NFL games than the Seahawks rookie sensation.

In drills Monday and Tuesday, the 6-foot-4, 225-pound Quinn beat out three other free-agent veteran QBs looking for work — Tyler Thigpen, Matt Leinart and former Seahawk Seneca Wallace. Leinart won the 2004 Heisman Trophy at USC under Pete Carroll, but that obviously did nothing now for the Seahawks head coach. Quinn finished fourth in the 2005 Heisman balloting and third in 2006.

Quinn, 28, was drafted by Cleveland Browns with the 22^nd pick overall in 2007. He spent three seasons in Cleveland, where he played in 14 games with 12 starts. Quinn’s best season came in 2009 when he played in 10 games (nine starts) and threw for 1,339 yards with eight touchdowns and seven interceptions.

Quinn was traded to the Denver Broncos in 2010 but never played a game in two seasons. In 2012, he signed with the Kansas City Chiefs and played in 10 games, including eight starts, and threw for 1,141 yards with two touchdowns and eight interceptions.

Quinn’s NFL career totals include 24 games with 20 starts. He has completed 296 of 550 pass attempts for 3,043 yards, 12 touchdowns and 17 interceptions. He’s also rushed for 185 yards on 44 attempts with one touchdown.

The Seahawks earlier re-signed a former backup, Josh Portis, and may still draft a quarterback later this month. The vacancy was created when the Seahawks traded Matt Flynn to Oakland for future draft picks.