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Frye not a lock to start for Browns
ORLANDO, FLA. - A theory was presented to Browns coach Romeo Crennel at the coaches' breakfast at the NFL's annual meetings Tuesday.
Your fans, he was told, will be shocked if Charlie Frye is not the starting quarterback in 2006.
``Well,'' Crennel said, ``they've been shocked before.''
Shocked might be a mild word if Frye doesn't start. Most of the other coaches in the league this week talked about the Browns as if it's a given the job is Frye's, and fans seem to be solidly in Frye's corner, opposed to returning to Trent Dilfer.
But Crennel steadfastly maintained that he has not decided yet who his starting quarterback is, and said he's not playing coy in any way.
``If I knew,'' Crennel said, ``why wouldn't I just go ahead and say?''
This might even come as a surprise to General Manager Phil Savage.
A day earlier, Savage sounded clearly as if he felt the Frye era was about to begin.
``Trent is highly competitive,'' Savage said when asked of Dilfer's state of mind. ``I think when we made the trade for him, his vision for himself was to pick up the baton as a starter and kind of keep the seat warm until we get another guy.
``I think his hopes were that it would be a couple years. Ultimately it's been 11 games as we stand now.
``I think he'll fight for the spot. I don't think he'll give up on it.''
Frye will not make waves publicly, but he has made it clear privately that he believes the job is his. Dilfer knows that might happen, but he wants to compete for the spot.
Crennel, the guy who matters most, said: ``Right now I got two quarterbacks. I got an experienced veteran and I got a young kid. We like both of them. Which one that's going to be I haven't decided yet.''
A few years ago, Butch Davis held a quarterback competition in training camp between Kelly Holcomb and Tim Couch, and the team suffered as injuries and erratic play led to switches back and forth.
Crennel said the Browns never considered adding another quarterback in the offseason -- even though some veterans were available -- and that seems to indicate the team is satisfied.
``We have a veteran and we have a young kid,'' Crennel said. ``The young kid has some potential and the veteran has some experience. If nothing else, the two of them will be able to get us through.''
Last year, Dilfer started 11 games, completing 59.8 percent with 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Rating: 76.9. Frye started the last five games, 59.4 percent with four touchdowns and six interceptions. Rating: 69.8.
Dilfer struggled in Pittsburgh when he missed a wide-open Braylon Edwards for what would have been a touchdown, and could not lead the Browns to wins over lowly Detroit and Houston.
He also struggled in Minnesota, and at that point it seemed clear that he and offensive coordinator Maurice Carthon were not seeing things the same way.
Frye was given a chance and played in the disastrous 41-0 loss to Pittsburgh, but also came back from a poor start to lead the Browns to a season-ending win over Baltimore.
Frye also is the local kid who grew up in Willard (with a Bernie Kosar poster on his wall) and who played at the University of Akron. His local ties no doubt contribute to the fan fervor to see him.
``I understand that,'' Crennel said. ``He's a local guy and everybody wanted the team to do well and they felt like he might give the team more of a chance to do well. Whether that was right or wrong, that's just the way things are.''
Did Frye justify the excitement when he played?
``I think he was able to do some things in the game,'' Crennel said. ``When the ball was snapped, he was able to make some plays. I think the excitement could be justified if he had won every game. That would be really exciting.''
Crennel said he could go through two and perhaps three preseason games without naming a starter for the season, but at some point he'd have to.
``To give the other guys a chance to know who they're dealing with and be able to rally around him,'' he said.
What does it all mean?
It means that at the team's minicamp, reporters will be present at the start with notebooks ready to see who lines up under center with the first team during the first drill.
``I have no problem with that,'' Crennel said. ``(But) what are you gonna do if Trent Dilfer lines up one day and Charlie Frye the next day... ?''
Charlie Frye: Not a Lock to Start for Browns
Charlie Frye: Not a Lock to Start for Browns
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