Maybe, as Browns Head Coach Romeo Crennel believes, Trent Dilfer is just a tenacious competitor. Then again, maybe he’s not a very good teammate or cut out to be a starting NFL quarterback.

The veteran handed rookie Charlie Frye the game ball following Sunday’s 22-0 win over Miami. Then Dilfer poured cold water on the Browns most impressive win of the season.

Crennel played Frye for the first time this season, on the final series of the first half. Frye received more playing time in a meaningless series in the fourth quarter.

Dilfer was asked how he felt. Give the veteran, who came to the Browns with a reputation as a good person and teammate, credit for speaking his mind. Not often since the new Browns came back have players expressed their real feelings. He answered honestly.

His timing was poor, at best.

Dilfer said he didn’t like leaving the game. He wasn’t happy.

He talked about how media members have never been NFL quarterbacks so they wouldn’t know about rhythm. Near as we know, Dilfer never has been at a computer on deadline, writing a story. Therefore, he’ll have no problem taking criticism coming his way.

Dilfer’s comments weren’t the problem. It was his demeanor and body language. Both were out of character.

When a writer asked when he was informed Frye would come into the game, he shot back, “None of your business.”

BOTH QBS AWARE

Crennel revealed Monday that Dilfer and Frye were aware at practice last week the rookie might play. That knowledge disarms Dilfer’s “competitive disappointment.”

Perhaps that is why it was no one’s business Sunday.

How much could his rhythm have been thrown off? Frye played a series before halftime, and again in the fourth quarter when it was 22-0.

Dilfer’s response was, perhaps, selfish and ill-timed.

The Browns had an important win Sunday. Important because the players can feel good about themselves.

Guess what everyone is talking about now? How Dilfer feels about himself.

There is no doubt that Dilfer and Frye remain friendly as the veteran spoon-feeds Frye as much knowledge as he can.

That isn’t the problem.

The problem is a veteran quarterback not understanding that the backup in just about every NFL city is one of the fans’ most popular players. Of course, fans don’t see practice. Neither do the Cleveland media.

If Dilfer’s feelings are hurt when chants of “Charlie, Charlie, Charlie” come from the Dawg Pound, he may want to develop thicker skin.

Trent Dilfer is not Len Dawson. He’s having a pretty ho-hum season. His 78 passer rating ranks 21st in the NFL, in front of Baltimore’s Anthony Wright at 24. Dilfer’s rating is slightly better than Tim Couch’s career rating of 75.1.

Has Dilfer forgotten the Houston game? It was his underthrown ball to Antonio Bryant that might have lost that game.

It tough to point this out without ever having been an NFL quarterback, but Dilfer’s job is to keep the seat warm until someone else comes along. He ought to know. He was the Ravens’ QB when they won a Super Bowl. Baltimore let him go that offseason because, well, his job was to keep the seat warm until something better came along — even after a Super Bowl.

Dilfer was upset. He is a competitor. He’s also paid well to play a kid’s game, and if that means taking a rest so the Browns can find out if Frye is the something better, so be it.

Of course, who are any of us to challenge Dilfer’s thinking? We’ve never been an NFL quarterback, which, apparently, ranks between a rocket scientist and brain surgeon on the degree of difficulty scale.

Reach Repository sports writer Todd Porter at (330) 580-8340 or e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

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